What Happens In 'Paris Is Always A Good Idea'?

‘Paris Is Always a Good Idea’ is a completely charming novel by Nicolas Barreau. It tells the story of young Parisian bookseller Rosalie Laurent who runs a tiny shop specializing in romantic novels. A mysterious customer starts to leave cryptic messages in her books, sparking a game of oh sans (/without) – anonymous correspondence. While trying to uncover the identity of her secret admirer, Rosalie is also on a journey of discovery to find out if she believes in love or not. The backdrop of the novel is Paris. Every single cobblestone and every single café feels alive as if they were characters themselves in this novel.

My favorite thing about ‘Paris Is Always a Good Idea’ is that it’s really a light, pleasant read for most of it, while at the same time exploring topics which need a bit of depth, such as the fear of taking risks and of the unknown. In the end, however, Rosalie finds herself again, and that’s what makes the book so wonderful. Her story is full of light, philosophical moments and, above all, of plenty of humor and sweet feeling. What more could you want from a book? It’s the perfect read for a lazy afternoon, with a cup of coffee or tea by your side, while you imagine strolling through the streets of Paris. If you like daydreaming about this wonderful city or about stumbling upon an unusual love story, then ‘Paris Is Always a Good Idea’ is definitely the book for you.

It’s a complete escapism from reality. A woman who feels stuck in her life and in her shop, receiving anonymous notes in her shop, which lead to sweet and witty exchanges. How the writer of the notes is discovered is done very subtly and sweetly and the romance that follows is very down to earth, considering the very unusual way they met.

Paris in all its beauty is described so perfectly by Barreau that you can almost smell the fresh bread and hear the wail of an accordion. Rosalie grows in a very subtle yet very satisfying way and her opening up to new experiences in love and in life is so quickly yet so profoundly read. This is a very short read but it lingers much like the taste of a very good macaron. It’s a really uplifting and magical read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for something of that sort.

There’s something so lovely about love letters – particularly to places we love too. This feels like a love letter to Paris from the author, Barreau, as well as to the stories that we read and love. The main character Rosalie is a book lover who runs a small bookstore. However, Rosalie is not a lover of life. She is too insecure and fearful to consider the possibility of romance with men. There’s a mystery going on in her shop with a series of notes left by an unknown person.

As I read the book I began to realize that it explored the idea of fate vs. choice and how Rosalie’s interactions with the mystery note-leader made her question whether it was something that she could find or if she needed to create it for herself. The Parisian setting is not just background in this story, it is an integral part of the plot. The story takes the reader on a tour of the iconic spots to visit in Paris, including the well known book store Shakespeare and Company as well as a few hidden bistros. It’s a really great story that will have you wishing you could book a flight to Paris or at least grab a croissant and get lost in this story. And the story does end well and I was really happy reading the last few chapters but at the same time I almost wanted it to continue with more of Rosalie’s life.