Judith Zahn, a Parisian editor, and Julien Demarsay, a shy provincial novelist, engage in a passionate affair. Their contrasting ambitions strain their relationship until they ultimately reconcile and find true love.

On the one hand you have Judith Zahn, an arrogant, snobbish, bitchy Parisian editor. On the other hand meet Julien Demarsay: an insecure, timid, young bookseller from the East of France who has just written his first autobiographic novel, with what it takes of navel-contemplating and soul-searching. What do they have in common? Nothing much, except that sex will unite them, ambition part them before true love is born between them at last.—Guy Bellinger