Vivid, sexy settings often serve thrillers well, and The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is one such example. The answers to this fast-paced mystery slide into place like the pieces of a satisfying puzzle, all against a Paris backdrop that makes one want to hop a flight to France.
Taylor Quinn arrives at her honeymoon suite in the most romantic city on the planet, wads of cash stuffed in a bag and no husband in tow. She seems to have no concrete plan as to her next move, but it’s not sightseeing. Why is she there, then?
Meanwhile, actual newlywed Cassie posts image after perfect image to her Instagram account, determined to show the world how lucky she is to have a rich “hubby” who spoils her during their Paris honeymoon. Vapid, dull, malicious, and in general a complete waste of space, Cassie’s only concern for others is limited to securing their envy of her.
Then there’s Olivier, who completes the trifecta of narrators. An ambitious Frenchman with several turns of bad luck, Olivier has married the awful Cassie in a play for a green card, not realizing the true cost of this transaction. In tow during the honeymoon like an obedient cocker spaniel, his tight leash seems inescapable considering that Cassie holds all the cards as the American citizen and recent heiress to a windfall of cash and property. Olivier needs Cassie, if he doesn’t want to be booted back to France and into the hands of his unfriendly creditors.
As the narrative flips amongst these three individuals and across varying points of time, the answers regarding their relationships to one another and ulterior motives gradually become clear. With inherently divergent interests, not all of these three character will get what they want. And it’s possible that not all of them will come out alive. To elaborate and spoil the twists, however, would be a faux pas, as the surprises are worth the wait.
BookBub just named The French Honeymoon as one of the best mysteries and thrillers of Spring 2025. It has been marketed as The Paris Apartment meets A Simple Favor, and that’s a fair comparison. It’s also a quick read by nature and page count (288).
FYI– A Goodreads giveaway for The French Honeymoon expires on April 15, 2025 (which is the novel’s release date).
*Sarah Reida only reviews books she overall recommends. A writer of dark comedy thrillers, she is in the process of revising her sophomore novel. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
