It’s a real pleasure to be joining the blog tour for This Christmas in Paris by Sophie Claire. My huge thanks to Alara at Hodder for inviting me to participate. I’m delighted to share my review of This Christmas in Paris today.

This Christmas in Paris is published by Hodder and Stoughton and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

This Christmas in Paris

What could be more magical than Christmas in Paris?

When Carys is offered the chance to run a little French café, she leaps at the chance to discover an exciting city where she can dream big.

Meanwhile, struggling journalist Mat is living in the City of Love – but he’s never found romance himself.

Then, a chance encounter changes everything, and it feels like the start of something wonderful. But Carys and Mat are both keeping secrets . . .

Can they open their hearts to one another – and maybe even find love, just in time for Christmas?

My Review of This Christmas in Paris

Carys needs a fresh start.

This Christmas in Paris wasn’t quite the book I was expecting. I had anticipated a very light, entertaining story filled with love and romance, but actually found far greater depth that made it a hugely satisfying read. 

The catalyst for Sophie’s new life in Paris is actually linked to her need to leave behind the memories of a terrible accident and whilst PTSD isn’t over emphasised, it is an important aspect. Other, equally deep themes also include family dynamics, relationships, work life balance and, particularly through Aurelie, the gap between private lives and public persona, so that This Christmas in Paris gives the reader plenty to ponder even as it entertains them. 

I have no idea if it were intentional, but I found the structure of This Christmas in Paris really clever, because the pendulum swing of focus between Carys and Mat felt like the rhythm of a heartbeat. When the alternate chapter structure falters or skips, it is just like an issue with a heart and represents so well the problems they are encountering.

I thought Carys was a well rounded character brought to life with skill by Sophie Claire. Carys’s balance of strength and softness, her realisation that it is actually possible to feel lonely in a bustling city, her initial restlessness and her humanity and vivacity all felt realistic and engaging. By the end of This Christmas in Paris I found myself experiencing her emotions very closely with her and I read with a lump in my throat.

One element that I found especially gratifying in This Christmas in Paris was the depiction of Madame Parot and Madame Jalibert. Even though Madame Parot appears quite needy, always calling on Mat to fulfil some small task, both women illustrate the wisdom of being more mature and a confidence in a life well lived so that they illustrate it isn’t always the 30 somethings in fiction who are the most engaging! 

For me, Mat was more complex. He’s likeable and a definite romantic hero and yet there is an aspect to his actions that made me so cross. You’ll need to read This Christmas in Paris to discover that for yourself, but I really appreciated the way Sophie Claire illustrated Mat’s need to emerge from his flamboyant father’s shadow and to prove himself – even if it does make him behave despicably on occasion. The author shows with great sensitivity how life isn’t always clear cut and that sometimes we behave out of character for valid reasons.  

I thought This Christmas in Paris was a lovely read. It may be a romantic story set in a romantic city with a real sense of place and an engaging and entertaining plot, but through reading This Christmas in Paris we learn that success takes many forms and most importantly of all Sophie Claire illustrates to perfection that kindness and being mindful of how our actions affect others, is one of life’s most essential lessons. What better Christmas message? This Christmas in Paris is a super story.

Oh – and I loved the special touch of recipes from the story at the end too! 

About Sophie Claire

Sophie Claire writes uplifting emotional stories with their heart in Provence, where she spent her childhood summers. She is half French, half Scottish, was born in Africa and, growing up in England, she felt she didn’t belong anywhere – except in the pages of a book. Perhaps this is why she likes to help her characters find their home; a place in the world where they can be loved for themselves.

Previously, she worked in marketing and proofreading academic papers, but writing is what she always considered her ‘real job’ and now she’s delighted to spend her days dreaming up stories that will transport her readers to a beautiful place, and leave them with the warm glow of a sun-filled holiday.

You can find out more by visiting Sophie’s website, following her on Twitter/X @sclairewriter., or finding her on Instagram and Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too: