Not one of favourite books, it took me ages to get through. I found the characters annoying and the plot just so drawn out and dull. Sorry.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

First Loves

'We'll Always Have Paris' are the words shared between Rosie and her first love, Peter. She loves him, he makes her dreams seem possible.

He breaks her heart.

Now, move forward forty or so years.... Rosie is a sixty-something widow, and finds herself thinking about her first love. Fate steps in and she sees him again.

This book is a cliché love story, Rosie is admirable- she refuses to forget her youthful dreams or, change for any man. This is a tale of first loves and second chances, of forgiveness and grief. Was Rosie honouring her late husband's memory by thinking about another man so soon after his passing? Was she right to expect her family's blessing?

I was reminded of the Little Betron Bistro by Nina George: both books share similar themes.

I received this book through NetGalley.

A beautiful heartfelt tale of love, loss and second chances. I'm a fan of Sue Watson's writing and her ability to capture moments sets her apart from other writers in this genre. This book is very warm and engaging - a good read. 4* from me.

I couldn’t finish this book as it wasn’t something I enjoyed and not at all what I was expecting when I start it.

I instantly fell in love with the cover for this one, and of course, having loved Sue's previous novels, had to read it. I wasn't disappointed. It's different to her usual chick-lit tales (such as Love, Lies and Lemon Cake) about funny adventures, in that this novel is more serious and heartwarming, however it still contains a lot of humour and of course, plenty of romance.

I promise I didn't just request this because it was released on my birthday - I was also just intrigued by the synopsis.

When she was almost 17, Rosie Draper locked eyes with a charismatic student called Peter during their first week at art college, changing the course of her life forever. Now, on the cusp of 65 and recently widowed, Rosie is slowly coming to terms with a new future.


And after a chance encounter with Peter, forty-seven years later, they both begin to wonder ‘what if’ . . .

This is a light and quick read, perfect for lazing by the beach. Your senses are bombarded with scents of freshly cut flowers and of the flavoursome lunches Rosie and Peter enjoy together.
I really didn’t warm to Peter at all. I felt he was reckless, selfish, and much like a mother I didn’t think him at all suitable for Rosie. He brought out quite a childish side to her, and it was difficult to see that in an otherwise very mature lady.

I wasn’t impressed by the behaviour of Rosie’s daughters either, especially Anna. I’m not a child of a broken home (be it divorce or bereavement) but I don’t see any instance where you would begrudge your parent finding new happiness with a new partner. For a grown woman, Anna acted like a spoiled child for the majority of the book.

Overall, three stars. It was a good read, but some of the character’s whinging all through the book did get to me at times.

We'll Always Have Paris begins with a death within the first few pages. I wondered for a while whether I really wanted to carry on reading it. But I did continue, and was soon very glad that I'd done so.

17 year old Rosie Draper locked eyes with a charismatic student called Peter during their first week at art college. It changed the course of her life forever. Now Rosie is a sixty-something woman who is coming to terms with the death of her husband. He was never the 'hearts and flowers' love of her life, but they had a long and happy marriage together. Luckily she has a close family around her, and a successful florist business to keep her busy. But while she is at a business event, she bumps into the man who was the love of her life. And her life takes another turn that she really didn't foresee.

When I was a teenager, I used to read books about women in their twenties and wonder what it would be like to be a grown up. Well, I'm in my forties and I'm still wondering! Now I read books about women in their sixties, and wonder what life will look like when I am their age. Luckily, characters like Rosie Draper show that being in your sixties is nothing to be scared of.

I really liked Rosie. She is the kind of woman who gets on with life, whatever it may throw at her. The death of her husband obviously knocks her sideways for a while, but you know that she will soon get herself back on track. Her daughters are obviously protective of their mother. Their ideas for Rosie's future involve more stairlifts than swinging from the chandeliers with an old flame! I'll admit that I found them a little annoying, but I suspect that a lot of adults look at their ageing parents in a similar way. Rosie's grand-daughter is fab though, I love the relationship that they have.

We'll Always Have Paris is not just a book about life after widowhood, but also a book about redemption. Peter treats Rosie pretty awfully when they are teenagers, but then I guess a lot of teenagers do obnoxious things that they regret when they are older. Rosie is clearly cautious at the start of their new relationship. I really liked seeing that she's a much stronger woman in her sixties than in her teens. Even if Peter tried to treat Rosie badly again, I doubt she would put up with it a second time!

And I absolutely love the way Sue Watson concludes this book. I'm not going to spoil the story, but I will say that Rosie gets the kind of happy ending that she deserves, and the kind that I hoped she might do.

Sue Watson worked as a journalist and TV producer before becoming a full-time writer. This was the first book by Sue Watson that I had read, but I definitely know that it won't be the last.