15 Best French Books (From All Genres)

Are you looking for the best French books? 

We may not all be able to visit France whenever we want, but we may learn about its rich history and culture by reading. French books are not only some of the most brilliantly written, but they also transport you to a different time and place.

Reading in French is also a great approach to increase your compression and grasp of the language, and it’s not as difficult as it may appear.

You can begin with children’s books, French adaptations of works you’ve already read in English (such as a Jane Austen novel or any of the Harry Potter series), and, of course, a book written expressly for French language learners.

Once you’ve established a practice of reading in French, you’ll find it easier to enjoy French books of any genre, theme, or length.

15 Best French Books (From All Genres)

Here are some of the best French books to add to your reading collection, whether you’re a budding Francophile or learning the language of love.

Books For Learning French

Let’s start first with books for learning French. If you’re still trying to learn French, here’s our list of best books for learning the language.

1. Practice Makes Perfect Complete French All-in-One

The Practice Makes Perfect Complete French All-in-One book is the right book for you if you want to begin learning French as a beginner and then progress to more advanced and specialized lessons.

Basic French, Complete French Grammar, French Conversation, French Sentence Builder, French Verb Tenses, Intermediate French Grammar, and Advanced French Grammar are among the titles included in the Practice Makes Perfect French series. All seven books have been combined into the Complete French All-in-One book.

There are 37 lessons and almost 500 exercises in this book. Their method entails a lot of practice to learn. You can also download an app that includes flashcards to help as you learn the material.

2. Barron’s Mastering French Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach

Barron’s Mastering French Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach is a good choice if you already know some French but want to enhance your vocabulary.

The book is divided by themes, as the name says, and you may learn the necessary terminology for each of the 24 topics. Business terminology, medical terminology, home objects, food and eating, and transportation are just a few of the topics covered.

The new edition of this book contains an audio MP3 with 10 hours of audio to go along with the text material, which will help you learn how to pronounce all of the terms correctly.

If you want to learn a lot of French vocabulary, this book is a great place to start.

Memoir French Books 

3. Paris Est Une Fete/ A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway (1964)

Ernest Hemingway’s semi-autobiographical book is set in Paris during the Roaring Twenties when he was a struggling writer and journalist.

The American novelist traces his time in Paris, surrounded by luminaries like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and James Joyce, in A Moveable Feast.

Although the book was written many decades ago, it is still considered one of the best memoirs of life in France.

4. l’allure de Chanel / The Allure of Chanel – Paul Morand (1976)

The memoirs of French fashion designer Coco Chanel told to her friend Paul Morand, are collected in The Allure of Chanel.

The book was published in the winter of 1946 and is based on a series of conversations between Chanel and Morand at a hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where Chanel had invited Morand to write her memoirs.

The discussions took place in the evenings, and Morand stayed up late each night to jot down his thoughts. The notes were first published in French in 1976, then translated into English by Euan Cameron in 2008.

French Books for Poetry

5. Les Fleurs du Mal/ The Flowers of Evil – Charles Baudelaire (1857)

In his Fleurs du Mal, Baudelaire, the king of French prose poetry, evokes the symbolist and modern movements. This book is a collection of some of his best works, and a good introduction to French poetry. 

Spleen and Ideal, Parisian Scenes, Wine, Flowers of Evil, Revolt, and Death are the six categories in which the poems are organized.

Each poem is only a page or two long, which makes this book ideal for those who are just starting to practice reading in French. This is also perfect for Francophiles who only have time for a taste of French literature each day. 

6. Paroles –  Jacques Prévert (1945)

Prévert was a lighthearted yet serious poet who made considerable use of repetition and plain language. His method also has the added benefit of isolating little chunks of French for you to read, memorize, and if you’re feeling ambitious, translate.

Poetry in general is an excellent approach to practice translation, which will benefit your French studies even if you may find the task intimidating at first.  

Anthology French Books 

7. La Maison de Claudine/ Claudine’s House – Colette (1922)

This is another book that is suitable for those who are just learning to read in French. In this delightful book, the author Colette’s childhood in rural France in the early twentieth century is depicted in a collection of vignettes.

Each of the various vignettes is stand-alone, making this an excellent book to read when committing to a whole French novel sounds daunting.

Non-fiction French Books

8. The Second Sex/ Le Deuxième Sexe – Simone de Beauvoir (1949)

Beauvoir examines the treatment of women throughout history in this celebrated nonfiction book, which is divided into two volumes.

It’s a big volume that covers a lot of topics, from Ancient Greece and Rome to the 20th century. The Second Sex delves into the history, home, literature, and other aspects of women’s lives.

Some sections are abstract, while others are based on de Beauvoir’s scientific, biological, and female body research.

Anyone who calls herself a feminist and fights for gender equality should read this book.

Best French Novels

9. Candide – Voltaire (1759)

This satire from the 18th century, penned by philosopher Voltaire, is still relevant today: Candide’s mentor, Professor Pangloss, has taught him to be an eternal optimist.

But one day he is rudely awakened and gradually becomes aware of the world’s sorrows and struggles.

The whimsical story whisks the reader away on an exciting voyage while also serving as a springboard for Voltaire’s philosophies, which mock religion, governments, and naïve optimism in general.

10. Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) – Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782)

You’ve probably seen the film “Cruel Intentions,” but did you know it’s based on a novel set right before the French Revolution?

The story is told in an epistolary style, with only letters between characters. It was first published in four short volumes. It’s another book that French language learners may read in small chunks, and it’s a great way to get a feel of French prose.

11. Notre Dame de Paris/ The Hunchback of Notre-Dame –  Victor Hugo (1831)

One of the most well-known French novels of all time, Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris provides an excellent introduction to his body of work.

This tale features the gypsy Esmeralda, the National Guard Captain Phoebus, and the hunchback Quasimodo, among other colorful characters, in a microcosm of the Parisian Notre Dame Cathedral in the Middle Ages.

While those who have seen the Disney version will certainly be surprised by the finale, the fundamental principles of this story are typical enough for even novice readers to get Hugo’s message.

12. L’Étranger/ The Stranger –  Albert Camus (1942)

Many lists of must-read books for French learners include this classic of French literature, and there are numerous reasons for this. One of them is because of the narrator’s direct and simple voice. This is a character choice, but it does make the novel rather easy to read.

Behind the simple narration, however, this work dives into the existentialist ideology that was popular in France in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as providing a portrayal of Camus’ past as a pied-noir Algerian inhabitant.

13. Le Petit Prince/ The Little Prince  – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)

Even though there are certainly easier children’s French books to read, this childhood favorite is an excellent introduction to French literature for new readers of the language. If you have started reading poetry, vignettes, and short chapters, reading Le Petit Prince should be fairly easy. 

In this timeless tale, the narrative is supplemented by images, which make it even more understandable. The lesson of the book, of course, goes beyond cultures and generations.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

14. Moi qui n’ai pas connu les hommes – Jacqueline Harpman (1997)

This is an intriguing existential, quasi-horror science fiction tale, which is best described as beautiful and disturbing.

The reader is introduced to a world that is similar to this one but also separate. It is told by a female character who was nurtured by a group of older women imprisoned in an unidentified underground place.

The story is also a mystery because it is unclear who the women’s captors are and why they are being held captive. Harpman’s story is creepy and inventive, and it’s a must-read for any French learner who likes speculative fiction.

15. Coule la Seine –  Frédérique Vargas (2002)

This three-story anthology is a good way to get a taste of French detective fiction. The author is a historian who uses her knowledge of history to create complex, eccentric characters. 

Most native English speakers who are learning French may have felt reservations about whether what they are doing is useful at some time. Vargas’ work, therefore, may be reassuring. She designs characters with surprising facts that pertain to real-life circumstances and is quite relatable. 

Are you looking for more French books? Check out our articles below

• 10 Best French Books For Kids
• 9 Best French Books For Beginners