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Ratings & Reviews for

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer

Vicki Lesage

5 stars

79 (41%)

4 stars

69 (35%)

3 stars

36 (18%)

2 stars

7 (3%)

1 star

1 (<1%)

Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

Elle G. Reads

1,557 reviews741 followers

March 8, 2016

:: 5 Pretty Little Stars ::

Another hit from the fabulous Vicki Lesage! Once again, the author brings us readers into her life only this time, during her pregnancy and parenting stages. She offers us a glimpse into the life of how it is raise children in Paris while also being pregnant. With the same wit and laugh out loud humor, readers will once again be engrossed in the authors life. You won’t want to miss a single page in this one! It is downright hilarious and fun!

I think it is pretty clear that I loved this book (as I have also found myself loving everything the author writes as she is THAT GOOD). This one is no different than her first novel Confessions of a Paris Party girl in terms of humor in fun. However, in this one we don’t get a glimpse of her partying lifestyle rather, we get a look at her parenting lifestyle! Vicki Lesage shares her pregnancy milestones, scares, and tribulations with her famous humor making me laugh out loud at every turn in the book. I loved seeing how Paris is when it comes to childcare, raising a child who is both French and American, and how the medical community works. It’s great to catch a glimpse at the way the other parts of the world work, and we are able to see this through the eyes of the author! I totally LOVED it.

Once again, this is a MUST read for fans of chick lit and humor. As I mentioned in previous posts, it is a memoir but really reads as a chick lit novel. It is pure perfection and real. If you haven’t gotten your hands on a book by this author yet I strongly suggest doing so. This is an author you don’t want to miss out on!

Jill

349 reviews338 followers

June 1, 2014

When writing a memoir, the most important thing is voice. Everyone on this planet has terrific stories to tell, but most of us just can’t find the right words to tell them. So when I read a memoir, I want to hear the author’s voice in my ear and get a sense of who she is as a person. I’ve now read both of Vicki Lesage’s Parisian memoirs—Confessions of a Paris Party Girl and Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer--and fortunately, she does not lack for voice.

Both of these books are charming reads. Each chapter focuses on a single frustrating or ridiculous or amazing anecdote from Vicki’s French life. The stories are interesting and recounted in the perfect way: edited properly for ideal pacing but just unpolished enough that we can hear the person telling the story. Reading this book really does feel like listening to a friend detail her trials and tribulations over dinner and drinks.

Vicki is also funny, which is lucky for her, because you need a good sense of humor to survive French bureaucracy. In this book, she starts adding to her Franco-American family with the arrival of two babies. From a cultural perspective, it’s fascinating. You’ll learn all sorts of quirky medical differences between the two countries. For example, American infant birth weight is simply calculated differently—a baby who is considered average size stateside is seen as above average weight in France. It found it incredible that seemingly objective medical markers could use different formulas depending on the country.

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer is a sweet book that largely succeeds on the strength of Vicki’s voice. Her ability to laugh at herself and her willingness to call out French and Americans alike when they’re wrong (there is a scene on the Metro where she absolutely destroys a yuppie connard that will make you applaud) makes her the perfect companion for a lovely Parisian adventure.

français humor memoir

Sanda

233 reviews84 followers

August 11, 2014

So, everybody and their aunt knows how much I loved Vicki's first book Confessions of a Paris Party Girl. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you do so ASAP and definitely before reading Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer - certain funny things will be even funnier if you're familiar with characters and situations from the first book. Now if you want to be a rebel and read just the second one, fine by me - even read like that it will still be entertaining and funny.

I'd like to thank Vicki (no, unlike my first review, this time around it's not an imaginary "connection" to her lol) for providing me with a copy of this book. Despite my obvious girl crush on her and her writing, I want to underline that this 'gift' did not in any way affect my review of this book - I think the fact that I've already read it twice this summer speaks for itself. First time because I couldn't wait to find out what happens next, the second because I needed a mental vacation (and a few laughs) since the actual one is not happening this summer.

If you thought you've mastered the art of apartment hunting in Paris after reading the first book, think again. Reading Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer you'll realize there's so much more to learn. Vicki is still living in Paris, only this time she's pregnant and committed to an alcohol free existence for the time being. She balances impending motherhood, her work, linguistic mishaps, apartment hunting, as well as french bureaucracy. She views the world around her through a humorous filter (definitely no lack of laugh out loud moments) and shares these stories with such endearing honesty that it is impossible not to feel that sense of familiarity upon reading them. And you don't necessarily have to have firsthand experiences of the 'joys of motherhood' in order to appreciate Vicki's 'potty training' adventures.

This is my favorite kind of "vacation" book - the kind that takes you on vacation even in your own home. I honestly hope there will be a third set of "confessions" coming my way soon because there is only so many times I can read the first two.

2014-reading-challenge chick-lit

Carolyn

2,180 reviews617 followers

August 12, 2016

In Vicki Lesage's first book Confessions of a Paris Party Girl, she describes how she successfully made the transition from America to Paris, made new friends, partied hard, battled French bureaucracy and met and married her own handsome Frenchman, Mika. However, now Vicki's partying ways are behind her (sacre bleu!) as she is expecting an addition (or two) to her French/American family.

Through the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and birth in a new country, Vicki maintains her positive outlook on life and manages to see the funny side. Although there must have been some painful and difficult moments for Vicki following the early arrival of her son Leonardo and threat of an even earlier arrival by her daughter Stella, she maintains her composure and tells us only the interesting and idiosyncratic side of living in Paris as seen by an outsider. As in her first book, Vicki's voice is very much her own and her affection for her adopted country with all its peculiarities shines clearly as she navigates her way around the French medical system, the difficulties of finding a new apartment each time a baby is added to the household and coping with a life without alcohol. A very charming and often hilarious memoir. I do hope we here more of Vicki's Parisian adventures with Mika, Leo and Stella in the future.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review.

biography-autobiography-memoir humour

Margaret Galbraith

309 reviews4 followers

December 1, 2022

Such a quirky little book and one I really enjoyed reading. Being a mum I could relate to a lot of this and all the ups and downs of juggling life on the run. Thank you for the laughs and joys in this lovely memoir. It was so true to life.

Jacqueline

359 reviews24 followers

May 29, 2014

This book continues on from Vicki's first memoir about her life in Paris, Confessions of a Paris Party Girl. Vicki is just an ordinary woman writing about her life in Paris, but her writing is engaging and entertaining and I recommend you start with book one.

This book shows the same sharp sense of humour and fun outlook on life that I enjoyed in the first book, but gone are her party days and hilarious look at some of the frustrations of French life. Instead she ‘tastefully’ turns her attention to describing with wit the various occasions when she’s to be found naked, with her legs in stirrups on an examination table and how to cope becoming a parent in France. She still has plenty to say about (and to) commuters on the Metro and travellers at the airport, but when it comes to talking about her husband and babies her soft side comes out. Paris life, including moving apartments, getting a place in a crèche, becoming part of a local community and registering her son at the US Embassy (where he was given his own flag) are described in just the right amount of detail to keep the story moving nicely along.

Despite the fun and engaging way she writes about her life, on a serious note I know that giving birth isn’t easy, so to do so abroad, with complications, must be scary. This book should reassure those in a similar situation that even when things aren’t textbook perfect, with a positive attitude they will get through it. I am sure many of the experiences she writes about must have been very emotional and painful at the time and the fact that she can recount them with such honesty and make them entertaining enough to raise a smile is quite incredible - more so, when many of these events only happened earlier on this year.

This is a self-published book, but Vicki has got a great cover designed for her, a keen eyed editor and an author friend to help, all of which ensures it is a book worth reading. Having now read and enjoyed both of her memoirs and her blog, she comes across as hyper organised and always in control, so I can’t imagine her ever settling for anything other than total perfection. This shows in the quality of the book. It has been a privilege to read about the first years of their Franco/American family life and I wish them all the best for the future.

I was sent a copy of this book to read and review.

france memoirs paris

Paulita Kincer

Author 6 books33 followers

June 30, 2014

I read her previous book, Confessions of A Paris Party Girl, and that was fun, but her second book is better. At least I related to it more. Her first book told the story of a party girl moving to France and ended with her marriage to a Frenchman. This book began with her pregnancy.
I love the insights into the different ways the French handle things, like finding an apartment and going to doctor visits, not to mention the difference between giving birth in the U.S. and in France.
"By the time I announced the pregnancy to my boss, I had been employed at my French company about a year. I hadn't quite gotten used to the lax French working style and the fact that they only actually work about half the year, once you factor in national holidays, a minimum of five weeks' vacation, and coffee breaks.
"So I was shocked to learn I would be getting sixteen weeks of maternity leave. what would I do with all the time? Sure, take care of my baby. But as someone who has worked every day of her life since age 14, the prospect of four months sans travail was hard to imagine."
Getting the baby a passport, finding the baby a school, trying to re-establish her party life with her friends, I relished the journey with Vicki.
It was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. Luckily, I had it on my Kindle, so I could pick it up anytime I had a few spare minutes and finished it in just a few days.

Adria Cimino

Author 7 books98 followers

October 7, 2016

Vicki Lesage is back with another hilarious memoir of life in Paris. This time, she writes of a subject that I can relate to very well: having a baby. Maternity leave, medical appointments, paperwork, daycare for toddlers… The author covers it all and with that down-to-earth style that makes you feel as if you and Lesage have been friends for years.

Women who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth in France will relate to many of the author’s stories. And those who haven’t will surely enjoy learning how this part of life unfolds in France.

Fast paced, funny, informative… A great read for anyone who wonders what life in France is really like.

favorite-paris-books velvet-morning-press

Marie

187 reviews139 followers

June 11, 2014

You remember Vicki from the Confessions of a Paris party girl ? She's back! Not only must she now fight French bureaucracy, but she's becoming a mother in Paris and obviously it's not an easy task...
Very entertaining, I laughed out loud and could not put it down and even though I'm French, I loved reading about French bureaucracy and apartment hunting in paris. Hilarious !

Georgiann Hennelly

1,949 reviews22 followers

September 14, 2014

A truly fun entertaining read. Vicki is an American living in Paris with her French Husband.This is the story of her pregnancy and experiences in France during her pregnancy. It is very interesting as she explains the comparisons and explanations that the main character goes on doing compared with American Culture/ Versus French culture.

Pamela King

Author 3 books7 followers

July 21, 2016

I have just visited Paris for the second time through Vicki Lesage’s writing. Vicki offered Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer following my review of Confessions of a Paris Party Girl and I couldn’t wait to receive it. Both books were provided in return for an honest review.

In Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer my friend Vicki is a new Mum (I say friend because that’s how her writing style makes you feel). She has matured, the partying is restricted due to two pregnancies but she is still lots of fun.

Because Vicki is a nerd and a bit of a perfectionist who prides herself on making detailed lists and being organised you’d think she would be able to sail through the difficulties of motherhood. Not so for Vicki.

When it all goes amiss the result is a very funny book book. Fortunately Vicki has the ability to laugh at herself and the mishaps that go on around her.

As with the first book her view of life in Paris as an American expat begins with typical Vicki Lesage humour describing her five month pregnancy check by a French midwife and carrying on from where her first book Confessions of a Paris Party Girl leaves off.

In this book she links to tales she told in her first book; just enough for readers who have not read it but without over doing it for those who are familiar with her party and romantic escapades.

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer is fun, witty, honest, with a dash of sarcasm, and very readable. Vicki laughs at herself, French bureaucracy, the medical system, Paris apartments, strange people travelling the metro, watching people through her window, the French day care system and much more as she tells us about her marriage, her children and the two difficult pregnancies.

While she can laugh at life she has a softer side. It shows in her love for her husband and children and in these situations her stories are charming and delightful.

One of the things I always find interesting in Vicki’s writing is her amusing, often tongue in cheek, comparisons between France and other countries especially America. As an Australian I find these comparisons doubly interesting. Sometimes we side with the French (date is written day, month, year in Australia) sometimes with the Americans on the range of quirky differences.

She is a skilled writer; in fact, in her blog she gives tips for writing. If you are a budding author check out her “Behind the Scenes: Editing” post.

This was the first time I carried my Kindle with me so I could read ‘just a bit more’ at every possible moment. I hope this series of life in Paris will continue as the children grow.

humour

Jody

333 reviews113 followers

October 22, 2014

Review first posted on my blog: http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...

Vicki is still living her life in the wonderful city of Paris; trying to find her way as an American in the land of the French. After having found the love of her life and discovering she is pregnant with her first child, big changes are around the corner and Vicki’s life is about to become completely different from what she’s used to. The hunt for a new and bigger apartment in the French capital is forming quite a challenge, and Vicki has to do it all without the support of a glass of wine. As soon as the baby is born, Vicki’s life is completely taken over by him and as a reader we are invited to join Vicki and her husband on their Parisian adventures with a newborn...

I really enjoyed the chance of going back to the city of Paris and once again joining Vicki on her everyday adventures as an American in France. The great thing about this memoir is that Vicki Lesage managed to make the reading experience feel like you are chatting to a friend and laughing at her life stories. She has a great and fun outlook on life and with these collections of stories she has found a great way to share her experiences with the world. The book isn’t complicated or boring; it’s filled with funny anecdotes, is fast-paced and basically just really entertaining.

Personally, I would definitely recommend reading ‘Confessions of a Paris Party Girl’ before picking up this one, because I think you will enjoy it more if you know the characters and the history. In this sequel, there’s one new main character and that’s Leonardo, Vicki’s newborn son, and it was great fun to see what kind of situations Vicki and her husband found themselves in. I’m sure many parents will be able to relate to Vicki’s experiences, but if you’re not thinking about children just yet the stories are definitely entertaining as well. Overall, ‘Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer’ is another thoroughly enjoyable book that is light-hearted, easy to read and filled with funny, entertaining stories. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a third part of the series!

Connie Anderson

341 reviews26 followers

March 8, 2015

I was given a free copy of this book to read and give my honest review.

May I first say that reading a Vicki Lesage book is a keeper. She writes like she is sitting right across from you, her confidante at a nice table outside of a cafe`. This book made me smile at what a little ham bone Leo is. Maybe we will get to know Stella more in the next one.

When she writes about rude, idiotic, and holier than though people (come on, admit it, you have met some or many in your lifetime), and she imagines what she would REALLY like to say back to them, I am completely there. I am too scared of people to tell it like it is. But, if I am with someone else, I will tell THAT person so the offender can hear me! Have you ever shopped in a big box store without a cart? You are their clay pigeon. Everyone who has a cart tries and some do, come right at you to intentionally strike you. I nearly always grab a cart for defence. I laughed at her writing about taking a seat on the metro, the piano mover trying to rub his thigh on her jeans (my skin crawled!), and the way most French think Americans dress frumpy. Those things really happened to her, yet she turns them into fun antidotes.

Most of all, she writes about things all women can identify with in one way or another. If she wrote about it, there will be many of us talking back to the book, or else laughing until your sides hurt! One thing she's got going for her is a level head, endurance, and a boatload of patience. If I were told I'd have a two day layover in Chicago's airport in -11° F weather when I only had a week to spend with my family, I don't know how I would react. This book is honest, sincere, and truly lovable.

action-packed compelling entertaining

Lisa Cromwell

71 reviews8 followers

June 25, 2014

**I received this book for free from the author and in no way has this influenced my opinion of this book. Thank you to Vicki Lesage for the opportunity!**

Vicki delivers another stellar read! I did not think that giving birth and potty training and language training could be any funnier than Vicki's first book that was about partying.......boy was I wrong and could not be happier about it! I highly recommend that if you are considering reading this book that you start with her first book "Confessions of a Paris Party Girl". Although not necessary (this book could stand alone), why would you miss the opportunity to hear the predecessor to this book in all its hilariousness?!? Vicki has a wonderful personality that shows through her writings. I love her sense of humor and openness. She also seems to find the funny side to most things even when she is going through personal struggles. Who could not admire that in a person? Vicki is very fair in calling out the French and the Americans for things that make no sense at all. A very delightful read. I hope that Vicki is still doing this well into her retirement years. It will be like listening to an old friend recount her life in funny detail. I want to hear all about Leo and Stella as they grow up and eventually lead their own lives as well as continue to hear about all the ups and downs that Vicki and Mika continue to face head on while laughing along the way! Now someone get Vicki a drink! I think she deserves it :-)

Diana

731 reviews23 followers

July 2, 2014

ARC received from author for an honest review.

Thank you to Vicki Lesage for an ARC of Confessions of a Paris Potty.
I really enjoyed "Confession of a Paris Potty Trainer" by Vicki Lesage. One of the reasons that I love Lesage's writing so much is that it's so relateable. In her previous book "Confessions of a Party Girl in Paris" she shared her experiences as a single girl living it up in Paris. Now, she is married and with children. I loved the raw truth and also the cultural comparisons. I've read so many times how Parisian and American culture is different and after reading Lesage's experiences its easy to see that there are many differences. Because I also have kids and am married I found myself nodding my head over so many of her experiences. The added bonus is hearing about life in Paris which is always a great treat. I really enjoyed and recommend this wonderful book about everyday life in sophisticated France and not always dealing with sophisticated situations. Great read! Thank you to the author for this very enjoyable book!

arc

Nash Norden

296 reviews37 followers

October 13, 2014

I enjoyed Vicki Lesage's first book, Confessions of a Paris Party Girl, and was excited to receive another memoir from her. Vicki is an American, living in Paris with her French husband. The book was about Vicki’s pregnancy and her the experience in Paris.

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer were as hilarious as the first book. But I enjoyed this book more than the first one, probably because there are less partying. I love Vicki’s voice. She’s funny and she can be a little mad, which is a good thing, because she made me laughed so much. I just couldn’t put down the book. It was interesting to see Vicki would compare the culture of American and French. My favorite part of the book the apartment hunting. Now, I’m really curious to see how the apartments in Paris!

This book is highly entertaining. There wouldn’t be a single moment where you would find the book, boring. I definitely recommend this book (and the previous one) and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book from the author to provide an honest review.

autobiography chick-lit humor

Roseena Peralta

167 reviews11 followers

January 17, 2016

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so i could give an honest review.

Where was this book when I was pregnant? Vicki is currently resided in Paris with her husband. She is a working individual who got married , then have a child, but not only did she give birth once , she gives birth twice in the book.

She was a friend to have while you are pregnant, she tells you the ups and the downs, as well as what it is like to be in a country that you are not familiar with.

One of my favorite part of the book is when she tells you about going for one of her prenatal checks up and was just having a bad day with the attendee. Yes, it bloody happens!

The way she write about her experiences is great for anyone to read! I recommend it !

My only down size is that I had to be in a certain mood to read it, because of how peppy the writing was. It was my pick me up book

Emma

1,186 reviews40 followers

July 23, 2014

In the same spirit as Confessions of a Paris Party Girl, as the party girl has grown up, here comes Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer. There are still parties and plenty of booze, but mind you, NOT during the 2 pregnancies related in this hilarious memoir.

I definitely do enjoy a lot Vicki’s style. In fact, when faced with tough conditions (bed rest for many months and a premature baby), plus ridiculous French bureaucracy, or rather bureaucrazy (tons of paperwork to fill in for anything and everything) as Vicki calls it apropos, laughing is the most serious way of looking at things and remain sane.

Along with her humor, Vicki has really a...

read my full review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/07/23/b...

france read-in-2014 received-from-publisher-author

Rhonda

75 reviews

July 28, 2014

I knew I was going to love this book and I did! Vicki is a master at storytelling and her humor is delightful.
The nicknames for the weekend nurses cracked me up! Vicki’s nerdy mathematical dissertation on the way we write the date and how the rest of the world writes it was both thought provoking and funny. I could go on and on but then I may spoil the story for you.
I usually don’t read memoirs but these are the exception!
Through reading this book and Confessions of a Paris Party Girl, I have laughed so much! I’ve also learned that there are many differences between the Paris way of life and life in the US.
I envy Vicki’s courage to move to another country and I admire her humor and intellect.
Don’t pass up this book!

Danielle Heptinstall

3 reviews

June 6, 2014

Wow! This was such a great book, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Vickis accounts from her pregnancies were so real an close to my pregnancy experience. I also loved how Vicki would include footnote on topics or little saying that may be interpreted differently among the french and the americans. I recommend this book to every mother out there. if you having a bad day, this book definately lightens your spirits!

Ana

90 reviews

June 25, 2014

A very fun book. It tells the story of an American woman and her experience in France during her pregnancy.
It is very interesting the comparisons and explanations that the main character goes on doing compared American culture and French culture.
This book will be very interesting to moms but I'm not a mother and also had fun reading it.

I won this e-book through a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.

e-offer-4-review librarything-com

Laura

34 reviews

August 3, 2016

'Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer' was every bit as good as I expected it to be - if not better. It was real, honest and funny, it is a must have for Parisian mums and mums-to-be. I recommend that you read the first book 'Confessions of a Paris Party Girl' the previous instalment of Vicki's life so far. I liked this book but I think I would have related to it more if I was a mother.
4.5 stars

5-stars

Elena Ivanova

4 reviews

August 6, 2014

If you ever lived in France or considered living in France this is a must read, perfect book with humorous insight into Parisian culture and what it would be like to live there. I really enjoyed reading this book

Melanie

370 reviews4 followers

October 29, 2014

I was so happy to see that Vicki wrote another book - and it was such a fun read. She's a great storyteller and just as witty and charming as in the first book. I loved catching up on her latest adventures.

Lisa

758 reviews9 followers

December 20, 2014

This is the second book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. I love the voice that comes across in her books. Even though I don't have kids, I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs of the births of her two babies.

Kara Skinner (Lover's Quarrel Reviews)

92 reviews21 followers

January 26, 2015

This is a really hilarious book! I loved reading it, and it was hard to put down. Vicki is so relatable, and she can even make a sad or frustrating moment funny with her quirky and awesome style of writing and sense of humor. I fully recommend this book.

Lizzie Harwood

Author 9 books24 followers

February 20, 2015

Vicki Lesage returns with more great insights and fun moments of her life in Paris... This time she becomes a mom, which is no easy thing in France. A fun fast read from a talented writer. I really enjoy her mix of deadpan humour and sharp observation even in the face of difficulties.

61 reviews4 followers

March 31, 2020

A great continuation from the authors first memoir 'Confessions Of A Paris Party Girl'. Another chatty memoir, this time all about Vicki's hysterical antics of being pregnant in Paris.
Once again highly entertaining and hilarious.......even more than the first in my opinion.
Vicki Lesage has a fine knack for comic narrative. The on-going funny moments are thoroughly amusing, and the sarcastic comments had me stitches every time.
Vicki Lesage is an excellent writer. Her tone is easy and casual and her quick witted humour is highly commendable.
Recommended or all who want laugh out loud entertainment.

John

423 reviews4 followers

October 20, 2017

This book is hilarious

I found this book very funny and hard to put down once I actually started reading it

Her adventures with the French medical and local governments are hilarious and it gives you and awesome look into life in Paris

Thank you for sharing your awesome stories with us

Noushin

20 reviews

December 5, 2017

I found resemblance in most of the pages with my experiences during my pregnancy and maternity except for the bureaucracy which is not as bad as France in England.
Good story telling, but it was not on potty training!

2017

Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

Ratings & Reviews for

Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer

Vicki Lesage

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