The Paris Novel

Ruth Reichl
Skip to product information

The Paris Novel

Ruth Reichl
Release date:
Regular price $22.95
Sale price $22.95 Regular price $0.00
Final Sale. No returns or exchanges.
Oversized: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.
Overweight: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.

Digital download

Immediate access in your Kobo library

Deliver to

In stock online. Free shipping on orders over $49

Buy online, pick up at Bay & Floor

Free pick up today

Find it in store

Out of stock

Found in: FICTION, General Fiction

Earn 115 plum points and save more with plum Rewards. Learn more

View full details

Overview

HEATHER'S PICK304 PAGESENGLISH

Heather’s Review

“I love Paris, and everything about it. There is no city as romantic or so filled with earthly delights or historical characters I would so love to have at a dinner party. The food. The fashion. The museums. And the ever-so-famous bookshop Shakespeare & Co. The very one that James Joyce, Anaïs Nin, Hemingway, Allen Ginsberg, and so many others hung out at in their day. In The Paris Novel, we experience the very soul of Paris through the book’s main character, Stella, who has gone to the City of Lights to find herself.”

Heather Reisman

Promotional Details

Shop All

*Valid July 3, 2026 - July 19, 2026 at Canadian stores, while quantities last. Not valid on previous purchases or in conjunction with other offers.

Overall rating: 4.535714 / 5 from 56 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Paris Novel is a delightful and engaging read, praised for its enchanting story set in 1980s Paris. Customers appreciate the interesting and believable characters, and the book is highly recommended as a great summer read. It offers a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for lovers of Paris.

Summary topics

  • Book Quality: 24%
  • Story Enjoyment: 16%
  • Readability: 32%
  • Character Development: 20%

Review topics: [size, read, book, story, novel, characters, food, paris, writing, summer, storyline].

Review highlights

  • "Interesting storyline, believable characters, and great conclusion!"JLFK
  • "Delightful, feel good warm-hearted story, nostalgic for lovers of Paris."David C.
  • "Really great light read for foodies and people who love Paris"Lisa

Reviews

The Paris novel is wonderful!’

"Bought the book February 2026, while visiting friends in Ottawa, at the Indigo bookstore. Loved 🥰 the author descriptions of the restaurants that Stella went to with Monsieur Jules Delacourt and how she started enjoying & developing her taste buds of the foods & wines. Also how Stella when about in her quest of finding more about Victorine’s life & her paintings."

Jean@pr (5/5)

Missing Trigger warning

"In all fairness, this review isn’t about the quality of writing, but about the lack of a trigger warning for the very first chapter! I bought this thinking it would be a nice travel read, and instead got a sexual abuse scene. And nowhere on the cover, on the intro pages, or in any review does it mention triggers. This author must know how common abuse is and what can trigger feelings. I was very disappointed, and I don’t think I will ever read this author again. I know writing experiences helps to overcome them, but a little warning would have been nice."

Kris1234 (1/5)

I must be missing something

"In reading some of the ratings and reviews (including Heather’s), I almost feel like I must have read a different book. The topic, of course, holds great appeal, which is why I picked the book up in the first place. I personally found the writing completely unengaging (although I’m sure the author could write fine restaurant reviews). I did not find the heroine compelling in the least and found myself scratching my head over why she was being so easily befriended by everyone she met. And as for plot development…this book has the distinction of being the first I’ve read where I didn’t realize it was over until I turned the last page and realized there wasn’t a next chapter! If I hadn’t at least taken some pleasure in reading descriptions of Paris, food, and wine, I would be wishing I’d kept the receipt so I could return this book"

Asiseeit (3/5)

A delicious book

"While reading this book, I really felt I was in Paris, eating the amazing food of this city. The authors description of the smells and tastes made my mouth water. I coukd also identify with the main character and her relationship with her mother. It was a delight to read."

Anne (5/5)

Feh

"I wanted to like this book but found many of the plot points to be preposterous. I laughed out loud a few times (not in a good way). The food descriptions were the most vivid part but the characters were not believable. Also… the description of a falafel was ridiculous! 🤦🏼‍♀️"

PawneeGoddess (2/5)

Dreaming of Paris

"The Paris Novel was a delightful read that transported me straight to France. As a Core French teacher, I loved the setting, and it reminded me a lot of Eat Pray Love with its themes of self-discovery and new beginnings. A charming and inspiring story for anyone who dreams of Paris."

H H. (5/5)

Paris Novel is a fitting title for the book

"Very enjoyable book. Love the way she describes food. You can certainly tell she has a background in it. It’s an easy read & I would highly recommend it."

J. R. (5/5)

Not What I Expected

"More food-centric than the summary led on. Still enjoyed - great plot but could’ve had more depth."

Emily P. (3/5)

The Paris Novel - Favourite Things

"Loved this story - my favourite city, food and fashion with a little mystery."

LoveParis (5/5)

I just visited Paris

"I just visited Paris this summer, wish I had read this book prior to my visit. I can envision the streets and smells as described by the author. I did find the book a bit too predictable for my liking. I think It can be described as a giant scavenger hunt adventure. It was a good, easy read. I prefer more surprises I guess."

Heidee (4/5)

Q&A

  • Published date: Apr 22, 2025
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 304
  • Publisher: Appetite by Random House
  • ISBN: 9780525613015
  • Dimensions: 5.17" W x 0.65" L x 7.99" H
“Reichl['s] . . . writing reads like a dish you want to savor, slowly chewing each perfectly chosen word as she describes the distinct experience of eating ortolan for the first time or sipping a red wine that tastes like ‘liquid rubies.’”
Eater, “The Best Food Books to Read This Spring”

“A delicious feast for the senses, taking the reader on an enchanting journey through the city of love, and following Stella’s adventure into a bolder, more beautiful life.”
Oprah Daily, “The Most Anticipated Books of 2024”

"The escapist fairy tale on the level of Emily in Paris (or if Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris were a book) features every last delectable morsel of moveable feast cliché – a vintage Dior dress, a visit to Les Deux Magots literary brasserie and even a stint living at Shakespeare & Company."
Everything Zoomer, "13 Books to Read in April [2024]"

“Reichl keeps the wine — and mouthwatering prose — flowing.”
New York Times

“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, “14 Books We Can’t Stop Thinking About This Month [May 2024]”

“Beyond its fabulous food descriptions, this book offers a fresh format for encountering Reichl’s deep understanding of French culture and food, and even includes a side plot drawn from her days studying art history in graduate school. In short, it’s a quintessential Reichl read—richly detailed, dense with information and creativity (and ideas for dinner parties), and a total delight.”
Saveur

“The descriptions of food are as evocative as you you’d expect from a lifetime critic.”—Food & Wine

“You will devour this hopelessly and hopefully romantic novel.”
—Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife

“This is a sumptuous book that I simply could not put down. C’est formidable!
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus

“It’s all here: Les Deux Magots, Dior, L'Ami Louis, and Shakespeare and Company. And there is no better guide than Ruth Reichl.”
—Padma Lakshmi, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Loss, and What We Ate

“This is nothing less than an absolute enchantment.”
—Nigella Lawson

“Reichl crafts a cozy atmosphere . . . Francophiles and armchair travelers alike will relish the chance to tour Paris's famous churches, museums, and restaurants.”
Shelf Awareness

The Paris Novel is a gem, and Reichl a charming and delightful guide.”
—Bianca Bosker, author of Cork Dork and Get the Picture

“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

“An evocative tale of personal discovery and finding one’s true calling in the most delicious city in the world.”
—David Lebovitz, author of Drinking French and My Paris Kitchen

“I absolutely loved this gastro tour through the streets of Paris and further afield in France. It's an absolutely wonderful treat.”
—Veronica Henry, author of Thirty Days in Paris

“Sensual and sweeping, Ruth Reichl’s The Paris Novel is for anyone who wants to believe that a great meal, a work of art, and an intimate conversation all have the ability to change your life.”
—Lillian Li, author of Number One Chinese Restaurant

“I love everything Ruth Reichl writes, and not only is The Paris Novel no exception, it is, page after page, an enchanting and irresistible feast.”
—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of Good Company

“If you do not have time to go to Paris, get yourself some cheese, baguette, and red wine, and let The Paris Novel take you on a remarkable holiday for the soul.”
—Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop

“Food critic and novelist Reichl serves up a delectable story of an introverted copy editor’s life-changing visit to Paris in the 1980s.”
—Publishers Weekly
Ruth Reichl is the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the novel Delicious!, and the cookbook My Kitchen Year. She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, and previously served as restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards.

Recently Viewed