When newly-single party girl Vicki moved to Paris, she was hoping to indulge in wine, stuff her face with croissants, and fall in love. It proved to be much more “difficile” than she’d imagined. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, this cheeky storyteller recounts the highs and lows of her life in the City of Light. Sassy and shamefully honest, Vicki makes you feel as if you’re right there in Paris stumbling along the cobblestones with her.
As I embarked on Vicki’s journey into Parisian life, I couldn’t help but find myself always doing one of two things. The first was to marvel over how much she drinks. I’m by far not a prude and as a former Naval sailor I have some drunken nights that should have/could have been my last. But by the time I hit my mid-20’s drinking had already begun to lose it’s appeal to me. But you know what, her drinking isn’t an issue. After all, you only live once right?
The other thing I kept doing was laughing my ass off. Vicki’s method of retelling her exploits in Paris are light-hearted, easy-going and amusing. Her method of storytelling really draws you in and you can’t help but enjoy the (typically drunken) ride. But it’s more than that. In a way, she sheds light on to a completely different world that what we know as Americans. I’ll admit I was astounded by how many times she had to request a new copy of her birth certificate. In fact, it’s kind of like me always needing a new copy of my lease… only I always lose mine (or whoever needed it didn’t give it back) and she actually had to have a new one every six months because of French law. I’m also extremely thankful that I am not forced to fill out any dossiers, as it seems like a tedious task. Especially since they never fully instruct you of everything you need. The paperwork alone has squashed any dreams I had of one day moving to France and becoming a best selling novelist. Guess I’ll just have to write from the good old U.S.A.
In a way, Vicki’s story of her first few years in Paris is a bit of a coming of age tale. Especially when you consider each and every hoop she has to overcome along the way. And the truth is, you can see growth within her as the years past. I’m not referring to her finally giving up her freelance days of pajamas, baguettes and a late night of drinking. I mean in her way of dealing and maintaining her composure despite how frustrating things get. True, you get insight to her inner snark and wit during her recollection of these moments, but I don’t know many people who wouldn’t have snuck in a middle finger or told someone where they could shove their misleading, inaccurate dossiers. I also have to say I was impressed by her annoyance with her co-workers. As someone who is a workaholic and has a lot of pride in what I do, no matter what it is, that kind of work environment would either drive me nuts, like it did Vicki or I might wind up becoming one of the lazy drones.
All in all this was a fantastically enjoyable read for me. I constantly burst out laughing at something that happened to Vicki or some of her side remarks about a situation. There wasn’t a single point in which I felt as if I bored or ready for the story to end. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to add a humorous and fun read to their reading list.
Reviewer’s note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating
About the Author
Amazon bestselling author Vicki Lesage proves daily that raising two French kids isn’t as easy as the hype lets on. In her three minutes of spare time per week, she writes, sips bubbly, and prepares for the impending zombie apocalypse. She lives in Paris with her French husband, rambunctious son, and charming daughter, all of whom mercifully don’t laugh when she says “au revoir.” She penned the Paris Confessions series in between diaper changes and wine refills. She writes about the ups and downs of life in the City of Light at VickiLesage.com.
Purchase Links:
Giveaway
- eBook Copy of Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer
The Writer's Inkwell 
Hi Kristine! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Honestly, even *I* marvel over how much I used to drink! These days I’m usually beat after a (small) glass of wine! Thanks again 🙂