And Other Stories By: Jo Jo Moyes
A Novella
ISBN: 9780735221079
Publisher: PENGUIN Viking
Publication Date: 10/18/2016
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 4 Stars From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You and After You, a sensational collection featuring the title novella and eight other stories. Quintessential Jojo Moyes, Paris for One and Other Stories is an irresistibly romantic collection filled with humor and heart. Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She's never even been on a romantic weekend away—to anywhere—before. Everyone knows travelling abroad isn't really her thing. But when Nell's boyfriend fails to show up for their romantic mini-vacation, she has the opportunity to prove everyone—including herself—wrong.
Alone and in Paris, Nell uncovers a version of herself she never knew existed: independent and intrepid. Could this turn out to be the most adventurous weekend of her life? Funny, charming, and irresistible, Paris for One is vintage Moyes—as are the other stories that round out the collection.
My Review
A special thank you Penguin/Viking and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. JoJo Moyes returns following After You (Me Before You, #2) with a romantic and entertaining novella PARIS FOR ONE AND OTHER STORIES.
A Parisian Holiday Delight! Nell is excited while waiting to take the train to highly-anticipated Paris when texting her boyfriend. He is not going to make it! He will meet up with her later (possibly). Shocked and angry, this was supposed to be a romantic getaway and her first visit to enchanting Paris. At age twenty-six, Nell Simmons has never even been away for a weekend with a boyfriend, much less a trip by herself. Solo. When arriving at the hotel, they have overbooked the rooms. She decides she will let nothing interfere with her trip. Until she realizes her boyfriend is not coming, and she is stuck rooming with another woman she does not know. A rude American woman, at that. The Frenchwoman at the reception desk is of little help. One room, twin beds, or a refund. Things are not starting out too well. So much for the new underwear and the painted toenails. She has been stood up! If she had, to be honest, he was an unreliable boyfriend, period. She could go back to England; however, she is unlikely to get a train this late. She will return the following day. However, she decides to go out for a bite to eat. She is trying to live in the moment. She usually plays it safe. No risk taking. Upon returning to the hotel, the two women find they are not their ideal choice, of sleeping companions; fighting in a small space. However, the following day things change. The new ticket will cost too much to return home. She will have to look at all the happy couples. Now she hates Paris. Until she discovers two tickets to an art gallery show by an artist she has vaguely heard of. They must have belonged to the American woman, whom she has found out has left. (her luck may be changing). The front desk says she should go. Maybe she will. After a little shopping to be more “Tres chic” Parisian, and she is ready to go out with a Frenchman she picked up at an art gallery. With some chances and a witty list of “reasons to stay in tonight,” Paris turns out to be more than delightful! For the first time, she, Nell the careful girl from England is whomever she chooses to be. From mistakes, being impulsive, to chance encounters. A magical Christmas novella of a girl who finds herself alone in Paris, but not for long! Along with other women in the following stories with unsatisfying relationships- find themselves trying out new identities, and different situations with a twist. Some light-hearted fun and adventure from the “queen” of drama, in one short novella packed in the adorable holiday collection: • Paris for One and other Stores: • Between the Tweets • Love in the Afternoon • A Bird in the Hand • Crocodile Shoes • Holdups • Last Year’s Coat • Thirteen Days with John C • The Christmas List With Moyes’ own signature style- always lots of wit, mischief, charm, and holiday cheer.
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Advance Praise
"[A] charming novella. . . [and] a collection of short stories rounds out the work and adds up to an engaging way to spend fall's first chilly afternoon.”—Good Housekeeping
"Vibrant. . .Bold, humorous and genuine, the stories in this collection are classic Moyes." —Publishers Weekly
"Think of these short fictions as palate cleansers after the sweet, tasty Parisian treat Moyes so deliciously serves up". --USA Today
About the Author
Jojo Moyes was born in 1969 and grew up in London. After a varied career including stints as a minicab controller, typer of braille statements for blind people for NatWest, and brochure writer for Club 18-30, she did a degree at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, London University. In 1992, she won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to attend the postgraduate newspaper journalism course at City University.
Jojo worked as a journalist for ten years, including a year at South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, and nine at The Independent where she worked variously as News Reporter, Assistant News Editor and Arts and Media Correspondent.
Jojo has been a full time novelist since 2002, when her first book, Sheltering Rain was published. Since then she has written a further eleven novels, all of which have been widely critically acclaimed.
Jojo has won the Romantic Novelist’s Award twice, and Me Before You has been nominated for Book of the Year at the UK Galaxy Book Awards. Me Before You has since gone on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide.
The film adaptation of Me Before You starring Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games) and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) was released in June 2016 and was a huge box-office success. The screenplay was written by Jojo.
For more information about all of Jojo’s novels, please visit the books page here. Jojo lives (and writes!) on a farm in Essex, England with her husband, journalist Charles Arthur, and their three children. Read More
