Stella St Vincent is a timid woman compared to the brash, outlandish character that was her mother, Celia. She has a quiet life, filled with routines and plans, that is until her mother dies leaving Stella money that can only be used on a flight to Paris. Once in Paris, Stella meets Jules, an art collector and her whole way of life is challenged, she embarks on a journey of history, art, food and self discovery, meeting new people and opening herself up to the possibility that there is more to life.

I was approved to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am so unbelievably glad I was. A very unexpected 5* star read for me. I was intrigued by the synopsis but it isn’t something I would usually choose to read; but wow, am I glad I did. It was something different for me and such a beautifully written book.

The characters throughout were full of life and engaging, but Stella herself is a character that will stay with me for a long time, her curiosity and her courage. I found It was a book that gave me hope, that you can change your life at any age. As a nearly 31 year old it was comforting and it didn’t feel like the most unrealistic sequence of events.

Ruth Reichl also deserves praise for the sheer amount of detail, I must have spent at least 30% of the time I was reading either translating or looking places or the food that was mentioned, up. Which only heightened my experience of the book.

I already know I will be buying a physical copy to make my mum read it next!

Trigger warning: CSA in the first or second chapter.

DNF. I really like Ruth Reichl's food writing, but I don't think her fiction is for me. I found the plot bland and uninteresting and I really, really don't like split narratives that jump back and forth between time periods.

The Paris Novel isn't something I'd usally go for, but I've been wanting to expand on the genres I read. It's a warming book which tells the story of Stella as she figures out what she wants in Paris of all places, courtesy of her late mother. An enjoyable read from Reichl; this is the first of their books I've read.

What a read. I loved everything about this. Such a fun and enjoyable read. It hits you with the best Parisan vibes and sp enjoyable.

Absolutely loved this! Would recommend to people who enjoyed Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, as it’s full of those slightly madcap Parisian vibes, and of course it’s full of Ruth Reichl’s beautiful descriptions of food.

Paris & wonderful descriptions of food - what's not to like! This is a gorgeous escapist novel that I'll be rereading the next time I visit Paris.

Stella is a talented copyeditor who lives a safe, restricted life in 1980s New York. She’s never known her father and she’s always been a disappointment to her glamorous, self-absorbed mother. When her mother dies suddenly and leaves her a small inheritance with instructions to travel to Paris, Stella is torn.

Eventually deciding to follow her mother’s dying wish, a cautious Stella arrives in Paris – and slowly breaks out of her shell. This later-term, coming-of-age story opens a new world of thoughts, relationships and talents for a damaged Stella.

This was a beautifully rendered story of a woman coming to terms with a difficult past and projecting towards her future - in the City of Lights. Reichl is a food writer, and in this novel, Stella’s awakening is intricately tied with Parisian food culture. A fun, highly engaging novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed this story about a woman in her thirties finding a life in Paris. Rachel Reichl writes so well about food and I loved her descriptions of the various restaurants she visited and the gorgeous things she ate. Very much an escapism book but fun all the same

It is Stella's first day in Paris, attracted by the window display in second-hand clothes shop the fierce shop keeper says " we have been waiting for you" and brings her a Dior dress to wear, the first designed by Yves Saint Laurent. The shopkeeper promises that she can have her money back after a day wearing the dress, Stella meets Jules and discovers she has a palate for fine food. She is determined to find out about Victorine the model in Manet's Olympia but gets swept up in living in George Whitman's famous Shakespeare & Company cooking saffron asparagus with James Baldwin .
This book is a joyful gastronomic fairytale as Stella discovers Paris and herself. Ruth Reichl has tremendous fun both describing the food of (mostly real) legendary chefs and Paris in 1983 where the memories of two Wars, couture houses and the gathering of art and intellectuals are in their final days.

I really like this. I think it was quite an emotional book and the themes explored were super interesting. Overall, a great reading experience.

Beyond excited for this beautiful Parisian book. I apologize we had an unexpected family emergency and I will be taking a bit longer to review, but please watch this space.