So, here’s the setup. In the glittering, fading world of Parisian courtesans just before World War I, Léa de Lonval is a legend. She’s wealthy, witty, and in her late 40s—a successful retiree. For the last six years, her ‘protégé’ has been Chéri, the stunning, spoiled son of a fellow courtesan. Their relationship is a transaction, a beautiful arrangement. But when Chéri’s mother arranges a marriage for him to a suitable young girl, the arrangement shatters. They say goodbye, assuming life will go on. That’s when everything unravels.

Why You Should Read It

This book floored me with its emotional honesty. Colette writes about age, beauty, and love without a shred of sentimentality. Léa isn’t a tragic figure pining for lost youth; she’s a practical woman ambushed by a genuine feeling. Chéri isn’t just a vapid pretty boy; he’s a creature who only understands his own value through her eyes. Their struggle isn’t against society, but against their own shocked hearts. It’s a masterclass in writing complicated, sometimes unlikeable people you completely understand.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who thinks classic literature can’t feel shockingly modern. If you love stories about messy relationships, complex characters, and prose so sharp it could draw blood, pick this up. It’s a short, devastating, and brilliant look at the cost of love when it’s treated as a business, and what happens when the bill comes due.