(Received as an ARC from Book Browser)

Paris in Love by Eloisa James is a memoir of sorts but not written in typical memoir fashion.

After her mother’s death and her own diagnosis of cancer, the author, now a cancer survivor, decides it’s time for a sabbatical so she, her Italian husband and two kids, pull up temporary stakes and head for Paris, France.

This is a light, easy read that made me want to find a nice meadow with a bubbling brook nearby, throw down a blanket and read the day away. Paris in Love isn’t so much a story, as it is a compilation of short introductory paragraphs and collections of short facebook entries and tweets by chapters.

Ms. James doesn’t shy away from talking about the dark side of living in Paris but her joie de vivre over the simple pleasures overshadows the negatives. She also doesn’t strive to make her family life the picture of perfection. In the small snippets of daily living, we are privy to the ups and downs of day to day family life with husbands, kids, in-laws, and visiting family and friends.

We learn that Paris is not without its faults. There is bad weather. There are homeless people living on the streets. Some Parisians look down their noses at Americans. Not every French restaurant serves perfect French cuisine (gasp!).

Although these little snippets may seem disjointed at times, Ms. James’ little Parisian vignettes relayed warmth and painted some wonderful pictures in my head that kept me reading.