The Paris Effect | K.s.r. Burns
#1 Amazon Best Seller Friendship, loss... and a tantalizing trip to Paris in this highly praised debut novel! Amy and Kat had a plan: A secret trip to Paris. Even Amy's husband wouldn't know about it. But when Amy loses Kat, the "friend of her heart," to cancer, she knows the plan, too, has disappeared forever. Or has it? Guided by memories of her friend and dissatisfaction with her own calorie-counting life in Phoenix, Amy sneaks off to Paris while her husband is away on a business trip. Once there, she's robbed, stalked, arrested and kidnapped (almost). Worse, she finds that her numerous issues have come right along with her. Through her adventures, laced with luscious descriptions of food and Paris, Amy learns that often in life, love and friendship, nothing is exactly as it seems. Grab a croissant and settle in for a decidedly non-touristy trip to the City of Light. Fans of Ella Carey's Paris Time Capsule and Allison Winn Scotch's Time of My Life will enjoy this touching and thoughtful story of self-discovery and second chances. Author Interview Why did you write The Paris Effect? This is easy. I am a member of two book groups. We love talking about stories and characters, why we liked or didn't like a novel, what books and reading mean to us. I've done a lot of pondering about what makes a satisfying reading experience. Simply put, I wanted to write a novel that my book groups would enjoy reading and talking about. What kind of story is The Paris Effect? Reviewers call it an engrossing adventure that's both funny and touching. Literary types would probably say it's a coming of age story because the main character, Amy (who loves all things French, and is diet-obsessed and believes French women don't get fat), takes the first big risk of her life by running away to France, soon learning the truth of the expression, "Wherever you go, there you are." I call it a tale of self-discovery that for the reader doubles as a virtual mini-vacation to Paris, giving a unique glimpse of Paris life. Many books have been written with Paris as the setting. What sets yours apart? Who doesn't like a Paris love story? For many of us, Paris is the ultimate romantic dream destination. And don't get me wrong-Paris is truly as romantic as it's cracked up to be! But it's also a multilingual, multinational metropolis of street hustlers, diesel fumes, puddles of pee, and pickpockets. Amy encounters all of these and more, including some wonderfully kind strangers. She gets to know a Paris that few casual tourists ever see. And so will you. Thanks for reading! Categories Women's Fiction Literary Fiction Chick Lit France Novels / Paris Novels France Fiction / Paris Fiction France Travel Writing / Paris Travel Writing For women's fiction readers who love Paris and the following themes: paris life, france romance, paris fiction, france fiction, french women don't get fat, paris love story, paris romance, french love story, france novel, french lifestyle, french culture, france travel writing, paris vacation, france book, french stories, paris stories
The Paris Effect | 
so-so
The 1st half of the book moved glacially slow for me. I couldn't put it down for the 2nd half!
The middle part of the book reads like a fantastical, unbelievable, strange dream. In fact, I kept thinking that Amy was going to wake up from her feverish illness to find that this all had been a dream. (I may have liked this book better if that had been true.)
Amy's best friend was Kat. But was she really her best friend? That's highly debatable. Amy and Kat used to tease Rose (Amy's coworker) behind her back. Merciless, mean girl teasing. But near the end of the book, it turns out Rose might actually have the potential to be a real true friend to Amy. However, it seems Amy is too dense to fully realize this and 2 weak and/or scared to act upon it. Instead, it seems she is going to run back to Paris and start a new life with people she just met, one of which betrayed her immensely, much like Kat did but for very different reasons.
Both Amy and Will live by rules. By the end of the book Amy realizes that there is more to life than living by the rules. But we never have the opportunity to find out if Will will also realize the same thing?...
For me, this was a book of contrasts! I really enjoyed some parts, others I really disliked. Sometimes I was thinking it was going to be a one star sometimes a 4 star. In the end, I'm giving it a 3 but it's really about a 2 1/2 stars for me (but half stars are an option). 3y