Critics hail Diane Johnson as a cross between Jane Austen and Henry James. In this best-selling comedy of Americans abroad and Parisians at home, she celebrates the mores and manners of contemporary marriage. Struggling American writer Tim Nolinger pursues his journalism career in Paris while proper Frenchwoman Anne Sophie plans their wedding. When Tim covers the theft of a valuable manuscript, the story leads the couple to the local home of a reclusive American film director and his actress wife. Once there, Tim and Anne Sophie find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation, a French-American feud, and a reckless love affair that threatens to destroy their marriage even before it begins. Diane Johnson weaves acerbic humor and refreshing observations into this thoroughly modern tale of love and marriage. With her dramatic performance, Suzanne Toren brings out the moral complexities that shimmer just beneath the surface.
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"What I like about Diane Johnson's amusing comedies of manners are her extremely apt yet remarkably detached observations on cultural life, French and American. "
— Katy (4 out of 5 stars)
" Not worth reading. I just couldn't stop once I started it. "
— Valeri, 2/13/2014" A good summer read. Le Mariage and the inevitable Le Divorce and L'Affaire were lighthearted enough, also a clue as to understanding some of the cultural differences one encounters along the way "
— Linda, 2/1/2014" What I like about Diane Johnson's amusing comedies of manners are her extremely apt yet remarkably detached observations on cultural life, French and American. "
— Katy, 1/28/2014" one of the best beach books i've read in a long while. delightful! I'll read more by this author. "
— Paulah, 1/24/2014" Enjoyable, light read, but the ending was dull and unsatisfying. "
— Mary, 1/22/2014" I love Diane Johnson. She has a style like no one else. When you give yourself over to her, it is a wonderful reading experience. "
— Anita, 1/21/2014" i liked Le Divorce better. i did not like any of the characters in this book. and the murder mystery was such an afterthought making this reader wonder why she needs it, as if she could not carry the novel on social/national stereotypes alone. her books do that: a little mystery, little love and angst, little social commentary and always americans in France, usually Paris. i like the way she writes, she is smart and witty, but i didn't feel like hoping for any of the characters and i need that in a novel. also i think she hates marriage. it seemed that way in Le Divorce, too. like she (the author) doesn't believe in it or something. "
— Nikki, 1/17/2014" This was a fun break to read. I got out my French dictionary and read it in short bursts. She isn't much on realistic plot, but her characters' views on French/American attitudes is really delightful. "
— Sylvia, 1/13/2014" I enjoyed reading this, I like Diane Johnson's style, however this book had a really disappointing ending that I felt didn't really wrap up anything. "
— Jennifer, 12/6/2013" Fun Paris setting, characters not believable. "
— Kirsten, 11/8/2013" I loved this story as tragic as it became about getting married. "
— Wendy, 10/26/2013" Waste of time! Too many characters, disjointed storylines, lame ending. It was hard to get through, but thought I should finish it case it got better........never did. "
— Lisa, 10/17/2013" I liked the beginning and middle, but not the end. The characters were all well-written. I just wish the ending were better. "
— Shemsi, 9/30/2013" All these characters are totally dead inside and self-obsessed to boot. Is it a mystery? Is it a sad commentary on marriage? Is it the story of "Americans in Paris?" It is all of these things and yet none. "
— Tristy, 7/17/2013" Shockingly bad! Wooden and poorly paced. "
— Natasha, 6/4/2013" Diane Johnson really drags this story out. I found myself wanting to get to the end just to see how she tied it all together. I did enjoy the continuity and references of characters from her other books and I always enjoy a good story about France. "
— J, 12/26/2012" It probably isn't fair to write a review since I didn't finish the book. Howener, if after 75 pages I don't give a crap about anyone or anything in a book, it's not worth it. "
— Karey, 10/12/2012" Such an enjoyable read. The characters were good, the plot fun. "
— Jessica, 10/5/2012" Not as good as Le Divorce. "
— Courtney, 8/7/2012" I can't even remember actually reading it. . . That's what an impression it made on me. "
— Elanor, 2/3/2012" These books are enjoyable, though they do make me hate French people a bit, which may not be the intention. "
— Elizabeth, 12/9/2011" Good pool-side read. When you're done, you can leave it on the chair for the next sun-dazed reader. (Can't see a straight man enjoying this, pool or not!) "
— Julie, 11/1/2011" I love Diane Johnson's way of making a mountain out of a molehill, and stretching the story lines to conclusions one would never have come to on their own. "
— Carol, 9/8/2011" A good summer read. A bit cynical ont he subject of marriage, but I always enjoy Johnson's Americans in Paris. "
— Sharon, 7/15/2011" pretentious crap, silly underdeveloped characters, interesting plot twists that unfortunately by the end went nowhere... i was annoyed reading the book at the shallowness of the characters and not even the final shootout could save it for me. "
— Evelyn, 7/2/2011" I love Diane Johnson. She has a style like no one else. When you give yourself over to her, it is a wonderful reading experience. "
— Anita, 1/5/2011" The spouse picked this up for me and at first, I had some difficulty getting into it. There are several entertaining plot twists and I ended up enjoying it immensely. "
— Jen, 11/8/2010" I had to stop reading it..UGH! What fluff!! "
— Edna, 10/31/2010" Not worth reading. I just couldn't stop once I started it. "
— Valeri, 7/20/2010" pretentious crap, silly underdeveloped characters, interesting plot twists that unfortunately by the end went nowhere... i was annoyed reading the book at the shallowness of the characters and not even the final shootout could save it for me. "
— Evelyn, 3/5/2010" This was a fun break to read. I got out my French dictionary and read it in short bursts. She isn't much on realistic plot, but her characters' views on French/American attitudes is really delightful. "
— Sylvia, 1/28/2010" A good summer read. A bit cynical ont he subject of marriage, but I always enjoy Johnson's Americans in Paris. "
— Alice, 1/10/2010" Such an enjoyable read. The characters were good, the plot fun. "
— Jessica, 1/7/2010" I thought this would be very light, but it has deep moments for such a quick read. The writing is easy on the eyes... "
— Jessie, 8/26/2009" Just recently re-read this one as it was sitting on my bookshelf at a moment when I needed something lighter. Did the trick. I had forgotten how enjoyable this one was. Remarkably similar to Peter Mayle's fiction. "
— Anika, 8/24/2009" I loved this story as tragic as it became about getting married. "
— Wendy, 8/17/2009" Waste of time! Too many characters, disjointed storylines, lame ending. It was hard to get through, but thought I should finish it case it got better........never did. "
— Lisa, 8/10/2009" Not at all what I expected. Not very satisfying either. "
— Curious, 8/9/2009" A good time killer for the francophile. "
— Jenny, 3/30/2009Diane Johnson is an American-born novelist and essayist. A two-time finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in three different genres—essay, biography, and fiction—she is the author of a dozen novels, including Le Divorce, Le Mariage, and L’Affaire. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books and splits her time between San Francisco and Paris.
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.