Forbidden French

By: R.S. Grey

Narrated by: Lilly Drake, Alexander Dunham-Wood

Once upon a time, Emmett Mercier was the golden boy of St. John’s Boarding School. The crown prince of his father’s vast business empire, unapologetically attractive...oh, and fluent in French.

At school, I kept a picture of him hidden beneath my pillow, a tiny token of my adolescent infatuation, but I might as well have been worshiping a distant demigod. He was hardly aware of my existence. I was far too young, and he was far too consequential—until one day we found ourselves alone together in the dark library and struck up a friendship...of sorts.

But in the years since leaving St. John’s, I’ve no longer bothered yearning for Emmett. What a useless dream. I would have gone crazy trying to keep up with his jet-setting life. Which Parisian hotel is he calling home now? Is there some new lithe model draping herself across his lap today?

My negligence comes back to bite me. I’m ill-prepared the day he strides into my art gallery. There’s only a mere trace of the boy I once knew. Self-assured, handsome, intoxicating—Emmett is more man than I can handle.

There’s no room for him in my gilded cage. My life is planned to a T. From where I go to how I dress, it all depends on the calculated whims of my grandmother. Soon, I’ll even dutifully walk down the aisle toward a man of her choosing.

Emmett can’t stand my obedience. Now that we’ve rekindled our friendship, he’s intent on unearthing my heart’s true motives.

And therein lies the problem: I was doing just fine without him, but now that he’s rattling the bars of my cage, I’m forced to acknowledge the truth.

Once upon a time, Emmett Mercier was all I wanted. The midnight wanderings, the whispered nothings, the unbearable longing—they etched indelible marks on my soul. Even now, after all these years, my heart is only fluent in one language.

Forbidden French.

©2022 R.S. Grey (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

Good

Loved this one! It was good, if a little slow in some parts but overall I liked it. Would definitely recommend!

Angsty, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers Romance!

Lainey Davenport lost her parents at a young age, and is now being raised by her wealthy grandmother. Lainey is always trying to make her grandmother happy to prove she isn't wild like her mother, which her grandmother never liked. She gives in to the old fashioned demands her grandmother requires of her. That means she is shy and never stands up for herself at her boarding school when she gets picked on. One bright spot is her crush on an older popular boy, Emmet. Emmet has his own stressful demands from his father. He sees the quiet Lainey and is intrigued by her. They have meetings in the library where Lainey hides, and connect instantly with their shared interests in books and art. After Emmet graduates, they lose touch with each other. Now a decade later, they have a chance meeting at the art gallery where Lainey works. Lainey stands up to Emmet over art, and he remembers how he loves that about her, that she only does that with him. They start to rekindle their friendship, as well as their long buried feelings. But when their families start to meddle, they lose their trust in each other, and are heartbroken over losing the one person who sees them for their true self. This is an angsty, slow burn, friends-to enemies-to lovers romance. I really enjoyed the narration by Lilly Drake, and Alexander Dunham-Wood as they brought this story to life. They are both new to me which is always fun to discover new voices to enjoy. Drake did a great job bringing out both Lainey's mousy and bold, seductress sides. I loved Dunham-Wood's deep voice, which was perfect for the older Emmet, and his French accent was wonderful.

Forbidden French

Oh Lainey! A young lady meeting Emmett at boarding school of the elite in the east coast. Lainey is kinda like a wall flower, unfortunately loses her parents at a young age. Now living with her grandmother who wants to control her every move, what she looks like and the proper way to act. Anyways she covets the handsome Emmet from a far. But one night at the library they meey and form an unlikely friendship. After school they part ways until he walks into her art gallery. What will happen next?

The woman who read for Lainey, I felt was perfect. As for the male actor it was alright, well when reading for the older Emmett his voice was perfect.

*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*

It was okay

I usually really enjoy R.S. Grey books but this one just didn’t do it for me. The MFC should have grown a back bone a little earlier. I didn’t like the relationship with the grandma, I found it unreasonable. Just a lot of eye rolling on this one. Narrators were good.

Wonderful Listen

I wasn't really sure how much I'd like Emmett's story but I'm very happy that I have it a listen.
It was a wonderful journey that brought tears, smiles and laughs. Not much spice but it's so well done that spice isn't needed.
I will definitely have this book on my repeat listen list!