Dear Ben…Love, Paris

The first installment of Dear Ben…Love, Paris, starts in Paris, France, but soon flashes back to Ben’s senior year of high school, followed by his first year of college, and then his summer in Paris.

As It Also Rains in Paris unfolds, we’re introduced to Ben’s best friend Anthony—who is wise, supportive, and subtly funny. We also meet Olivia, Ben’s girlfriend when senior year begins. But then, in walks Leah—a new student who immediately garners Ben’s attention. Their friendship is sweet and pure, even as it blossoms into something more. But Leah struggles to “make it official,” declining to be Ben’s girlfriend. As Ben navigates his final year of high school, we gain insight into his experience in marching band, and we also see Ben, Anthony, and Leah form a GSA club at their school to provide a safe, welcoming, and accepting environment for LGBTQ+ students and their allies.

Ben’s summer before college is filled with some exciting, meaningful moments with Leah, but before he knows it, he’s off to Binghamton University. He negotiates the ups and downs of a landscape with new people, academic challenges, and a confusing (though still very much active) relationship with Leah, who is now in her senior year of high school. In his second semester, Ben meets Talia—a breath of fresh air who offers Ben the tangible promise of friendship and beyond.

In the third act of the novel, Ben travels to Paris for a summer study-abroad program with Binghamton University. Here, he is immersed in the French language and culture—not just the beauty, but also the challenges. His relationship with Talia, who is also on the trip, continues to develop. But the arrival of a letter from Leah stokes unresolved feelings and forces Ben to confront his past and determine what it means for his future.

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