My (Part-Time) Paris Life: How Running Away Brought Me Home

“A poignant meditation on self-love, maternal loss—and the restorative force that is Paris.” —Jennifer Coburn, author of We’ll Always Have Paris

Lisa Anselmo wrapped her entire life around her mother, a strong woman who was a defining force in her daughter’s life—maybe too defining. When her mother dies from breast cancer, Lisa realizes she hadn’t built a life of her own, and struggles to find her purpose. Who is she without her mother—and her mother’s expectations?

Desperate for answers, she reaches for a lifeline in the form of an apartment in Paris, refusing to play it safe for the first time. What starts out as a lurching act of survival sets Lisa on a course that reshapes her life in ways she never could have imagined. But how can you imagine a life bigger than anything you’ve ever known?

My (Part-time) Paris Life is a story is for anyone who’s ever felt lost or hopeless, but still holds out hope of something more. This candid memoir explores one woman’s search for peace and meaning, and how the ups and downs of expat life in Paris taught her to let go of fear, find self-worth, and create real, lasting happiness.

“Charming. . . . An intimate account of learning to grieve the loss of a parent while, at the same time, striving to live your dreams.” —Janice MacLeod, New York Times–bestselling author of Paris Letters

“Enjoyable. Inspiring.” —Publishers Weekly

“Poignant . . . a fresh voice.” —Booklist

“[T]he city is more than a backdrop for her own narrative—it’s an active character that contributed to her personal growth.” —Travel & Leisure

© 2024 Thomas Dunne Books (Ebook): 9781466875821

Release date

Ebook: 4 September 2024