“To slowly, slowly give in to the inevitability of adulthood in the hopes that I will age as gracefully as Paris has.”
With over 80 million visitors each year, France is the most visited county on the planet. And it’s clear to see why. With well over a thousand years of history, the country’s culture, food, wine and natural beauty are unlike anywhere else. Join us here at What We Reading as we run you the 7 best travel books about France you have to read before you visit!
Pardon My French – Allen Johnson
In his book Pardon My French: How a Grumpy American Fell in Love with France, Allen Johnson embarks on an incredible mission to not only visit the country but embrace every facet of it.
Johnson is a self-described ‘alien’ in the country, sticking out like a sore thumb but still throwing himself into all of his escapades with tremendous heart. It makes for a loveable and relatable storyline that helps this stand out as one of the best books about France for all chaotic travellers.
The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George
German bestselling author Nina George brings readers an adventure across France filled with warmth and emotion in The Little Paris Bookshop, a love letter to books and the profound impact they can have on our lives.
The book follows a man named Monsieur Perdu who owns a floating bookstore along the River Seine. His long-lost love has left him a letter that he has never opened. However, after finally mustering up the courage to see what it holds, he sets off on a journey along France’s rivers with an author and a charismatic Italian chef.
French Milk – Lucy Knisley
Through delightful drawings, photographs and musings, author Lucy Knisley details her month-long stay in France’s capital along with her mother in French Milk.
With both, the mother and daughter duo grappling with different milestones of their life, the winding roads and wild shades of life lining Paris are brought to life in a truly charmingly unique way in this French memoir.
My Life In France – Julia Child And Alex Prud’Homme
The inspiration behind Julie & Julia, the 2009 drama film starring Meryl Streep, My Life in France documents world-renowned television chef Julia Child’s time living in France.
Arriving in the country in 1948, Child details how she couldn’t speak any of the language nor anything about the culture, and yet still fell head over heels in love with everything to do with France. From an intimate look at open marketplaces and the inspiration French cuisine had on one of America’s most beloved sweethearts, it is one of the best books for understanding how profound one of the country’s most prominent features can be.
Looking for more great reads set in France? Check out our The Paris Apartment book review!
The Piano Shop On The Left Bank – Thad Carhart
Along with its love for food, France is also a country known for its love of fine culture. In The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier, the author details how one chance encounter with an unassuming little storefront in his neighbourhood ignited an in-depth look at the country’s long relationship with pianos.
Nominated for the Guardian First Book Awards, this is one of the most unmissable Travel books about France for anyone looking to discover some of the hidden musical histories of the capital.
Rooftoppers – Katherine Rundell
When Sophie is rescued from a shipwreck on the English Channel, everyone assumes she is an orphan. But, when the Welfare Office threatens to take her into foster care, she channels the feelings in the pit of her stomach. She heads off on an adventure across Paris in a desperate endeavour to locate her biological mother.
Rooftoppers is an emotionally-driven book that channels the magic of hope, even in the darkest of circumstances. Author Katherine Rundell manages to weave classic-feeling elements with the majesty of the capital across the book, making this one of the most extraordinary reads for those looking for a book on France.
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One More Croissant For The Road – Felicity Cloake
Part travelogue, part food memoir, One More Croissant for the Road is Felicity Cloake’s (aka. ‘the nation’s taster in chief’) personal Tour de France adventure.
One of the best travel books about France, the story follows Cloake as she cycles 2,300km across the country, exploring all the majestic sights and tastes it has to offer. From Tarte Tatin to Cassoulet via Poule au Pot, each of her 21 ‘stages’ concludes with her putting her rigorous work to good use through delicious recipes that every reader is sure to find themselves beginning to drool over.
Wanderlust not satisfied? Check out these awesome travel books on Greece!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
