Books That Transport You to Paris
Take a Trip to the City of Light
This summer, we’re heading to Paris—but we’re swapping water sports and archery for French cooking, romance, and a delightful murder mystery that you can read from your living room.
The Paris Novel: A Novel by Ruth Reichl
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick*
A “mouthwatering” (The New York Times) adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris—from the bestselling author of Save Me the Plums and Delicious!
“Stella decamps to the City of Light—and pungent goat cheese, chilled wine, garlicky snails—in this giddy, escapist confection from Ruth Reichl, food writer par excellence.”—Vanity Fair
“A splendid novel of family, food, and all things French, by one of the world’s best food writers at the top of her game.”—J. Ryan Stradal, author of Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club
Available in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Paris Mystery: A Novel by Kristy Manning
Intrepid reporter Charlotte “Charlie” James arrives in Paris in 1938 eager to make a fresh start, but little does she know the trouble that awaits her.
“A fizzy, fast-paced caper full of glitz, glamour and intrigue . . . Manning highlights the opulence and decadence of interwar Paris in this engaging and delightful mystery. The City of Light comes alive through her descriptions of haute couture fashion and Parisian cuisine.”—BookPage
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Paris Connection: A Novel by Lorraine Brown
In this witty and heartfelt debut love story for fans of Josie Silver’s One Day in December, a woman stranded in Paris for the day discovers that the wrong road can sometimes lead us in the right direction.
“As effervescent as a glass of champagne, The Paris Connection sparkles with love and adventure, warmth and wit. Reading this book was like a holiday in Paris—exciting, romantic, and over much too quickly. Lorraine Brown’s emotional, heartwarming page-turner will transport you to Paris quicker than you can say Oui! Oui!”—Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Paris Cooking School: A Novel by Sophie Beaumont
There’s nothing quite so romantic or inspiring as Paris in the spring—and what better place for a woman to reinvent herself and start over. In this deeply moving novel, three women must come together and fight for the happy ending they dream of.
“[An] enjoyable read, filled with delectable food and mesmerizing settings through Paris.”—Good Reading Magazine
Available August 6th in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Perestroika in Paris: A Novel by Jane Smiley
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning and bestselling author: a captivating, brilliantly imaginative story of three extraordinary animals—and a young boy—whose lives intersect in Paris in this “feel-good escape” (The New York Times).
“After writing some of the most brilliant and ferocious fiction of the past 40 years, Jane Smiley takes a gentler approach in Perestroika in Paris . . . Her tone may be genial, but she’s as tough-minded as ever . . . Underpinning the novel’s abundant humor is a pervasive atmosphere of loneliness and longing for companionship felt by humans and animals alike.”—The Boston Globe
“A beautifully done story . . . An absolutely extraordinary tribute to Paris.”—NPR’s Weekend Edition
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
The Ghosts of Paris: A Novel by Tara Moss
A thrilling tale of courage and secrets set in postwar London and Paris, in which a search for a missing husband puts investigator and former war reporter Billie Walker on a collision course with an underground network of Nazi criminals.
“Billie Walker [is] a tough-talking, glamorous feminist who’s as adept with a pistol as she is on the dance floor, haunted by a tragic past, and unafraid to take on the darkest of foes.”—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace
“Brilliantly atmospheric and completely immersive—this stylishly fierce adventure into post-war darkness will hold you captive on every page . . . A cinematic and important feminist noir—dark as midnight velvet and tough as steel. Do not miss this!”—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The First to Lie, on The War Widow
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Paris Understudy: A Novel by Aurélie Thiele
This powerful debut novel brings to life the hard choices Parisians made–or failed to make–under Nazi occupation, in the tradition of Pam Jenoff and Fiona Davis.
“A captivating wartime story where ambition clashes with morality under the haunting melodies of opera. Historical fiction fans will delight in Thiele’s impeccable research and enriching atmosphere. An impressive debut where intrigue and sacrifice blend seamlessly with the music. Bravo!”—Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Pianist
Available September 10th in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time; A Memoir by Jane Bertch
The inspiring and delicious memoir of an American woman who had the gall to open a cooking school in Paris—a true story of triumphing over French naysayers and falling in love with a city along the way
“An engaging, multilayered story of a woman navigating innumerable cultural differences to build a life in Paris and create her dream: to establish a French cooking school.”—David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Bon Appétit:
World Food: Paris: Heritage Recipes for Classic Home Cooking [A Parisian Cookbook] by James Oseland
A definitive user’s guide that unlocks the secrets to real Parisian cooking, while the beautiful photography tells the tale of the world’s most dazzling food city.
“This book embodies the culinary soul of Paris. It describes the incredible diversity of France’s capital’s food scene and markets and provides quintessential French recipes, as well as stories from passionate home cooks and bistros alike. Accompanied by superb photos of the city, dishes, and ingredients, from cheeses to wines to bread, World Food: Paris is useful and fun to read and cook from.”—Jacques Pépin
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Bruno’s Cookbook: Recipes and Traditions from a French Country Kitchen by Martin Walker and Julia Watson
From the author of the internationally bestselling Bruno, Chief of Police series, comes a sumptuous French cookbook that immerses readers in the delectable countryside cuisine of Bruno’s beloved Périgord region, featuring favorite meals from Roasted Tomato Tapenade and Tarragon Chicken to A Most Indulgent Chocolate Cake.
“Written with a generous measure of culinary joie de vivre and a keen appreciation for the people and culture of Périgord, this captivating cookbook will charm fans of Walker’s long-running series as well as any cook wishing to explore the bountiful riches of French country cooking.”—John Charles, Library Journal
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France by Melissa Clark
The beloved author of Dinner in an Instant breaks down the new French classics with 150 recipes that reflect a modern yet distinctly French sensibility.
“Melissa Clark’s contemporary eye is just what the chef ordered. Her recipes are traditional yet fresh, her writing is informative yet playful, and the whole package is achingly chic.”—Yotam Ottolenghi
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.