Review: I'm Still Here (Je Suis Là) - Clélie Avit
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Title: I'm Still Here
Author: Clélie Avit
Genre: Modern & Contemporary Fiction
Price £7.99
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date: 04/04/2017
Elsa has been in a coma for five months after a climbing accident. Her doctors and family are considering turning off her life support but what they don't realise is that Elsa has regained partial consciousness - she is aware of her surroundings and can hear everything but has no way of letting anyone know that.
Thibault is in the same hospital as Elsa. He's visiting his brother who is a drunk driver and responsible for the deaths of two teenage girls. Unable to face his brother, Thibault seeks a retreat. He finds his way into Elsa's room and he can't seem to stay away as he becomes her regular visitor.
And so begins a love story that might just save both of their lives...
Hey, hey! I return to the blog with a review of I'm Still Here by Clélie Avit. An unusual love story that will undoubtedly move you and leave you in lust for a true romance like Elsa's and Thibault's. I'll be honest, I'm not usually a fan of romance books but 'I'm Still Here' is different. It's a fresh and heart-warming story that is bound to move even an unemotional person.
'I'm Still Here' is written from the point of view of two characters - Elsa and Thibault. The characters of Elsa and Thibault really developed throughout those 200 odd pages and I enjoyed reading about their interaction between each other but also others. Although I love both of their characters, I find it a bit difficult to understand how instead of mending his relationship with his brother, Thibault decides to visit a stranger. It's a bit frustrating, especially given what happens towards the end. There are other minor characters in the story that all play a meaningful part but the main focus always stays on Elsa and Thibault.
'I'm Still Here' has been translated from French and with most books some things the author would like to potray can get lost in translation, however with this story I don't think there was anything missing. I'm sure it would be more magical to read a love story in French but I still find it beautiful. The writing flows easily and I think it's really a rare and original book.
I wanted to give this book a rating of 5 stars but instead opted for 4.5 stars because when the book finished, I didn't feel closure and I feel like that's one of the most important things to a reader. I'm not sure if Avit will continue the story of Elsa and Thibault with a sequel but I'd love to find out what's next in store for them.
I truly can't recommend 'I'm Still Here' enough! No matter what genre you usually read, you must delve into this story of love and hope. It's a quick read so even if you're a busy bee, you haven't got an excuse to not read it! 😉
Rating: 4.5/5
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About The Author
Clélie Avit developed a passion for fantasy fiction while at University of Lyon.
She translated Harry Potter into French for her friends who could not read in English but could not wait for the translated edition. Avit trained to become a physics and chemistry teacher as well as a dance teacher in Nice. She now writes full time but continues to teach contemporary dance.
Rights in Je Suis Là (I'm Still Here) sold in 20 languages. Avit also won the Prix Nouveau Talent 2015 for this debut novel.
Sylvia
xo
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Bookbridgr for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
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