Book Review: The Paris Match
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn will be released in the U.S. on April 7, 2026.
Have you ever thought about attending the wedding of your ex-husband’s younger sister in Paris, where you also went on your honeymoon?
You probably shouldn’t, right? But also, who wouldn’t want to go to Paris, the City of Love? Such is the dilemma that faces our FMC Laila Bailey.
Laila has thrown herself into work as a travel physician after her “amicable” divorce. Yet when her former sister-in-law Emily summons her to her Parisian wedding, the site of Laila’s honeymoon, Laila forces herself to go, even when she knows emotional damage will follow. At this point, she is in her self-sacrificing era and wearing lots of beige.
book cover, Paris streets, Eiffel Tower in distance, couple kissing, colorful shopfronts
On the flight to Paris, she meets a mysterious and handsome man (why does this never happen to me?) dressed all in black, who ends up being the best man in the wedding! Laila is forced to work side-by-side with Griffin when it seems the wedding might fall apart due to raging doubts and long-kept secrets. Griffin is brooding, sexy, anxious, and yes, he’s tall, too. When she arrives in Paris, Laila isn’t even thinking about romance, but she can’t think about much else when forced proximity has her beside Griffin again and again, on the streets of Paris and in cozy little cafes.
Paris in the Springtime
The Paris Match had everything I desire from a contemporary romance novel set in Paris. Dear reader, sparks were flying between Laila and Griffin, slow-burn romance was yearning at the highest degrees, and long walks along Parisian streets, heart-to-hearts, make-out sessions and more are all waiting for you in the pages of The Paris Match. I don’t’ want to say much more, just pick up this book and dive in for the long weekend during Paris in the springtime!
My Thoughts Overall
Along with the romantic storyline, readers will also delve into how Laila learns to be more honest with herself, set boundaries, and figure out what she wants out of life. My only critique is that there were some side characters that weren’t super necessary or interesting; the wedding party was a bit large and not always relevant to the main action I was most interested in between Laila and Griffin. With that said, Emily’s BFF character Rosie was so fun and lively, and I wouldn’t mind reading a book with her as the FMC.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did you know you can support your local indie bookstore by purchasing online through Bookshop.org? Order The Paris Match here.
