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One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan is a heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship. The following book club questions for One Summer in Paris will have spoilers so read my spoiler-free review first.
To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Grace has planned the surprise of a lifetime for her husband—a romantic getaway to Paris. But she never expected he’d have a surprise of his own: he wants a divorce. Reeling from the shock but refusing to be broken, a devastated Grace makes the bold decision to go to Paris alone.
Audrey, a young woman from London, has left behind a heartache of her own when she arrives in Paris. A job in a bookshop is her ticket to freedom, but with no money and no knowledge of the French language, suddenly a summer spent wandering the cobbled streets alone seems much more likely…until she meets Grace, and everything changes.
Grace can’t believe how daring Audrey is. Audrey can’t believe how cautious newly single Grace is. Living in neighboring apartments above the bookshop, this unlikely pair offer each other just what they’ve both been missing. They came to Paris to find themselves, but finding this unbreakable friendship might be the best thing that’s ever happened to them…
Book Club Questions for One Summer in Paris
- What were your first impressions of Grace?
- Let’s talk about that bombshell anniversary dinner where David tells Grace he wants a divorce and that he’s having an affair with the much younger Lissa. What were you thoughts as you read this? What kind of person drops that news at dinner in a restaurant?
- What would you have done if you were Grace? Would you have still gone to Paris?
- Let’s talk about Grace’s grandmother Mimi! What did you think about her storyline? Did you like when she was reunited Antoine? Did you suspect that he was her lost love or were you surprised?
- What did you first think about Audrey? How did she grow throughout the story?
- Why do you think Grace felt a need to help Audrey? And what are some of the ways that Audrey helped her?
- Both Grace and Audrey have alcoholic mothers – Grace’s mom passes away when she was 19 and Audrey’s mother continues to spiral out of control. Let’s discuss how they are bonded through this by similar guilt, anger and feeling hopeless at the situation.
- We find out that Grace’s past love, Philippe, is in Paris. What did you think about their fling? Did you think it would last longer? Let’s discuss why Grace realized he wasn’t a fit.
- What did both Grace and Audrey learn about themselves in Paris?
- What did you think about Grace forgiving David? Did you understand, we’re confused, etc? Do you think she should be alone for a while before jumping back in the relationship or do you think she’ll be okay?
- Have you ever been to Paris?
What to read next
Here are some more women’s fiction recommendations along with links to book club questions!
The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr is full of heartbreak, healing and hope. It’s also another book set in Paris!
It’s Sophie Bloom’s forty-second birthday, and she’s ready for a night of celebration with Gabe, her longtime, devoted husband, and her two besties and their spouses. Dinner is served with a side of delicious gossip, including which North Grove residents were caught with their pants down on Ashley Madison after the secret on-line dating site for married and committed couples was hacked. Thirty-two million cheaters worldwide have been exposed…including Sophie’s “perfect” husband. To add insult to injury, she learns Gabe is the top cheater in their town.
Humiliated and directionless, Sophie jumps into the unknown and flees to France to meet up with her teenage daughter who is studying abroad and nursing her own heartbreak. After a brief visit to Paris, Sophie heads out to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. There, for the first time in a long time, Sophie acknowledges her own desires—not her husband’s, not her daughter’s—and rediscovers her essence with painful honesty and humor, reawakening both her sensuality and ambitions as a sculptor.
As she sheds her past and travels the obstacle-filled off beaten path, Sophie Bloom is determined to blossom. Allowing her true self to emerge in the postcard beauty of Provence, Sophie must decide what is broken forever…and what it means to be truly unbreakable.
You can order the book on Amazon here. Check out my book club questions here.
For another story about an unlikely friendship, check out Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty.
Accept a letter…
Hannah has been running—literally and figuratively—from her life back in Australia. Whenever she’s not working, she’s pounding London’s streets, putting the past behind her. Then she meets a fellow Australian named India, and Hannah’s entranced. For India is confident, exotic, and charming—qualities that Hannah feels she’s desperately lacking.
Pass it on…
India has a secret, too – one beyond any remedy. For it’s a secret that is currently sealed in a love letter and is making its journey across Europe in the most unconventional way—through the hands of strangers as they pass on the street.
And who knows where it will lead…
Before the letter with India’s deepest, darkest secret reaches its destination, can the women find the connection that will take each of them exactly where they need to go….
You can order the book on Amazon here. Check out my discussion questions here.
