The Paris Wedding: A Novel

Rachel West has spent the last ten years looking after the family farm in Australia and her mother, who suffered a debilitating illness before her recent death. She hasn’t seen her ex-boyfriend Matthew since he dumped her years ago when she receives an invitation to his wedding, in Paris of all places. The all-expense paid trip is too much to pass up, so Rachael convinces herself it’s the best way to find closure to this old relationship. She takes her best friend, Samantha, for moral support, but things don’t go to plan, and her return to the farm is one that forces her to come to terms with her future.

The cover of this book is so enchanting that I thought I would fall in love with the story right away. I was, however, not as taken with the first half of the book as I was with the second half. Parts of this story seemed to move slowly, with so much descriptive content that it felt almost flat. The second half of the book, which deals with Rachael in the aftermath of a humiliating experience, is far more engaging and dynamic. This made it a worthwhile read for me. I really like the fact that many of the characters realize the importance of not living in the past and that the future is where they will find a home.