Author: Clementine Beauvais
Publication: 2016
Genre: YA, Romance
My Rating: ★★★
Favourite Quote: "They felt like two peas in a pod, Adam and Eve in an Eden where God had gone away for the evening and apple pie was on the menu."
Because their story didn't end at the right time, in the right place,
because they let their feelings go to waste,
it was written, I think, that Eugene and Tatiana
would find each other
ten years later,
one morning in winter,
under terra firma
on the Meteor, Line 14 (magenta) of the
Paris
metro.
because they let their feelings go to waste,
it was written, I think, that Eugene and Tatiana
would find each other
ten years later,
one morning in winter,
under terra firma
on the Meteor, Line 14 (magenta) of the
Paris
metro.
Eugene and Tatiana could have fallen in love. If things had gone differently. But time has found them far apart, leading separate lives.
Until they meet once more in Paris...
There are three reasons as to why I picked up this book. One, I fell in love with the front cover, two, when I was 15 I read a poem in school called "In Paris with you" (which is the poem the title is based on) and it was one of my favourite poems at the time. Thirdly, this story which was originally published in French captures the ups and downs of first love. Stories like this always draw me in so, of course, I had to buy it.
Olga and Tatiana are sisters and one summer day during their teenage years, Olga's boyfriend brings his best friend, Eugene, to meet the girls. Fourteen-year-old Tatiana, a young hopeless romantic, falls head-over-heels in love with Eugene. After much day-dreaming and contemplation, she decides to send a long email (social media wasn't really a thing yet) and profess her love to Eugene. Even though he's attracted to her, he rejects her.
Ten tears later, they unintentionally meet again on the Metro and the old flame sparks again. This time, though, it's Eugine who's infatuated by Tatiana and he hopes that they will fall in love the way they should have done all those years ago. Tatiana, however, is set to go to San Francisco for a couple of years to continue her studies. The ball's basically in Tatiana's court and through the book, we wonder whether Tatiana will pursue her dreams and everything that she's worked for or whether she will choose to stay in France and give her love for Eugene another chance.
Upon opening this book, I was surprised to find that it isn't a typical story written in prose, but rather, a poetic story told in a mixture of free verse and rhyme! It's something i'm not used to, so I was hesitant and sceptical of the concept but turns out I didn't mind it much at all. I soon got into the flow of the beautiful combination.
I'm sure you recognise this feeling.
Love is so astonishing,
the way it gives sudden shape to our formless expectations,
intense colours to our inner landscape,
upgrades our life to high definition
and convinces us that everyone else
is still trapped in the cave
from which we have escaped.
One thing in particular that I really like is the uniqueness of the narrator who gives us an insight into the past and present lives of both protagonists. The narrator sometimes watches Eugene and Tatiana's story unfold as a bystander like us readers, and at other times they address them personally in conversation, seeming like a friend of both of them.
Despite the book's wonderful writing and unique form, there are a few things that really frustrated me, which is why i've given it three stars.
I'm not particularly fond of the main characters. It came to the point where I didn't really care what would happen to them. Let me start with Eugene, the cynic. He's the "what's the point in loving anything or doing anything, we're all gonna die in the end anyway" kind of person. He constantly drags the mood down with his existential boredom and outlook on life. He's a complete and utter prat until the last few chapters of the book when he finally grows up (bearing in mind he's already about 27) and stopped acting so self-centred. Though his change of behaviour came too late in the book, so it's hard for him to redeem himself.
What I like about Tatiana is her admiration of literature, her creative imagination and her growth from a naive teenage girl into an intellectual woman. Nothing about her personality is likeable. She makes big deals out of nothing and likes to let you know, more than once, that she's an intellectual woman, which becomes very irritating. She's one of those "I'm an intelligent person who needs to pursue their dreams so, alas, I can't be in a relationship" type of person. Also, she thinks it's appropriate to leave Eugene on read for two weeks because she seemingly likes to be overly dramatic. Not cool.
Secondly, the revelation as to why Tatiana and Eugene did not work out ten years prior falls flat. It was anti-climatic and something the book should've explored more. Thirdly, the ambiguous ending is a disappointment, though i've seen other people on Goodreads call it "a reflection of reality" (which I disagree with because I think everyone's reality is different.)
I hate those we-are-both-in-love-with-each-other-but-won't-admit-because-we're-too-proud kind of stories, yes 'Pride and Prejudice' included. I just don't understand how someone can hold those passionate feeling and emotions in for so long.
I definitely think Eugene and Tatiana's past story is much more interesting than the present Eugene and Tatiana story. It brings back lots of memories of when you're young and you've got your first crush on someone and you daydream about hanging out with them, so it was nice to connect with Tatiana on that level.
I wouldn't say In Paris With You is a good love story, but it's definitely a story full of passion. Love, tragedy and second chances are what this story is all about. It's a story which debates the existence of lasting love. I'd still recommend this book due to Beauvais' breathing-taking way with words and her unique way of telling a story. Let me know what you think! I'd love to know how you feel about Eugene and Tatiana and whether you enjoyed the ending!
(The book will be released in the USA in 2019, so if you're in the US, keep your eyes peeled!)
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