Phillippe Besson | LIE WITH ME

Plot (via Goodreads):

Just outside a hotel in Bordeaux, Philippe chances upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to his first love. What follows is a look back at the relationship he’s never forgotten, a hidden affair with a gorgeous boy named Thomas during their last year of high school. Without ever acknowledging they know each other in the halls, they steal time to meet in secret, carrying on a passionate, world-altering affair.

Dazzlingly rendered in English by Ringwald in her first-ever translation, Besson’s powerfully moving coming-of-age story captures the eroticism and tenderness of first love—and the heartbreaking passage of time.

Review:

Lie With Me is a novel similar to Call Me By Your Name I would assume as I've only seen the movie and haven't read the novel yet. Lie With Me is a short novel that packs a punch to the heart strings. What I enjoyed the most about this one was how realistic the relationship was between the two characters was...the way that it developed was nostalgic to the times of your first crush and the butterflies and left me reminiscing in the most bittersweet way possible. I was captivated with this tale of love and some of the dialogue left me with the strong desire to highlight or repeat different areas over and over again until they refused to leave my memory.

While I loved the story, I felt that sections two and three weren't as effective for me and I guess I wanted to see more of the relationship. I will say the ending left me in shambles and trading in my typical choice of a thriller for a novel involving LGBT romance was something much needed and a nice change for me, even though I felt emotionally drained afterwards...in the best way possible. Short and sweet and packing a punch, Lie With Me is the kind of novel that you can enjoy in one sitting and still have linger in your memory months after. It's like having heartbreak and butterflies mold together beautifully in your chest.

Special thanks to Scribner for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5