Paris for One and Other Stories

September 12, 2016
In this vibrant collection containing one novella and eight short stories, Moyes (Me Before You) once again focuses primarily on heroines who discover their deeper strength and learn about themselves during periods of emotional strife. The stories all deal in some way with romantic entanglements. New passions, old trysts, a Twitter scandal, a heist, and even Louboutin shoes fill up these short but sweet tales. The jewel of the collection is the title novella, “Paris for One,” in which Nell has uncharacteristically splurged on a romantic weekend getaway to Paris for herself and her boyfriend. He fails to arrive, and Nell—a micro-manager who is known to make pro-and-con lists before deciding what sandwich to eat—finds herself suddenly alone in a foreign country. In fewer than 150 pages Moyes creates a fully dynamic and compelling leading woman. In the face of rejection and adversity, Nell begins to learn exactly who she is and what she is capable of. Other stories include a jewelry-store robbery with an amorous twist, the tale of a middle-aged woman who spends a day literally in someone else’s shoes, and a Christmas shopping frenzy that reveals to a harried wife what is really important in life. Bold, humorous, and genuine, the stories in this collection are classic Moyes and will appeal to fans of her novels and newcomers alike. Agent: Sheila Crowley, Curtis Brown Creative.

Moyes (After You, 2015, etc.) explores the lives of unsatisfied women in this collection of short stories and a novella.In the title novella, a young woman named Nell plans a romantic weekend trip to Paris only to find out that her jerk of a boyfriend made a last-minute decision not to accompany her. Although Nell typically plays it safe, she eventually decides to enjoy her time in Paris alone. Her newfound sense of adventure allows her to enjoy the romance and excitement of the city (and a new man). Most of the short stories here follow a similar format: a woman who is unsatisfied with her relationship stumbles into a new situation or makes an out-of-character decision. One woman runs into an old lover at a party, one wears another woman's shoes and experiences surprising results, and another ends up involved in a bank robbery. Women try out new identities, styles, and relationships and then either make triumphant changes or realize how wonderful their lives really were in the first place. This leads to a series of stories that can feel a bit homogenous, but Moyes' engaging writing keeps things enjoyable. While there's nothing earth-shattering in this collection, it's a pleasant and charming read. Me Before You fans searching for the same emotional intensity should probably look elsewhere, but these stories make for a diverting treat while waiting for Moyes to write her next tear-jerker. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 15, 2016
With "After You" having debuted at No. 3 on the "New York Time"s best sellers list, her best out-of-the-gate showing yet, Moyes takes a break with a collection of pieces new to America. The title novella features Nell, a timid 26-year-old who's never been on a romantic weekend, much less to Paris. When she is stood up, she goes to Paris anyway, proving something important to herself and others. Eight stories juice up the volume.

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