Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Up the Seine Without a Paddle (The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw, #2)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Up the Seine Without a Paddle

(The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw #2)

Eliza Watson (Goodreads Author)

4.16 · Rating details · 405 ratings · 47 reviews

What do you do when the City of Love doesn't love you?

Caity Shaw takes on Paris and her next event planner job with a bit more confidence--which is immediately shot down when she's forced to take responsibility for a six-year-old brat. They're kicked out of a famous museum, and she goes from being a glamorous event planner--for a funeral directors' group--to a reluctant au ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 165 pages

Published October 29th 2016 by Elizabeth Watson

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Up the Seine Without a Paddle, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Up the Seine Without a Paddle

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.16 ·

Rating details

· 405 ratings · 47 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Up the Seine Without a Paddle (The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw, #2)

Dec 14, 2016 Whispering Stories rated it it was amazing

This is the second book in The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw series and is, if possible, even better than the first.

It just makes such deliciously compulsive reading and is a perfect comfort read when you’re feeling a little down. Eliza Watson’s writing style is so easygoing and personal, with the first person approach to this novel, it feels like you’re the main character’s confidant and have a ringside seat to all her shenanigans in this latest book.

Caity, the main character in question, is nat This is the second book in The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw series and is, if possible, even better than the first.

It just makes such deliciously compulsive reading and is a perfect comfort read when you’re feeling a little down. Eliza Watson’s writing style is so easygoing and personal, with the first person approach to this novel, it feels like you’re the main character’s confidant and have a ringside seat to all her shenanigans in this latest book.

Caity, the main character in question, is naturally upbeat and sweet but she’s not long out of an abusive relationship and is trying to re-establish her identity after being told for so long that everything about her was wrong. The hardest part to this venture that she doesn’t really know who she is as a person, but she’s building bridges with her family and is working on her genealogy to see if finding her roots helps her figure out who she is.

Caity began the search for her grandmother’s past in the first book of the series, Flying by the Seat of my Knickers, but this book doesn’t have a huge amount of development on that front but I was delighted to learn that the next book is due out in July 2017 so there’s a promise of more already!

The beauty of this book is the character development, Caity is gaining a little more self-confidence now she’s having some little wins in her new job. With this self-confidence, however, she’s starting to chip away at the walls she had to build around herself to survive her abuse relationship and the breakup – it’s painful to read but very cathartic. The pace of this book sets the tone for what I think we can expect from the rest of the series, the pace at which our heroine is getting her life back together suggests that we have a few more books ahead of us before we can reach what I hope (pray, beg, possibly bribe) will be a final happy ending.

This all sounds heavy and depressing but this book is wonderfully fun, humorous and light-hearted. Caity is working her second ever job as an event planner/coordinator and though she’s finding her feet in this industry, you can never predict what’s going to happen next! The author herself is an event planner and you can feel the authenticity of a lot of the issues the main characters face, there’s something about knowing that all these hilarious disasters are probably loosely based on real life events that makes them extra funny!

The one thing to realise about this series, so far at least, is that it isn’t really a romance – sure, there are some fuzzy feelings, but it’s just about a woman rebuilding her life and how she learns to cope under pressure all over again.

I would recommend this book for fans of travel and light humour, it’s so easy and comforting to read that I would put this on a list of holiday reads.

Reviewed by Nia at www.whisperingstories.com ...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2016 Yodamom rated it it was ok

Shelves: arc, netgalley, abuse, survival, francophile

2 I requested this book thinking it was a romantic story wrapped around a trip to Paris. It was based in Paris and several landmarks were visited but this was not a light romantic read. It struggled between a survival recovery book and a romance and failed at both for me. It felt light at times, I'd start to enjoy the characters, then it would suddenly go into victim survival therapy. Preachy therapy, the I'm telling you how to feel and act kind. Then she got aggressive towards people who didn't ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2017 Elle's Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: womens-fiction

Release Date: October 29, 2016
Genre: Women's Fiction

This book is another delightful novel in the series! I adore Eliza's writing style and how she writes characters that are easy to connect with. Even better is the fact that she brings these characters to life because they deal with real issues!

For those who are interested in this novel (and I highly recommend it) please be sure to read Flying by the Seat of My Knickers first as it is the beginning of Caity's journey. And I can promise you ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2019 Yvonne rated it really liked it

Another great book by Eliza Watson! I love this series!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 25, 2016 Rachel Gilbey rated it it was amazing

Well this is a book that kept me smiling from the opening chapter, right until the end. There are so many funny scenes in this, in addition to Caity's deeper issues, and the mystery over her grandmother's history all combined in this wonderful book.

As the second book in the The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw series, I do believe it works as a standalone, but since the first book was also really enjoyable, it would be a shame to miss out and not get a more comprehensive feel for these characters.
Well this is a book that kept me smiling from the opening chapter, right until the end. There are so many funny scenes in this, in addition to Caity's deeper issues, and the mystery over her grandmother's history all combined in this wonderful book.

As the second book in the The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw series, I do believe it works as a standalone, but since the first book was also really enjoyable, it would be a shame to miss out and not get a more comprehensive feel for these characters. There are also continuing storylines, which are great for those who have read Flying by the Seat of My Knickers, but may be a bit confusing at first for people new to the series.

The unofficial recurring theme of the book seemed to be, how many places can Caity get herself thrown out of accidentally in Paris, for a whole number of unusual reasons. This is in part because she seemed to be the babysitter of 6 year old Henry whose parents seemed to not really care that most of the activities going on would not appeal to their child.

Caity, thanks to Declan who she first met in the previous book, has bluffed her way into working this meeting in Paris, and she is determined to prove herself, and not let her lack of experience show. She is only just starting to gain some self-esteem after splitting with her ex-boyfriend and the problems that relationship had.

The more I get to see of Caity, the more I like her, she is so enthusiastic about everything to do with this job, perhaps with the exception of touring the catacombs, and even gets to see a few things in Paris a bit off the beaten track, thanks to needing to entertain Henry.

I'm very intrigued as to what happened with Caity's grandmother, and feel that we will hopefully get more information slowly revealed in the future books of the series, which is just one reason why I am already looking forward to the next book.

Up The Seine Without A Paddle is a wonderfully light hearted and easy to read book, that will lift your spirits after a tough day, while allowing you to travel to Paris from the comfort of your living room., which is just one of the many reasons that I wholeheartedly love this book, and series.

Thank you to Eliza Watson for this cop of the book which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 19, 2016 Meghan Lloyd rated it it was amazing

This was a wonderful, sweet second book in the Caity Shaw series! While not as hysterically funny as the first book, this brought out all the feels you can think of: humor, sorrow, and love. I fell in love with the setting of Paris, and the way it was described by the author makes me wish I could go tomorrow.

Caity Shaw is in Paris, once again working with her good friend Declan, for an event specifically for funeral directors. While not so enthused by some of the morbid attractions on the group' ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2017 Emily rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, women-s-fiction, chick-lit, fiction

Just like the first book in the series I found this book wholly enjoyable. In this book Caity has been gaining confidence in herself and her abilities so we really get to see her have shining moments instead of mostly fumbling around trying to fix mistakes.

I don't know if I mentioned this in the review of the first book in the series or not, but when I read it I felt like the trauma she had sustained from her latest relationship had been shown but also over-simplified. There was one statement t ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 11, 2020 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This and other reviews can be found on my blog: https://goodbookscometothosewhoread.b...

Revisiting Caity and her travel mishaps has been a true delight, this book leads on from the first book (Flying by the Seat of My Knickers) expanding on Caity’s tears and triumphs.

Eliza has captured the highs and lows of all the characters, covering some difficult subjects in a very sympathetic way. I have once again fallen in love with the quirky main character, as she is tries to re build her self-confiden ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 19, 2017 Elizabeth Ray rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed the second installment in this series. These books are quick reads that keep your interest the entire time. Caity is working her second ever travel event in Paris. Declan, the one who recommended her and her possible love interest from the last book, is along as well. Caity learns more about event planning and is starting to grow in her confidence. Well, when she isn't stuck playing nanny to the funeral director's son. Meanwhile, Declan opens up about his past and Caity is wonde ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 09, 2017 Petra Quelch rated it it was amazing

I have read the first book in the series of Travel Mishaps Of Caity Shaw, and I thoroughly enjoyed it so when I received the second book in the series I was delighted to find out more about Caithy and her travel adventure, and I certainly was not disappointed.
Up the Seine without a Paddle is a highly engaging, humour and charming read with a sprinkling of magic and mystery.
I loved following Caity on her adventure in the City of Love. Caity is certainly a little bit more confident when it comes t ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 06, 2020 Amanda Jane rated it it was amazing

Fun

Caity has been booked to help on another job assisting with a tour group of American undertakers in Paris with Heather and Declan.. he might just have boosted her résumé a little to get her the position..

She's still full of indecision and lacking confidence, but finding herself dropped in it proves a quick study, practical and resourceful.. she really needs to start believing in herself!

She's left to handle the 6 year old son of one the top salesmen who's nearly coated a 15m painting with cho ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 13, 2020 Sheila rated it it was amazing

Up the Seine without a Paddle is the second book in the Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw. In this book we travel with Caity to Paris, France where she is working for an event planner. Even though she fibbed a bit on her resume, she is helped out of some misadventures by her co-worker Declan whom she has a crush on. After repeatedly getting asked to leave some of the top tourist sites she continues to do her job. Even the part of the job she doesn't care for...watching a six year old who is a bit on ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 16, 2018 Nancy H rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is an enjoyable series that shows what it is like if you travel somewhere, don't know the culture or language very well, yet nevertheless try your best to fit in, and in the case of Caity Shaw, heroine of this series, do your job as fledgling event planner. In this story, Caity finds herself in Paris, along with Declan, who is a possible romantic interest, and the two of them must shepherd a group of funeral directors through a conference. Caity and Declan also each have personal issues to ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 15, 2017 Nancy rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, yeah-it-is-a-romance

I enjoyed this book even more than the first. This book was a relaxing, lighter read. So there is swearing, including the F-word, in this book - but since an Irish character is saying the words, and it's spelled differently because he's Irish, it really didn't bother me as much. Which really shouldn't make any sense. 3 - 3.5 ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 07, 2019 Lyra rated it it was amazing

This story (second in a series that should be read in order) celebrates the awe and wonderful of travel, even when the trip ends up not as expected. This is a charming chick-lit series that speaks to the lessons we learn in our 20s. I enjoyed this part of Caity’s journey and look forward to the next installment. The virtual visit to Paris - both on and off the beaten path was a bonus.

flag Like · see review

Mar 10, 2019 Tina rated it it was amazing

I read the first Caity Shaw book in 18 hours, and thought that the second instalment couldn't be as addictive to read - I was wrong! I read it in an afternoon! Brilliant story, which had me giggling, raising a fist and biting my lip. Well done Eliza - I love this series! I'll be back for part 3 soon! :D ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 20, 2020 Angela rated it liked it

It was a quick read and I enjoyed seeing what Caity had been up to since the last book. This time we find her and Declan in Paris dealing with various work events and still finding time to get some time to themselves, although the later was pretty tough to do. I'm liking how things are going and will be reading the next book. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 04, 2017 Samantha Glass rated it really liked it

Another in the series of zany adventures Caity Shaw gets into while working as a tour planner. This time, set in Paris, Caity juggles calamity in her tour, being a babysitter, and her feelings for Declan. Delicious little peeks into a different culture. Fun read.

flag Like · see review

Nov 10, 2017 Margie O'byrne rated it it was amazing

Caity Gains Confidence

In the second in the series, the author and the main character both mature. The writing is smoother and she handles the relationship between Caity and Declan in a polished manner. Great read

flag Like · see review

Feb 22, 2018 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2018

Very much enjoyed this second Caity adventure. I love the chemistry and fun between Caity and Declan....Also love his Irish sense of humour. I also have done a bit of investigating Irish ancestry for my husband's grandparents so this aspect is also interesting. On to the third adventure... ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 09, 2018 Sandy Samuel rated it it was amazing

Second in a series

The first is "Flying By the Seat of My Knickers." It's all about how Caity first became an event planner in Dublin. Both books are wonderful! I can't wait to start on the third, which I'm doing right now! ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 16, 2019 Sherrel rated it it was amazing

Up the Seine-No Paddle in Sight

This is the 2nd book of the series. While not my normal genre, I've enjoyed reading it!
The characters are very likable and well developed. We learn more about each as the author teases us with a beginning romance.
Very enjoyable indeed! ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 27, 2019 Jan rated it it was amazing

Another winner for Eliza Watson!

This book is the second in the series I just finished it moments ago. A wonderful tale with relatable imperfect characters who experience life the good and the bad in all its Glory I can hardly wait to read book 3!

flag Like · see review

Apr 03, 2019 Louise rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-of-2019

Great fun read

As frustrated as I was getting with Caity, she held her own in this book and it was great. I just want her to be happy and have what she deserves but I can't help but think its not gonna be easy for her! ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 07, 2020 Kris Kuebel rated it it was amazing

Continued adventures

I am enjoying this series about the mishaps and coups of Caity, Declan, Rachel and the gang travelling around Europe all the while helping tour groups and balancing their own personal turmoil s.

flag Like · see review

Nov 15, 2020 Morgan Smith rated it it was amazing

I felt like I’ve been in Paris!!

I loved this Caity book even better than the first one. Funny, emotional, it’s got it all. I was so immersed in the story that I felt like I was in Paris alongside Caity. Can’t wait to read the next one!

flag Like · see review

Jun 30, 2017 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Another great book by Eliza Watson the 2nd book in the series can't wait for the 3rd book! Up the Seine Without a Paddle is a fun well written quick read! ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 21, 2017 Carlin rated it it was amazing

I loved this book as well as #1 & 3 in this series. See my review of #3.

flag Like · see review

Sep 24, 2017 Regi Sullivan rated it liked it

Cute story and characters. While the ending's not really a cliffhanger, the story is not really finished either - you have to read all three to wrap up the storylines. ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 22, 2018 Maureen rated it it was amazing

An Interesting trip a round Paris

City's confidence with her new job is slowly increasing in this unusual story set in Paris. Eliza Watson has created an other delightful story. ...more

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance

5 users

Contemporary

4 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

4 users

Fiction

2 users

See top shelves…

About Eliza Watson

Eliza Watson

396 followers

I am a USA Today Bestselling Author. When I'm not traveling for my job as an event planner, or tracing my ancestry roots through Ireland, I'm at home working on my next novel, bouncing ideas off my husband, Mark, and my cats Frankie and Sammy. My monthly newsletter features Caity's travel tips column, genealogy research advice, and info about my latest news, giveaways, and releases! You can subscr ...more