Paris for One and other stories - Jojo Moyes

Description

'Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love' Sunday Express A collection of 11 unmissable short stories from the number 1 internationally bestselling author of Me Before You and After You Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She's never even been on a romantic weekend away-to anywhere-before. Travelling abroad isn't really her thing. But when Nell's boyfriend fails to show up, she has the chance to prove to everyone-including herself- that she can be independent and intrepid. Alone in Paris, Nell finds a version of herself she never knew existed . . . In the ten other stories, Jojo Moyes introduces us to a cast of strong, relatable women in the midst of their everyday lives. In Honeymoon in Paris, featuring characters from her bestselling novel, The Girl You Left Behind, Liv and Sophie - though decades apart - both find that marriage is only the beginning of their love stories. In Crocodile Shoes, a businesswoman's blossoming confidence emerges from a fateful changing-room mix-up. And in both Love in the Afternoon and A Bird in the Hand, two couples dance around the trickiness of long-time marriage. In this irresistible collection, readers will be whisked from elegant perfume shops to taxis to five-star hotel rooms and more. Jojo Moyes always makes the ordinary moments in life extraordinary. Funny, charming, and unmissable, Paris for One and Other Stories is Moyes at her best. *Published in the elsewhere as Paris For One and Other Stories*

Review

Short stories by their very nature can be hard to get into - just as you feel you are relating to the characters it ends. I think that Jojo Moyes has made these stories the perfect length, each one just right. I felt I did get to know the characters and will definitely be re reading these stories again.

Some are very short and sweet and others are like novellas such as the story of Nell alone in Paris as her boyfriend fails to show up. Also there is a story that covers two timelines one in 1912 and one in 2002. Initially I thought I had slipped into another story as the other story suddenly began to be told leaving the first one unfinished. It was clever the way the two stories mirrored each other over the decades.  

All the stories feature women as the main character and a glimpse into their lives. They are not chick lit - but real life stories and not all good times along the way. One is sweet and heartwarming called the Blue Coat. 

I felt transported to Paris by these stories - although short they are memorable.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks go to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book for review.