This book. I could taste each bite, I wanted to walk each step, the characters were rich and a mix of historic and fictional that seamlessly fit the history. It was engrossing, engaging, mysterious, magical, delicious and absolutely worth the read. This is possibly my favorite read this year.

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#theparisnovel

Bestselling author Ruth Reichl takes readers on an adventure of food, art, and fashion in 1980s Paris in this dazzling, heartfelt novel
When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with a one-way plane ticket and a note reading “Go to Paris”, nothing else on the note. But Stella is hardly cut out for adventure, she was estranged from her mother, and had childhood trauma which kept her living a small and confined lifestyle. When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes and heads to Paris.
Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. But one day as she is walking down a fashionable Paris Street, she sees this beautiful dress in a vintage shop window 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 leaves the store wearing the dress and goes to an iconic brasserie called Les Deux Magot, which the shopkeeper advised her to go to. This is the start of an adventure. Stella tastes her first oysters, and while there meets an octogenarian art collector named Jules, who decides to take her under his wing. Jules introduces her to the who’s who of the 1980s Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds. Stella 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 the 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.
If you are a foodie or love art and all things Paris, this book is for you. The food descriptions are mouthwatering as are the conversations about food. The city descriptions are just fabulous and the art is stunning. It is really fun to read and fast-paced. I gave this 5 starts.

I had really high hopes for this story and I'm just not sure I was in the right place to read this. The flashbacks to her childhood were a little much for me, but it does help explain the way that Stella is. I did enjoy the food and art scene that they showed in Paris and the famous people that she met once she opened up. Overall, it just wasn't for me.

Fans of Ruth Reichl (how I miss Gourmet magazine!) know that she's fond of lush descriptions of food and place- and that's what this novel emphasizes. Stella is meant to be in Paris for 6 weeks but her world opens up so much that....This is a character driven love letter to life in Paris in the 1980s. It's overwritten in spots to be sure but you can hear Reichl's voice. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for her fans.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC.

Stella has lived a mundane life, but it’s about to flip upside down. Finding out her estranged mother has passed away and left her with a ticket to Paris, Stella knows it’s time to take an adventure. She becomes enthralled with the food, art and fashion Paris has to offer. It’s overwhelming, yet Stella embraces the culture and its people. Friendships and mysteries start to ignite a passion to take the chances she’s always been avoiding. Will Stella leave Paris unfulfilled or will this trip change her life forever?

So many things stood out to me in this novel. Reichl does a fantastic job describing the meals Stella gets to experience, especially the taste and feelings of each dish. I love a found family trope and this story brings a few fascinating characters that add something special to the plot. This novel takes you on a journey through Paris in the 80s and it makes you wish you could be a Tumbleweed at Shakespeare and Company bookstore (you’ll have to read the novel to find out what this means!)

*One thing I wasn’t prepared for was a flashback from Stella’s childhood where she was sexually abused. It happens at the beginning of the book and is detailed. This trauma does explain a lot about Stella’s psychology.

The Paris Novel tells the story of Stella, who is sent to Paris by her recently deceased mother. Stella has had a difficult relationship with her mother and grew up to become her opposite; Stella is rigidly organized and unsocial. After some time in Paris, however, Stella opens herself up to the pleasures of food, art, and fashion.
While I am a fan of Reichl's memoirs and her descriptions of food in here are fantastic, almost nothing else is good. The characters, especially Stella and her mother, are one-note caricatures. Everything just so happens to go Stella's way in Paris, and she comes across all the important and famous people magically. The plot veers from the research into a little-known woman painter into a search for Stella's father with no real connection. Emblematic of the problems of this book is a graphic scene of child molestation in chapter 2 that has absolutely no bearing on Stella's character or the plot. As a sometimes resident of Paris, I was further put off by the obviously incorrect geography.

I was so excited for this book. Sadly, I felt like the first part of the book just didn't grab me. I couldn't make myself get involved in the story of Stella going to Paris after her mother's death. I love all things Paris and the descriptions of food and fashion were great but I needed more of the story.

As always, Ruth Reichl does not disappoint in her latest novel. I was immediately transported to 1980s Paris and I wanted to be there so bad! The descriptions of clothes, of art, of food ... immaculate! I enjoyed this one and almost wish there would be a sequel. Give it a read!!

The Paris Novel comes out next week on April 23, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

The sky was a pearly pink when they set off, the moon still a soft smudge in the morning sky. Jules pointed to it. "The rag and bone men of Paris who used to sift through the garbage looking for objects to sell were called pêcheurs de lune."

"Moon fishermen!" Lucie was delighted. "We're moon fishermen."

I loved the food writing and the atomsphere but the story left me wanting a little more. Ruth Reichl is so talented and I will continue to pick up all of her books, this one just wasn't at the top of my list. She has an uncanny ability to transport you right to a time and place though, it's such an immersive read.

The Paris Novel really is a Paris novel. The novel transports the reader to Paris from Stella’s gray New York world and gray New York life. When Stella receives her inheritance from her mother- with an attached string that she must use the money to take a trip to Paris- she hems and haws, but then she goes. The reader visits with Stella, feeling the anxiety of having to communicate in a new language and fend for oneself in an unfamiliar place. However, when Stella is lured into a dress shop by the dress hanging in the window, Paris explodes into a feast for the senses. Literally! Reichl describes Stella’s new world through her senses- the sights,, the tastes, the sounds, the smells, the feels- all the feels including Stella’s emotions. The book is a feast for the reader’s senses. Even though the premise is a little fantastic, the enjoyment is real. I can’t decide if i want to book a flight to Paris or start cooking! I just devoured the novel and can’t wait to find her other books. This one is so beautifully written.

Thanks to NetGalley for the SRC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Ruth Reichel’s writing and The Paris Novel did not disappoint! I’ve been lucky enough to visit Paris a few times and this book instantly transported me back to the City of Light. It is the perfect read for Francophiles or those dreaming of visiting France. Reichel’s writing is delightful and I loved immersing myself in the food, art, and fashion of Paris. This was a light, easy read with a charming cast of characters and sweet story about taking chances and living life to the fullest. I look forward to discovering more of Reichel’s works.

A book about Paris - the sights, the fashion and the food - I'm sold. I'm a sucker for Paris. This is my first book by this author and I did enjoy it giving me a 4 star experience. I was immersed in this Parisian adventure with Stella. Be sure to read the author's note - has some interesting information. Thank you to @netgalley, the author and Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When her estranged mother dies, Stella receives a vague note and a sum of money directing her to go to Paris. Struggling in her NYC life, Stella heads to Paris reluctantly uncovering her mother's past and discovering a life she led in France. Reichel is an expert in food writing and the decadent meals do not disappoint. This story unfortunately did not hold my attention but the moments of food I found incredibly enjoyable.

Solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC for an honest review

It’s a fairy tale and a love letter to Paris from food writer Ruth Reichl. Stella first travels to the City of Light as the result of a bequest from her late mother, who left her a sum of money with instructions to go to Paris. Her party-girl mother had never paid reserved young Stella much attention, with traumatic consequences for the child at the hands of a painter friend. (Somehow she doesn’t take against all painters but instead seeks solace in museums). Now grown-up Stella finds herself tempted by an outrageously expensive dress handpicked for her by the saleslady in a vintage clothing store. The lady instructs her to buy it and gives her a list of iconic Parisian places to go, with the promise to refund Stella’s money if she has second thoughts. As soon as she puts on the dress, Stella experiences a magical Cinderella-like transformation, and when she follows the saleslady’s instructions to eat at Les Deux Magots, she immediately catches the eye of an older gentleman who overcomes the wariness caused by her personal history and becomes her guide. Stella, it seems has an undiscovered talent for food and is able to describe what she perceives in the most engaging and apt ways. If this were Good Will Hunting, she’d be a janitor doing math; here we have a copy editor discovering a life of the senses. Somewhere along the way she assigns herself the project of learning more about the woman—herself a painter—who modeled for Manet’s Olympia. We follow Stella to Shakespeare & Company, the famous bookstore where she becomes a fixture and meets a group of friends. In Paris she finds community, family, and a life of art and fine cuisine. Given the author’s own talent for culinary description, it’s probably better not to read this when you are hungry.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a digital advance review copy.

I love the way Reichl writes about food so was excited to read her new novel. Unfortunately this story about a woman who was raised by a single mother in New York and goes to Paris after her mother's death felt flat to me. There were several good strands in the story but how they came together felt clunky and had me losing interest.

I’ve read all of Ruth Reichl‘s books. Some more than once. I think her memoirs will always be my favorite, not to say that the novels aren’t great as well, but the memoirs are just so wonderful that they’re hard to compete with. This book is lovely, it makes me want to travel to Paris to eat and buy vintage fashion. The descriptions are visceral, which at times is unsettling, but really puts you in the place, tasting the food alongside with the characters.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy to read in exchange for my review. I love Ruth Reichl's books, this is the first fiction book I've read of hers. I prefer her memoirs instead of her fiction writing. The book was good, very descriptive in the food and cooking sections which is Reichl's strength, if it wasn't her writing I'd be annoyed at how detailed those sections were. The story itself was nice, going back and forth on four storylines/objectives Stella has while in Paris. One, befriending a kindly elderly man named Jules. Two, finding a family in the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. Three, finding out who her father is. Four, figuring out what happened to the female model from a Manet painting. The story weaves between these four themes and shows how Stella grows as a person through this. It wasn't a book I couldn't put down but it was a nice story.

4.25

What a lovely, fanciful story! Though I always seem to be less further along than I imagined, this is still a fun, beautiful, exasperating story of a life nearly ruined by a terrible mother, who, in death, eventually makes amends in a fantastical way. Stella‘s childhood was nothing less than cruel, and though there are so many things, especially about her move, I mean trip, and the logistics, that are unbelievable, it’s still a very fun story that fuses together so many pieces of history. I am gratified that the author included an endnote, as authors should, explaining what was true, what was completely made up, and what was adjusted for the story. As the book has “marinated” inside my head since finishing, I have appreciated it even more.

I appreciate this book, and even though I’ve never been a hard-core Paris fan, even I was ready to book a ticket to Paris. Of course, I don’t have anyone leaving me thousands of dollars to while away while I found myself. I wouldn’t fit into any of those fantastic vintage Dior clothes or eat half of the “delicacies” she loved either. I guess I’ll just stay here and read about it and continue to travel wherever my mind leads me. At its heart, this is about finding family in any shape or form, that loves you and supports you. It’s also about it never being too late to try things. And food. It’s mostly about food. And art.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Paris Novel perfectly captures the experience of falling in love with Paris. Stella and her mother, Celia, could not be more different. Celia is larger than live, but perhaps not the most attentive or responsible mother; Stella grows up wanting to be as different from her mother as possible, living her life by a set of rigid rules and rarely letting herself indulge. When Celia dies, her final wish is for Stella to use her small inheritance to go to Paris; Stella begrudgingly agrees, but continues to live conservatively.

Everything changes on the day Stella sees a dress in a small shop window. She can't resist the allure of the dress, and agrees to try it on, the first departure from her rigid approach to life. The dress seems to be made for her, but it would cost Stella nearly everything her mother left her. The shopkeeper makes her an offer: buy the dress, wear it for one day, follow the shopkeeper's guidance on how to spend that day - and if she still doesn't want to keep the dress after that day, she can return it, no questions asked.

While Stella does end up returning the dress, that day marks a turning point. She meets Jules, a wealthy widower, who introduces Stella to some of the best restaurants in Paris. She lands at Shakespeare & Co. and becomes one of the "Tumbleweeds," the lost souls who live and work at the famous bookstore. She embarks on a quest to find the lost paintings of Victorine, a female artist who was the subject of many famous paintings from the late 19th century, but whose own art was lost to time. She also is presented with the chance to find her own father, a mystery she never thought she wanted to solve - but maybe her time in Paris will change all that.

While the plot is solid - I love a good self-discovery story - this book truly excels in its ability to make you feel like you're right there alongside Stella, discovering Paris and all it has to offer. There are real people referenced throughout - chefs, poets, artists - adding a level of realism to the story. It's no surprise that the most memorable scenes are the ones where Stella discovers her palate, immersing herself in the joys of experiencing French cuisine. Ruth Reichl's food writing has always been a favorite of mine, and she brings that to life here in her first foray into fiction.

I am someone who would almost always prefer to be in Paris than wherever I actually am, but alas, real life gets in the way. The Paris Novel is the perfect solution: if I can't be in Paris, then I can immerse myself in that beautiful city by revisiting this gem of a book.

I have read several of Ms. Reichl's books, notably "Tender at the Bone" and "Comfort Me With Apples." Her latest, "The Paris Novel" is one of the most engaging, beautifully crafted historical fiction novels I've read lately (well, along with the magnificent "The Women" by Kristin Hannah). My husband worked for a French company, and we spent a lot of time in Paris and southern France, so I was so happy to transported back to some of my favorite places, most notably, Shakespeare and Company, a shabby bookstore filled with books, "Tumbleweeds" (people who visited the bookstore and didn't leave, whether for a week or months), and love.

The main character, Stella, who works as a copy editor at a small NYC publishing house, lives a mundane life, but that all changes when her estranged mother dies, and leaves Stella a plane ticket with a note that says simply, "Go to Paris." So off Stella goes. At first, she is uncomfortable, shy, and hesitant to explore more than the basic tourist stops. But that all changes when she goes into a used clothing store and tries on a magnificent couture dress. She buys the dress -- with a promise from the store owner that she can return it for a full refund if she changes her mind -- and out of her comfort zone, heads to Les Deux Magots, the famous brasserie, where she meets an elderly art collector/consultant names Jules. They start up an interesting friendship, and Jules, a widower who misses his wife terribly, is energized by the chance to show the young American woman the pleasures of French art, food and adventure.

All the characters in this book are so well-developed, even the minor ones. The food descriptions -- as might be expected -- are so intoxicating, I actually felt I was there. A big part of the story is Stella's quest to find information about "Olympia," the model for one of Edouard Manet's paintings, depicting a nude woman being attended to by a black maid. The story was fascinating. The painting currently resides in the Musee d'Orsay, one of my very favorite art museums in the world.

I loved this book, and I will certainly recommend it to my book club and other friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an EPUB ARC of this wonderful novel.