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The Comforts of Exile
Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 06:33:02
10 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The insufferable, self-sabotaging hero of Minor Indignities returns, wearing a black turtleneck and strolling down the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
For twenty-two-year-old Colin Phelps, who fills notebooks with dazzling theoretical insights but is powerless to describe a pancake, escape is a permanent state of mind. Little wonder that when his college girlfriend, Julia, leaves him for a New York magazine job, he flees to a charming suburb of Paris, armed with little more than a passable French accent and a tenuous connection to a famed literary player.
Within weeks, he is holding court at Left Bank cafés, flirtatiously jousting with the sharp-witted, devoutly religious Laure, and overseeing a translation project that could launch his career. But then word of his Parisian entanglement reaches Laure’s high-powered lawyer ex, and even Julia back in New York. Soon the new life Colin has constructed for himself starts to crumble, as he falls prey to jealousy, the lure of old attachments, and—above all—his paralyzing tendency to overthink everything.
For twenty-two-year-old Colin Phelps, who fills notebooks with dazzling theoretical insights but is powerless to describe a pancake, escape is a permanent state of mind. Little wonder that when his college girlfriend, Julia, leaves him for a New York magazine job, he flees to a charming suburb of Paris, armed with little more than a passable French accent and a tenuous connection to a famed literary player.
Within weeks, he is holding court at Left Bank cafés, flirtatiously jousting with the sharp-witted, devoutly religious Laure, and overseeing a translation project that could launch his career. But then word of his Parisian entanglement reaches Laure’s high-powered lawyer ex, and even Julia back in New York. Soon the new life Colin has constructed for himself starts to crumble, as he falls prey to jealousy, the lure of old attachments, and—above all—his paralyzing tendency to overthink everything.
311 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
Crisp, witty, and traditional in the best way. A worthy standalone sequel to his fantastic debut, Minor Indignities.
September 29, 2026
I absolutely loved The Comforts of Exile by Trevor Merrill. From the very beginning, I was completely captivated—I honestly couldn’t put it down.
What I loved most was the relationships between the characters. They felt so real and so well developed that, as the story went on, I felt like I actually knew them. The plot kept me guessing with twists I didn’t see coming, while the witty, funny writing made the whole book such a fun read.
But what stayed with me most was the ending. Without giving anything away, there was a sense of hope that felt both unexpected and deeply satisfying.
Funny, romantic, captivating, and ultimately hopeful, The Comforts of Exile is one of those books that pulls you in quickly and makes you genuinely care about the people you’re reading about. I really enjoyed it!
What I loved most was the relationships between the characters. They felt so real and so well developed that, as the story went on, I felt like I actually knew them. The plot kept me guessing with twists I didn’t see coming, while the witty, funny writing made the whole book such a fun read.
But what stayed with me most was the ending. Without giving anything away, there was a sense of hope that felt both unexpected and deeply satisfying.
Funny, romantic, captivating, and ultimately hopeful, The Comforts of Exile is one of those books that pulls you in quickly and makes you genuinely care about the people you’re reading about. I really enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy
Witty & wise - a delightful story about a young American's adventures in the Parisian literary scene
A wonderful and hilarious depiction of literary Paris. A young American who is only too eager to prove his worth. Cute and clever French girls. And moments of embarrassment, epiphany, and high emotion.
A quick, fun, smart read.
A wonderful and hilarious depiction of literary Paris. A young American who is only too eager to prove his worth. Cute and clever French girls. And moments of embarrassment, epiphany, and high emotion.
A quick, fun, smart read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews