Rating: 
Summary: Three stars for great intentions ...
Review: ... but falls short of five stars for execution. The concept is great -- hey, how many of stateside gals don't want to be enigmatic, insouciantly stylish and able to eat all the brie and drink all the wine we want without having to pay the consequences? (Well, not me -- I'm one of those vegetarian "extraterrestrials" the French apparently love to loathe, and since, according to Entre Nous, I'd be hard pressed to find a dress size 12 or above in any respectable French boutique, I can forget about spending my greenbacks on threads at Rue de Anywhere).
First problem -- the woman wearing the toile de jouy print dress on the cover -- do ANY French women really wear that stuff? Make drapes out of it maybe, but wear it? Hmmm, that bugs me. But the poodle is cute (if cliched). I'm a dog lover, so right there I guess I'm already half-French. (In fact, I am entirely of French ancestry, so why -- come to think of it -- was I reading this book in the first place?)
I think that if the book had taken something different as its goal -- say, the exploration of what makes French women uniquely French -- it would have worked. But the book sets the reader up for a primer on something that we can never be -- truly French femmes -- no matter how much double C stuff we buy (real or fake) or how fetching the author may think running for "le Metro" in kitten heels is.
The French woman is extremely guarded, if you believe the book ... and I guess I have to, 'til that ticket on Air France falls from the sky. Now I don't know about you, but that's one of the things I cherish about America -- the openness of people, their willingness to wear the heart on the sleeve, the smile on the face. It's earthy. It's spirit-lifting. And in spite of how many times we might embarass ourselves in public doing it, most of us go right on doing it. When we say "have a nice day", we mean it more often than not. (Well, I like to think so). Apparently la Francaise don't. To quote the inimitable Steve Martin, "Well excuuuuuuse me!"
This book does not speak to the idea (myth or reality?) that the French are Jerry Lewis-loving loons. I'd like to know if they are, really. Anybody reading this who can answer that for me, I'll send you five bucks. Honestly. Because Jerry Lewis is, again, sooooooo American. Are they making an exception for Jerry Lewis? And if so why? In a country that loves its Sartre, its Camus, its right to smoke in the maternity wards of hospitals (apparently a right God has bequeathed on them especially from time immemorial, never mind the tiny pink newborn lungs that might happen to be taking their first breaths), why for the love of Pete are we supposed to buy wholesale that they love Jerry Lewis? Then again, it would be one of those delightful contradictions that the French are so famous for.
Which I guess boils things down for me: if I'm to believe that contradictions = enigmatic = mysteriously, enchantingly appealing, then that isn't going to play real well here in the U.S. of A. Men ALREADY don't know what to make of us, and we're supposed to become more opaque? Huh?
So this book is fun -- it's a lark -- but don't take it too seriously. I read it in a day, and made a list of all the movies and books I eventually have to watch/read, though I have already watched Amelie oh, I don't know, thirteen times, and in my next life I'm coming back as Audrey Tatou anyway, so I've got a jump on that.
Maybe the best thing to pay attention to is the thread running through Entre Nouse that whispers "slow down, enjoy things in the moment, don't rush about so much". We really do work our derrieres off just to keep up with the Joneses here, when in fact maybe what we need is a little more time spent noticing the small, beautiful things every day. That's the thing I will take most with me from having read this book, and I think that it's worth reading for this, if for nothing else.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, light book.
Review: A fun, light book, which can be read in small bits as time allows. The theme seems to be "the French do it better." For a more in-depth, thoughtful comparison between French and North American thinking, try 60 Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Tres Bien!
Review: A wonderful book! This is perfect for the constantly in a rush American girl who longs to slow down and enjoy her life. I loved this book and could not put it down. I even started reading it again as soon as I finished it, why not? This book is more about a state of mind than being thin and in fashion. It's about the simple pleasure of sitting down and truly enjoying your meal. Not counting calories and rushing to finish eating so you can tackle all the other useless tasks we pile on our to do list. It's about being who you are, not what others want you to be. French or not, this book has some great ides on living a simple meaningful life.
Rating:
Summary: It wasn't a bad read.
Review: After reading the many glowing reviews about this book, I bought this expecting it to offer a few deep insights and perspectives into the French way of life (from a woman's point of view). This book didn't do that. The prose is simple (a bit too simplistic at times) and the insights although interesting, didn't go far enough into the core of each subject presented. The chapters are arranged according to each facet of life - style, food, home, work, etc. and each chapter is laden with delightful anecdotes and suggested reading or movies that will certainly have me making trips to the library or bookshop whenever I have spare time to invest in some French "cultural education". I read this book from cover to cover in less than a day, and although I gleaned some good information about how to live a better quality of life, its basically quite common-sense knowledge like "cook your own food with the freshest ingredients" or "take time to do things and enjoy life, don't rush." (I guess I need those little reminders sometimes on taking time out and enjoying life, otherwise I forget!) At times, the author almost borders on being a self-help-book writer, which is a little grating. The author also sounds to me very "politically correct", in the sense that she often closes up each chapter with patronising comments about the American culture after she had previously been gushing enthusiastically (with praises no-end) about how much better the French do things, compared to the Americans who don't seem to "use as much discretion in their private lives" or "dress with quality", etc. Still, my criticisms for the book don't outweigh the enjoyment I got from reading it. It is a light-hearted, relaxing read for those after-dinner, just-before-bedtime moments... I can't say I've really regretted buying this, although this is the sort of thing which would have been far better given as a gift, rather than bought as an addition to one's own existing collection of books. The book is nicely decorated and packaged, hardback, and will make a perfect "girly" gift for a good friend.
Rating: 
Summary: Stupid, offensive, incoherent trash.
Review: Anyone who thinks women should have rights equal to men's -- indeed anyone who's ever noticed that it is offensive to call African American men "boys" -- will be nauseated by this book. Ms. Ollivier can't seem to stop herself from referring to women as "girls." Bizarrely, she clings to this term even when it undercuts the point she tries to make. French "girls," she says, know how to say "no," have a strong sense of self, have well-developed minds and defined opinions. How could it not have occurred to her that these qualities are characteristic of ADULTS? To call these paragons of self-determination "girls" is not only offensive, it is incoherent. She quotes Edith Wharton as observing, "French women are grown up," but that doesn't stop Ollivier from calling them "girls." She quotes approvingly from Simone de Beavoir, but Ollivier is so utterly clueless that she does not seem to realize that de Beauvoir would probably have celebrated book burnings of the misogynistic trash that Ollivier writes. Ms. Ollivier degrades the very women she claims to celebrate by implicitly denying them the status, rights, and privileges of adulthood. Worse, her breathless, self-contradictory, and vapid prose often simply makes no sense at all. The author and her editor should reexamine their chosen careers.
Rating:
Summary: Deeper than I thought! 3 cheers, 5 stars!
Review: At first, I wondered if this would be another lightweight book praising the mythical French Woman and how she can tie a scarf. Mais non. It is one of the best self-help books, for American women in general, that I have ever read. Getting below the surface of cosmetics and clothes (though these ARE important), the author highlights the intellect of the French woman, and how this sets her apart from the American woman. There is SO much more to the French Paradox. We Americans are FAR more addicted to appearances and the surface of things; we do not take time to get as deep as our European sisters. We think that if we look good and are "physically fit and thin" we have done our work. This book shows us that French "style" begins in the mind and not on the body. Merci!!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on French living I have read.
Review: Being an unashamed francophile; I have spent not a few dollars on books about France and french living. Entre Nous is one of the best books on French living I have read. The author compares the french and american girl and gives tips how to achieve the lifestyle while still on american soil. There are book and movie reviews and bits of trivia tucked here and there. Each chapter deals with a separate part of life and really has something for every french girl wannabe.
Rating:
Summary: "French Lessons" Made Easy
Review: Entre Nous is a delightful, easy read about French women's "certain something". If you find the French intriguing (French WOMEN in particular), you will most likely enjoy this lighthearted look at the culture, lifestyle and attitudes of the women and people of France. Not meant to be taken TOO seriously, this book is the author's personal take on why so much mystery surrounds French women. You may find yourself sharing her point of view by the time you finish reading. Reviewer: Linda Painchaud
Rating:
Summary: Fresh Take on the French
Review: ENTRE NOUS provides new insight into what makes French women tick. Debra Ollivier's specific examples of her own French friends, excellent movie and book recommendations and even recipes make this a light, fun read while being informative. And she's not gushingly adoring of the French - she provides a balanced look at at what works and doesn't work for both French and American women. I especially liked the comparisons. Of course there is poverty (and McDonald's) in France but this book fulfills its purpose of examining the chic French women many admire and would like to emulate.
Rating:
Summary: Tres Fun! Lots of great inspiring ideas...
Review: Ever since the age of six, I've always wanted to have the aura of sophistication that for many French women seems to come naturally. (my fave children's book is Madeline!) Of course, now that I'm am in midlife, I realize that not all French women are sophisticated any more than all American women are unsophisticated. Still, for me, the ideals outlined in this book gives me inspiration to add joy and fun to my activites each day. The message of liking who you are and having a better sense of self is what I like best about this book, and it gives the message in a fun way. I think everyone should be encouraged to add that certain "je ne sais quoi" in their own lives and reading this book would be a good start for doing that!
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