The Paris Wife

by Paula McClain
The Paris Wife cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Technical:
  • ID: 1289
  • Added: 2025-10-02
  • Updated: 2025-10-02
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
The Book Club Cafe · 2020-05-14
emotional 4.50

The novel is a riveting emotional tale of passion, love, and self-discovery. The writing is elegant and the prose hypnotic.

The reviewer praises The Paris Wife as a deeply emotional and character-driven story that explores themes of passion, love, and self-discovery. The writing is described as elegant and the prose hypnotic, drawing readers into the intricate dynamics of the characters' relationships. The novel's exploration of love and jealousy is particularly noteworthy, making it a compelling read that resonates on an emotional level.

Quick quotes

    It is about friendship, love, and jealousy and what happens when your boundaries are blown apart.

    The writing is elegant and the prose hypnotic.

    A riveting emotional character-driven tale of passion, intense love, uncertainty, regret, heartbreak, and ultimately, self-discovery.

Diamonds in the Library · 2012-09-04
mixed 3.00

Hadley is portrayed as fine but boring, often sacrificing her dreams for her husband's career. The novel explores themes of love and jealousy.

The reviewer finds Hadley, the protagonist, to be a somewhat unexciting character who often puts her husband's ambitions ahead of her own. This creates a poignant exploration of love, jealousy, and the sacrifices made in relationships. While the writing is elegant and the prose hypnotic, the reviewer notes that Hadley's character could have been more engaging, making the story feel a bit one-dimensional at times.

Quick quotes

    For the majority of the novel, Hadley is fine but boring, a bit of a doormat.

    She sacrifices her dreams for her husband's career, lives to please him.

    The novel explores themes of friendship, love, and jealousy in a compelling way.

The Guardian · Olivia Laing · 2011-02-20
romantic 4.00

The novel gives Hemingway's Paris years a romantic cast. The writing is beautifully evocative of the era.

Olivia Laing highlights how Paula McLain's novel beautifully captures the romantic essence of Ernest Hemingway's years in Paris. The writing is particularly strong in its depiction of the bohemian atmosphere of the 1920s, immersing readers in the vibrant and artistic world of that time. Laing appreciates the emotional depth and the poignant portrayal of love and loyalty, making the story both engaging and heartfelt.

Quick quotes

    Paula McLain's novel gives Ernest Hemingway's Paris years an affectingly romantic cast.

    The writing is beautifully evocative of the era.

    The novel captures the essence of love and loyalty in a compelling way.

Appears in Lists