Having enjoyed a previous book by Lucy Diamond at the start of the year, I thought I could bookend 2023 (do you like what I did there?!) with her new release. Here’s the blurb:

“Jess Bright, single mum and journalist, feels her life has stalled. So when she’s offered a writing job in Paris for the summer, she leaps at the chance to go back to a city full of old memories and the promise of new opportunities.
Her subject is the iconic artist Adelaide Fox, whose personal life has always been steeped in scandal and intrigue. Now approaching eighty, she’s ready to tell her side of the story – and serve up some scalding-hot revenge in the process.
Amidst a stormy working relationship, Jess and Adelaide must face up to their pasts. As passionate affairs, terrible betrayals and life-changing secrets surface, there may be more surprises in store than either of them dared imagine . . .
Set in the city of love, with two unforgettable protagonists, I Remember Paris is a gloriously life-affirming novel about second chances, unlikely friendships and finding your way back to yourself“

Firstly, I really liked the main character – Jess. We’re a similar age, with children of a similar age, so lots of reference points were similar (although I’m still married to my husband!) The clever interweaving of both Jess’s trip to Paris when she was much younger – with her trip in the present day – is done very well. I thought the descriptions of Paris were excellent – and really evocative of the city, both the touristy destinations – and the ‘real’ French capital. 

I’m not an avid art follower – and I’m not sure if the character of Adelaide Fox is based on a specific artist – but she was very believable, and the unwinding of her past story was also well written.

Whilst Jess and Adelaide are the main stars of the book – the supporting cast are also excellent – with Adelaide’s nephew Luc providing a potential love interest for Jess, as well as an another from an old flame from her previous time in France. I felt the way the relationship between Jess and her eldest daughter was written was very ‘real’!

Paris is definitely a star of the book too.

Overall it was a lovely, escapist, read – with enough twists and turns to keep me keen to read on. Again – I’ve really enjoyed this Lucy Diamond book – and will most definitely look out for more of her work in the future.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.