Hi Diana! Thank you for the lovely comment. That’s the whole reason I wanted to start this site, to provide the inside info I wished I had during my immigration process, so I’m happy to hear it is helping you. Good luck with your move!

Merci beaucoup Kristen!

Merci Andi! Thanks for this list too

Also, as I’ve shared in my gift guide for the francophile in your life, books are excellent presents for any holiday all year round! They sure do put a smile on my face.

Here are the books in my library (with a few exceptions which I will call out) maybe some of them will be an inspiration for you as gifts for the wannabe Frenchie in your life.

Paris the Place
The Francophile Library and Books to Read Before Visiting Paris – Paris the Place

Paris is many things to many people, that’s why books on Paris will always be popular and each one will always be different.

The New Paris: The People, Places & Ideas Fueling a Movement Lindsey Tramuta: we all want to know about the new spots in Paris, but this book gives you so much more, including the most interesting to me, the history.

Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? by Diane Ratican: an exploration, compare and contrast between two iconic cities with beautiful illustrations to boot.

A Paris Year: My Day-to-Day Adventures in the Most Romantic City in the World by Janice MacLeod: one woman’s personal journey of living in Paris via her journal and watercolor illustrations.

Bright Lights Paris: Shop, Dine & Live…Parisian by Angie Niles: I wasn’t sure if I should place here or with culture as it whimsically illustrates the different types of Parisians, but also offers great spots to eat, drink and shop.

Quiet Paris by Siobhan Wall: ever want to find a nice quiet place in Paris to take it all in? The introvert in me screams, “yes,” which is why I love this book.

The Paris Style Guide by Elodie Rambaud: another Parisian insider’s guide to the best things in Paris with a big focus on boutique shopping.

Naughty Paris by Heather Stimmler-Hall: the saucy and sassy guide to more adult things to do in Paris.

French Culture, Parisian Life & Parisian Style
The Francophile Library and Books to Read Before Visiting Paris – French Culture Parisian Life and Parisian Style

I am fascinated with French culture, there are thousands of years of history adding layer upon layer of cultural norms and tradition. People are equally intrigued by Parisian life for a good reason, it’s compelling!

L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home by David Lebovitz: having lived in France I can tell you, it isn’t easy to do anything, so it is fun to emphasize and lament with others, like David’s adventures and misadventures into turning a place he bought into a home.

WTF?!: What the French by Olivier Magny: if you want a quick view into French culture with a little bit of snark, this is the book for you!

Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange: a classic on looking chic and stylish from a Parisian fashion icon.

How to be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas: a collaborate book from 4 women giving beauty, fashion and lifestyle tips, along with a few recipes.

Paris Street Style by Isabelle Thomas: a fashion writer breaks down what she thinks the secrets to French style are.

Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott: when you live in France you are bound to pick up some of their style secrets.

French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano: not loved by everyone, but it was the first book (besides Eat, Pray, Love) that taught me about moderation and eating for pleasure.

All You Need to Be Impossibly French: A Witty Investigation into the Lives, Lusts, and Little Secrets of French Women by Helena Frith Powell: an undercover look at French female culture.

Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide To Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier: insights into work, home, fashion, and relationships of French women.

True Pleasures: A Memoir of Women in Paris by Lucinda Holdforth: the history buff in me loved the stories of Paris’s most famous women.

Paris Food
The Francophile Library and Books to Read Before Visiting Paris – Paris Food

What else is there in Paris? Oh, okay lots, but I really like the food and food history and the food tours….

Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas: one of my favorite books on food in Paris, plus I loved the fact that she defended her love for La Coupole, a restaurant with bad food or not, is close to my heart because I love its style!

Bonjour Kale: A Memoir of Paris, Love, and Recipes by Kristen Beddard: an exceptional story of re-introducing the French to a lost food.

Delicious Days in Paris: Walking Tours to Explore the City’s Food and Culture by Jane Paech: I have yet to do all the tours in this book, but I eventually will!

The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo: fun, quirky take on classic French food. You can’t help loving this charming chef. I haven’t read her book My Little French Kitchen with stories and recipes outside of Paris, but it is on my wishlist!

Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah: I never miss a newsletter from the author and love her book which covers being in Paris for a year alone which sparked a journey into discovering the history and taste of everything French!

The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz: this was how I was introduced to this former Chez Panisse dessert chef and I love the mixture of anecdotes and recipes.

French Relationships
The Francophile Library & Books to Read Before Visiting Paris – French Relationships

Dated a French guy who I eventually married, have a French mother-in-law, had a French boss. The cultural difference is there and I make it a point to understand them rather than fight against them. Plus French culture is intriguing! Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t be Wrong: What Makes the French So French? and their newest one: The Bonjour Effect – they were helpful! Blogging wasn’t as big a deal when I lived in France (oh how I wish it was, I met so many great bloggers in Paris after I started mine!), but my weekly missives to my friends and family about my struggles and triumphs were the basis for my blog! So if nothing else you always have content! Wishing you a great 2nd year!

Love you. It’s harder than it looks! Hahahah you’re my pasta boot princess. I think Italia fits you well, you look like a goddess in your photos.