* 3.5 starsOne happy event, a young couple gets engaged on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, sets in motion a chain of events affecting the lives of those who are caught up in the upcoming nuptials of the young lovers. It Started With Paris, begins with an impressive prologue set in Paris, following Katy and Michael as they celebrate their engagement. The book then transports the reader to the Irish community of Bridgeport, where the couple lives and over the next 100 pages introduces the reader to a colourful cast of characters who are all family or friends of the couple. There are three main characters the author Cathy Kelly focuses much of the story on. The first, Grace, is Mother to the Groom and is experiencing mixed feelings in reconnecting with her ex husband, in the lead up to the wedding. Vonnie, a cake maker wants to let love into her life again, but her attempts appear to be thwarted. Leila the third (and my favourite) character, is bridesmaid to Katy and has just experienced the breakdown of her marriage. Kelly chooses to flesh the story further with an eclectic set of secondary characters, all of which are connected to the main characters. The overarching storyline of the wedding arrangements for Katy and Michael’s upcoming wedding, acts a driving force for the narrative, which has a fine balance of a few unexpected outcomes and small surprises in store for the reader.The prologue of this book was highly appealing to me, to the point where it would have been nice to stay in Paris with Katy and Michael longer! The first 100 pages where Kelly introduces the characters and the nature of their connection to Katy and Michael left me a bit overwhelmed. There are some characters, particularly the bride’s best friend Leila, which I felt an immediate sense of empathy with and this helped me feel more invested in the storyline. The book is lighthearted in general but touches on themes that are highly relevant to reader’s lives. These include relationships, friendship, heartbreak, divorce, family drama, eating disorders, illness and ageing.Overall for my second Cathy Kelly book, I found It Started With Paris to be full of love, hope, laughter and tenderness, but highly character driven. Cathy Kelly’s storytelling skills are full of warmth and I enjoyed how she captured a sense of community in her characters. The intertwining of characters and situations to the couple in the prologue was a unique touch. Fans of Cathy Kelly will not be disappointed by her latest offering and new fans will find this book a fun, enjoyable read. It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly. I always love a book on Paris - enough to delight any reader.Paris, however, only plays a very small but significant part in this novel.It Started With Paris will lead you on into Ireland. It's a real-life novel full of lots of characters and radiates warmth and charm.These characters which emerge constantly throughout the novel will become your friends.Each Chapter begins with a beautiful quote:-e.g. Life Without Love is like a Tree Without Blossoms or Fruit. Khalil Gibran.(I love this quote).This novel full of wit and charm will enchant and delight you.A wonderful new novel written by Cathy Kelly who I was lucky enough to meet while she was visiting here in Australia from Ireland, a truly amazing and lovely person with many tales and stories to tell.
What do You think about Het Hart Van Een Vrouw (2014)?
Enjoyed but far too many characters. Could have culled for a more enjoyable storyline.
—Dede
Too many characters, too many stories. Could only bond with a few of them.
—ekaiser
