In a world of reels, shorts, and random video clips, we still love a good old fashioned read. And we make no secret that this Parisian Niche blog was born out of our long standing book club. That makes researching and looking forward to new Paris based stories even more exciting. We absolutely adore sharing Paris through the written word. You can learn more about the Parisian Page Turners Book Club here. Come read with us!
As we close out this year's reads, I'd like to take note that our highest rated read of 2024 was Her Own War, the conclusion (or is it?!) of the riveting trilogy, written by the incomparable Debra Borchert. We cannot wait to see what other great reads are on her horizon!
Without further ado, for 2025, our most anticipated reads are (in order of anticipated publication date):
The Crash by Kate Furnivall
Identity. Revenge. Survival.
Picture it - Paris 1933 and four people's lives are completely shattered in a single moment.
The day before Christmas Eve, an express bound for Strasbourg collides with a local train in the dark Paris night.
What follows next is absolute mayhem and in the mix, one has to wonder, are the characters getting healed? Or harmed?
Guaranteed to leave us at the edge of our seats until the very last stop, ahem, page, we cannot wait to dig into this thriller!
Published November 2024
The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones
We don't get many reads that take place during the French Revolution, which makes us even more excited to get to this one...
The lives of three French femmes - all from different socioeconomic standings - cross when it seems that the sisters, who work at a wallpaper factory, notice a woman appearing over and over in the patters of the wall décor.
But who is this mysterious apparition and what could this possibly all mean or lead to? This looks to be a uniquely told story, occurring during one of the most tumultuous and fascinating periods in French history.
Expected publication February 04, 2025
Madame Matisse by Sophie Haydock
This story has not one, not two, but three unique heroines, each with their own story intertwined with famed French artist, Henri Matisse.
Our first leading lady is orphaned and a refugee, who finds her place in the artist's studio.
Secondly, Matisse's wife stands by devotedly to her husband, while our third female figure, their daughter grows up in the shadows of all three figures.
What a complicated, although artistically charged, read this promises to be...
Expected publication February 13, 2025
The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue
Based on the 1895 Montparnasse train disaster (surely, you have seen the photo on social media), this historical fiction novel will tackle a topic that does not have much discussion surrounding it.
The read will be filled with interesting characters and passengers from France, Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Cambodia, and even the USA. That's to say nothing of the lives of the local crew that will be explored.
There stories will weave a tale of what happened leading up to that day, and beyond.
We cannot wait to be transported (pun intended) to Paris at this time.
Expected publication March 18, 2025
A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
We covered the first of these titles in our book club in the earlier part of 2024, it was a mysteriously fun way to feel as though you were friends with Julia Child, solving crimes in the streets of Paris - as one does.
In this selection, Cambridge goes on to deliciously (get it? Julia Child?!) weave in both cooking and couture.
Your favorite characters from the first read make a triumphant comeback, alongside the dazzling house of Dior and his New Look. Not to mention the loyal (but targeted) employees of the Maison Lannet.
Murder. But make it Fashion!
Expected publication April 29, 2025
Honorable Mention: The Golden Gals' French Adventure by Judy Leigh
Who among us has not dreamed of just packing everything up and moving to Paris or France? I'll wait...
Well, in this fun romp, we join a lady of a certain age, sixty-nine-year-old Fliss, as she struggles through later in life loneliness (despite the fact that she appears to have it all)...
With a career that won't give a moment's relief, and a daughter (and her baby) not requiring way too much attention for a woman who should be in the retirement phase of life, Fliss grabs her pal Shirl and they pack up and head to Brittany to explore a new way to live. What hijinks and feel good lessons will they learn along the way? I for one, cannot wait to read and find out!
Of course, this is only a sampling of some of the Paris or France based reads we are eager to explore this coming 2025. I'm truly excited to share these literary journeys with you. We're consistently making strides to our next goal - 100 books read and discussed by the Parisian Page Turners - can you imagine?!
Are you excited for these reads, P'Nicher? Which will be on the top of your "to read pile?" Sound off in the comments below et à bientôt!
Sounds like some fun books to read!
I'm betting the Girl in the wallpaper takes place in the Réveillon wallpaper factory. Can't wait. I've already enjoyed and look forward to discussing The Golden Gals' French Adventure.