Just because . . .

 

Sara-Vide Ericson (Swedish Artist, born 1983)

"Abstract Encounter", 2019

39 Years Ago on This Day

 

Don Barley and I exchanged our wedding vows on this day in 1986.

It was on a Sunday

and

It was Mother's Day

And my mom, 

who loved Don Barley like a son, 

was a happy woman.

Happy Mother's Day, Mama. 

❤

We miss you

❤ ❤ ❤

❤ ❤ ❤

❤ ❤ ❤

My Paris Reading List - FICTION - Updated 5/9/2025

Finally!

I have updated this list

I'm going to try to do better.



Thanks for your patience!

Photo by André Zucca During Nazi Occupation of Paris

Photo by Austeja Gudziunaite

UPDATED
  

5/9/2025

 THERE ARE NOW TWO SEPARATE LISTS  

FICTION AND NON-FICTION

You can find the Non-Fiction list (which I am also working on getting updated)  here

My Paris Reading List is a list I started keeping a long, long time ago.

It began as a list of books about Paris that I'd read about or heard about from friends.

Books I wanted to read while I dreamed of Paris.

Wondering if I'd ever get there.

Photo by Paris Photographer Geneviève Thomas of 
My Joli Coeur Photography

My "obsession" with Paris isn't anything new, it was one of those dreams I've had for as long as I can remember. 

It started when I had a Parisian pen pal in grammar school.  We corresponded for a couple of years, I think, and I often wonder whatever became of her. 

When I knew my dream really was finally coming true and a date was set to leave, I started looking for more and more "Paris Books."  

I discovered an amazing number of new novels, along with memoirs, guide books, architecture books, photo books, journals, etc etc etc

Being a lover of lists, I've continued adding to it.

And it grows.  

And it will continue to grow.

And grow

and grow . . . 

(my personal Paris library has grown a lot since I took this photo.  The American Library in Paris might need to add Meat Camp, NC as an official satellite branch. )

This list contains fiction titles.  Classics and women's lit, romance and mysteries - it's a total hodge-podge, which is exactly what I read.  A little of this mixed with a little of that.

If you love Paris, been there or not been there, you're welcome to think of this list as a great place to start your Paris reading 😍  and discover more as you go along.  

Besides this list of mine, there are many (MANY) lists out there of "best" books set in Paris.  Have fun finding them and coming up with a list of your own.  

Do your research and find a hundred beezillion books to keep you happy until you finally get to The City of Lights.  But be prepared, 'cause once you go and return, you'll want more Paris books to keep you entertained and help you plan your next trip.  Once you're hooked on all things Paris - you're hooked forever.  

Have Fun!

* * * * * 

This Little Black Book of Paris (from Peter Pauper Press, but can also be found in many indy bookstores).  I love it, and it has come in very handy (besides just being plain ol' fun).

Our favorite map (so far) is Michelin's Paris Par Arrondissement.  Having a list of places to see by Arrondissement, along with this map works out wonderfully well.

Here's something lovely and fun to keep on your nightstand for those imaginary trips to Paris when we're unable to travel -

Fiction:

Cooking for Picasso: A Novel by Camille Aubray

One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggot

THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery

The Gourmet by Muriel Barbery






Escape to the French Chateau by Rachel Barnett

The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr

Love Letters from Montmartre by Nicolas Barreau

The Ingredients of Love by Nicolas Barreau

One Evening in Paris by Nicolas Barreau

The Secret Paris Cinema Club by Nicolas Barreau

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Nicolas Barreau

The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont

The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans - (There are six Madeline books)





Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

Death in Paris by Emilia Bernhard






The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry

The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Siegal

Hotel Déjà Vu by Christine Betts




Set in Paris: Paris in a Day and Other Stories by Christine Betts

A Northern Light in Province by Elizabeth Birkelund

Aimée Leduc Series by Cara Black - (Cara Black’s Aimée Leduc Series in Order)

LETTERS FROM PARIS by Juliet Blackwell





The Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE by Juliet Blackwell

The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell

Off the Wild Coast of Brittany by Juliet Blackwell

The Paris Showroom by Juliet Blackwell

A FRENCH PIROUETTE by Jennifer Bohnet

The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan




The Purple Shadow by Christopher Bowden

The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen




The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen

 

The Garden of Lost Secrets by Kelly Bowen

Paris Still Life by Rosalind Brackenbury

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

THE LIGHT OF PARIS by Eleanor Brown




THE PARIS EFFECT by K. S. R. Burns

PARIS EVER AFTER by K. S. R. Burns

PARIS BY THE BOOK by Liam Callanan

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge

A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron

The Little Paris Patisserie by Julie Caplin




PARIS TIME CAPSULE by Ella Carey




The House by the Lake by Ella Carey

From a Paris Balcony by Ella Carey

The Girl from Paris by Ella Carey

Th Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Haunting Paris by Mamta Chaudhry




Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria J. Cimino

A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke (and he has more)

THE RACE TO PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton

The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton

 Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan




The Dressmaker's Secret by Lorna Cook 

Love Among the Recipes by Carol M. Cram

Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith

An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham

The Paris Network by Siobhan Curham

The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis

Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac

Flowers of Darkness by Tatiana de Rosnay

A Paris Affair by Tatiana de Rosnay

The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay





Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Lost and Found in Paris by Lian Dolan

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart





The Last Hours of Paris by Ruth Druart

The French Girl by Lexie Elliott

IT'S NOT LOVE, IT'S JUST PARIS by Patricia Engel

Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst

The Paris Girl by Natalie Meg Evans

The Secret Vow by Natalie Meg Evans

THE DRESS THIEF by Natalie Meg Evans

A Gown of Thornes by Natalie Meg Evans

The Milliner's Secret by Natalie Meg Evans

The Paris Inheritance by Natalie Meg Evans

The Queen of Paris A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen




PARIS ECHO by Sebastian Faulks




Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman

The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury

The Art of Regret by Mary Fleming




The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

MISSION TO PARIS by Alan Furst

A PARIS APARTMENT by Michelle Gable




I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable





THE DESIGNER by Marius Gabriel

The Parisians by Marius Gabriel

Mrs. 'arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico (three in the series)

Hidden in Paris by Corine Gantz




The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Gaughan

Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Paris Hours by Alex George




THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George




THE LITTLE FRENCH BISTRO by Nina George




The Bridal Chair by Gloria Goldreich




The Paris Children by Gloria Goldreich 

Paris Out of Hand by Karen Elizabeth Gordon





The Saint Laurent Muse by C. W. Gortner

The Paris Secret by Lily Graham




The Game of Hope by Sandra Gulland

THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah




The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel






The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey

The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Claris by Megan Hess  (More Claris books)





The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman




The Paris Writers Circle by Norma Hopcraft

A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore





The Paramour's Daughter by Wendy Hornsby (this is the 7th in the Maggie MacGowan series, but the first in the series that focuses on Paris. More in the series from this book forward take place in France. For background, I recommend reading the previous books. It's not necessary, but it's one of my favorites series by one of my favorite authors).




Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes




Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo




The Ambassadors by Henry James

THE PARIS DIRECTIVE by Gerald Jay

Enchantress of Paris by Marci Jefferson

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio

The Paris Model by Alexandra Joel

Le Divorce by Diane Johnson  -  along with - 

• Le Mariage (Dutton, 2000)
• L'Affaire (Dutton, 2003)

The Dressmaker of Paris by Georgia Kaufmann

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly

An American in Paris Mystery Series by Susan Kiernan-Lewis





THE BONES OF PARIS by Laurie R. King




A Garden Wall in Provence by Carrie Jane Knowles

Crossings by Alex Landragin




Someday in Paris by Olivia Lara

The Red Notebook by Antoine Lauraine




The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester

The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester

P.S. FROM PARIS by Marc Levy

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim





Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little

Verlaque & Bonnet mystery series by M. L. Longworth

APRIL IN PARIS, 1921 from the Kiki Button series by Tessa Lunney






The Last Collection - A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel by Jeanne Mackin

The Beautiful American by Jeanne Mackin

The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine




The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog by Jackie Clark Mancuso





The French Gift by Kirsty Manning

The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning

The Missing Sister by Elle Marr

The Bennett Sisters Series by Lise McClendon

The Secret of the Chateau by Kathleen McGurl

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain




Dragonfly by Leila Meacham

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss

Paris for One by JoJo Moyes

Left Bank by Kate Muir




Water Lily Dance by Michelle Muriel

Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund




Paris Spring by James Naughtie

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky 

A Paris Affair by Mary Oldham

Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer

The Lost Gargoyle of Paris by Gigi Pandian





Quicksand by Gigi Pandian

The Glass Thief by Gigi Pandian

La Vie, According to Rose by Lauren Parvizi

Rooftop Soliloquy by Roman Payne

All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny ("The 16th novel by #1 bestselling author Louise Penny finds Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec investigating a sinister plot in the City of Light." I recommend, as does the author, starting this series by reading Book 1, Still Life.)






The Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin

Hugo Marston Series by Mark Pryor (another favorite series by another favorite author).





Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor (first in a new series)

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE by Rebecca Raisin




The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower by Rebecca Raisin

The Little Perfume Shop Off The Champs-Élysées by Rebecca Raisin

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted by Rebecca Raisin

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman

The Last Van Gogh by Alyson Richman

The Splendid Gift by Alyson Richman

Kiss Me in Paris by Catherine Rider

The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards






Falling for Provence by Alison Roberts

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson

One Way Ticket to Paris by Emma Robinson

Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck

The Secret Language of Stones by M. J. Rose (2nd book in the Daughter of La Lune series).

The Book of Lost Fragrances by M. J. Rose (Book 4 in The Reincarnationist Series)




The Library of Light and Shadow by M. J. Rose (3rd book in the Daughter of La Lune series)

The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M. J. Rose (1st book of the Daughter of La Lune Series)

The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimee K. Runyan

Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimie K. Runyan

Paris: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd





The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan

The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer

A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

The Perfume Thief by Timothy Schaffert

The Age of Light: A Novel by Whitney Scharer





MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS by Lisa Schroeder

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick




The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro




THE MURALIST by B. A. Shapiro

Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley





PARIS, HE SAID by Christine Sneed

The Lost Song of Paris by Sarah Steele

The School Teacher of Saint-Michel by Sarah Steele

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Perfume by Patrick Süskind

FRENCH LESSONS by Ellen Sussman

The Paris Secret by Karen Swan

PARIS ADRIFT by E. J. Swift




The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor




THE PERFUME COLLECTOR by Kathleen Tessaro

ELEGANCE by Kathleen Tessaro

Letter from Paris by Therésè

Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson





Eloise in Paris by Kay Thompson




The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull

The French Escape by Suzie Tullett

THE FRENCH FOR LOVE by Fiona Valpy

THE FRENCH FOR ALWAYS by Fiona Valpy

THE FRENCH FOR CHRISTMAS by Fiona Valpy

THE BEEKEEPER'S PROMISE by Fiona Valpy

The Dressmaker's Gift by Fiona Valpy

The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux by Samantha Verant

Lisette's List by Susan Vreeland

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland

The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters

We'll Always Have Paris by Sue Watson

Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells

The Paris Gown by Christine Wells

A Garden in Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Paris, 7 A.M. by Liza Wieland






All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White





The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

French for Girls by JP Wright

The Belly of Paris by Emile Zola

The Ladies’ Paradise by Emile Zola

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Photo by Paris Photographer Geneviève Thomas of My Joli Coeur Photography https://tinyurl.com/y2of7rtp