BLUFFTON, S.C. - s4story -- The Belle Époque comes alive in Melinda Copp's debut novel Love and the Downfall of Society. Packed with humor and romance, this fun romp through the cultured salons of Paris is perfect for fans of French literature and readers who love stories about class differences and bookish protagonists.

Kirkus Reviews calls it, "A fine tale for readers who enjoy love stories with modern sensibilities in old-fashioned settings."

Love and the Downfall of Society follows provincial writer Charlotte Deveraux on her pursuit of a career in the city of light and love. After turning society upside down with her debut story, she arrives in Paris poised for literary stardom. She's not sure where her next rent payment will come from, but she's determined to make a name for herself as a respected writer in the cultural capital of the world.

Antoine de Larminet is the last surviving son of an aristocratic family. In line to inherit a title, he has promised his parents that he'll marry a peer and carry on the centuries-old tradition. He was raised in an antiquated world where love was often found outside of arranged society marriages. Even as the French aristocracy is losing relevance to modernity, Antoine never questioned this commitment to this family legacy--until his chance meeting with clever and beautiful Charlotte.

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Their attraction is immediate, and the more they bump into each other at the clubs and salons of Paris, the stronger their attachment grows. But Antoine can't marry Charlotte because she's as proletarian as they come. And Charlotte will lose all credibility as a writer and social critic if she becomes the mistress of an aristocrat.

The world around them is changing, but if love is to win, one of them will have to give up everything they stand for.

Love and the Downfall of Society—the first in a series set in Belle Époque France—offers readers a Francophile twist on the forbidden love trope. The paperback is available in bookstores, and the ebook is available for Kindle, on October 1, 2024.

Melinda Copp is a writer based in South Carolina. Her work has been published in newspapers, magazines, and literary journals, including HuffPost, The Rumpus, and The Petigru Review. She regularly writes about books for the Post and Courier. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goucher College and a BS in journalism from West Virginia University. Subscribe to her free monthly email newsletter about books, culture, and life at https://www.melinda-copp.com/newsletter.

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Review copies of the book are available in print and ebook formats, and the author is available for interviews. For more information about the author and the book, visit https://www.melinda-copp.com/.