“The Little Paris Bookshop” is a fictional novel written by Nina George. The novel focuses on the story of Jean Perdu, a man who had allowed his life to end with the death of his true love, Manon. After finally reading a letter Manon had left him 21 years prior, Jean decided he had to leave his life of loneliness and reconnect once again with his lost love. Along the way, Jean connected with others in search of the same thing: love and completeness. On their journey, Jean and his newfound family connect and come to realize the freedom that comes with facing one's past and learning to feel again.

In the beginning of the novel, Jean worked as a Parisian book salesman, having lived the past 21 years in solitude, too afraid to face the loss of Manon. This shop was unique in that it served as a "Literary Apothecary" and he as a literary pharmacist. With an innate ability to read people, Jean was able to tell, after only brief conversation, exactly what ailed a customer's soul. Upon determining this, Jean would prescribe a work of literature that could heal the illnesses of the customer's heart. The only person Jean found he could not cure was himself.

Although Jean connected with people through literature, he was sure to avoid any connection that might spur memories of Manon. Although his customers and neighbors tried to connect with him on a personal level, Jean rejected their advances. He feared any emotional connection would bring him to close to the painful memory of Manon. When a new neighbor and recent divorcee, Catherine arrived, however, Jean felt for the first time a deep desire for romantic connection. Realizing he could not connect with Catherine fully until facing the ghosts of his past, Jean set out on a journey to reconnect with the lost Manon and thus reconnect with his sense of self.

When Jean decided to leave for his journey, he undocked his "Literary Apothecary and began to sail away alone. Against Jean's wishes, Max Jordan, a young author and neighbor climbed aboard. Max Jordan had come to Paris to escape the notoriety his successful novel had brought him. Max had always taken a special interest in Jean, although Jean had previously rejected his attempts at friendship. Max shared that he had lost his muse. After writing his first novel, he had lost the will to write, which had previously been his source of life.

Along the way, Jean and Max met up with Cuneo, an Italian chef who had lost the love of his life after only one night. As the three men journeyed on, they connected through their losses and formed a pseudo-family to replace their mutual loneliness. In doing so, they were able to support one another and allow each other to be open and honest when facing pain.

As the men finally came to terms with their losses, they were able to experience all of the loss, pain, and eventual freedom that comes with revisiting one's past. In allowing themselves to come to terms with the pains of their pass, they came to realize the positive influence love has on a life, even if that love is eventually lost. In this realization, the men allowed themselves to become whole once again.