7 Books Set in France That Will Transport You Into French Life

Last updated on February 17th, 2025 at 02:51 pm

I am an avid reader and love nothing better than hunkering down in the winter in front of the fire with a good book. In the summer, I swap the sofa for my swing chair in the garden and red wine for a glass of rose. So, I’m always on the lookout for new authors to add to my list and books to add to my library, especially books set in France.

Living in rural France, I love finding books that teach me something about my local area. Or historical fiction novels that have been well-researched and bring the medieval streets of France alive. I’m a huge fan of spy novels, especially when they’re set in the Second World War and include the French Resistance. 

I live in a part of France that was under German occupation during the war. In Verteuil, a village close to me, one of the houses belonging to a friend of mine still has the butt marks of guns Nazi officers used on the floorboards to check there was nobody hidden beneath them. The history of France draws me, especially when combined with a good plot and characters you believe in.

These seven books are ones I devoured in one or two sittings; they were that good.

7 Books Set in France That You Can’t Put Down

The Languedoc Trilogy – Kate Mosse 

It was my Dad who put me onto Kate Mosse. Not long after I’d moved to France, he suggested I read the Languedoc Trilogy. He knew my fascination with history and historical novels, and Carcassonne and the Languedoc region, where the novels are set, were on my list of places to explore. 

The three novels in the series are Labyrinth, Sepulchre, and Citadel. I was hooked almost from the first paragraph. The trilogy weaves a tale of courage and mystery that spans centuries, with Mosse’s deep historical research adding intrigue to each narrative.

In Labyrinth, Alice Tanner stumbles upon two skeletons during an archaeological dig and is thrust into a 13th-century quest for the Holy Grail, with enemies from both past and present chasing her. 

Sepulchre follows the story of Meredith Martin, whose research on Debussy leads her to a mysterious estate in southern France, where a dark family secret and a haunted past come to light.

In Citadel, Sandrine Vidal is drawn into the French Resistance, where she and a group of women fight not only against the Nazis but also a hidden power tied to an ancient manuscript.

The action in all three books is propelled by ancient artifacts, cryptic codes, and the ever-present threat of forces determined to control history’s hidden secrets. As the stories unfold, the characters’ personal struggles mirror the larger battle for truth and survival.

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Daughters of War – Dinah Jefferies 

It was on the ferry from Ouistreham to Portsmouth, a six-hour journey with not a lot to do, that I discovered this little gem in the shop on the boat. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I’d love it. To start with, it was set in the Dordogne region of Southwest France, only an hour from where I live. Plus, it was about one of my favorite subjects, World War Two. It was a book I couldn’t put down.

The book transports readers to Nazi-occupied France in 1944. It centers on three sisters: Hélène, Élise, and Florence. Each sister faces unique struggles as they navigate the dangers of the war and the secrets they hold from one another. Hélène, the eldest, carries the burden of responsibility, Élise is deeply involved with the Resistance, and Florence undertakes to feed the family with little to nothing, using her gardening skills to provide food.

As the war intensifies, the sisters are forced to confront difficult choices that will impact their futures and those they love. The novel explores the complexities of loyalty and survival as they fight to protect themselves, their village, and their family’s legacy. The danger grows closer each day, testing their courage in ways they never expected.

It vividly portrays wartime France, capturing the tension and fear well, offering a moving tale of resilience, sisterhood, and the enduring hope of freedom.

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All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr 

I actually saw the series on Netflix before I read the book. I prefer doing this as I’m sometimes disappointed if I read the book first and then watch the movie or series. Too often, big chunks of the book are left out, leaving you wondering about things.

In this case, the series did the book justice. It was acted well and had a great cast. It beautifully captures the complexities of war, human connection, and the unseen forces that guide our lives. 

It’s a powerful story set during World War II, following two young lives on opposite sides of the conflict. Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl, is forced to flee Paris with her father when the Nazis invade. 

They seek refuge in Saint-Malo, a coastal town where Marie-Laure becomes involved in hiding a precious artifact. Meanwhile, Werner Pfennig, a gifted German boy, is recruited into the Hitler Youth and sent to the front lines, where his skill with radios draws him into the war’s darkest depths.

The novel alternates between these two perspectives, weaving together their stories as the war ravages Europe. Despite being worlds apart, their lives intersect in unexpected ways as Saint-Malo is bombed during the war’s final days. Themes of survival, moral choices, and the fragility of humanity run through the narrative, with both characters struggling to hold on to hope amidst the chaos.

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Tout Sweet – Karen Wheeler 

Tout Sweet is the first in a series of books about life in rural France, so it was an obvious choice for me, given I, too, live in rural France. A friend lent me the book to read over Christmas a couple of years ago, and I finished it in two days. 

I enjoyed it so much I ordered the next two books in the series. It’s a memoir about a woman’s decision to leave behind her glamorous London life for a new start in rural France. After a breakup, Karen moved to a small village in the Poitou-Charentes region, where I live. 

She buys a run-down house and embarks on the journey of renovating it. 

What begins as a search for peace and a fresh start soon becomes a life filled with unexpected challenges, quirky neighbors, and the slower pace of French rural life. As Karen adjusts to her new surroundings, she navigates the ups and downs of expat living, including language barriers, cultural differences, and the realities of French bureaucracy. 

Through it all, she finds friendship, laughter, and, eventually, a more profound sense of belonging in the French countryside. There were so many moments in the book I could relate to and things that happened to her that I’d also experienced that I couldn’t stop smiling. For anyone dreaming of a simpler life in France or just living vicariously through someone else, it’s a perfect read.

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My Good Life in France – Janine Marsh 

This is another book about a British woman leaving the UK for France, only this time in a rural village in northern France. I first came across Janine through her blog, The Good Life France, and when her book came out, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I wasn’t disappointed.

Again, there were so many things Janine wrote about that I could relate to, and it was fun to hear that rural life in the north of France wasn’t much different from what we experience here in the southwest.

The book starts with Janine’s decision to leave her corporate London life for the tranquility of rural France. After a spontaneous trip to the north of France, Janine impulsively buys a dilapidated farmhouse in the Pas-de-Calais region. What follows is her journey of transforming the house—and her life—while embracing the quirks of French village living.

From navigating the challenges of renovating an old home to adapting to the French way of life, Janine’s story is filled with humor and warmth. She shares the ups and downs of her new lifestyle, from dealing with eccentric neighbors to caring for a growing number of rescue animals. 

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Three Hours in Paris – Cara Black 

I love it when Amazon suggests books to read. I often get emails from them telling me about books and authors I’ve never heard of based on the books I’ve purchased. Three Hours in Paris was one of those books, so thank you, Amazon.

This one was an edge-of-your-seat page-turner. I love a good spy novel, and it didn’t disappoint, although I wish I hadn’t read it right before bedtime as I had some interesting dreams.

Set during World War II, the novel follows Kate Rees, an American devastated after the loss of her husband and child in a Luftwaffe bombing. Seeking both revenge and a purpose in the fight against the Nazis, she works with British intelligence on a secret mission to assassinate Adolf Hitler during his brief visit to Paris in 1940. 

When the mission fails, Kate finds herself alone in the city, hunted by the Gestapo, and struggling to escape with her life. As the clock ticks, Kate must use her wits and skills to evade capture in the Nazi-occupied city. Her desperate flight through Paris takes her into the heart of the resistance movement, uncovering layers of intrigue and betrayal. Along the way, she faces impossible choices, pushing her to the limits of survival.

Three Hours in Paris is fast-paced and suspenseful, offering a fresh take on wartime Paris through the lens of a woman caught in an extraordinary situation. Black delivers a tense, cat-and-mouse thriller with vivid historical details, giving readers an adrenaline-fueled journey through occupied France.

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Beyond Paris – Sophie Duncan 

Sophie emailed me recently and asked me if I’d be interested in reading her book about exploring the lesser-known regions of France. I love it when this type of thing happens because it allows me to discover new authors and books, and what a great read it was.

To start with, Sophie has lived many people’s dreams; she’s renovated a 16th-century chateau, Château de Saint-Ferriolnot, far from Carcassonne, in the Aude region of southwest France.

With all this experience behind her, Sophie takes you on a trip to the lesser-known regions of France, including the one I live in, now known as the Nouvelle Aquitaine.

After being featured in the Channel 4 program Escape to the Château DIY, Sophie interviewed her fellow chateau owners who also starred in the program. Beyond Paris takes you behind the scenes of sixteen of these chateau renovations, the trials and tribulations, and the stories of the owners.

It’s well-written, witty, and really showcases life in rural France at its absolute best. Sophie also takes time to explain the ins and outs of moving to France, the property market and some of the history. 

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All these books are also available on Kindle if you prefer to read them that way. If you’re on the fence about getting a Kindle Unlimited subscription, this Kindle Unlimited FAQ will help.