What do readers think of A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable? Write your own review.

I wanted to read this book, as I love Paris and all things French. I also thought the art/furniture appraiser/auction house piece would be interesting to read and learn about. I read the book and found it to be entertaining, although as a whole, it was a little light and frankly predictable to me. I knew the first time Luc was presented to us in the book that April would have an affair of some sort with him, and I doubt I was the only one. Also, I found the character Marthe to be a little over the top and therefore contrived. I enjoyed how the book took me to some of my favorite places in Paris. For a light summer read, it works, but I think comparisons with The Paris Wife are incorrect the two books are in different leagues.

The premise of the book is a good one, mirroring an actual situation where a Paris apartment had been sealed up for many years with valuable treasures inside, is a good one. This was an enjoyable read, although at times the writing seemed a bit amateurish, and I certainly enjoyed the latter part of the book more than the first part. The author does a good job with the journal entries in transporting the reader to another time period.

If you enjoy "Chic Lit", grab your favorite munchie (mine is popcorn) and your beverage of choice. A Paris Apartment, by MIchelle Gable may be the book for you. Light, somewhat comical and a quick read, the author dishes up April's story. No spoilers in this review however. There is an apartment that been closed for decades filled to the brim with 19th to early 20th century treasures; a mysterious woman and her journals; an artist know for his "swish" portraits; a handsome, sexy French man and unhappily married April. Well, you get the idea - it's Chic Lit! Gable manages to pull it together in this first novel. But it was disappointing to this reader. I had wanted a tome that might at least give me some insight into those antique treasures. It might work for a long flight or a week at the beach. It is definitely a popcorn read.

Warning: Contains plot spoilers:

A Paris Apartment's first chapter seemed to promise an interesting story. The book moves from the present and back to 1898 describing the life of April -- the American Appraiser, and Marthe' the French Courtesan. Frankly Marthe' was not an appealing character and the language used in describing her life never seemed authentic. The relationship that Marthe' has with the painter Boldini -- which seems to be the basis of the book -- never gets interesting..... April's relationship with her husband is the same way -- and April's night with Luc wasn't sexy or meaningful -- she was drunk and slept with him, basically imitating her husband who had his own drunken one night stand. Connecting all the relationships of the past at the end still left me confused about why the family would leave the apartment full of treasures untouched for so many years.

This book is being compared to The Paris Wife and Moulin Rouge. The only thing in common is the book setting in Paris. The story moved right along and was interesting. I read to the end because I did want to know the end of the story. Too much French but it will do well in the mass market.

Paris, the world of antiques, discovery, self assessment - it all sounds like the basis of a good novel. Unfortunately, the writing is more like a mass-market paperback rather than the quality of good fiction. I found the story line a bit cliché. Just was not my cup of tea.

Not much more to add to that....I am always interested in reading about Paris and the story sounded promising. However, the writing here is amateurish and actually distracts from the story. It was really difficult to keep reading. Blech!