Rating: 
Summary: Light and Fluffy, fun and not too serious
Review: First you have to get over calling French women, even of high intellectual calibre- girls. I have lived in France, and most of what Mme. Olivier holds up as "French" is really Parisian, just as what plays in NYC doesn't necessarily play in Peoria. The quotes and movie recommendations are worthwhile if you've had little exposure to French culture, again a bit on the light side. Overall, wait for the paperback and read it on the plane to Paris.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and informative
Review: Helped me understand my parisian friend's reticence, and indefinable style. Not too deep. But well thought out and reasoned. Glad I read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Much more than style
Review: I bought this book wanting a book on French style. I got a whole lot more! Filled with anecdotes, film and book suggestions and 'French Girls we love', it is a fascinating read. Most importantly, Ollivier gives us practical ways to achieve that je ne sais quoi.
A lovely book, which you will continue to dip into again and again when you are feeling a little lost or a bit too Anglo-Saxon!
Rating:
Summary: For Francophiles or anyone wishing to live more elegantly
Review: I finished this book last night and could easily keep it on hand as a reference for wonderful, conscious, elegant, sophisticated living. (Unfortunately, I borrowed it from the library and have to take it back. :( ) While this book doesn't cover many things I would have liked to known, you read the last page with an indirect knowledge of how a French girl would act in most situations. The best thing I got from this book (I took notes as I read) was a wealth of names of French people to look up (Pauline de Rothschild), French movie recommendations (Milou en Mai), French books to read, including wonderful cookbooks to peruse (Mastering the Art of French Cooking), and entertaining tips. Read this book and savor all the wonderful things that can be learned from it. For anyone interested in a fresh take on life!
Rating:
Summary: For Francophiles or anyone wishing to live more elegantly
Review: I finished this book last night and could easily keep it on hand as a reference for wonderful, conscious, elegant, sophisticated living. (Unfortunately, I borrowed it from the library and have to take it back. :( ) While this book doesn't cover many things I would have liked to known, you read the last page with an indirect knowledge of how a French girl would act in most situations. The best thing I got from this book (I took notes as I read) was a wealth of names of French people to look up (Pauline de Rothschild), French movie recommendations (Milou en Mai), French books to read, including wonderful cookbooks to peruse (Mastering the Art of French Cooking), and entertaining tips. Read this book and savor all the wonderful things that can be learned from it. For anyone interested in a fresh take on life!
Rating:
Summary: Love the simple, everyday things
Review: I found this book informative, as I have never been to France, nor studied French. I am, however, very interested in the lifestyle of a culture who takes pleasure in the simple, everyday 'pleasures'. I also love to cook and eat, and view food and wine as sensual pleasures to savor and enjoy, like the French do. I was hoping to get other ideas from the French to make everyday chores into something that delights me and makes me feel good. I did like the little boxed 'footnotes' Ollivier included all over. Most of them included movies or lists I want to commit to my file for examples of French and simple living...and I do love movies, books, and lists! The reason I gave the book 4 stars out of 5 is, though I really enjoyed the book and will keep it to reread, there are no color pictures. The book could have been so much better had there been photos to 'see', as well.
Rating:
Summary: Love the simple, everyday things
Review: I found this book informative, as I have never been to France, nor studied French. I am, however, very interested in the lifestyle of a culture who takes pleasure in the simple, everyday 'pleasures'. I also love to cook and eat, and view food and wine as sensual pleasures to savor and enjoy, like the French do. I was hoping to get other ideas from the French to make everyday chores into something that delights me and makes me feel good. I did like the little boxed 'footnotes' Ollivier included all over. Most of them included movies or lists I want to commit to my file for examples of French and simple living...and I do love movies, books, and lists! The reason I gave the book 4 stars out of 5 is, though I really enjoyed the book and will keep it to reread, there are no color pictures. The book could have been so much better had there been photos to 'see', as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Entre nous, forget it
Review: I gave this book two stars because it was entertaining, but I have rarely encountered a book that so audaciously promotes stereotypes. I got this book with great hopes because I'm in love with Paris and am of French descent and wanted to know if there really was a something that makes French women different. But I found the book lacks substance so it didn't tell me much that I did not know. It offers readers a snapshot of life with some of Ollivier's female friends, all of whom appear to come from priviledge, nobility or very old families. While it is true that women in Paris - as is the case of women in most big cities - are chic, you cannot categorize the women of an entire nation based on this author's experience. Her friends inhabit 18th Century apartments and weekend in family-owned chateau in the ountryside (and their husbands have mistresses, which they simply accept with a shrug because, after all, a man has his needs and I suppose fidelity isn't one of them). But this is simply ridiculous and I doubt all French women shrug off a cheating spouse any more than they all inherit country chateaux. There is poverty, dirt, crime and some pretty shabby looking clothes, just as you'll find in any city. There's McDonald's, department stores (and yes, the French girl does shop in them), too many Sephora chains and some darned ugly footwear. Overall, this book is a fun and light read but there are no real secrets to being a French girl revealed here, except that style must come from within, and most of us know that already. The author refers the reader to movies and books that are worth exploring, probably the only value that you will find here.
Rating:
Summary: the reason why French women are different...
Review: I have lived in Paris and Cannes for 10 years. Yes French women are different. They care about what they wear, they buy chic not always expensive but simple and elegant, they care what they eat to maintain their thin figure (dont get me wrong they enjoy food and they know what quality food is, they spend hours dinning) they are confident, they enjoy life and they are stylish. They care about and know how to use accessories like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci or any other designer purse which adds style to whatever they wear no matter how cheap in price. Have a look at the book A YEAR OF STYLE to get more familiar with French women and they way they celeberate life. And excuse my English!
Rating:
Summary: Can you explain why the men need mistress ?
Review: I lived in Taiwan, this book about French "girls"could easily apply to the Taiwanese "girls". But let me add my 2 cents of thought. Through the book it mentions all the time that most french guy has a mistress (the same in Taiwan). Can you explain how a "wonderful, svelte, smart, etc etc "French girl who according to the book, just get into anything if there is quality in it, got into a non quality relationship that requires that her husband to have a mistress so the texture of the family will be rich, according to the author ?
Let me set straight, American women may be described as frumpy, just wear flat shoes, and sweaters, whatever, but the average American "girl"certainly does not need to comform herself that her husband needs a mistress out of marriage.
So the quality that French girls put in their relationship, dressing, high heel shoes (Prada if possible) is a waste of time. Let me add one more cent. Many women worldly have been asked the same question: "What did he saw in her ? " when they see their guys getting a mistress that is not perfectly svelte, has wrinkles all over, is frumpy (remember Lady Di and Prince Charles and of course, the famous Camilla).
Like Lady Di, peoples in the society sell the women the message that to be successful, loved, happy, you need to be really svelte, have a perfect no. 6 size , go under the knife, glicolic acid, whatever so your guy will stick around. This profits only the peoples in the business. Believe that the old proverb "Love is in the eyes of the beholder"is a really useful one when you are about to invest in a dress, shoe, beauty products, etc. There is no formula to be a wonderful "girl", just be yourself (size 6, 8, or even 22), instead of aiming to be a French, American or whatever race of girl. These formulas are funny to read but frankly, they don't work in real life.
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