A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐️ 2.5/5

Nathalia is a photographer who lost her passion after she witnessed and photographed a murder. She sees a therapist who assigns her an exercise of writing stories of each neighbor she watches from her window. She obviously shows vouyerism tendencies and has an artistic eye.

This short book has the charm I’ve come to recognize from reading a couple other books by Antoine Laurain; it’s light, a little quirky, and has a romantic Parisian atmosphere. The idea behind the story is actually clever: a set of French windows becomes a sort of portal into the lives and secrets of the people living behind them.

This is an ensemble story. The focus shifts between several residents of the building, giving you glimpses into their lives through their windows. But I was a little put off and confused at where the story was going. I wasn’t sure what the main goal of the book was. While the premise was really promising, the execution doesn’t totally land. The plot feels a bit scattered, like the author had a few great character ideas but didn’t quite know how to tie them all together in a satisfying way. Some chapters are super engaging and fun, but others feel like they’re just spinning their wheels. A few characters are lovely and memorable, but others are more like sketches…. they show up, make an impression, and then disappear without much development.

There were definitely moments where the whimsy felt a little forced, almost like he was trying to recapture the magic of The Red Notebook or The President’s Hat without fully getting there. It’s less a plot and more a collection of whimsical moments loosely stitched together

Overall, French Windows is an easy, pleasant read. If you’re a big Laurain fan or you’re just looking for something light and a little dreamy, you’ll probably still have a good time with it. But if you’re hoping for something really special or tightly plotted, it might leave you wanting a bit more.

3.25/5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this title. I was in a reading slump prior to reading this short novel and am eternally grateful to have found such a fun palate-cleanser to get back on track. This book is told from the POV of a Parisian shrink who is treating a woman photographer that lost her ability to do her job after accidentally photographing a murder out of the window of her apartment. She shows voyeuristic tendencies so he assigns her the task of writing stories about the inhabitants of the apartments in the building across from her window. A deeper plot is explored as she delivers these short stories to him one by one. The character studies of each story she writes and ultimately of the woman and the shrink are fascinating and well-written. The twist/resolution at the end was slightly predictable but I really enjoyed how everything came together, and it was so Parisian that I had to have a bit of a chuckle at the reveal.

I enjoyed this short and engaging book. Photographer Natalie has been asked by her therapist to write about her neighbours in the apartments opposite. We are treated to a birdseye view of a mix of characters and a slice of Paris life. I loved the writing style and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: French Windows
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into French Windows completely blind, and I’m glad I did. From the very first page, the writing pulled me in because it felt like it fit the story perfectly.

One of the aspects I appreciated the most was the therapy setting. It added an intimate, introspective atmosphere that framed the narrative in a really immersive way. For much of the book, I wasn’t exactly sure where it was going — but that was part of its charm. The sense of mystery kept me hooked, and the ending tied everything together beautifully. It was well-rounded and impactful.

The glimpses into the lives of the people in the building were sometimes uncomfortable to read, but I understood it was intentional. Those moments were crafted to provoke thought and emphasize the themes, and I respect that. They added a raw and realistic layer to the book that made it more memorable.

This was a short but meaningful read — relatively low risk. I absolutely recommend it if you're looking for something a little different, quietly powerful, and well-written.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!

Nathalia had been seeing a therapist. She was a young photographer and was passionate about her job, until she unfortunately witnessed a murder. Used to seeing things and people through her lens, she was no longer able to dissociate her work with what she witnessed until she lost the zeal to work completely. Seeking the help of a therapist, she was encouraged to talk about the murder but because she was reluctant to do so, her therapist recommended her to tell stories about her neighbors.

Each time she submitted about her neighbors and what she saw, we learned more about the characters in the windows of the apartment. I loved learning about the background of each tenant, and what happened in their lives that the murder mystery took a backseat. These became like short stories about different people leading very different lives, even though they live within close proximity to one another. I enjoyed these stories a lot, it reminded of the game “guess what they do and their background story” people sometimes play while peoplewatching the streets.

I loved the playful language of the author but there were some parts that I thought a little foreign. As I’m not familiar with French, I’m not sure if it’s characteristic of the language, the writing style of the author, or the translation. It wasn’t anything bad, but I’m just not used to the style and choice of words.

However it was unfortunate that I enjoyed the reveal a lot less when Nathalia finally gathered the courage to talk about the murder she witnessed. Felt like the background stories of the neighbors were far more interesting than the overarching murder mystery.

4.5 stars!

I popped into this book assuming it would be any old cosy mystery, but it was a quirky little jewelbox of a novel and I loved it much more than I thought I would. It doesn't have great ratings though and I think if you just want a procedural you should look elsewhere. But don't do that! Just read this with an open mind!

This book is told from the perspective of a psychiatrist who has a photographer patient arrive in his office saying that she cannot take pictures any more because the last photos she took were of a murder that took place in the building across from her apartment. He suggests that she should tell stories about what takes place on each of the floors in the building she sees from her window in order to move on and be able to return to her art.

The stories are weird and interesting and very relationship-focused. His responses are weird too. There's a twist, which I did guess, but I didn't guess how it worked or why it was twisted like that and it was all so funny and so French. It's super short, just hop in there and enjoy!

Thank you to Pushkin Press for an advance review copy for unbiased review.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

This book is about a photographer who witnessed and photographed a murder. She goes to a therapist.

If you're looking for a murder mystery then this ain't for you. This is a novella that's actually a short story collection of somewhat meaningless side characters, imagine only murders in the building without the intricate plot.

Perhaps things got lost in translation? I don't know. The raving praises that the book has got certainly seems to indicate this.

This short quirky novel follows Nathalia Guitry, a successful photographer, who one day inadvertently captures a murder on camera. Traumatised and creatively blocked as a result, she seeks help from an unconventional therapist who proposes an unconventional therapy – to write stories about the residents in the apartment block opposite to her own. What develops is a sort of cat-and-mouse game between patient and therapist. It’s a playful novel but one with an underlying seriousness which explores reality and the imagination, storytelling and identity, a somewhat whimsical tale which I found engaging and entertaining.

Having a personal "thing" for stories with therapy somewhere in the plot, I was quite interested in "French Windows". It's organised around therapy sessions of a photographer, Nathalia, who via sessions with Dr Faber is trying to cope with the aftermath of murder she accidentally caught on her camera.

The intervention proposed by the therapist is meant to get Nathalia out of her creative rut but in reality the therapy sessions serve an entirely different purpose.

It is an original concept with a surprising plot twist that would benefit from slightly more skilled writing and world-building.

Magnifique!

I was so happy to see the books of Antoine Laurain coming out on July 1st. Since highlighted by the Queens Reading Room, I’ve been looking forward to reading French Windows. This charming mystery didn’t disappoint, with well developed, agreeable characters all set in Paris!!

Thanks Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I love Paris but I don't think this worked for me. I can be a bit particular about my murder mysteries/stories, and I think something was lost in translation here.

This was a good, quick read. I really liked the premise. I think some of the writing got slightly lost in translation, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Nathalia Guitry is a successful photographer who has lost her passion and her desire to take pictures after witnessing a murder. She enlists the help of therapist Dr Faber who suggests that she write stories about one person on each of the floors opposite her building, as a way to break through her creative block. As Nathalia produces her stories, the good doctor questions how much is fact and how much is fiction.

French Windows is an unusual book that, at times, I found to be quite interesting. Other times the story was slow and seemed to stagger along more than necessary. Nathalia’s stories are well-written with vivid descriptions of the neighbors she has observed or met. But, the exchanges she has with Dr Faber are often aggravating and nonsensical, which I think was the intention of the author. It definitely kept me a little off balance throughout the story. The story has been translated from French and that could be one reason why it stutters a little and doesn’t flow quite as well as I would have liked.

This is a novella of less than 200 pages. I found it to be an interesting read that produced an unexpected twist at the end. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲."

French Windows is a quick novella of neighbourly curiousity and deception.

Hearing this described as "Rear Window with a Parisian heart," I was sold. Nathalia goes to see a therapist, after accidently photographing a murder and no longer able to work; as a way of sharing, her therapist suggests she write her observations about her neighbours in the building across the street. The structure is super intriguing, with Dr. Faber's point of view juxtaposed with Nathalia's writing about the neighbour on each floor of the building; it has you wondering how much of these stories are reality and what is imaginative. Antoine Laurain pays homage to Rear Window, but has it grounded in wit and French culture; some of the absurdity and humour had the vibes of Only Murders In The Building. The translator, Louise Rogers LaLaurie, captured very well the cadence and feel that French writing can have, reminding me of many of the short stories I studied in French during my undergraduate degree. Nathalia's observations of the people in her building, using their voices to 'tell their story' was quirky, feeling much like fables or parables. The pacing is a bit slow. It took a while for the story to pick up, and in a novella, it did feel like it took a bit too long to really get going; I had a hard time making the connection between Nathalia's writing and the points she was trying to make to Dr. Faber. The last quarter really picked up though, especially once the connections were revealed, with the ending being surprisingly sweet.

French Windows is a novella for fans of Rear Window and Parisian culture, that can be devoured in one sitting. Thank you to Pushkin Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

Another fantastic Laurain novel! Diffuse with his classic wit and craft, the story had me hooked and finished it in a day!

I hadn’t heard of French Windows before, but I stumbled upon it while browsing titles on Netgalley and I’m so glad I did. The intriguing premise immediately caught my attention, and I knew I had to request it.

The story follows Dr. Faber, a psychologist who begins sessions with a new patient named Nathalia. Nathalia is a photographer, but she confesses that she's been unable to continue her work ever since she accidentally photographed a murder. In an attempt to better understand her mental state, Dr. Faber asks her to write about her neighbours. However, as he begins reading her accounts of the neighbours, he becomes increasingly unsettled. How does she know such intimate details about the people around her? Are these accounts grounded in truth, or are they figments of her imagination?

What unfolds is a captivating and atmospheric mystery as the reader joins Dr. Faber in unraveling the enigma that surrounds Natalia and the alleged murder. The story kept me hooked, and I didn’t see the twist coming at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the review copy. French Windows was a truly unexpected gem, and one I’m glad I didn’t miss.

This book got better as it went on, and was an interesting concept. But there was some confusing grammar, switching of tenses and some flawed logic that bothered me as the storyline was wrapping up.
With regards to the flawed logic... in subsequent paragraphs it says an event happened "one year ago" and then goes on to explain something along the lines of 'every year, on the anniversary I smoke a cigarette to remember'... which is actually an important plot point and someone allegedly catches on to this habit... but how could they catch on if it was only the first year since it happened... the habit hasnt actually been put into practice yet?

The concept was good, but the delivery / writing could have been more refined. It also felt like it was poorly translated from another language... the style is very french in the description, sarcasm, bluntness of certain things - which is fine but takes some getting used to. However, being in English it felt like there were some things that didnt translate as well metaphorically or grammatically.
The book starts in third person and then all of a sudden switches to first person, I had to re-read it multiple times to see if I had missed a reason for the change.

I would be interested to read some Antoine Laurain work in french to see if I felt differently about the writing style.

This was a fun, somewhat offbeat and quirky murder mystery. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, and foregoes most of the expected conventions of the genre, but I still ended up enjoying it. The concept is unique and clever, and though the solution didn’t shock me, I did still appreciate the way it all came together. I think people who like the television series Only Murders in the Building, or the film Rear Window might like to pick this one up.

this book is like seeing mirror in the reflection of a mirror,seeing a mirror,seeing a mirror lol. i was immediately intrigued by it because haven't we all people watched. or been sat waiting for something with more time on our hands so have decided to write stories about those around us. wondering their tales or perhaps making them up from the snapshots we see.
this story is about a woman who finds she has a work block due to taking a photo of murder. shes feels stuck so goes to see a therapist. it is here she is instructed to tell stories of those in the apartment block opposite her. one by one she reveals these to her therapist. and more and more he himself is intrigued. is she telling the truth? who therapist who here. because our Dr Faber has his own issues going on.
the twists and turns that keep being calmly unveiled throughout this book are little nuggets of brilliance. its a cosy thriller if that makes sense, which doesnt make it any less brilliant. and it definitely has the psychoanalyst thing going on about the story...and the story within the story.
i found myself overthinking everything and wondering just what was going on or who was going on, ha. and the reveals definitely surprised me.