This didn’t hit the mark for me. The writing style felt a bit too immature for my taste as an adult reader. The tone seemed overly simplistic, and I couldn't quite connect with the narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in return for an honest review.

2.75 ⭐️, 3⭐️ rounded up

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Lucie in London.

This was a cute, pretty much closed door romance. I didn’t really find it super believable in the beginning, as well as I found the writing a little flat, but the writing got stronger as the book progressed. Two things I did really enjoy about this book was that it was a fairly quick read, and additionally, no third act break up! Instead, it was a third act I-realize-I-want l-him and I’m so tired of third act breakups that this was a pleasant surprise for a change.

All in all, this is a good and quick palette cleanser romance after an intense book which is always nice to have.

In this charming new romance novel, readers meet skilled clothing designer Lucie in search of a law career in London when a bizarre class project brings her in contact with business student Marius, who has a strange fan club of his own. Despite their instant chemistry, Lucie has no interest in his flirty comments and just wants to get this project over so she can deal with her part-time job’s chaos and her law firm applications. As they spend time together, however, galas and a murder mystery dinner might just change Lucie’s mind about Marius before the project is over. With a capable and relatable protagonist, readers will love the back and forth tension and attraction between Marius and Lucie and the ways they complement each other as their friendship grows over the course of the novel. Their relationship is the heart of the novel while Lucie is its star, and her own growth over the novel is particularly enjoyable to follow. With its fun modern setting and various tropes and events, this is a great new read for modern romance fans who want something charming and heartwarming, and Royce’s new novel is a fun, straightforward, and light-hearted read that readers will enjoy.

Firstly, I ADORE the cover!
Secondly, I ADORE Lucie & Marius!!
Thirdly, this book had only good vibes throughout ✨

Similar Vibes: You've Been Served, Just A Fling

Lucie in London by Ivy Royce is a charming and heartfelt tale of self-discovery, ambition, and love set against the vibrant backdrop of London. The story follows Lucie, a French aspiring lawyer with a hidden dream of becoming a tailor. Caught in the grind of long hours at a startup and a marketing course at university, Lucie’s life takes an unexpected turn when she’s paired with Marius, a charismatic business student, for a class project.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, and their relationship is the soul of the story. Lucie is an endearing protagonist whose insecurities and workaholic tendencies stem from her childhood experiences. Her passion for tailoring adds a unique and delightful layer to her character, showcasing her creativity and yearning for something beyond the rigid path she’s chosen.

Marius, meanwhile, is refreshingly warm and optimistic despite his privileged upbringing and the political ambitions of his father. His kindness and belief in Lucie help her confront her doubts and consider pursuing her true passions. Their growing friendship, which blossoms naturally into a sweet romance, is both heartwarming and relatable.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of identity and belonging. Lucie’s journey of self-discovery is intricately tied to her experiences in a foreign country, her interactions with a class of younger students, and her immersion in a world of wealth and privilege. The story also delves into themes of self-worth and the courage it takes to follow one’s heart, making it resonate with anyone navigating the complexities of early adulthood.

The romance is a beautifully paced slow burn, with no unnecessary drama or third-act breakup, which keeps the narrative light and enjoyable. Their emotional connection takes center stage, with the dialogue offering depth and insight into their characters.

Overall, Lucie in London is a delightful and easy read, brimming with optimism and charm. It’s a lovely story about finding yourself, chasing your dreams, and discovering love in the most unexpected places. Fans of contemporary romance and coming-of-age tales will thoroughly enjoy this sweet and stress-free novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book opened up a feeling of whimsy and nostalgia for me. It felt very nice to have a book with a little more innocence after reading some quite adult books recently.
That said its not immature in its writing. But you could tell it had a ribbon of younger tropes wrapped around it.
And it's very coming of age and non judgemental. A few slipped in thinking points and life lessons.
By giving Lucie a passed with brings her a loss of self and insecurities. And Marius being very different in background and place in society but no less puzzled with life's reasons. It brings a definite sense of learning to be who you are and where the places you in the world. Rather than trying to figure out how to be someone to fit.
There were little tells to why Lucie came to be and feel how she was. And it was really well written. Because so many people are being warped by their passed at the moment. Or struggling to know who to be in a wolrd where life isn't real(social media I'm looking at you) . Or how to be brave enough to show up as you are and go for what you want...

Where to even begin? There was so much I loved about this.
Lucie is so feminine and does not hold back telling other women that they are beautiful. It’s such a breath of fresh air and so supportive. Even when you think a rival is introduced who wants to start something with her, she immediately shuts it down, yet never puts this other woman down, remaining kind to her and describing her in a positive light.

Marius is unusually popular and surrounded by people who want to be with him for his high position in society (reminded me of Simon from Bridgerton) and Lucie absolutely doesn’t care about him aside from their project… at first. She acknowledges that he is handsome but mistakenly assumes he is much younger than her given how he is a student and she recently graduated, so she doesn’t even entertain the thought. This allows their relationship to grow into a friendship which slowly progresses into something more. Their attraction is very emotional. Marius is very self-aware of his privileges and I just love that. It’s very different from the trope of the grumpy, stuck-up or mean rich protagonist.

Lucie and Marius are very different, yet also very similar, both wanting to be something other than they are set to become and both wanting someone to really see them. Lucie’s past, which explains her insecure and no-fun workaholic personality, is revealed incrementally and you get hints here and there but if you blink, you’ll miss them. It sometimes feels like reading a mystery with some foreshadowing before the big reveal. Marius helps her figure things out and understand why she sees herself and the world the way she does, and it’s honestly great character growth. Only once she starts loving herself does she start falling for him. There’s an overarching theme of figuring out where to fit in this world and finding yourself, a bit like a coming of age story for early-20’s adults. Lucie is constantly in situations where she is out of place: a new country with a different culture, a course full of younger people with vastly different priorities and mindsets, and a world of wealthy upper-class people. Only when she is with Marius does she feel a sense of belonging.

It’s an easy read with a strong focus on dialogue and the best part is that there was no third-act breakup so it remained sweet and stress-free throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I requested this book because I love London and jump at the chance to read any books set in this magical city. That said, this book was not for me. I suspect it's just a matter of not being in the intended audience but I imagine that if I were, it would be an enjoyable read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 rounded up.

I did not vibe with this book. It was not for me.

I found the writing to be very immature sounding, almost like a YA Wattpad story that I would've read in the sixth or seventh grade.

And all of the characters were so unlikable to me. I found Lucie, our FMC, to be annoying and almost a pick-me. She was trying too hard and felt like she had main character syndrome (which is weird to say because she literally is the main character, but you know what I mean). And all of the guys in this book gave me the ick. Especially the love interest.

This bummed me out because the synopsis sounded so fun and easy. The execution was just not it for me. Sorry. I can see the potential here but I think a few more drafts need to happen for this to live up to its full potential.

This was super short and quick to read though, so that's a plus. But I did have to skim the last 20% because I was that icked-out by the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lucie is a French prospective lawyer with a secret wish to become a tailor. She’s in London working all hours at her former classmates’ new start up while attending a marketing class at university for the purposes of joining the school’s law society and networking events. She’s a hard worker with very little time for a social life. When a class project requires her to team up with Marius, a charming business student, she begins to wonder if there’s more to life than working all the time.

Both Lucie and Marius were very sweet, likable characters. It was lovely to watch their friendship unfold into something more. Lucie has a lot of insecurities that date back from her childhood. She’s often reticent, but Marius pulls her out of her shell. Her obsession with tailored clothes leads to fun moments, and you can’t help but root for her to follow her true passion.

Marius is being groomed to take over his father’s company once his father begins his political campaign for Prime Minister. What I most appreciated about him was that he was not cynical and cold, but rather warm and kind. He sees the best in people despite growing up in a world full of illusions and groveling aristocrats looking to garner favor with his father.

I really enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship. It unfolded naturally both learning more about each other the more they spent time together. Overall this is a sweet, angst free novel.