Paul West, an Englishman living in France, has big plans for his second book.

He decides to open a tea saloon in Paris, hoping that this new venture will help him win back his ex-girlfriend. However, she is skeptical about his respectability due to their past experiences together.

The story is quite entertaining and makes for a quick read. Towards the end, it starts to feel like a typical Hollywood romcom. Will Paul manage to get his ex-girlfriend back? At first, it seems like he has a good chance, but then he messes things up. But, as you might have guessed, there is a happy ending.

One aspect that was a bit disappointing for me was the text on the back of the paperback. It led me to believe that the book would contain caustic humor and a merciless satire about the French. In reality, the humor is rather mild and even a bit too tame. Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5.

Despite its flaws, it is still an enjoyable read that will keep you entertained until the very end.

Merde is indeed a sequel to "A Year in the Merde".

In this novel, the protagonist Paul's (mis)adventures in France persist. He is currently attempting to launch his English tea chain, "My Tea is Rich", while simultaneously grappling with difficulties in his personal love life.

Whereas the first part predominantly centered on the cultural disparities between England and France, this installment is crafted in the typical style of a love story, with relatively little emphasis on cultural matters. To be sure, there are a few episodes, such as the trouble he encounters with the French inspector (gendarme) and the business authorities when obtaining the correct French translation of his menu, but they are few and far between. The majority of the story is squandered in Paul's pursuit of his half-French exotic girlfriend and his issues with her family. The second part zeroes in on his troubles with his ex, whom he desires to win back.

The brief passages regarding his return to London and his attempts to resume life in his native country with a French background are engaging and do shed light on the "culture" that Great Britain has now evolved into. The contrast in nightlife between the two countries is striking and truly makes one wonder which nation is headed in the right direction.

Overall, it is an "ok" but quick read.

I thought this was funnier than the first one.

It really made me burst out laughing. The humor in it was so unique and unexpected.

Maybe it was the clever wordplay or the absurd situations that were described.

Whatever it was, it had me entertained from start to finish.

I couldn't help but share it with my friends, thinking that they would also find it hilarious.

It's always great to come across something that can bring a smile to your face and brighten up your day.

I'm looking forward to seeing what else there is that can top this in terms of humor.

Good beginning.

It was a bright and sunny day when the adventure began. The excitement was palpable as everyone gathered, filled with anticipation. The plans were laid out, and everything seemed to be going perfectly.

However, as time passed, things started to take a turn for the worse. Unexpected obstacles emerged, and difficulties piled up one after another. The initial enthusiasm began to wane, and a sense of frustration set in.

Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the situation continued to deteriorate. In the end, what started as a promising endeavor ended in disappointment. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it served as a valuable lesson.

Sometimes, even with a good beginning, there is no guarantee of a happy ending. But it is through these experiences that we learn and grow, and are better prepared for future challenges.

Bad ending.

This is a delightful summer read that follows the adventures of Englishman Paul West as he attempts to settle down in France.

Even though this book is the second installment of the "Paul West" series and I hadn't read the first one, it was remarkably easy to immerse myself in the story. Thanks to some concise and well-placed recaps, it was also straightforward to fill in any gaps in my knowledge.

However, the one aspect that I found a bit strange and which dominated the entire narrative was the constant sexual innuendo that seemed to shadow Paul in every situation. While these innuendos sometimes led to humorous twists, they were, at times, a touch too exaggerated for my taste.

Overall, despite this minor quibble, the book was an enjoyable read that offered a light-hearted look at life in France through the eyes of an English expatriate.

I much preferred this one to the first one.

It is truly, truly hilarious. The author really has a keen eye for all the French idiosyncrasies.

This is the second book in the series. And it is set in France, but not mainly in Paris as was the case with the first one. This difference in setting is precisely why I have a greater preference for this particular book.

The exploration of different regions in France adds a new dimension to the story, allowing for a more diverse and rich portrayal of the French culture and way of life.

It's refreshing to see a story that doesn't rely solely on the familiar backdrop of Paris. Instead, it ventures out into other parts of the country, uncovering unique and interesting aspects that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Overall, this second book has managed to capture my attention and make me laugh out loud, all while providing a fascinating look at France beyond the capital city.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

I have a penchant for reading books of this genre.

Some are better than others, and this one, "Merde Actually," I found to be just mediocre.

The author tries hard to come across as witty but doesn't always succeed.

He attempts to create a somewhat central plot based on the efforts of his British hero to open a Tea Room in Paris, mainly focusing on his erotic adventures.

To be honest, I found the erotic/romantic part very dull, and it takes up a large portion of the book.

I much preferred the parts where the hero interacted with random people like bureaucrats, policemen, housemates, or staff.

I was particularly interested in the tea room business stuff, especially the chapter on customer service and idiot clients.

The London part of the story in the consultants company was okay too.

In general, I felt the book wasn't that funny, some plot-lines were unrealistic, and the humor was often forced.

It's not a book I hated, but overall, it wasn't one I enjoyed a great deal either.

Finally, although at first the book didn't seem familiar, I found myself recognizing much of the story in the second half.

Maybe I read it a long time ago, or perhaps it's a commonly told story that's easy to predict.

Either way, there wasn't much new here.

All in all, it's an average book to pass the time, but nothing outstanding.

I would have liked the author to have given more emphasis to the cultural differences between British and French cultures rather than creating an alter ego who just sleeps with beautiful women.

All I can say about this book is "meh."

I mean, it's really quite underwhelming. I think Stephen Clarke is operating under a delusion. He seems to believe that he is far funnier than he actually is.

Listening to all of his tales about his escapades with "sexy" French women is not only boring but also a bit creepy.

When the gray-haired author makes remarks like (to paraphrase), "I had always wondered what happened to a woman's body between 25 and 35, and now I knew - not much," it makes one wonder.

So, is this old, crusty British guy only sleeping with women under 25? That's just gross.

Anyway, putting aside the moral judgments for a moment, the plot was at best lackluster and the writing felt rather hasty and not well thought out.

I truly believe that Clarke should have called it quits while he was still in a relatively good position (i.e., after his first book).

Perhaps then, he wouldn't have produced this rather disappointing work.

There is a great desire for exploratory literature, and moreover, with truly up-to-date information about the Parisians and the French. Clarice's books are excellent. She has done a great job within the framework of her genre!!!

Clarice's works not only satisfy the readers' curiosity about different cultures and lifestyles but also provide in-depth and accurate insights. Her detailed descriptions of the Parisians and the French add authenticity and vividness to the stories.

Readers can immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere and charm of Paris through her words. In addition, the up-to-date information she presents makes the books relevant and engaging. It is no wonder that Clarice's books have received such high praise and recognition.

At the very beginning of the book, I found myself constantly asking myself the question of how on earth I would be able to put up with it. However, as I delved deeper into it, I did notice that things got a little better, or at the very least, it became bearable. In fact, I even found myself laughing out loud at a Perrier joke.

But here's the thing, how on earth can I truly enjoy a book or a series when I really, really dislike the main character? Paul West, in my opinion, is extremely arrogant and takes stereotypes to an almost absurd level. He's always going on about how everyone else is so annoying, yet in reality, it's him who is the most annoying of all. He spends the entire first and second (and probably all) books criticizing and making fun of the French, but when someone else does the same to English people, it's as if the world is coming to an end. It's a case of "do what I say, not what I do," and that just doesn't fly with me, mate.

I managed to read the first two books, but now I find that I simply can't continue with this series any longer. I just can't handle this guy anymore. It's a real shame because there were some aspects of the story that I did enjoy, but the character of Paul West is just too much for me to take.

I picked this one up at a library sale. Since I'm heading to France in about a month for a short stay, I thought it would be great to get me in the mood.

I didn't realize this was a part deux to his first book. Fortunately, you don't really have to have read the first one. It was okay as a standalone.

For the first few chapters, I considered giving up because I wasn't sure where his story was going. But I'm glad I didn't. He finally stopped constantly repeating how hot his girlfriend was and started sharing some funny tales.

I assume there's a fair amount of embellishment in them, but who cares? They were enjoyable to read. It was a light read that made me laugh out loud several times, which is always nice!

And yes, it did make me excited for Paris. He doesn't focus on the actual city too much, but that charming Parisian atmosphere does come through in his stories.