The Paris Novel - by Ruth Reichl (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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!

"An enchanting and irresistible feast . . . As with a perfect meal in the world's most magical city, I never wanted this sublime novel to end."--Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of Good Company

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Saveur, Food & Wine, Bookreporter, The Charlotte Observer

This Random House Book Club edition includes an exclusive recipe, a map of Paris, and a discussion guide.

Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head, and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean. Oysters, she thought. Where have they been all my life?

When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading "Go to Paris." Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. But when her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother's last wishes.

Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store, where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and for the first time in her life Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress--and embarks on an adventure.

Her first stop: the iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces Stella to a veritable who's who of the Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, she begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.

As weeks--and many decadent meals--go by, Stella ends up living as a "tumbleweed" at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"[E]nticing . . . Reichl keeps the wine--and mouthwatering prose--flowing. . . . When a waiter drops an extra dessert on the table, better not send it back to the kitchen."--The 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"

"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

"A magical tale of self-discovery by way of pleasure."--The Charlotte Observer

"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

"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

About the Author

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. In 2024, she received the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award.