Joie: A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life

Embrace the joy of Paris wherever you live with American expat Ajiri Aki, founder of the French lifestyle brand Madame de la Maison.

The French are known for their joie de vivre-celebrating the simple things-a philosophy that tastemaker Ajiri Aki embraced all of her American life. As a child, Ajiri relentlessly tried to convince her Nigerian-Jamaican mother to pull out the fine china for everyday meals or when hosting friends. Her mother never relented, telling Ajiri she was waiting for a special occasion, which sadly never came before she died when Ajiri was twelve. Ajiri promised herself she wouldn’t make the same mistake. It wasn’t until she moved to Paris, France as an adult that she began to absorb other essential lessons from her French friends: Treat yourself to fresh flowers just because, take time to source the best baguette, and perhaps most importantly, embrace etre-just being.

In this beautifully photographed volume of everything French, Ajiri shares what she’s learned about living in Paris-from hosting the perfect apero (happy hour) to lingering around town like a flaneur (loafer) to thrifting for antiques at the market. While exploring the prettiest cafes and shops, you’ll be inspired to reclaim your right to leisure as the French have, so you, too, can savor the spontaneous, joyful moments that happen every day.

With lush photographs showcasing Paris’s diverse landscape of food, people, culture, and architecture, Joie encourages you to recreate the city’s magic no matter where you are in the world.