The Paris Wedding

by Charlotte Nash

Ten years ago, Rachael West chose not to move to Sydney with high-school sweetheart Matthew. Instead, she stayed on the family wheat farm, caring for her seriously ill mother and letting go of her dreams. Now, Matthew is marrying someone else. And Rachael is invited to the wedding, a lavish affair in Paris, courtesy of the flamboyant family of Matthew's fiancee - a once-in-a-lifetime celebration at someone else's expense in Europe's most romantic city. She is utterly unprepared for what the week brings. Friendships will be upended, secrets will be revealed - and on the eve of the wedding, Rachael is faced with an impossible dilemma: should she give up on the promise of love, or destroy another woman's life for a chance at happiness?

• ISBN10: 0062696203
• ISBN13: 9780062696205
• Publish Date: 3 August 2023 (first published 27 June 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

4.5 stars

Full of surprises, The Paris Wedding is a delightful novel set against the contrasting backdrops of the Australian outback and Paris, France.

Rachael West receives a wedding invitation from Matthew Grant, her first and only true love who left her to pursue his medical studies whilst she stayed in Milton look after her sick mother. Ten years have passed since they parted but when an unexpected envelope arrives after her mother's funeral, it awakens long-buried memories and feelings of what could have been'. Should she ignore the invitation to his an all expenses paid wedding in Paris, France? Or, is it an opportunity for closure; to finally accept he's moving on?

The scenes set in Australia paint a wonderful sense of loyalty and camaraderie in the small town community with many quirky residents to support Rachael on her trip of a lifetime. She's travelling along with people she known for years, however, plenty of discoveries are uncovered as some of the residents also seize an opportunity or two on the opposite side of the world. It's little wonder their arrival in Paris is a cultural shock as they come face to face with Matthew, his socialite bride Bonnie and her wealthy family. He may be from the small outback town, but his life as a successful doctor in Sydney is vastly different from the hometown guests he's invited to his wedding.

The narrative flowed beautifully, keeping me engaged the whole time. I particularly enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Rachel's outfits and easily visualised how they would look. Sometimes, Rachel is frustrating because of the choices she makes; a naive small-town girl who is too trusting. I loved how the author managed to capture the emotions as we watch her open her mind and soul during the Parisian adventure, making her aware of opportunities to seize if you have faith and confidence in your abilities.

To sum up, this is my first novel by Charlotte Nash and I will definitely pick up one of her titles again. If you are looking for a romance with a twist set against two vastly differing backdrops, you'll love The Paris Wedding.

***arc generously received courtesy of William Morris Paperbacks via Edelweiss +***

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: Single main character in her late twenties pining after "the one who got away" sounds like a recipe for a train wreck and yet The Paris Wedding was anything but. I much enjoyed Rachael's journey of self-discovery on several fronts. She was such a delightful and relatable character. At this age it's all too easy to compare yourself to others who've already achieved so much and feel like a failure for not having any direction in life and feeling stuck. Those feelings are all too familiar to me, which is why I especially liked reading this book as Rachael came to seize new opportunities and learnt to deal with her past.

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Note: I received a finished copy from a local distributor in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.