The novel is based on the story of Hemingway’s first marriage and life in Paris during the twenties. The young Ernest and Hadley fell madly in love, left family and comfort behind, and moved penniless to Paris at the height of the jazz age. Their short but passionate and often volatile marriage is set against a city bursting with tremendous creative spirit. Hemingway once said of Hadley, “I wish I had died before I ever loved anyone but her.” This novel is a tender look at a man who is often known more for his machismo and taste for martinis before lunch than as a family man who wore his heart on his sleeve.

Excellent read. I found the characters compelling.

I don't know why I had such a hard time reading this book, because the writing style was well done. Written in a 1st person narrative the story is about the courtship and subsequent marriage of Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadly. It was not until I read the author's notes about this work being an homage to and further insights of Hemingway's A Movable Feast that I realized that the more that was revealed the less interesting the story became.

Not a memoir! Just historical fiction.

Reading this book, together with Hemingway's own account of the same time period (A Moveable Feast), gave me an unexpected respect for his writing and some insights into the man. I don't like his writing any more for respecting it, but I have a feeling for what he was trying to accomplish. And I certainly don't respect the man for knowing more about his personal engagements. But I appreciate the expanded feeling this writer has provided me for the time period and the place in it of Hemingway and his "Paris Wife."

I usually avoid historical fiction because I have a hard time accepting situations and dialogue that are invented for people who actually existed. However, I am glad that I suspended my disbelief to read this because it is excellent. This is a riveting account of how lonely marriage can be when you give up too much of yourself to accommodate your spouse.

Very enjoyable, readable book.Told from the first person, Hadley, Hemmingway's first wife, I enjoyed the style of writing and found that if flowed really well. I knew nothing about Hemmingway's life or his wife and this has made me want to read some of his novels including 'The Sun also rises' written during this period of his life.

Enjoyable read; captured the Parisian life as well as the tumult of Hemingway and Hadley's personalities.

Fictional story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife's life with Hemingway.

I started this book and then couldn't finish it. The story line seems fascinating, but the writing is horrible! It's rather ironic that a book about the great Hemingway would be written so poorly. Disappointing.