I read a previous book by author Ruth Reichl, SAVE ME THE PLUMS, and I absolutely loved it. I could not put it down. THE PARIS NOVEL, is a decidedly different book and perhaps I should have explored its description more fully before I offered to read/review it. It really wasn’t my cup of tea, to offer a phrase that fits Reichl’s themes. Food, its fragrances, tastes, presentations and history, is still a major part of her writing but this tale revolves around a character previously adrift from all of life’s pleasures. And due to a change in circumstance, now forced to sample them in Paris, a city with more than enough for even the most shut-down human to sample just a few. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Stella St. Vincent has a small life. As a copy editor in New York, she has scheduled her time very carefully. She works long days at a job she loves and spends her weekends reading. She doesn’t own a television and never goes to movies. She eats to survive. It’s a schedule she has adhered to since she was a child. Her mother, Celia, wasn’t cut out for motherhood, so it was up to Stella to set her own structure, and she never learned any differently. Until Celia died.

Celia didn’t want a funeral. She had a little but of money set aside, and all she wanted was for Stella to take that money and go to Paris.

Stella hadn’t wanted to go to Paris, but her boss at the publishing house caught Stella working late one too many times. She ordered Stella to go away, to take a vacation for at least 6 weeks. So Stella decided that it was time to go to Paris.

But she stayed in a small hotel and ate cheaply, wanting to life as quietly and frugally as she did in New York. And then she was introduced to the dress. She had been called into a small vintage shop by something she saw in the window, and once she was in there, the owner of the shop made her try on a gorgeous vintage designer dress. The dress was not Stella’s style at all, but the dress fit like it had been made for her.

The shop owner told her the story of the dress. It had been designed by a young Saint Laurent shortly after he started working at Dior. But the dress would cost Stella almost all of the money she had left to live in Paris. So the shop owner made a deal with her—buy the dress, wear it for the day, go to the places she told Stella to go, and if she wasn’t happy with what happens, then Stella could return it for a full refund. Stella is reluctant, but she can’t deny that the dress has awoken a part of her soul that she’d never experienced.

Stella wears the dress out to a café for a lunch of oysters and Chablis, and she is immediately struck by flavors she has never known. She makes the acquaintance of an older gentleman who then takes her to a museum. At the museum, Stella is overcome by a painting by Manet of a woman. She is naked but is not ashamed, and seems to offer a challenge to anyone who would shame her for her life choices. Stella can’t stop thinking about her and decides to try to find out more about the woman.

The next day, Stella returns the dress to the shop. The owner is surprised to see her back, thinking that experiencing Paris in a designed dress would change Stella’s attitude about it. Instead, Stella has decided to stay in Paris and needs her money back in order to finance her journey. As she tries to find the identity of the woman in the painting, Stella discovers the flavors and textures of Paris, she makes friends, she finds new interests, and she finds people who had known her mother. She finds a family. And maybe, if the serendipity of Paris works in her favor, she will find a whole new life.

Ruth Reichl is a master of flavors and of words. As a bestselling writer, she has crafted recipes and stories that blend food, love, place, and a touch of magic to create craveable results. She brings Paris to life as Stella meets the city for the first time, trying the food, drinking the wine, walking the streets. There is even a cast of real characters from culinary, literary, and artistic realms, along with some genuine French history.

I will admit that I had some misgivings about this book early on. It starts in Stella’s childhood, and as her mother was not much of a mother, there are some difficult things in her early life. But when we skip ahead and get to know Stella as an adult, she is a strong, independent woman. And when she goes to Paris, it seems like her life truly begins. There are a lot of strong women in this story, even at times when strong women were not favored in history, and it’s lovely to see them being celebrated.

But I think it’s the details of this story that make it so accessible. It’s like you can taste the flavors, you can see the colors, you can smell the fresh-baked bread and the dusty bookshelves and the cheeses. This book is a beautiful journey, and I recommend it to anyone who is feeling the itch to get away for a weekend.

Egalleys for The Paris Novel were provided by Random House through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Ruth Reichl is a well known and respected food journalist, and this is her second fiction book. I enjoyed the story, especially when she’s describing the incredible food of Paris.

Stella lives an unexciting life in 1980s NYC as a copy editor. Her mother was perpetually disappointed in her, and refused to tell her about her father. After her mother’s death, she receives a small amount of money and a note that tells her to go to Paris.

After she gets there, she meets an unusual older woman who sells her a dress that “was made for her”, and gives her directions to go to certain restaurants and order specific foods. She meets an old gentleman who becomes her Paris guide and opens her mind and palate to the wonders of French food and wine. She eventually finds the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore and becomes part of its family while listening to readings from famous poets of the time.

Her journey takes her to places she could never imagine in NYC. It’s a delight to watch her discover new people, places, and food. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl was a delightful story!
I had so much reading TPN!
It was very well written and such an engaging read.
The characters are wonderfully developed.
With the best setting.
I really enjoyed this heartfelt book.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Love Ruth Reichl's memoirs and her nonfiction so I was super excited to read this one! Chock full of food and unforgettable characters including Paris which is a character all of its own. I enjoyed it throughout - it was a bit slow to start but picked up after a few chapters- there is a trigger warning for sexual assault in chapter 2 but its brief and I think can be skipped for sensitive eyes.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stella St. Vincent’s mother, Celia, announced to her young daughter that “I was not born to be anyone’s mother.” That announcement helps explain how Stella, who was abused by one of her mother’s wealthy and elegant paramours as a young girl, grew up to be shy and reclusive, fading into the background at a small publishing company. When Celia dies after being hit by a taxi that ran a red light, Stella receives a small inheritance with instructions to purchase a ticket to Paris and convert the remaining funds to traveler’s checks. Stella assumes that the bequest was Celia’s “final attempt to turn me into the daughter she wanted me to be.”

Although prepared for her trip, Stella felt like an alien in Paris who didn’t understand the language and didn’t know anyone. She lived cautiously, frugally, and cowardly, desiring to return to the comfort of home, until she stumbles into a dress shop and, at the direction of the proprietress, tries on a 1950s dress that was Saint Laurent’s first design for the house of Dior. The dress turned Stella into a “woman of such voluptuous promise that it transformed every feature.” The shopkeeper makes Stella a bargain: “Buy the dress, wear it today, and do exactly as I tell you. Tomorrow, if you have a single regret, I will return every franc.”

Reichl has penned a modern Cinderella tale. Although Stella seems naive and unsophisticated, she has an innate ability to appreciate food and art and, in Paris, she finds herself being appreciated or the first time. As a Reichl reader might expect from the acclaimed chef, food critic and editor, the novel is laden with sumptuous descriptions of the food Stella enjoys in Paris (oysters, foie gras, ortolans, escargots). But Reichl also serves up adventures in art and fashion in 1980s Paris. Reichl has written a most charming fairy tale. Thank you Random House and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this mouthwatering novel.

The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl is a narrative that transports readers to the vibrant streets of 1980s Paris through the eyes of Stella St. Vincent. After the death of her estranged mother, Stella embarks on a life-changing journey to Paris, fueled by a mysterious note and a funded trip. The plot weaves through Stella’s self-discovery, culinary adventures, and encounters with historical and literary figures, culminating in a search for a forgotten 19th-century woman painter.
In conclusion, Ruth Reichl’s “The Paris Novel” is a charming and heartfelt addition to the genre of food-centric fiction. Its strengths lie in the evocative writing and the journey it offers readers, despite some criticisms regarding plot and character believability. Whether you’re a foodie, a Francophile, or simply in search of a novel that celebrates the joys of life, “The Paris Novel” is worth savoring.

I'm a longtime fan of Ruth Reichl's work, from her cookbooks, to her nonfiction and memoirs and was SUPER excited to hear she was trying her hand at fiction with this latest book! The Paris novel did not disappoint! It was full of food, an unforgettable cast of characters, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, a mystery all sorts of Parisian charm!

Great on audio with an author's note included at the end about her inspiration for writing this book. I loved all the real life literary and chef cameos, the family drama, the fashion and art references and so much more! Highly recommended!! Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an early digital and #gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review!!

CW: sexual assault/rape of a minor

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. The book was released today April 23, 2024.

Ruth Reichl is one of my favourite food writers. I adore her memoirs. This was my first time reading her fiction. The novel was set in Paris in 1983 and featured a woman's adventures in Paris after her estranged mother's passing. I enjoyed most of the food moments and grew to appreciate the characters. I found the novel slow to start and did not warm to the characters until at least half way. Content Warning as there is a brief but intense traumatic event in chapter 2 which I am not sure added much to the character or story. If it was necessary to the character's background, it happened very suddenly and is not dealt with much later. All in all, a nice little novel. I heartily recommend Reichl's nonfiction writing.

I am not a cook or a foodie, but I enjoyed this novel by Ruth Reichl. It’s a mix of real people and places with fiction. Set in Paris, this is an interesting story with likeable characters, and of course much food appreciation. Makes me want to go to Paris again!

When Stella's mother passes away, she is left her inheritance in a rather unorthodox manner - buy a one way ticket to Paris and don't return to New York until every last penny is spent. For structured, reserved Stella this is almost unthinkable until her life in book editing starts to feel mundane and Paris suddenly does seem like a good idea.

Set in the 1980s, the reader gets to experience Paris through Reichl's descriptions of food, the setting, and art pulling you into Stella's experience in a way few authors can achieve. I could read Reichl describe plain oatmeal and be absolutely drooling. A bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a bit of overcoming childhood trauma come together to make for a fun armchair trip to Paris.

My one reservation with this book is the on-page molestation and implied sexual assault of Stella as a child. I understand the childhood trauma was a motivator and explanation for why Stella is who she is at the start of the novel. That being said, I do feel a trigger warning would have been welcomed.

Ruth Reichl knows how to write about food, whether in memoir or fiction format. She's just so, so good at it. This, her second novel, is no exception. Her descriptions of the meals made and eaten in The Paris Novel are fantastic. If I were solely judging this book on her way with words about food, this would be a five-star read for me. But with that said, I don't think I ever felt connected to Stella the way I wanted to. I feel bad saying that because, as you may have seen from other reviews, chapter two was really hard to read (TW: child sex abuse). The graphic nature of it didn't feel necessary to me to get us to understand why Stella was the way she was.

The story follows Stella, who has made her way from New York to Paris to fulfill the last wishes of her estranged mother. She has spent her time in Paris doing the same mundane things she would have done had she been home. On one of her last days in Paris, she's ready to go home until everything changes when she tries on a dress at a vintage shop. Life becomes more interesting. She's thrust into the art scene when she learns of a mysterious woman who modeled for a famous painting. Stella hopes to find out more information about her, but her story is a bit of a mystery. Stella might just have to stay in Paris a little longer to see how it all plays out. Along the way, maybe she'll figure out why her mom sent her to Paris in the first place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The food descriptions in this novel were absolutely amazing. It made me feel like I was sitting at the table watching Stella embark on a discovery of food through textures, tastes and aromas. I thought the premise was incredibly interesting with its 1980’s Paris settings. At points I did have difficulties with how disjointed the plot was.
As other have mentioned, this novel comes with some big TWs : sexual abuse of a child.

Many thanks for my advance copy of this novel!

It kind of breaks my heart that I didn't love this story more. Reichl's memoir Save Me the Plums is one of my very favorites. This is my first fiction read from her, however, and it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

The Paris Novel follows Stella, brought up by an aloof and overbearing mother in New York City, who is comfortable in her private, single life. But when her mother passes away and leaves her with a ticket to Paris, Stella drags her feet a bit but finally decides to go. The descriptions of 1980s Paris were so evocative and rich, and the food and cooking had my mouth watering. And I loved seeing people like James Baldwin and former Shakespeare & Co. owner George Whitman brought to life.

But the storyline itself felt a little disjointed and unrealistic. I know, many stories aren't really very realistic. Although I struggled to remain engaged with the story and the numerous characters throughout, I did enjoy it overall and would recommend to anyone dreaming of Paris (like me!). Rounding up to 3.5 stars for the food and setting!

Food. Art. Fashion. Self discovery. Trauma.

Stella’s (the fmc) mom dies at the beginning of this book and she leaves her with some money and a note that says to go to Paris. Stella hesitantly goes and is transformed through her time there. She meets amazing people, eats delicious food, wears amazing clothing and views incredible art.

I enjoyed this book, especially when Ruth described the food Stella was eating…it made me feel like I was in Paris with her. Many supporting characters added depth to the story, but there were almost too many that I couldn’t keep up with them all.

I found this story dragged through the middle, but I very much enjoyed the ending. Stella’s journey was one of great growth and change. By the end of the book Stellamost definitely understood why her mother sent her to Paris. I would recommend anyone who wants to feel like they’re walking the streets of Paris to read this book.

**trigger warning of child sexual abuse**

The Paris Novel is by Ruth Reichl who typically writes non-fiction food-oriented articles and books. My book club really enjoyed her autobiography. This latest is the story of Stella who has an abusive and difficult childhood and is just existing through her life when her mother dies and leaves her money with instructions to go to Paris. In Paris Stella slowly finds her way and builds new relationships and a new life. This novel most comes alive in the scenes involving food and a trigger warning that the scene of abuse early in the book is very vivid. This is an overall good read. 3 1/2 stars rounding up to 4
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Paris Novel wasn't exactly what I expected, which tainted my enjoyment. While there was mention of Stella's traumatic childhood in the book description, I was not prepared for the traumatic experience to be described in so much detail nearly at the beginning of the book. It was jarring and, ultimately, felt unnecessary to be as in-depth as it was.

This was my first time reading anything by Reichl and I see how she's made a name for herself in food writing - her food and eating descriptions are really well done, though I found that it isn't something I personally find interesting. Otherwise, I found the writing to be somewhat stilted. A few aspects of the story felt too convenient, but I did enjoy the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Paris Novel is a story about Stella, who’s let life pass her by and is semi-haunted by memories of her estranged mother. But, when her mother passes away and leaves her with a ticket to Paris, her life takes a fun turn and she has fantastical new experiences, meets a host of exciting people, and takes some wonderful leaps of faith.

3.5 stars rounded up
A beautiful novel of Paris, focusing on food, art, and fashion. Stella almost reluctantly goes to Paris after her mother's death - after the bad relationship they had, fulfilling that wish bothers her, but she decides to go. The first month isn't great, but then she finds "the dress" and it sets off new friendships, a hunt for art, and uncovering more surprises and answers.
I enjoyed this book and found the descriptions of the meals to be a favorite part. It was nice to see Stella find her comfort zone and her home after the difficulties and her unpleasant childhood.
I do think the book needs a trigger warning. The childhood sexual abuse scene was jarring, and I didn't feel it particularly added to the story - it was reasonable to me that Stella would have been the way she was just based on her situation with her mother.

It’s the 1980s in NYC and Paris. Possibilities in travel, fashion, and gourmet cooking are raging in France. But Stella, a skilled and competent book editor, is stuck in her ordinary, undaring life in NYC. Her difficult, prickly, and estranged mother has just passed away and left her enough money and a directive to go to Paris! Uncharacteristically, Stella takes a risk and decides to go. There her gray world swings into technicolor with the sights, sounds, scents, and people who enliven the city. The plot hinges on her making connections and abandoning her tentative and no-style lifestyle! Famous people and places show up. It is most predictable with just a bit of a mystery and hints of romance. What Reichl has really accomplished is a love story aimed at the City of Love which will be enjoyed by her fans and those who have spent time there in the 1980s. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this title.