The Paris Novel gives Ruth Reichl, former restaurant reviewer and foodie another opportunity to display her knowledge and love of anything French. The heroine, Stella, has a troubled past but soon adjusts to French culture, cuisine and art. She is charming and fairly complex but not very exciting.
The finale is basically predictable but still fun.
Read it for the food and restaurant descriptions--and don't expect a great work of art.

Book Review

The Paris Novel

By Ruth Reichl

Pub Date: April 30, 2024

Trigger Warning: sexual molestation

Thanks to @netgalley and @atrandomhouse for the advanced copy of The Paris Novel in exchange for an honest review.

Stella St. Vincent never knew her father or her mother for that matter, even though she lived with her. Stella lived with her mom, but they never bonded. Her mom had never been interested in being a mom and Stella was fine with it. Stella created her own life with her own routines and when not in school she could usually be found at The Met. After college, Stella had a career in publishing that pretty much occupied all her time. The downtime she did have was spent in her apartment reading. So, when she was notified of her mother’s death and the only, she left her was a plane ticket to Paris, she wasn’t thrilled to take a vacation. Convinced by her boss to go, Stella’s life would be forever changed in a good way.

In New York, she never bothered to see new places or try new food or meet people. Once in Paris she was forced to be a tourist. Of course, she made a list of everything she wanted to see, but her days didn’t always go as planned. She met people along the way. She took risks and made friends and she kept extending her vacation and learned the art of spontaneity. Paris is the first time she really felt a part of something. The people she met in Paris had become friends and some had become found family.

My thoughts: The book goes by fast. I love Paris and am always excited to read both non-fiction and f fiction of Americans in Paris. I enjoyed reading about she occupied her time in New York growing up as well as vacation. The descriptions of the food were beyond descriptive, and I wondered if she was going to eat at Chez George, one of my favorite restaurants. All I can say is Stella meeting Jules was a blessing. For anyone that feels alone, it is never to find your own found family.

This book is pure pleasure. Reichl writes so vividly and sensually about food, and she captures Paris so wonderfully. This book made me want to eat and to shop and to travel, and I can give it no higher compliment.

SO many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl.

I have been a Ruth Reichl fan and follower forever. Love Ruth, Love Paris, Love Food - this will be your dream book.

Parfait!