Title: Like We Were In Paris
Author: Stephan Lee
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: May 5, 2026
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Summary
Ben has been looking forward to his French Club trip to Paris for ages. He’s made a list of all the things he wants to see in the most romantic city in the world. He also wants to feel more connected to his dad, who loved Paris before he passed away.
However, on his first day in Paris, everything goes wrong. Ben finds himself locked out of the hostel when he gets back after curfew. Locked out with him? Tyler Travers, Ben’s former friend and current nemesis. The two of them end up roaming Paris at night, and learning that maybe, just maybe, there might be a spark there.
Review: Like We Were in Paris
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for an advanced copy of Like We Were in Paris by Stephan Lee to review! If you’re in desperate need of a cute little teen romance to brighten your reading life, this one is it. It captures a delightful romance between Ben and Tyler, while also tackling some more complex emotional issues both boys are working through.
While this might seem like a “fall in love in one night” kind of story, this isn’t quite the case.Tyler and Ben were both friends before; because of a slight miscommunication (or lack of communication), they both thought the other didn’t remember their previous friendship. In true teenage boy fashion, they eventually make it over this hurdle and realize that there might be something there after all.
In addition to the romance, this book also explores grief and societal expectations in the queer community, especially if you’re not white. As readers, we get to see Ben struggling with racist things his classmates have thrown at him, while Tyler struggles with authentic connections because of his popularity. There’s one scene towards the end of the book where they both have a very real conversation about this with a drag queen, and it’s just such a wonderful scene to help show the emotional depth of the story.
If you like the find love in Paris kind of stories, with a bit of emotional baggage behind them, definitely pick this book up when it comes out in May.
4.5/5 stars