Sunderland university graduate releases new romcom novel to lift spirits during the lockdown

The House of Paris Le Grand follows the journey of middle-aged Sophie Defoy who rediscovers a bucket list she’d written during a dark moment in her life.

After a near death experience, Sophie decides enough is enough and plans to complete the list in order to transform her dull life.

But, as always, things aren’t that simple and Sophie has to tackle a series of problems that crop up during each task she is trying to tick off the list.

Whether it’s her well-meaning eccentric mother Beryl popping in unannounced, Sophie’s newly acquired friend Paris Le Grand – a local drag queen – or some non-existent hurdle from within her own mind, finding happiness is not an easy thing for the divorcée to achieve.

The book also explores mental health and depression with a comedic approach, which the author says he’s experienced first hand.

Nicholas, who honed his writing skills during works experience at the Echo during his university course, said: “It’s so nice to be able to sit down with a book and connect with the characters immediately. Dozens of people have already told me that they relate to Sophie because she is real and has the same problems as them.

“But, which is the best bit, they have found it easy to laugh at and that is great because it’s why I wrote the book in the first place. Even before we were all on lockdown, I felt the need to bring a bit of light and reality to the world we’re living in.

“Things have been so negative for years and it just felt right to look at the negatives surrounding us and bring a sense of humour into it.”

Much of the humour comes Sophie’s bucket list, which includes a ride a mechanical bull and a visit a drag club – which is where she meets the book’s namesake Paris Le Grand.

The House of Paris Le Grand is available on Amazon Kindle for £1.99 (or free on Kindle Unlimited) and as a paperback on Amazon for £8.99.

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