Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas & Giveaway

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Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) is a great and might I mention yummy memoir by Amy Thomas chronicling her love affair with Paris and the awesome opportunity she had to live and work there for two years. And let’s face it – who doesn’t want to read a book describing all kinds of decadent and heart stopping desserts!

After spending time in Paris after college Amy was completely and utterly in love, not to mention obsessed with Paris and more to the point the decadent yummy concoctions of chocolate that are all over Paris. As luck would have it, at thirty-six years old, she is offered a transfer from New York to Paris to work on the Louis Vuitton account. Well hello – would you say no to that move? Neither would I and neither did she! For someone with a sweet tooth that could outrun most of ours this was the perfect chance for her to go back to Paris and explore all the yet undiscovered desserts that just had to be waiting there for her.

As she tries to acclimate to life in Paris she finds it’s a lot harder than she had anticipated. She isn’t fitting in the best at work and she hasn’t made friends. Now for Amy this was tough as she was one popular girl in New York. She loved her nights out with the girls having drinks and having fun. As time wore on she found herself torn between the Paris she loves and the New York that she’s really missing. Even though she did eventually make a few really good friends, it still wasn’t home.

What I found most interesting about this memoir aside from the desserts which I’ll get to was her descriptions of life in Paris and the people who live there. Also about how our expectations aren’t always met but that it shouldn’t let it get us down – we just find another way to enjoy what we’ve been given. An example would be that Amy had thought she’d meet the man of her dreams there and yet the few dates she had were definite duds. She thought that she’d be out with friends every weekend like at home and yet that didn’t happen either but the few friends she did make would be friends for life. I really admire her outlook on life where you may not get something you wanted, but just maybe something better is coming your way.

Now the desserts – can I just say oh my God! Now a lot of them I couldn’t eat because they are made with various kinds of nuts and I’m allergic but that didn’t stop me from imagining how good the ones I could eat would taste. The descriptions Amy gives us of all these goodies makes your mouth water and at times I felt sure I could smell the sugary sweetness right through my iPad. All the chocolate – oh my! It sounds like a piece of heaven for sure!

This is a fabulous memoir for anyone planning a trip to Paris especially if you’re interested in knowing where all the good spots are for yummy treats as Amy has put a glossary in the back of all of them. Yet this is also a great memoir for those interested in New York as well because she let’s us know all the hot spots to visit for the best goodies there too throughout the book! As usual, reading a memoir about Paris has made me want to pick up and head out there for myself (if only I weren’t afraid to fly – lol). If you have a sweet tooth like I do, then you’ll love this book! Be sure to check out both of Amy’s blogs: God, I love Paris and Sweet Freak.  Your own copy of Paris, My Sweet can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas to share with my readers. To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass this extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I’ll be drawing for the winner on Saturday, March 10/12.  Good luck!

Source:  Review copy provided by Sourcebooks via NetGalley. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are solely my own.

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Comments

  1. You know how much I love books that talk about food! Visiting Paris is one thing I would like to do eventually. At least, for now, there are great books like this. I’ll have to visit from the comfort of my chair. 🙂

  2. This sounds wonderful. When I tell people we lived in France they imagine the world she imagined and the reality is different. It’s been a while since we lived in France, but when we did, the desserts weren’t really sweet and all the Americans who visited us were disappointed in them.

  6. I would love to read this book. I think I would consider going to Paris just to eat the desserts. Of course, I may not be able to fit on the plane coming back, but it would be worth it.LOL.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  9. Since I can’t actually eat a lot of yummy treats, the second best thing is reading about them! This sounds like a great book with which to do that! I’d love to be counted in on your giveaway, Dar and thanks for hosting it!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  18. This sounds like a great memoir Dar, and Amy does sound like she has a great outlook on life.
    Sorry I wasn’t around much yesterday for the GWTW discussion, I finally got online around 10pm to see what everyone had to say.

  23. This sounds like a wonderful read. Since I can’t eat all the good stuff, at least I can read about it!

  25. This review reminds me of cookie monster and how he cannot resist even eating a cookbook simply because of the cookie pictures. LOL No need to enter me, but it sounds like a good one.

  30. I’m getting hungry looking at all the treats on the Sweet Freak website. I would love to read this book. I just love treats.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  32. This book sounds so good! I love foodie memoirs AND Paris, so this seems right up my alley! Thanks so much for hosting a giveaway! I entered on Goodreads, but didn’t win 🙁

    Anyway, I’m a GFC Follower: JP

  56. I think memoirs are one of my favorite types of book. I think it would be fun to follow her around NY and Paris.
    Please enter me Dar!
    and I follow with email too.