If you think novels about love and loss are only for the young, Colette's Chéri will change your mind. Written in 1920, it feels shockingly fresh and relevant today.

The Story

Léa de Lonval is a celebrated Parisian courtesan enjoying a comfortable, luxurious retirement. Her greatest treasure is Chéri (Fred Peloux), the stunning, petulant son of a rival courtesan. For six years, they've lived in a bubble of sensual pleasure, with Léa both spoiling and schooling her much younger lover. Their world shatters when Chéri is pushed into a marriage of convenience with the innocent Edmée. The novel follows the painful aftermath, as Léa tries to rebuild her life and Chéri grapples with a hollow marriage, both haunted by the ghost of what they threw away.

Why You Should Read It

Colette writes with a razor's precision. She doesn't ask for your pity for these characters, but she demands your understanding. Léa is a masterpiece—vain, shrewd, deeply feeling, and painfully self-aware as she watches her youth fade. Chéri is infuriating and poignant, a boy who only realizes what he had once it's gone. This isn't a sentimental romance; it's a clear-eyed, sometimes cruel, look at the economics of beauty, the prison of habit, and how love can be both a refuge and a trap.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories that pack an emotional punch without melodrama. If you enjoyed the complex relationships in novels by writers like Edith Wharton or the unflinching style of someone like Joan Didion, you'll find a kindred spirit in Colette. It's a short, brilliant, and unforgettable book about the price of passion and the quiet heroism of moving on.