A single day in Paris changes the lives of three Americans as they each set off to explore the city with a French tutor, learning about language, love, and loss as their lives intersect in surprising ways. Josie, Riley, and Jeremy have come to the City of Light for different reasons: Josie, a young high school teacher, arrives in hopes of healing a broken heart. Riley, a spirited but lonely expat housewife, struggles to feel connected to her husband and her new country. And Jeremy, the reserved husband of a renowned actress, is accompanying his wife on a film shoot, yet he feels distant from her world. As they meet with their tutors—Josie with Nico, a sensitive poet; Riley with Phillippe, a shameless flirt; and Jeremy with the consummately beautiful Chantal—each succumbs to unexpected passion and unpredictable adventures. Yet as they traverse Paris’s grand boulevards and intimate, winding streets, they uncover surprising secrets about one another—and come to understand long-buried truths about themselves. From the Trade Paperback edition.

French Lessons: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Sussman, Ellen

United States

Random House Audio |

A single day in Paris changes the lives of three Americans as they each set off to explore the city with a French tutor, learning about language, love, and loss as their lives intersect in surprising ways. Josie, Riley, and Jeremy have come to the City of Light for different reasons: Josie, a young high school teacher, arrives in hopes of healing a broken heart. Riley, a spirited but lonely expat housewife, struggles to feel connected to her husband and her new country. And Jeremy, the reserved husband of a renowned actress, is accompanying his wife on a film shoot, yet he feels distant from her world. As they meet with their tutors—Josie with Nico, a sensitive poet; Riley with Phillippe, a shameless flirt; and Jeremy with the consummately beautiful Chantal—each succumbs to unexpected passion and unpredictable adventures. Yet as they traverse Paris’s grand boulevards and intimate, winding streets, they uncover surprising secrets about one another—and come to understand long-buried truths about themselves.

Random House Publishing Group

French Lessons

Ballantine Books

A riveting and poignant novel of one woman’s journey to Bali in search of love, renewal, and a place to call home—perfect for readers of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love and Alex Garland’s The Beach. It starts as a trip to paradise. Sent on assignment to Bali, Jamie, an American adventure guide, imagines spending weeks exploring the island’s lush jungles and pristine white sand beaches. Yet three days after her arrival, she is caught in Bali’s infamous nightclub bombings, which irreparably change her life and leave her with many unanswered questions. One year later, haunted by memories, Jamie returns to Bali seeking a sense of closure. Most of all, she hopes to find Gabe, the man who saved her from the attacks. She hasn’t been able to forget his kindness—or the spark between them as he helped her heal. Checking into a cozy guest house for her stay, Jamie meets the kindly owner, who is coping with a painful past of his own, and a young boy who improbably becomes crucial to her search. Jamie has never shied away from a challenge, but a second chance with Gabe presents her with the biggest dilemma of all: whether she’s ready to open her heart. Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. Praise for The Paradise Guest House “Two survivors of Bali’s terrorist bombing find love and spiritual rebirth on an island whose inhabitants believe in reincarnation in Sussman’s touching panorama of paradise. . . . Throughout, Sussman celebrates lovers, quiet healing, and the sweetness of the island and its people.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A story of healing and redemption, of finding love in the most unexpected places, and of the importance of moving forward . . . Sussman has drawn a vivid, well-balanced portrait of a woman and a country working to recover from an unimaginable event and a very personal look at a global tragedy.”—Booklist “Echoing Bali’s difficult recovery from [the 2002 terrorist bombing], the characters tread the difficult terrain of post-traumatic attachment. . . . A respectful and earnest . . . treatment of devastation’s aftermath.”—Kirkus Reviews “[A] moving story about making sense of life after a tragedy . . . This touching tale will cause contemplation about what closure truly means.”—RT Book Reviews

The Paradise Guest House: A Novel

Literary

Ellen Sussman, nationally bestselling author of French Lessons, delivers a feast for the senses in A Wedding in Provence—a moving novel of love, forgiveness, and trust, set among the beaches and vineyards of southern France. When Olivia and Brody drive up to their friend’s idyllic inn—nestled in a valley in the Mediterranean town of Cassis—they know they’ve chosen the perfect spot for their wedding. The ceremony will be held in the lush garden, and the reception will be a small party of only their closest family and friends. But when Olivia and Brody’s guests check in, their peaceful wedding weekend is quickly thrown off balance. The first to arrive is Nell, Olivia’s oldest daughter from her first marriage. Impulsive and reckless, she invites a complete stranger—an enigmatic man who is both alluring and a bit dangerous—to be her guest at the wedding. The next is Carly, Olivia’s youngest daughter, the responsible and pragmatic one. Away from her demanding job and a strained relationship, she feels an urgent need to cut loose—and for once do something brash and unpredictable. Then there is Jake, Brody’s playboy best man, and Fanny, Brody’s mother, who is coping with the fallout of her own marriage. And in the middle of it all is Olivia, navigating the dramas, joys, and pitfalls of planning a wedding and starting a new life. A delicious, compelling, and utterly enchanting novel, A Wedding in Provence captures the complex and enduring bonds of family, and our boundless faith in love. Praise for Wedding in Provence “Utterly charming and wildly romantic.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train “With well-drawn characters, beautiful scenery, and challenging emotional terrain, Sussman’s latest is a satisfying exploration of family and the enduring power of love.”—Booklist “As delicious, sensuous and addictive as the meals, landscapes, sexual romps and wild rides of all sorts that Sussman so vividly describes.”—San Francisco Chronicle “You may not be getting away this summer, but [this novel] can take you places.”—Time “[A] comédie with plenty of insight about love, loss and intimacy.”—Good Housekeeping “Full of surprises . . . Sussman brings the [French] countryside to life.”—Bookreporter One of “10 Hot Summer Reads to Pack for the Beach”—USA Today

A Wedding in Provence: A Novel

Ellen Sussman, nationally bestselling author of French Lessons, delivers a feast for the senses in A Wedding in Provence—a moving novel of love, forgiveness, and trust, set among the beaches and vineyards of southern France. Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. When Olivia and Brody drive up to their friend’s idyllic inn—nestled in a valley in the Mediterranean town of Cassis—they know they’ve chosen the perfect spot for their wedding. The ceremony will be held in the lush garden, and the reception will be a small party of only their closest family and friends. But when Olivia and Brody’s guests check in, their peaceful wedding weekend is quickly thrown off balance. The first to arrive is Nell, Olivia’s oldest daughter from her first marriage. Impulsive and reckless, she invites a complete stranger—an enigmatic man who is both alluring and a bit dangerous—to be her guest at the wedding. The next is Carly, Olivia’s youngest daughter, the responsible and pragmatic one. Away from her demanding job and a strained relationship, she feels an urgent need to cut loose—and for once do something brash and unpredictable. Then there is Jake, Brody’s playboy best man, and Fanny, Brody’s mother, who is coping with the fallout of her own marriage. And in the middle of it all is Olivia, navigating the dramas, joys, and pitfalls of planning a wedding and starting a new life. A delicious, compelling, and utterly enchanting novel, A Wedding in Provence captures the complex and enduring bonds of family, and our boundless faith in love. Praise for Wedding in Provence “Utterly charming and wildly romantic.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train “With well-drawn characters, beautiful scenery, and challenging emotional terrain, Sussman’s latest is a satisfying exploration of family and the enduring power of love.”—Booklist “As delicious, sensuous and addictive as the meals, landscapes, sexual romps and wild rides of all sorts that Sussman so vividly describes.”—San Francisco Chronicle “You may not be getting away this summer, but [this novel] can take you places.”—Time “[A] comédie with plenty of insight about love, loss and intimacy.”—Good Housekeeping “Full of surprises . . . Sussman brings the [French] countryside to life.”—Bookreporter One of “10 Hot Summer Reads to Pack for the Beach”—USA Today

Blair Clemens, a struggling single mother with a teenage daughter, job as a chef, and painful secret, is faced with a difficult choice when she is reunited with her high school sweetheart, Luke Bellingham, now a successful screenwriter.

On a Night Like This

WARNER BOOKS

- On a Night Like This was published in Warner hardcover (0-446-53141-3) in 2/04, an excerpt of which was published in the San Francisco Chronicle. It received early accolades from such notable authors as Pam Houston, Lalita Tademy, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Katherine Weber. - Ellen Sussman imbues this heartbreaking tale with the same emotional intensity as Anita Shreve's Sea Glass (Little, Brown and Company, 4/02), Elizabeth Berg's Open House (Ballantine, 2001), and Sue Miller's While I Was Gone (Ballantine, 1999). - On a Night Like This is the kind of timeless love story and commercial novel that will appeal to audiences in the trade paperback format. - Ellen Sussman is the winner of short story contests in both Redbook and Paris Transcontinental. - Available as a Time Warner AudioBook.

Grand Central Publishing

Creative reading resources

Reference

Ellen Sussman

Ellen Sussman, nationally bestselling author of "French Lessons, " delivers a feast for the senses in" A Wedding in Provence"--a moving novel of love, forgiveness, and trust, set among the beaches and vineyards of southern France.  When Olivia and Brody drive up to their friend's idyllic inn--nestled in a valley in the Mediterranean town of Cassis--they know they've chosen the perfect spot for their wedding. The ceremony will be held in the lush garden, and the reception will be a small party of only their closest family and friends. But when Olivia and Brody's guests check in, their peaceful wedding weekend is quickly thrown off balance.  The first to arrive is Nell, Olivia's oldest daughter from her first marriage. Impulsive and reckless, she invites a complete stranger--an enigmatic man who is both alluring and a bit dangerous--to be her guest at the wedding. The next is Carly, Olivia's youngest daughter, the responsible and pragmatic one. Away from her demanding job and a strained relationship, she feels an urgent need to cut loose--and for once do something brash and unpredictable. Then there is Jake, Brody's playboy best man, and Fanny, Brody's mother, who is coping with the fallout of her own marriage. And in the middle of it all is Olivia, navigating the dramas, joys, and pitfalls of planning a wedding and starting a new life.  A delicious, compelling, and utterly enchanting novel, "A Wedding in Provence" captures the complex and enduring bonds of family, and our boundless faith in love. Praise for "Wedding in Provence"  "Utterly charming and wildly romantic."--Christina Baker Kline, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Orphan Train" "A lighthearted tale of love, trust, secrets and family . . . Told with intimate authority and against the backdrop of southern France, ["A Wedding in Provence"] brings the countryside to life."--"Bookreporter"" " "A rich novel . . . The depth of relationships and histories of the characters, individually and together, make this novel both reflective and hopeful. A great read about what it means to truly stick together through thick and thin."--"RT Book Reviews"" " "A couple plans for a low-key wedding in the French countryside and gets anything but: The bride's children from her previous marriage are ready to let loose, and so is the best man. [Ellen] Sussman fills her "comedie" with plenty of insight about love, loss and intimacy."--"Good Housekeeping"" " "With well-drawn characters, beautiful scenery, and challenging emotional terrain, Sussman's latest is a satisfying exploration of family and the enduring power of love."--"Booklist"" " "Women's fiction fans will enjoy Sussman's knowing exploration of mother/daughter relationships and the bond between sisters. The vivid descriptions of Provence will whisk the reader away to the Mediterranean tout suite."--"Library Journal" "From the Hardcover edition."

A Wedding In Provence (Thorndike Press Large Print Women's Fiction)

Thorndike Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sussman, Ellen. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sussman, Ellen

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sussman, Ellen. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

French Lessons: A Novel

French Lessons: A Novel

French Lessons

The Paradise Guest House: A Novel

A Wedding in Provence: A Novel

A Wedding in Provence: A Novel

On a Night Like This

On a Night Like This

Creative reading resources

A Wedding In Provence (Thorndike Press Large Print Women's Fiction)