Travel Book Club: Black Girl in Paris Discussion (Feb 2025) -

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It’s time for the next discussion in our 2025 Travel Book Club! In February we read Black Girl in Paris and I’ve compiled some questions below to get the discussion started! Share your thoughts, then check out what we’re reading next month!

Black Girl in Paris

Author: Shay Youngblood
Pages: 238
Published: 2000

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Caution: Spoilers Ahead!

Okay, so Black Girl in Paris by Shay Youngblood is one of those books that makes you want to pack a bag, hop on a plane, and just see where life takes you. It follows Eden, a young Black woman from the U.S. who moves to Paris in the 1980s, chasing this romantic idea of being a writer—kind of in the footsteps of her literary hero, James Baldwin. She’s got almost no money, no solid plan, but a whole lot of curiosity and the deep need to figure herself out.

Once she gets to Paris, the city is both magical and brutal. She bounces between different jobs—she’s an au pair, a poet’s assistant, even a nude artist’s model. She’s constantly hustling, trying to make ends meet while soaking up the city’s art, culture, and history. Along the way, she meets a cast of interesting, complicated people—mentors, lovers, fellow wanderers—who help shape her journey (and her) in unexpected ways.

The book is about self-discovery, but not in a cheesy, everything-falls-into-place kind of way. Eden stumbles as often as she succeeds (maybe even more). She has moments of loneliness, vulnerability, and straight-up struggle. But she also finds deep friendships, moments of joy, and glimpses of the writer she wants to become. The way Youngblood writes Paris is stunning—like, you can practically feel the cobblestone streets under your feet, hear the rush of the Seine, and smell the bread from the corner boulangerie. The city is as much a character in the book as Eden is.

There’s also this really interesting thread about being a Black woman in Paris—how it’s different from the U.S., how it’s the same, and how Eden navigates her identity in a place where she’s both visible and invisible. Youngblood’s writing is very readable, and you get totally swept up in Eden’s journey, even when it’s messy.

If you’ve ever dreamed of running away to Paris, or if you love stories about people trying to find themselves, this book is for you. It’s not just about Paris—it’s about what it means to chase your dreams, even when they feel impossible. And who doesn’t love a good “figuring life out in a gorgeous city” story?

Eden moved to Paris with little money, no plan, and a dream. Did you find this exciting or (like me) did it give you intense anxiety for her?
Paris is often romanticized and Eden experiences the beauty, but also the struggle there. Did this book change or reinforce your perception of the city?
Eden works a series of unconventional jobs to survive. How do you think these experiences shaped her?
The book explores identity, particularly what it means to be a Black woman in Paris versus the U.S. How does Eden’s experience compare to what you’ve seen or experienced in different cultures?
The novel has a very fluid structure. Did you enjoy the writing style? How did it impact your connection to Eden’s story?
Loneliness and self-discovery are key themes in the book. Do you think Eden finds what she’s looking for in Paris? Or is she still searching at the end?
Eden has complicated relationships throughout the novel—some romantic, some platonic, some in-between. Which relationship did you find the most compelling, and why?
If you could talk to Eden at the start of her journey, what advice would you give her?
If you were to embark on your own “Eden in Paris” adventure, where would you go, and what dream would you chase?

March’s Book

In March, we’ll be reading The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick. We’ll begin the discussion on March 24, so pick up your copy today and start reading!