Author Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau recommends 11 shows and movies to see the lights of Paris

In these pandemic times, we’re all looking for a little bit of escapism. After all, most of us have spent the bulk of the past year staying inside, avoiding large gatherings, and definitely not traveling very far from our homes. It’s easy to romanticize the idea of travel – a weekend in the city, a trip to a tropical beach – during the best of times, now the idea of getting away from it all seems more magical than ever before.

Thankfully, having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card. Or a Kindle. Or a local indie bookshop that’s open for curbside pickup. 2021 may only be three months old but it’s already stuffed with great reads, with more on the way this April. And one of those upcoming new releases will give you major wanderlust.

Author Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau’s latest novel, Kisses and Croissants is a YA romance that’s as sweet as sugar pastry and set in the romance capital of the world – Paris, France. This breezy, entertaining tale follows the story of an American dancer named Mia, who comes to France to spend the summer at an elite ballet program that could make or break her dreams of a career in dance. But there’s more to Paris than dancing – like the charming French boy, Louis, who offers to be her tour guide to the City of Lights.

The official synopsis describes Kisses and Croissants as follows.

"Seventeen-year-old Mia, an American girl at an elite summer ballet program, has six weeks to achieve her dreams: to snag an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. But there’s more to Paris than ballet—especially when a charming French boy, Louis, wants to be her tour guide—and the pair discover the city has a few mysteries up its sleeve."

Kisses and Croissants is Jouhanneau’s U.S. debut but her previously published YA series, Journal de Los Angeles, has sold tens of thousands of copies in French. So clearly she knows her stuff – and that one of the key elements of any story set in this location is that the city of Paris itself is as much a character as any of the people who fall in love among its charming cafes and stunning art.

Keep reading for Jouhanneau’s picks – 11 in total! – of TV shows and movies that capture the lights and romanticism of Paris, and will get you in the mood for her new release. (And mark your calendars for April 6, when Kisses and Croissants hits shelves near you!)