It’s a real pleasure today to be helping launch the blog tour and sharing my publication day review of the latest book from Gillian Harvey, Midnight in Paris: published today (14th January) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), as an audiobook, and in paperback. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
I was a little late in discovering Gillian’s lovely books – how on earth did I miss books like The Bordeaux Book Club and The Riviera House Swap? But I totally loved her last book, The Little Provence Book Shop – a perfect setting, an atmospheric bookshop, friendships and romance, superb characterisation, and a touch of real magic (you’ll find my review here). I immediately vowed to add her future books to my “must read” list – and this was one I was rather looking forward to…
Ten years. Two people. One last visit…
Sophie and Tom first visited Paris together as students. During their weekend away in the world’s most romantic city, falling in love – with the place, and each other – was simply inevitable.
They resolved to return every summer and kept their word, until something happened that changed their world forever.
Five years on, Sophie’s travelling to Paris alone to meet Tom again in their special place, on the Pont du Carrousel at midnight.
Because life has torn them apart. And now Sophie has something to tell Tom. Something that will change everything…
The most heartbreaking, uplifting and powerful novel you’ll read all year. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Kristin Hannah and The Notebook.
Not the best way to start a review, but I perhaps should have taken more notice of “perfect for fans of David Nicholls” – that always means One Day, and it’s a narrative structure I rarely enjoy. But – and it’s a massive but – this book was the one to make me change my mind. It’s emotional impact is enormous, needing more than one box of tissues as you read – but as it draws to an end, it’s so very uplifting, with the promise of a far happier future.
The relationship between Sophie and Tom was something so special – his reputation at first made it look as if it was going to fail before they got off the starting blocks, but it soon becomes evident that they’re meant to be together. Their path through life is marked by those visits to Paris – the experience always a little different, although they often visit their favourite places (including Tom enduring yet another viewing of the Mona Lisa – and he’s right, she does look a bit like George Harrison…), culminating in a “moment” on the Post du Carrousel at midnight. But the story is told from a present day perspective, looking at their visits in the past tense – and the hand that fate has dealt them slowly becomes clear. It’s a well paced and perfectly told story – but one of those all-consuming ones where you’re almost dreading reading on, because no-one’s lives can really be that romance-filled and gorgeous, can they?
There’s a particularly strong supporting cast – the friends and more that we all need when we’re up against it, but there are also some who aren’t always quite on the same page at the same time. And there’s a real unpredictability about the story – key characters whose part in the story isn’t initially clear, some smoke and mirrors – along with a few surprises, and it’s all so beautifully handled. And despite all those much-needed tissues, there’s plenty of joy along the way – and the loveliest touches of humour too. And it really does end on the perfect note – the trials and tribulations over as we learn that life goes on, tears wiped and nose blown, and the warmest feeling around the heart. Highly recommended by me – but do remember those tissues…
About the author
Gillian Harvey is a freelance journalist. She has lived in Limousin, France for the past twelve years, from where she derives the inspiration and settings for her books such as A Year at the French Farmhouse and A Month in Provence.
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This sounds wonderful!