May 2025 Newsletter: The Mitford Sisters, Strawberries, and Shade

From April’s quick blur to May’s slow unfolding

Bonjour to my new subscribers, especially those who joined last week! A little housekeeping: on the first Monday of each month, I send out this recap letter, where I share what I’ve been reading, eating, where I’ve been walking, and how I’ve unplugged. It’s become one of my favorite rituals, and I’m so glad you’re here.

April somehow flew by. It was a month where I leaned deeper into ongoing projects and chased after a few new, exciting ones. I also found myself doing more press around The Offline Club Paris, which has been both energizing and a little surreal. It’s something I’ll be writing about more in future editions—how I’m navigating screen time in Paris and confronting the ever-present pull of my smartphone in a city that asks you to look up (more on that soon).

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What I read

I spent part of April absorbed in The Sisters, a sweeping biography of the Mitford sisters. Six women, each remarkable (and often controversial) in her own right: Nancy, the witty novelist who made Paris her home; Pamela, who chose country life and farming; Diana, whose politics veered far right; Unity, infamously linked to Hitler; Jessica, the Communist and civil rights activist who moved to America; and Deborah, who became Duchess of Devonshire and restored Chatsworth House.

The Sisters by Mary S. Lovell.

It’s not a light read (their lives are tangled with some of the most charged events of the 20th century), but I found myself particularly drawn to Nancy, who, after an unhappy marriage, settled in Paris and transformed herself into a sort of literary swan about town. Her sharp wit and keen observations colored her novels, and I couldn’t help but feel a kinship with her as she carved out a life in this city.

*I’m an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you purchase via the link. Bookshop.org is a business that supports local bookstores—a cause I’m passionate about.

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What I ate

Strawberry season has officially arrived, and I’ve been making the most of it. I treated myself to two boxes of gariguette strawberries last week—bright red, fragrant, and terribly expensive—and ate them all in two days. My favorite way to enjoy them is the simplest: sliced, with a generous dollop of Isigny Sainte-Mère whipped cream on top.

Photo by Adrianna Geo.

One of the things I love most about living in Paris is how the passing of time is marked by fruit. Strawberries in spring, berries all summer, figs in early fall, then apples and pears when the weather turns cold. It’s a rhythm I’ve come to cherish. May feels like the true start of this cycle, with strawberries as its sweet herald.

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Where I walked

There have been some unseasonably warm days to Paris, and the city responded in full bloom. The trees are thick with leaves now, their canopies casting welcome shade over streets and squares. On several occasions, I found myself walking from one patch of coolness to another, lingering where the air felt soft against my skin. I’ve especially loved the shade in the quiet corners of the Place des Vosges. There’s a pleasure in finding these little sanctuaries while the city continues to hum.

I took this photo from beneath a patch of shade in the Place des Vosges.

I’ve also been going out more often without my phone—something I’ve been leaning into through The Offline Club and beyond. And what’s been happening has honestly been kind of amazing.

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How I unplugged

The other night, I was sitting at a terrasse alone without my phone to scroll through (I brought a book and a journal). I overheard a table nearby speaking English, and instead of hiding behind my screen, I took a deep breath, walked over, and asked if I could join them. Bold and a little scary, but so worth it.

I ended up having a lovely conversation with visitors from London. We talked about everything from Fleabag to climate change and beyond. The kind of wide-ranging, serendipitous conversation that reminds me why I’m trying to be more present here. I don’t think I would have been open to that moment if I’d had my phone as a shield.

I’ll be writing more soon about these little offline experiments, and how they’re shaping my experience of Paris. But for now I’ll just say it feels like a door opening.

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Paris in May feels like an exhale: longer days, softer nights, and everything moving just a little slower. I hope wherever you are, this new month brings its own small joys. I’ll be back with another recap in early June.

À bientôt (see you soon),
—Victorine