181. In Paris With You by Clementine Beauvais

BOOK REVIEW: In Paris With You by Clementine Beauvais (courtesy of Times)

I'm a fan of romance novels as they tug at my heartstrings and never fail to put a smile on my face. But this book was fresh and made me appreciate these genre novels more than I actually used to. 

It is a story of star-crossed lovers written with prose that will send any romance fan into a frenzy. At first I couldn't comprehend what was going on, as everything is written in a semi-poem language. But as I continued reading, I immersed myself into the almost lyrical beauty of true feelings, broken hearts and love at first sight.

In the beginning, Eugene and Tatiana cross paths as teenagers. Both of them are smart beyond their age, however Eugene is pessimistic about life while Tatiana's voracious reading (ahhhhh...there's our bookish heroine) makes her fantasize about true love and being in a relationship just like in the many novels she has read.

Eugene and Tatiana could have could have fallen in love, if things had gone differently. If they had really tried to know each other, if it had just been them, and not the others. But that was years ago and time has found them far apart, leading separate lives. Until they meet again in Paris. What really happened back then? And now? Could they ever be together again after everything?

I found this novel to be really beautiful, though it is an understatement, because the words woven throughout the book made me actually feel each of the character's current feelings. Prosaic and luscious, some of the paragraphs are written where the flow of words form the silhouette of a guy's and girl's face. 

This book is a true tear-jerker and I felt pain ebbing through my veins when Tatiana and Eugene couldn't express their love when their love was pure and innocent. Truly a book to be gifted to a hopeless romantic or even an avid reader, I highly recommend this book. WARNING: lock yourself in a room (so that nobody hears your audible sobbing) with a pack of tissues (your eyes will run dry from tears).