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Paris
Juliet, a penniless American art student, travels to the City of Light to study painting. To pay her way she paints portraits of wealthy debutantes. One of her subjects is Deborah, a young English woman suffocated by the narrow expectations of her aristocratic family. Juliet is equally confined by the rigid academic structure of her art education and finds an unlikely kindred spirit in Deborah.
Juliet and Deborah's love for art bring them together, even as their friends and family try to drive them apart.
A fairy tale romance where the old and new worlds collide, drawn by Simon Gane, the artist behind the Eisner nominated Ghost Tree and They’re Not Like Us and written by Andi Watson, author of The Book Tour, Kerry and the Knight of the Forest and the forthcoming Punycorn.
Juliet and Deborah's love for art bring them together, even as their friends and family try to drive them apart.
A fairy tale romance where the old and new worlds collide, drawn by Simon Gane, the artist behind the Eisner nominated Ghost Tree and They’re Not Like Us and written by Andi Watson, author of The Book Tour, Kerry and the Knight of the Forest and the forthcoming Punycorn.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2007
8 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Andi Watson
150 books92 followersAndrew "Andi" Watson (born 1969) is a British cartoonist and illustrator best known for the graphic novels Breakfast After Noon, Slow News Day and his series Love Fights, published by Oni Press and Slave Labor Graphics.
Watson has also worked for more mainstream American comic publishers with some work at DC Comics, a twelve-issue limited series at Marvel Comics, with the majority at Dark Horse Comics, moving recently to Image Comics.
Watson has also worked for more mainstream American comic publishers with some work at DC Comics, a twelve-issue limited series at Marvel Comics, with the majority at Dark Horse Comics, moving recently to Image Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
January 13, 2023
Here's a book where I wish there was more to the story. More detailed main characters, less Paris/French clichés, some depth to the romance.
It all just pootles along, no surprises, no real dramatic tension to speak of. The French characters all speaking in half English half French all the time, quickly became grating.
I like Simon Gane as an artist a lot, and the many portraits of the cities are excellent. The people have a more perfunctory look, they're maybe a bit too rough, too 1950s graphic to my tastes.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
It all just pootles along, no surprises, no real dramatic tension to speak of. The French characters all speaking in half English half French all the time, quickly became grating.
I like Simon Gane as an artist a lot, and the many portraits of the cities are excellent. The people have a more perfunctory look, they're maybe a bit too rough, too 1950s graphic to my tastes.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
July 19, 2022
3.5 stars A charming little graphic novel of sapphic love and constraint in 1950s Paris. Fabulous illustrations. I wish it had been a little longer, though.
May 20, 2024
I absolutely LOVED Simon Gane's illustrations! So many details, such amazing historical backgrounds and buildings! I have rarely spent so much time drinking in the beauty of a graphic novel.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the story as much as the illustrations. The dialogs didn't gel with the 1950's setting (everything sounded too modern and slang-y). And the denouement was a little bit on the predictable side.
Also, I am French and the French characters speak in this very odd way that makes no sense. The French they do use is not quite correct (gender of things is often wrong, verb tenses are often wrong, the grammatical structure they use is typically English instead of French, etc.) which made it hard for me to believe in the voice of a many of the characters.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the story as much as the illustrations. The dialogs didn't gel with the 1950's setting (everything sounded too modern and slang-y). And the denouement was a little bit on the predictable side.
Also, I am French and the French characters speak in this very odd way that makes no sense. The French they do use is not quite correct (gender of things is often wrong, verb tenses are often wrong, the grammatical structure they use is typically English instead of French, etc.) which made it hard for me to believe in the voice of a many of the characters.
December 10, 2011
This was a really fast read--so fast that I read almost the entire thing on my half-hour train commute this morning, and was forced to stop at a bookstore after work so I'd have something to read on the trip home! Even for a graphic novel, this book was pretty light on the text. But the story, about an art student and a debutante who find love in 1950s Paris, was pretty delightful, and the illustrations were really interesting. It definitely did not have the emotional impact of a lot of other graphic novels, but it was cute and entertaining.
Read
May 21, 2022The story is a sketch of a thing - an American in Paris falling for the English girl she's been hired to paint, who's struggling to get out from under her tweedy chaperone. But the art! This is the Paris of the mind, rather than the graffitied skeleton woven through with endless Edgware Roads that has supplanted it in the real world. Cafés, chic, vin rouge in garrets - it ought to feel like a lumbering Hollywood cliché, but instead it has the intricate yet lively charm of Richard Scarry (which, as my generation grew up knowing, is exactly how cities are meant to be) even as it ventures into the bohemian activities he tended to skip over. And yes, maybe by the end the room was surprisingly dusty.
(Edelweiss ARC)
(Edelweiss ARC)
October 16, 2022
A very pretty book (Simon Gane really killed it with the art, especially the backgrounds and cityscapes) with a story that left much to be desired. It's pretty straightforward with a bunch of cliches. Not always a bad thing, but it was a quick read that left me wishing there was something more to get stuck on.
January 16, 2024
A wonderful piece from GlobalComix. A 160 pager that has more illustrations than words. I am heavily into such epic graphic novels mainly to understand the art that often I miss the storylines too well.
Juliet is an artist in Paris and is requested by her employer to paint a portrait of her friend Deborah. Her aunt Margaret Chapman ( I think ) is a stodgy old British type with stiff upper lip ( “ youngsters these days are so … snarkily with nose that you can’t get higher ).
She goes through some struggles and that’s broadly all there is I think from a story. The renditions of Paris life in various places - homes / museums / marketplaces / boulangerie s… cobblestone streets.
Enjoyed it.
Juliet is an artist in Paris and is requested by her employer to paint a portrait of her friend Deborah. Her aunt Margaret Chapman ( I think ) is a stodgy old British type with stiff upper lip ( “ youngsters these days are so … snarkily with nose that you can’t get higher ).
She goes through some struggles and that’s broadly all there is I think from a story. The renditions of Paris life in various places - homes / museums / marketplaces / boulangerie s… cobblestone streets.
Enjoyed it.
November 15, 2023
This was a cute and fast read. Paris follows Juliet, an American artist studying in Paris. Her professor connects her with a painting commission which introduces her with rich Deborah. Although the two come from vastly different backgrounds, they form a connection. Some drama ensues but mostly it felt like a low stakes opposite attract comic/graphic novel. I honestly assumed it was set in the 1980s or 1990s until after finished it and read the synopsis, so I think the political setting definitely could have been better described. I really enjoyed the art style and felt like it was unique to other illustrated works I’ve read lately. I especially loved the paper dolls and art references included in the end of the book.
September 11, 2023
I love love stories that work out in the end. adored the art style as well
August 16, 2023
wish i would have liked this one more. the premise was intriguing, but the plot was incredibly superficial and didn't have a ton of depth, as i would have expected based on the plot description. the art was interesting but busy, and if this was a remaster since it was originally published in 2007, i would have liked to see maybe a one-shot at the end showcasing the characters' future.
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March 30, 2023Charming illustrations make up for a story light on plot and nuance. Still, the second graphic novel I've come across by this author/artist team. Sometimes it's good to just let the illustrations move the story along and there is a lot to take in--definite eye candy taking in all the Parisian details!
January 13, 2023
This romp of a graphic novel was a quick light read. This love story is set in 1950's Paris and follows an American artist that has fallen for the British socialite she is painting a portrait of.
The illustrations are the shining star of this short piece. The storyline itself is cliche, the characters are simple archetypes without true depth, and there are some facets of it that do not make sense. However, if you are seeking a short graphic piece that reads like a 2008 romcom, this is exactly what you need.
The illustrations are the shining star of this short piece. The storyline itself is cliche, the characters are simple archetypes without true depth, and there are some facets of it that do not make sense. However, if you are seeking a short graphic piece that reads like a 2008 romcom, this is exactly what you need.
January 26, 2010
This graphic novel was largely superficial. I found the relationships to be unbelieveable, and underdevloped. That being said, I did like the artwork, and the story idea was interesting. Unfortunately, I think it was unispired and fell flat. I would say pass on this book.
July 27, 2022
Thank you Edelweiss+ for this ARC
The illustrations in this graphic novel were not my favourite and the plot was predictable. I couldn't really understand also why the English spoke like they were from the 18h century almost.
The illustrations in this graphic novel were not my favourite and the plot was predictable. I couldn't really understand also why the English spoke like they were from the 18h century almost.
March 2, 2009
busy drawings. trite plot. basically Annie on My Mind with tales of Paris thrown in, without the charm of either.
February 16, 2019
.???: to be young in paris is a moveable feast- beautiful, lively, art and storytelling...
August 15, 2023
The comic Paris sets the tone with a clear visual ambiance even before the story picks up. Everything is grayscale with a sort of blocky, angular approach to all kinds of subjects, including the characters. Busy, full-page scenes were my favorite. The lack of color and the riot of patterns and shapes create a visual game of sorts. There was so much to see that I slowed down to snoop out every detail. The lack of color forced me to be extra focused so as not to miss anything. My favorite find was a dog peeing on a crying girl in the background of a scene where everyone is bustling around in the bridal suite before a wedding. Another interesting visual aspect of the comic is the references to paintings, made possible because art is what brings our characters together. While maintaining the comic's signature style, classic works appear in the background as our characters walk through museums, fancy houses, art galleries, and studios. Famous feats of architecture stand tall behind and around them as they walk Paris' streets.
So what's the story? It centers on Juliet, our artist, and Deborah, her muse in 1950s Paris. Juliet lacks family money and support for her less-than-practical dream of studying to be an artist. She wants to learn professionally even if the classical training doesn't suit her vision. Meanwhile, Deborah has led a claustrophobically sheltered life, so it's no surprise she's not satisfied, even though she dutifully fills her expected role. When Juliet's teacher hires her out to do Deborah's portrait to cover part of her tuition, they light a fire within one another, and a romance ensues that's characterized by yearning and forbidden attachment. Juliet's fiery roommate provides comic relief as she rails against the bourgeoisie and commits crimes.
My only complaint is that the comic seems more focused on the visual components than the story. Our characters-- their struggles and their triumphs both-- have stories with only a few main beats in contrast to the complexity of the art. I would have liked a bit more depth so the characters feel less generic. All the same, we love to see sapphic love surviving and thriving no matter what. Thanks to Image Comics for my copy to read and review!
So what's the story? It centers on Juliet, our artist, and Deborah, her muse in 1950s Paris. Juliet lacks family money and support for her less-than-practical dream of studying to be an artist. She wants to learn professionally even if the classical training doesn't suit her vision. Meanwhile, Deborah has led a claustrophobically sheltered life, so it's no surprise she's not satisfied, even though she dutifully fills her expected role. When Juliet's teacher hires her out to do Deborah's portrait to cover part of her tuition, they light a fire within one another, and a romance ensues that's characterized by yearning and forbidden attachment. Juliet's fiery roommate provides comic relief as she rails against the bourgeoisie and commits crimes.
My only complaint is that the comic seems more focused on the visual components than the story. Our characters-- their struggles and their triumphs both-- have stories with only a few main beats in contrast to the complexity of the art. I would have liked a bit more depth so the characters feel less generic. All the same, we love to see sapphic love surviving and thriving no matter what. Thanks to Image Comics for my copy to read and review!
August 11, 2023
“Paris” by Andi Waston, will require you to deal with lots of chain smoking, lots of nudity, and lots of Google translate.
In a sentence: A struggling art student living in Paris is commissioned to paint a debutante, but antiquated ideas about class and women’s liberation keep either woman from thriving - can they help each other break free?
Themes: class, queer, lesbian, self actualization, LGBTQIA, women’s liberation
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (rounded up)
Art student, Juliet, travels to Paris to study painting. She’s broke. Living in a flat with a broken washer and a thin hanging sheet is all that protect her from viewing her roommates orgasms. Juliet commissioned to paint a portrait of Deborah, a high society young English woman by the model’s snotty classist aunt. Juliet has two weeks to finish the portrait; she desperately needs this commission to pay for art school. Juliet and Deborah push back against what’s expected of them and are hit with blockers at every turn.
The illustrations are truly beautiful. The graphic novel is illustrated in black and white with intricate details on every page. Every scene is filled with interesting background characters that make you slow down and stay on the page. FYI, there’s some nudity.
The story line is short and sweet. You can easily finish the graphic novel in one sitting. The characters were pretty dynamic considering how short the story was. Also, you may need Google translate to read the French phrases integrated throughout.
In a sentence: A struggling art student living in Paris is commissioned to paint a debutante, but antiquated ideas about class and women’s liberation keep either woman from thriving - can they help each other break free?
Themes: class, queer, lesbian, self actualization, LGBTQIA, women’s liberation
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (rounded up)
Art student, Juliet, travels to Paris to study painting. She’s broke. Living in a flat with a broken washer and a thin hanging sheet is all that protect her from viewing her roommates orgasms. Juliet commissioned to paint a portrait of Deborah, a high society young English woman by the model’s snotty classist aunt. Juliet has two weeks to finish the portrait; she desperately needs this commission to pay for art school. Juliet and Deborah push back against what’s expected of them and are hit with blockers at every turn.
The illustrations are truly beautiful. The graphic novel is illustrated in black and white with intricate details on every page. Every scene is filled with interesting background characters that make you slow down and stay on the page. FYI, there’s some nudity.
The story line is short and sweet. You can easily finish the graphic novel in one sitting. The characters were pretty dynamic considering how short the story was. Also, you may need Google translate to read the French phrases integrated throughout.
September 12, 2023
Paris is set in the 1950s and centres on the lives of two young women—a broke American student trying to make it big as a painter, and a naive British socialite who has come to Paris to stay with her snobby aunt. Although the two women have two very different backgrounds, they are interested in each other straight away. Both of them love art, and what place would be better to celebrate art than Paris?
I was sure I was going to enjoy this graphic novel because I loved Sunburn (also by Watson and Gane), but Paris felt lacklustre. The story starts off slow and, sadly, the pacing doesn’t change much throughout the book. We get the usual French stereotypes, but nothing riveting or groundbreaking. The biggest letdown was, however, the ending. It was rushed and felt incredibly unsatisfying because the story had barely developed at this point. I get why Watson ended it where he did, but it wasn’t enjoyable.
I received a copy through NetGalley. All my opinions are my own.
I was sure I was going to enjoy this graphic novel because I loved Sunburn (also by Watson and Gane), but Paris felt lacklustre. The story starts off slow and, sadly, the pacing doesn’t change much throughout the book. We get the usual French stereotypes, but nothing riveting or groundbreaking. The biggest letdown was, however, the ending. It was rushed and felt incredibly unsatisfying because the story had barely developed at this point. I get why Watson ended it where he did, but it wasn’t enjoyable.
I received a copy through NetGalley. All my opinions are my own.
August 15, 2023
The graphic novel Paris follows an American artist studying in Paris who paints portraits of wealthy debutantes in order to pay her tuition fees.
I overall enjoyed parts of the novel, some of the art was quite detailed and beautiful particularly the buildings.
The dialogue switching between English and French did get a little annoying at times, because I felt like the options were to keep reading and be a little confused or stop the flow of the story by searching on google translate.
I did enjoy the story for the most part although some parts felt a bit confusing and the ending did feel a little abrupt and rushed.
I post about diverse & queer novels @niksreadss on Instagram
I overall enjoyed parts of the novel, some of the art was quite detailed and beautiful particularly the buildings.
The dialogue switching between English and French did get a little annoying at times, because I felt like the options were to keep reading and be a little confused or stop the flow of the story by searching on google translate.
I did enjoy the story for the most part although some parts felt a bit confusing and the ending did feel a little abrupt and rushed.
I post about diverse & queer novels @niksreadss on Instagram
January 31, 2024
This was a really fun and quick sapphic graphic novel. I LOVED the art style a lot and the setting of Paris was perfect! The characters were all really fun and the side characters really shone. There was some French throughout which was quite novel, however it felt very clunky - the French itself was incorrect and it was interspersed among English as French and American characters tried to converse, but so many of the words that were in French were really simple terms that are either some of the first you would learn or have very close if not identical counterparts (e.g. professeur and professor).
Thanks to Netgalley and Image Comics for an ARC in return for a review. All opinions are my own!
Thanks to Netgalley and Image Comics for an ARC in return for a review. All opinions are my own!
September 19, 2023
**I would like to thank NetGalley, Image Comics, and Andi Watson & Simon Gane for an ARC of this book! This is available as of 7/12/22!**
The art style was awesome! Definitely busy, yet still easy to follow. The fact that it was left to just beige and black was disappointing. I wish there was color of some sort to keep this interesting. I wasn't a fan of this creative decision, but it grew on me nonetheless.
This was a sweet sapphic romance set in 1950s Paris with an artist and a debutante. The storyline absolutely had promise, but it ended too quickly and left questions unanswered. I think at least one or two more chapters would have been better for tying everything together.
The art style was awesome! Definitely busy, yet still easy to follow. The fact that it was left to just beige and black was disappointing. I wish there was color of some sort to keep this interesting. I wasn't a fan of this creative decision, but it grew on me nonetheless.
This was a sweet sapphic romance set in 1950s Paris with an artist and a debutante. The storyline absolutely had promise, but it ended too quickly and left questions unanswered. I think at least one or two more chapters would have been better for tying everything together.
October 5, 2024
Juliet is in Paris, a struggling artist from America. To make money, she paints portraits of wealthy debutantes. One day, she meets Deborah, whose wealthy misanthropic and irascible relative wants a portrait of the young woman. Juliet struggles to capture what she sees in Deborah, the liveliness and curiosity, especially after she gets to know the young woman and the two fall for one another.
Unfortunately, despite labouring hard on the portrait, Deborah's portrait is soundly rejected, and Juliet soon returns home to work in her parents' hardware shop. She never forgets Deborah, and neither does the other forget Juliet.
The romance works, but the rest of the story is ok, rather than offering something unusual. I did like the artwork a lot, with its many Paris street scenes, and the energy and vividness of character emotions, such as Juliet's Paris roommate, the fiery Paulette.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Image Comics for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Unfortunately, despite labouring hard on the portrait, Deborah's portrait is soundly rejected, and Juliet soon returns home to work in her parents' hardware shop. She never forgets Deborah, and neither does the other forget Juliet.
The romance works, but the rest of the story is ok, rather than offering something unusual. I did like the artwork a lot, with its many Paris street scenes, and the energy and vividness of character emotions, such as Juliet's Paris roommate, the fiery Paulette.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Image Comics for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 27, 2023
This was a wonderfully illustrated Parisian sapphic graphic novel. It was a quick read that didn't have much complexity to it but was still entertaining overall. Knowing a bit of French going into it would be helpful to understand some of the phrases but it doesn't take away too much from the story.
October 5, 2023
Very interesting art style, especially when the whole page is filled and draws the eye all over. There was decent sapphic rep but the characters came off as stereotypical. I liked the focus on self-expression but didn't love the fiancé storyline.
March 29, 2024
Simon Gane, Your art is lovely and makes me desperately want to drop everything and move to Europe!
Story was just okay, maybe the format is too limiting to tell this complex story super well. Art lesbians in Paris was a promising premise tho
Story was just okay, maybe the format is too limiting to tell this complex story super well. Art lesbians in Paris was a promising premise tho
August 25, 2022
GAY???????? i grabbed this bc i liked the art style i didn’t even know it was GAY
read it in one sitting it made my heart swell
read it in one sitting it made my heart swell
September 16, 2023
2.9 digit
May 25, 2024
Wait stop this was so tender and gay ❤️❤️
June 26, 2025
Portrait of a lady on fire core asf
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews