I had previously written some special articles on “good deal” reading and I have a few more books to recommend in this category.

Here is a quick overview of the releases from the last few months regarding “good deal” books or unusual and quirky discoveries of Paris.

Book: 100 Parisian happinesses and small pleasures

This little guide by Valérie Appert, packed with a hundred addresses and ideas for small sensual, unusual, or mysterious pleasures, is a real goldmine for discovering or rediscovering the great pleasure of living in Paris.

A selection of small Parisian pleasures to discover in the book: getting intoxicated by cocoa scents in an artisanal chocolate shop, watching a movie in an Art Deco cinema with hieroglyphic decor (the magnificent Le Louxor cinema), taking a ride in an electric minibus in Montmartre, warming up in the middle of winter in the tropical plant greenhouses at the Jardin des Plantes, savoring the 3-minute crossing from one bank to the other of the Bassin de la Villette,…

100 bonheurs et petits plaisirs parisiens – Parigramme editions – 112 pages – €6

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Book: Paris, lie down there

This guide will make you discover the capital of pleasures through the discoveries of Camille Emmanuelle, illustrated by Fred Bernard.

The author has raced from romantic enclaves to hotter spots, casting a curious, amused, and sometimes critical eye on all the nuances of erotic Paris.

From the very private museum of the Mondaine, to specialized galleries, perched at a high altitude at an unconventional shoemaker’s, hesitant in front of aphrodisiac mixtures, emboldened during a striptease class, disoriented in the last adult cinema, drowned in the steam of saunas, harnessed for an SM evening, tasting heaven… or hell in libertine clubs, these are the experiences to read about in this guide.

Here is the author’s Top 5 of sexy Paris:

• Perch on 14cm heels at Ernest, the specialist in high heels. It’s very sexy, but not easy to walk in 14cm heels. You can quickly end up with the gait of Bambi walking on ice. But Isabelle, the creator of Ernest, is there to advise women and men (yes, really!), so that you can roam the Parisian pavement with glamour and confidence.

• Swimming naked at the Roger Le Gall swimming pool. A naturist experience that isn’t necessarily erotic, but unique. Swimsuits are forbidden, but a swim cap is still mandatory. A predominantly male and gay crowd. “Querelle de Brest” atmosphere.

• Admire the most Parisian of Americans at La Manufacture. Tired of New Burlesque? That must mean you haven’t been to the Pretty Propaganda parties by Louis(e) de Ville on Wednesdays at La Manufacture. The very pretty Louise reinvents the genre every time. A feminist in garters, she invites the cream of the burlesque crop to the stage for poetic, funny, and sexy stripteases.

• Rediscover your partner at the Hôtel Edgar. What could be more erotic than inviting your lover to a hotel when you live in Paris? You just need to choose the right establishment. The Hôtel Edgar, a newcomer to Paris, offers a room, the Ebène Rock, whose raw decor is perfect. You’d think you were in a porno film, but with Clint Eastwood’s technical team. I know what I mean.

• Going out as a couple to the Mask. Paris is the European capital with the most libertine clubs per inhabitant. Places dedicated to sex, they are rarely sexy. They can be genuine fantasy machines or temples of bad taste. It’s a matter of perspective… Among the clubs visited, the Mask struck me as the most contemporary. And it is only authorized for couples, which avoids the scenario: “Yeah, everyone on the same woman, guys!”

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Book: Dare to make love in Paris

Still on a sexy theme, this little guide from La Musardine editions offers tips for discovering the hot streets of the capital, love stores, lingerie boutiques, erotic shows, libertine saunas, clubs,…

In short, a walk into the heart of naughty, sexy, and romantic Paris to discover all its pleasures.

Osez faire l’amour à Paris – La Musardine – €8.10

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The Best massages in Paris

This little guide from Parigramme editions gives us the most zen addresses in the capital, whether they are refined, exotic, confidential, or trendy.

In addition to revealing the best Parisian addresses for a good massage (relaxing, euphoric, therapeutic), the book also gives you a selection of courses to learn how to massage (what better way to boost your mood?).

The little extra: the guide gives us great tips and low-cost massages to feel good without breaking the bank!

Les Meilleures massages de Paris – Parigramme Editions – 112 pages – €6

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Chic and pretty on a budget in Paris

Another great guide from Parigramme editions to ferret out the best fashion and beauty addresses for smart Parisian women.

The author of the book, Charlotte Roudaut, has gone on a real hunt for good deals and gives us her designer stock shops, private sales, secret clearance sales, and trendy bazaars in this new 2014 edition of the guide.

On the beauty side, to pamper yourself on a budget, you have the choice between professional schools, smart institutes, or confidential hammams.

Chic et jolie à petits prix à Paris – Parigramme edition – 112 pages – €6

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Paris Terraces Guide

Perfectly timely given the season, this practical guide is here to help us enjoy the good weather, whether it’s to relax for a moment in an enchanting setting, in the shade of trees, or under a parasol.

This little book gives us its selection of great addresses in terms of Parisian terraces, whether they are perched on the top floor of a building, moored on a flower-decked houseboat (I actually passed by that one the other day), or nestled in the intimacy of an inner courtyard…

Paris Terrasses – Parigramme editions – 224 pages – €14

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Secrets & Curiosities of Paris Monuments

A very lovely book to discover the secrets of the great Parisian monuments through amusing, surprising, and instructive anecdotes that show them in an unusual light.

Secrets & curiosités des monuments de Paris – Parigramme editions – 256 pages – €22

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Book: Paris Vestiges

This illustrated guide takes us on a discovery of the vestiges that we uncover at the turn of a street, in a public garden, or in an apartment building courtyard.

These ruins are the final physical witnesses that connect us to a vanished Paris. Miraculously spared by time and destruction, they invite lovers of urban archaeology, of which I am one, to a fascinating journey through time.

Paris Vestiges, towers, pediments, portals… the memory of stones – Parigramme editions – 208 pages – €19.90