Who Would Like This Book:
If you're a fan of raw, beautifully written books about first love and heartbreak - especially stories set in nostalgic, atmospheric European settings - this is a can't-miss. "Lie With Me" is short but deeply moving, filled with lyrical prose and emotional depth. Anyone who appreciates introspective, melancholic tales like "Call Me by Your Name," or who enjoys LGBTQ+ literature that grapples with memory, loss, and the ache of unspoken feelings, will find a lot to love here. The translation by Molly Ringwald retains a dreamy, very French sensibility, enhancing the overall vibe. Bonus: The book is poetic and thought-provoking without being overwritten.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This book might not hit the mark for everyone. Some readers have found the narrative a bit emotionally distant - more reflective than visceral - and struggled to connect with the narrator, who can seem cold or self-obsessed. If you prefer explicit, plot-driven romance with lots of chemistry or action, or want a story where the relationship takes center stage, this might feel slow or repetitive. And if you dislike introspective, philosophical storytelling or aren't drawn to literary autofiction, you might find it a little too subtle or subdued.
About:
Lie With Me by Philippe Besson is a beautifully tragic novella that follows the story of two teenage boys, Philippe and Thomas, in a small French village in the 1980s. The book delves into their quiet, hidden relationship, exploring themes of first love, self-acceptance, and the struggles of living in a society that may not fully understand or accept their love. The narrative is split into three parts, spanning from 1984 to 2016, allowing readers to witness the evolution of the characters and their relationship over time. The writing style is described as poetic, emotional, and sensitive, with Molly Ringwald's translation capturing the essence of the original French text and bringing the story to life with simple yet sparkling language.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings including themes of homophobia, emotional turmoil from loss and regret, and the exploration of sexual relationships in a repressive societal environment.
Has Romance?
The narrative centers heavily around the romantic relationship between the two male protagonists, making romance a pivotal aspect of the story.
From The Publisher:
"I remember the movement of his hips pressing against the pinball machine. This one sentence had me in its grip until the end. Two young men find each other, always fearing that life itself might be the villain standing in their way. A stunning and heart-gripping tale." -André Aciman, author of Call Me by Your Name
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
The critically acclaimed, internationally beloved novel by Philippe Besson-"this year's Call Me By Your Name" (Vulture) with raves in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Vanity Fair, Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Out-about an affair between two teenage boys in 1984 France, translated with subtle beauty and haunting lyricism by the iconic and internationally acclaimed actress and writer Molly Ringwald.
In this "sexy, pure, and radiant story" (Out), Philippe chances upon a young man outside a hotel in Bordeaux 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 boy named Thomas during their last year of high school. Thomas is the son of a farmer; Philippe the son of a school principal. At school, they don't acknowledge each other. But they steal time to meet in secret, carrying on a passionate, world-altering affair.
Despite the intensity of their attraction, from the beginning Thomas knows how it will end: "Because you will leave and we will stay," he says. Philippe becomes a writer and travels the world, though as this "tender, sensuous novel" (The New York Times Book Review) shows, he never lets go of the relationship that shaped him, and every story he's ever told.
"Beautifully translated by Ringwald" (NPR), this is "Philippe Besson's book of a lifetime...an elegiac tale of first, hidden love" (The New Yorker).
Ratings (52)
Incredible (19) | |
Loved It (21) | |
Liked It (9) | |
It Was OK (3) |
Reader Stats (134):
Read It (55) | |
Want To Read (64) | |
Not Interested (15) |
5 comment(s)
Wonderfully written and a touching coming of age/first love story. Memorable, engaging, and warm. I will think about this book for a while because of how it deeply it resonated!
I believe this line hit the hardest:
“In the end, love was only possible because he saw me not as who I was, but as the person I would become.”
There was a good story in there, but all of the parts that should have made me emotional just felt flat. I usually enjoy shorter novels, but with the expansive timeline of this story, it really could have used more detail to bring the reader into the story.
It was an okay read but I wasn't in love with the writing or the storyline.
I also know how much of yourself you have to leave behind in order to look like everyone else.
Attraction vs lust vs desire vs love is something that I think about a lot, and sure enough, that’s very prevalent in this book. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about this book, but the last 20 pages turned it around for me. Stylistically and emotionally, there was something that didn’t quite connect for me. I did appreciate the statements surrounding hiding who you are the shame that comes with that.
mentioned a lot of french places. enough! cause my mind tried to conjure up french architecture in the ‘80s as best as i can.
first read for this year and i think i am off to a good start.
What can you read after
Lie With Me?
About the Author:
Philippe Besson is an author, screenwriter, and playwright. His first novel, In the Absence of Men, was awarded the Emmanuel-Roblès Prize in 2001, and he is also the author of, among others, Late Autumn (Grand Prize RTL-Lire), A Boy from Italy, and The Atlantic House. In 2017 he published Lie With Me, a #1 French bestseller that won the the Maisons de la Presse Prize, and A Character from a Novel, an intimate portrait of Emmanuel Macron during his presidential campaign. His novels have been translated into twenty different languages.
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