It was worth waiting for this book

There are so many aspects to this book, the introvert Olivia and the outgoing very smug Marie, the 44 YO Olivia and the 56 YO Marie, the small countryside living Olivia and the metro piling living Marie… I don’t want to give you the whole story here so I would say. Whatever you do, get this book,
And last but not least: AC is wonderful, and I know it is not surprising, but I had to say it. :)

10 people found this helpful

Don’t waste the credit… 😒

Very disappointing story line, and honestly the first narration by Abby Craden I didn’t care for either.

8 people found this helpful

i live for this book, it is everything. <3

Olivia Chevalier (44): An awkward, introverted, woman living alone in the countryside of brittany with her two cats. Spending her time on her treadmill, reading, writing poetry, playing piano, and translating novels into french.

Marie Dievart (56): Charming, confident, slightly arrogant, womanizer, neurosurgeon (from a family of surgeons), trying to look into herself by hiding away in her family’s summer home (though it’s winter time). She is thrown for a loop by her job and her antisocial holiday neighbor. (Marie could turn me into a blushing puddle in seconds)

Both are like no one they’ve ever met, bringing on a new side of themselves along with self reflection/introspection. All while remaining true to their personalities. Their differences and chemistry makes me so very giddy.

Love love love Abby Craden as always, her performance was sublime, I like the occasional french accent with names/locations. I’m starting to love Harper Bliss as well. One of my favorite parts about books is accessing someone’s inner monologue, and we get both point of views of our main characters.

please read/listen to this absolute gem!!!

6 people found this helpful

a real love story

it's hard to find a good lesbian romance. it's even harder to find one about older women. I loved how the author didn't push the characters into a romance but kept true to their character. But before I say anymore, spoilers...

5 people found this helpful

Great Narrator

Abby Craden was perfect as always but this book was difficult. I can’t stand Marie at all and Olivia caused me anxiety as I read about her need to remain a recluse of sorts. But somehow, I love how different this book was. There was no grand over the top love exchange. This book was so matter of fact and so much closer to what a relationship might be like. And the age of the MCs gives hope to love. It’s a reminder that despite everything all hope for romance is not gone.

4 people found this helpful

I. LOVED. THIS. AUDIOBOOK.

Harper Bliss never ceases to amaze me. When she digs deep to create a character, the result is incredible.
What a treasure to have a character like Olivia Chevalier in lesfic! Or anywhere, really. She is an introvert and almost reclusive. Not entirely - she can go out, but much prefers staying close to home. And when she does go out or has people in, she needs considerable alone time to replenish. She lets very few people into her heart and personal space. She's not a bad person - it's just who she is and she's refreshingly unapologetic about that.
When extroverted, vivacious Marie Dievart comes knocking from her family's holiday home next door, Olivia is not happy. Marie needed time away from her work as a successful neurosurgeon and plans to stay for an extended period. When Olivia discovers the woman is a lesbian, she still refuses to allow the refined, successful, hot as hell woman into her very ordered world. But Marie can't stand being alone even though Olivia doesn't seem to want her around. She's used to picking up women for sex and nothing more. She rarely sleeps with anyone more than once and has no time for a commitment. So why won't that infuriating woman just blow off some steam with her? Surely she must be lonely.
I really appreciate how this story evolves. Full disclosure - I haven't read the French Kissing books where Marie is introduced and didn't need to because this is a stand-alone. Harper gives enough detail about her that you know what her patterns have been in the past.
This is way up there as one of my favorites of Harper's and that's saying a lot, considering how much wonderful work she's produced through the years. There's so much I could and would love to say about it but I don't want to spoil anyone's journey. This would be a great book for discussion!
For me, Abby Craden was the perfect voice actor to do this book. When you need vulnerability and longing, you just can't do better than her. It's important to note, however, that she doesn't attempt their accents. When they speak French, she uses the proper pronunciation (to my non-native ears) but otherwise she speaks in American English using tones she created for the characters. I think it's wiser to go that route rather than butcher them. But she beautifully captures their essence. I don't know how native speakers feel about that, though.
Harper is doing some of her best, most moving work in these last few years and I am absolutely here for it!

3 people found this helpful

Not the usual

This novel did not grab me as much as some prior Harper Bliss novels. I agree that it was very introspective, but it still did not leave me with a lasting impression of the characters, or an emotional attachment to either of them. I may have had a chuckle or two, but it certainly wasn’t overwhelmingly funny, and it did not bring me to tears at any point. On the other hand Abby Craden’s performance was stellar. If I hadn’t gotten this on audiobook, I may have stopped reading well before the end. My suggestion would be to try some of Harbor Bliss’s earlier stand alone works first.

2 people found this helpful

Exceptional read.

Personal insight, growth, love, lust self-awareness and plenty of dry humor makes this more than just a great read.

2 people found this helpful

Absolutely beautiful

I love the writing, I love the narrating, I love the whole package. I will definitely read again!

1 person found this helpful

See Marianne’s. I agree exactly

When struggling to finish this book I looked to see other reviews. Marianne! This reader was exactly as annoying as she perfectly described. The story was so repetitive that I really did scream more than once. Don’t ask why I finished it