Sam@WLABB
Written on Jul 1, 2016
One Paris Summer follows Sophie and her brother to Paris to be reunited with their father following their parent's divorce and a 10 month separation. This summer is really a summer of healing, growth, and self realization for Sophie.
This book is heavy on relationships. I really enjoyed watching Sophie realize she wanted to repair the rift between her and her father. It was such an important part of her life, and I just wanted her to have that again. I loved that this whole situation brought out the big brother in Eric. It was quite clear that Sophie and Eric did not share a strong bond when they first arrived in Paris, but it grew into a beautiful sibling tie over time, and was very sweet. Eva was such a beautiful character. She really was the glue for this blended family, and worked so hard. I was very happy when Sophie started to give Eva a chance, and was able to see how special she was too.
At first, I found Sophie really annoying. She was immature and whiny, but I now understand that it was necessary for us. It helped illustrate the growth she experienced during the course of the story. Sophie was not the only one who changed though. I sort of liked that this was a transformative experience for multiple characters. It gives a little more support as to the impact of this summer trip, when multiple characters change in a positive way.
The romance. What is a book without a little romance. It was very sweet. Mathieu was the type of friend, who when he cared for you, he cared deeply and loved fiercely. He had a protective side, a supportive side, and a swoony side. I loved them all.
The adventures in Paris were fun to read about. I was transported back to when I visited, and it was fun to see it through someone else's eyes.
Overall: A cute, coming of age story with an adorable romance, and a great family dynamic, which made me grin.