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.

Such a treat! I adore Ruth Reichl's writing. No one writes about food quite the way that she does. I lost myself in her memoirs which read like novels and was so excited to read this novel. It didn't disappoint. Anyone who enjoys food in their fiction, will love this book. She is a great storyteller and really pulled me in with her writing---the mouthwatering descriptions and delicious details that had me savoring this book, And craving really good food. Best enjoyed with a glass of good wine and your favorite takeout. =)

I enjoyed the aspect of this book and the rich descriptions of Paris. I really struggled with some graphic child abuse scenes that were very unnecessary to the book. It felt salacious and caught me off guard. I think that the author could have skimmed over it without the graphic scenes and it would’ve worked better. The characters were interesting and I truly enjoyed the setting. This would’ve been a four-star for me if not for the unnecessary child abuse scenes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this free digital copy for my honest review of this story.

The Paris Novel is a Michelin 5 Star read. It has been sometime since I have read such a thrilling novel. This is a trifecta plot-driven story about a young woman, Stella, visiting Paris after her narcissistic mother, Celia, passes away with Stella never knowing a word or the name of her father. Celia considers her daughter a dud. Yet, her mother leaves Stella a trip to Paris The author’s descriptions as Stella takes bite after bite of each titillating morsel set before her at some of the finest restaurants Paris has to offer is orgasmic. Some of these foods I could never imagine ever eating but Reichl certainly makes them sound tempting. Personally I don’t know the criteria for Michelin Restaurant Rating, but Django, one of the top chefs of the novel, feels that Chez Django will definitely qualify for a Michelin star. I know that this book is a definite 5-star rating.

I want to look up every artist the author talks about and learn of their works; some I know of but many I don’t. The author’s note gives information on those artist that are fictitious and those from her imagination. Surely no one could consider a person with facial features like a Modigliani were pleasing or handsome.

This story includes family relationships, world famous art, food and Paris’ couture. There is no downtime in the story. The author keeps the storylines moving at a thrilling pace. I know that this book is a definite 5-star rating.

Ok, I’m ready to book a flight to Paris. This was great — it really felt like I was there enjoying the sights of the city and enjoying the delicious food alongside Stella. It was a bit slow at times, but I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

You can tell the author put a lot of research into this. I don’t normally read the acknowledgments, but it was interesting to learn more about that process and how she added her own personal experiences in.

Thank you to Ruth Reichl, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

Loved every moment!! Every time I read a Ruth Reichl book I am astounded at just how much I enjoy them. I had read her memoirs but wasn’t sure what to expect from a novel. But I found this book delightful! Experiencing Paris and adventure through the life of the main character, Stella was a joy all the way through as her eyes were opened to food, fashion, and especially relationships - found family. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy. Highly recommend!!

Love, love love this novel. After Stella's flamboyant mother dies, she discovers a letter and a ticket from Celia encouraging her to go to Paris. Not one to take chances, Stella decides to go against her better judgment. What she learns about herself, her mother, a lost artist and her many new friends is a delightful adventure. Ruth Reichl never disappoints. A very enjoyable novel filled with colorful characters - some real people and other fictional.

Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the eARC of The Paris Novel by @ruth.reichl in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Random House Publishing

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Stella and her mother never had a strong mother-daughter bond, just the opposite as their frayed relationship led to estrangement. When Stella’s mother died, she received a note and a one-way ticket to Paris. The Paris Novel is a exquisitely written story about healing generational trauma in the throes of grief, and the magical setting in the City of Lights adds the most romantic touch. A truly immersive journey back to 1980’s Paris, where a change of scenery allows Stella’s eyes and heart to open to all new experiences. And through this all is the opportunity to reexamine her own life, a truly unique experience to see that even in grief, there is beauty.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is in Goodreads and will be on Instagram soon!

THE PARIS NOVEL
Ruth Reichl

When I think of Paris, I think of premier fashion, streetside cafés, believing in the magic of a life lived before you, and the lights.

I think of the lights.

THE PARIS NOVEL was on everyone’s most anticipated list, so when I came across it recently, I requested it right away. I am obsessed with all things Paris and Paris-related and plan to visit in early May of this year.

THE PARIS NOVEL is set in Paris and features a copy editor as the main character. It’s about books and love, and old-fashioned things like being a gentleman, doing what’s right, and falling in love for eternity.

I loved this book. I liked the story and the level of reflection. You can tell Reichl has affection for the city and her vibes are contagious. It feels like you’re in the heart of Paris at a corner table in the best restaurant reading about the people sitting next to you.

There really isn’t anything better than that!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for the advanced copy!

THE PARIS NOVEL…⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stella, who seems to lead a pretty dull and boring life, embarks on a journey to Paris at the request of her estranged and recently deceased mother (who has left Stella a monetary inheritance to pay for her journey). Thus begins Stella’s journey of self-discovery, one bestrewn with events which cause her to recognize that life can have many unexpected pleasures, even in the simplest of things. This is a beautiful story, and Stella’s experiences in 1980s Paris — especially her involvement with the famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company, as well as the food that she comes to truly appreciate — make for a very entertaining read. Anyone who loves literature, art, food and all that is Paris should really enjoy this novel.

Books about Paris instantly draw my attention, and this book did not fail to disappoint on the Paris front!

I absolutely loved how this book was written. The descriptions were detailed enough that I could visualize what I was reading, but were not so detailed that they bogged down the plot or distracted me in a negative way. This is difficult to achieve, and I comment Ruth Reichl on her skillful adeptness at creating a world in her writing. I loved the focus on food, fashion, and artwork, especially through a Parisian lens. The only reason I did not give this book a full 5 stars is because at times, it lacked a relatable factor. I felt that Stella's adventures in Paris seemed too perfect, and that there were too many magical coincidences that linked characters and fates together. However, this type of book can be very uplifting and lighthearted, which can be a welcome change from one's own reality. I also found the dialogue spoken by the characters in the book to be a bit awkward, clumsy, and cliché, which contributed to my 4 star review.

However, I do want to emphasize that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the french phrases incorporated throughout, as I am actually learning French so it was fun to test my skills! One of my favorite parts was actually reading the author's note and learning how much research Ruth Reichl did in order to write the book. It is fascinating that so many characters are real people and that so many of these stores and places are also real. The book has inspired me to do my own research on Rose Valland, Victorine Meurent, and the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. I am grateful to Ruth Reichl for the amount of work that she put into this book and for the inspiration it has given me. Thank you additionally NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this ARC! Looking forward to reading more from Ruth!

Like so many, I am a huge fan of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs and was very much looking forward to this novel. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed the detailed food descriptions and Parisian setting. I was less drawn to the characters and plot, which felt less fully realized than I prefer. But this was still a fun read, and I would recommend it.

I feel like Ms. Reichl phoned this one in. The sex abuse scene in the beginning was gratuitious in detail, (and I am not a prude) especially as it didn't really serve the story or much character development. As for the rest, it was implausible even as a fantasy. I wanted to like this so badly.