French Coast

March 15, 2015

Serena Woods is a writer for Vogue magazine and the daughter of a prominent California senator. Her life seems to be coming together perfectly: she lands an exclusive assignment interviewing fashion icon and former French Vogue editor Yvette Renault, and her mayoral-candidate boyfriend just proposed. Serena arrives in Cannes to cover Yvette's visit to the famous film festival, but her hotel reservation is lost. There are no other rooms available anywhere nearby, yet luckily she meets spunky little Zoe, who has a luxury suite with plenty of room to spare. Serena reluctantly accepts Zoe's invitation, and they form a fast friendship. Just as Serena settles in to her assignment, she gets word of a detrimental secret her father has been hiding for years, one that jeopardizes her relationship with her fiance. Meanwhile, Zoe reveals knowledge she has long kept hidden. As Serena listens to Yvette narrate her complicated love life, she attempts to make sense of her own. VERDICT Hughes's latest (after Lake Como, Monarch Beach, and Market Street) is an entertaining beach read for those interested in secrets, romance, and a lot of fashion.--Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
Serena lives a life of luxury. Everything is perfect, from the bows in her hair right down to the Gucci pumps on her feet. This perfect life includes her dream job at Vogue's San Francisco office and her boyfriend, a polished politician. When offered a writing assignment in Cannes interviewing the legendary former French Vogue editor, Yvette Renault, she cannot believe her good fortune. Ready to spend a month on the French beaches, she arrives only to discover that her good luck may be running out. With a family drama unfolding back home and emotions running high, Serena does her best to cope with changing circumstances. Thanks to the help of her new friend, Zoe, Serena also embarks on a new journey of self-discovery and learns what love and loyalty really mean. The always-entertaining Hughes (Lake Como, 2013) presents a quick-and-easy read about an opulent world. Descriptions of rich food and high fashion abound and will delight readers who enjoy escaping into a tale of luxury and one woman's ups and downs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)