So I realize that I am a Polish girl living in Canada…but in my head, there are days, when I feel utterly and completely French!!! I know…shocking, right?! But I feel that I’m not alone in this grand delusion. Hundreds if not thousands of women around the world are keen to find the french girl within. We are riveted by tales of great french passions, secrets of effortless beauty, and simple orgasmic cuisine (a fresh baguette, good cheese and a bottle of wine have been known to illicit some interesting sounds out of this girl!). And we all want to experience it for ourselves.

Do you know what I blame for my personal addiction to this fantasy world? My love of reading! And I plan on taking any of you willing readers down the rabbit hole with me. Here are my top four books to feed your inner French Fille.

1. Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris by Sarah Turnbull

I got this book a number of years ago, just after my first visit to Paris. I was smitten with the most romantic city in the world and wanted desperately to live there. Of course, that wasn’t going to become reality anytime soon. So I settled for some vicarious living through Sarah’s account of navigating life in the City of Lights (the good, the bad, and the ugly). For all the amusing horror, this is a seductive book that only intensified my dreams of returning to Paris over and over!

2. Parisian Chic a Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange

The fascination with the French sense of style is not mine alone. Many books have been written on how to achieve that almost impossibly uncontrived sense of je ne sais quois that is key to a real Frenchwoman’s look. The difference with this book is that it’s author is a true icon in the fashion world, and yet she writes this book like your best girlfriend, breaking down the secrets of french allure into easy to understand and adapt rules. And if you ever find yourself in Paris, Ines shares the best places to outfit your inner french goddess.

3. French Women for All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano

Knowing my penchant for becoming french, my sister gave me this book for one of my birthdays. I was thrilled to slip further into my francophile addiction, immersing myself into the french way of life. Mireille, best known for her debut book. French Women Don’t Get Fat, delves into the french lifestyle including cooking, shopping, entertaining and even exercising. The best part are the author’s own anecdotes of living in Paris and New York. It was a hit with me right from the start, and I go back to it time and again.

4. Paris Letters by Janice Macleod

Finally, this last book is my newest addition to a must read for any wannabe French girl. It was lent to me by a friend, and I have fallen completely under the spell of Janice’s writing…and painting. For anyone who’s ever thought of throwing it all away and running off to Paris, this is the book for you! The author also has a small Etsy Shop where she sells her beautifully penned and illustrated letters via a subscription. A beautiful and thoughtful gift idea for any travel lover on your list!

I hope you get a chance to check out these great reads. I would love to hear your recommendations for some fantastic escapist reading.