From love found to love lost, these Parisien stories will have you hooked. Whether you want to read about friendships, mysteries, or whimsy — Paris has it all.
Often, we read to disconnect from our realities. Whether it’s intense fantasies, deep, lusting romances, or even just ordinary slice-of-life stories set somewhere else, with someone else — reading allows us to escape. When we pick up that book and flick through its pages, the words transport our minds, taking us away from whatever we might be facing, whatever might currently have a grip on our mind, and throwing us into another world, another universe, another life.
With some books, we can even find ourselves completely transported to places we’ve never been. We can find ourselves imagining the water of a small Brazilian island lapping at our feet or the smell of the wine as we swirl the glass around beneath our nose as our protagonist visits a winery.
So why not pick your destination? Why not set out this year and ‘visit’ as many countries as you can, all without needing to worry about lugging a great big suitcase through the airport?
And where better to start than the city of love: Paris.
Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith
This captivating tale follows Vincent, who grew up in a family of artists. The story finds her, at 44, living in Paris. She teaches at an art museum and is very suddenly thrust into an exciting turn of events, where she catches the eye of a younger man.
Unfortunately, Vincent is still tied to her husband, whom she left when she moved to Paris. Agreeing to see him again at their son’s wedding, Vincent is left with a decision: what does she really want out of her life?
Explore Paris, the passion of the city, the culture and everything in between with Leesa Cross-Smith’s book. Rated a 3.9 on Amazon and a 3.4 on Goodreads, this is a great place to start when it comes to exploring Paris through literature!
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Our main character, Jess, is jobless and completely penniless. She makes the decision to go and crash at her brother Ben’s apartment in Paris — just until she gets back on her feet.
When she arrives at Ben’s apartment in Paris, Ben’s nowhere to be found. Upon further investigation, he doesn’t seem to have left the apartment, but he’s not there, either. Days go by, and Jess hears nothing from her brother. She becomes suspicious, and, as the story unfolds, determined to track down her sibling.
With a 3.6 star rating on GoodReads and Amazon, Lucy Foley’s book is a brilliant mystery for anyone who wants to explore Paris but isn’t quite feeling the city’s stereotypical love and passion. Instead, you can explore the dark secrets of the busy city’s back alleys and dark corners.
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
An LGBTQ+ favorite, Giovanni’s Room follows a young man caught in the Parisien grasp of lust and love. It’s a moving, highly controversial story written in the 1950s that is based right in the heart of Paris, with an interesting cast of expatriates. It’s a cult classic and one that anyone who is happy to explore all sides of Paris should definitely add to their reading list.
Giovanni’s Room has a whopping 4.34 stars on GoodReads, and 4.4 stars on Amazon!
One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan
An unlikely friendship is at the core of this novel by bestselling author Sarah Morgan. Grace, the protagonist, booked a trip to Paris to celebrate her and her husband’s 25th wedding anniversary — only to find out that he wants a divorce. She takes the trip anyway, desperate to find some peace in the whirlwind that has taken hold of her life.
On the trip, she meets 18-year-old Audrey, and the two women become close friends, exploring the city of Paris in the heat of summer, and learning from one another.
The story is one of power, hope, and sisterhood. It’s got a whopping 4.6 stars on Amazon, and 4 stars on GoodReads, and comes from an author notorious for her brilliant writing.
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys
Set in 1930s Paris, Jean Rhys’ beloved Good Morning, Midnight, follows a young woman who has escaped some intense personal tragedies. Choosing to travel to France, Sophia Jansen is determined to find courage and seek out independence.
From dyeing her hair blonde to changing her name, the story shows Paris through the eyes of someone desperate for connection, for a new beginning. It’s painful, cynical, and incredibly moving — like much of Jean Rhys’ work.
The book has received a brilliant 4.3 stars on Amazon and 3.9 on GoodReads, making it a highly rated recommendation for anyone looking to transport themselves not only through space but through time, too.
PS From Paris by Marc Levy
Two Expats living in Paris, both with complicated, heavy pasts and even more complicated presents. The two of them meet, and an instant spark ignites between them. Despite their clear and almost palpable chemistry, Paul and Mia decide to stay just friends, even if it means coming up with ridiculous strategies to ensure they don’t blur the boundary between friendship and something more.
Most of the story takes place on the streets of the city, with recognizable monuments and street names, perfect for anyone who dreams of a romance in Paris.
The story has 3.7 stars on GoodReads and Amazon, and is a great choice for anyone who loves the frustration that comes with characters that are so clearly made for each other.
Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes
Originally written in French, this book is truly unique. It’s set in 2014 in Paris and was published just before the Charlie Hebdo incident. The main character is somewhat unlikeable Vernon Subutex, a middle-aged man who once owned a record store but, following the move to digital, had become jobless and penniless. After having his state unemployment benefits cut, Vernon’s only way of surviving comes from a generous famous friend — who then dies.
The book starts with desperation. Vernon Subutex is completely without help. He’s subjected to sofa surfing and living rough on the streets of Paris. Until he realizes he has something left, one thing of value: the last filmed recordings of his famous friend. Suddenly, things pick up, and thousands of people are on his trail, desperate to get their hands on his one last valuable.
Vernon Subutex was shortlisted for The Man Booker International in 2018. With a respectful 4.1 stars on Amazon and 3.9 on GoodReads, it’s a great choice for anyone who wants to experience Paris with a backdrop of 80s nostalgia and satire!
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Somewhat reminiscent of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, The Little Paris Bookshop follows Monsieur Perdu, the ‘literary apothecary’, who heals others with books. With the belief that there is a book for everyone, and each book can heal someone’s pain, he serves his customers with an intuition like no other.
Unfortunately, though, the only pain he can’t heal, is his own. Heartbroken after the love of his life disappeared, Perdu simply cannot get past his history.
This book is heartfelt, and a love letter to books, stories, and even our local bookstores. It’s rated 3.5 on Goodreads and 4 stars on Amazon and provides the feeling of Paris. The love, hope, and deep connections that the city is filled with are all found in this heartwarming tale.
Join our community of 1.5M readers
Like this story? You’ll love our weekly newsletter.
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.
Migz
Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
