Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction, Short Stories

Paris for One & Other Stories by Jojo Moyes

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

Paris for One and Other Stories

 

 

 

I read this some time ago but realized I haven’t shared any of my short story reading. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

This book has nine stories about troubled relationships from the perspectives of the women in each. The first, Paris for One, is the length of a novella while the others are all short stories. I liked some more than others but really enjoyed them collectively. The narration performances were outstanding and contributed greatly to my overall reading experience. Below are short summaries of each with my reactions.

Paris for One

Nell and her boyfriend Pete are off for a weekend in Paris, or so she thinks. Pete turns out to be a no-show and Nell decides to stay and experience the city of lights on her own.

I actually loved this meandering and delightful story. Nell is such a straight arrow who steps outside of herself and turns a potentially crummy set of circumstances into a wonderful adventure. I enjoyed this immensely.

Between the Tweets

This story about a PR nightmare has just the right touch of irony. Short but it hit the right notes.

Love in the Afternoon

A woman’s husband surprises her with a getaway vacation but it can’t conjure up a bygone romance. This was so realistic it almost hurt but I loved the ending.

A Bird in the Hand

A married woman encounters her former secret lover at a party and both have regrets they didn’t even know they had. While this was not one of my favorites, it still was pretty interesting.

Crocodile Shoes

A weary working mother and neglected wife has a pair of fantastic shoes transform her life overnight. This is one of my favorites, full of humor with a perfect ending.

Holdups

A woman working at a jewelry store has an encounter with one of the robbers of the place while it is in progress. This was my least favorite as it was a bit far fetched. Still, it was interesting.

Last Year’s Coat

A married, working mother needs a new coat but the one she really wants is out of reach as they’re struggling to make ends meet. It has a lovely and pertinent ending.

Thirteen Days with John C.

A neglected married woman finds a cell phone and gets caught up in a texting relationship with a twist. This was touching and a bit sad though I got hooked through the end.

The Christmas List

A woman in a cold, dispassionate marriage is struggling to find the items on a Christmas list created by her husband for his mother. A fortunate ride in a taxi made this a really special story. Loved it.

 

Book Info

  • Release Date: November 1, 2016
  • Narrators: Fiona Hardingham, Susan Duerden, Jayne Entwistle, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith, Katharine McEwan
  • Audio Length: 5 hours, 45 minutes

 

 

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(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)

Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

33 thoughts on “Paris for One & Other Stories by Jojo Moyes”

  9. I read this several years ago, but I don’t remember all these stories for some reason, lol. I remember Nell and Fabian, but that’s it…maybe I missed something. I do remember liking it, but I’ve never read anything by Moyes that I didn’t like. Wonderful review, Jonetta!

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  11. This looks really good and I’m so happy the narration added another layer to it! I’m not always crazy about short stories but some of these sound really good!💛

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