Callanan brings the reader on an emotional journey through the streets of Paris ... The story feels at once fresh and new, albeit anachronistic — paying homage to the sweet, old-fashioned feeling of Paris in contrast to a rapidly modernizing America ... Callanan has an innate ability to make even the worst circumstances seem irrevocably light ... by being both romantic fiction and a mystery, Paris by the Book marries two completely different genres in a beautiful way.
...a vivid travelogue ... Liam Callanan’s spirited Paris by the Book offers a near-irresistible package of twin glories, Paris and books (love of reading), delivering vibrant tours of each.
Paris by the Book is, of course, a sopping love letter to the titular city ... It is also simply a crackling good tale — one that has its shares of tragedies and missed opportunities. Callanan tells the story from Leah’s perspective, and I would say that he nails the female voice ... Put it this way, if you’re looking for a great story, then look no further. But if you’re looking to go off the deep end with your fiction in terms of thematics, you might be well pleased by the quality of the book. I wouldn’t peg it quite as literary fiction, because there’s a breezy style to the writing ... a charming novel.
A pointedly literary romance ... While Callanan writes about the difficulties of family relationships and the creative process with a knowing hand, the magical Paris he creates feels forced and threadbare.
...sublime ... Callanan has crafted a beautifully-drawn portrait of a woman interrupted set among the exquisite magic of Paris ... The mystery of Robert’s fate keeps the pages turning, but the real story lies in Leah’s rediscovery of herself. Book lovers and Paris aficionados will be enthralled.
