Paula, a debut novel by Lucie Bérard, presents a deeply personal and introspective look at the struggles of identity, class, and gender through the life of its titular character. Paula, a 25-year-old woman, feels trapped by the expectations and limitations imposed on her by her gender and social background. The book is written in a style that mimics an extended internal monologue, with a tense and fragmented tone that reflects Paula’s inner turmoil and emotional instability. Paula leaves the Parisian suburbs, where she grew up in the shadow of HLM towers—public housing units common in France—hoping to begin a new life by the sea with Tom, her gardener partner. She dreams of a different kind of life, one that includes "big houses where real children with real childhoods, childhoods that take place in horizontal landscapes" can exist. This dream represents a longing for a more open, expansive, and fulfilling way of living, free from the constraints of her past. However, the new life Paula envisions does not unfold as she hoped. The responsibilities of household chores become overwhelming, and a fire breaks out nearby, disrupting the peace she had sought. More troubling are the memories that begin to resurface, forcing her to confront the past she had tried to escape. One particularly haunting realization is that "I ran away from everything, but I forgot that all of this sticks. The tower and my body, they have aggregated." These words capture the inescapable weight of her history, both physical and emotional. Paula is a powerful exploration of how the past continues to shape the present, even when one tries to leave it behind. Through its raw and unflinching portrayal of Paula’s journey, the novel invites readers to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity, social structures, and the enduring impact of history.