In Paris With You
Author: Clémentine Beauvais
Translation: Sam Taylor
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Details: 352pp, £12.99, hardback
ISBN: 9780571339716
Teacher review
A love story set in Paris about two twentysomethings who meet again by chance having not seen each for 10 years is not the type of novel I would normally read. After only a few pages, I was reminded why. Told in a mixture of free verse and rhyme, the novel gives the reader an insight into the past and present lives of its two central characters, Eugene and Tatiana. When she was 14, Tatiana was besotted with Eugene, but he rejected her. Now, 10 years later, it is he who has the infatuation and hopes that they will fall in love the way they should have done all those years ago. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with either character in the story, and for most of the novel I was hoping that Tatiana would reject Eugene and concentrate on her successful career. The seemingly random use of rhyme throughout the book became an irritation rather than an interesting stylistic decision. But if you’re a fan of the romance genre, I am sure it’s got a lot to offer.
David Gower is assistant headteacher at King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. He tweets @david_gower83
Pupil reviews
‘Every scene painted a perfect picture’
In Paris With You is a love story about two young teenagers meeting unexpectedly in the future. They have had a previous relationship, but Eugene decided to end it, which broke poor Tatiana’s teenage heart.
Ten years later, they unexpectedly meet again. However, this time Eugene is madly in love with Tatiana, but she doesn’t seem to feel the same way - especially after what he told her 10 years earlier.
After reading In Paris With You, I was left in awe by how much I connected with these characters. I have simply fallen in love not only with this book but also with Eugene and Tatiana. This book sent me back to their past and let me read all their inner thoughts. I cannot believe how beautifully Eugene and Tatiana’s love story is told; it felt as if I was in the moment with them. Every scene that the characters were put through was intricately detailed and painted a perfect picture in my head.
Honestly, I didn’t want to put the book down. The more you read, the more you discover about the characters and their youthful past. With every turn of the page, the more you get to connect with the characters as the author lets their personalities shine through. The ending left me content yet frustrated, as I wanted more. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good love story.
Elaine Abu
‘It is a detailed book that pulls you out of reality’
In Paris with You is a lovely book written by Clémentine Beauvais. I was drawn to the lives of Eugene and Tatiana. In this book, Tatiana bumps into Eugene after a long time apart from each other. It is obvious that some complications come their way, but it is written in such a unique style and I would recommend this book to many people of any age; it is such a detailed book that pulls you out of reality.
Isabelle Coci-Edwards
‘In one word, exquisite’
In Paris with You is an amazing book. It sounds like some sort of cliché about love and all the events of how they can’t be together (like Romeo and Juliet) but it isn’t. In Paris with You is a story with small, little relatable moments that were my favourites.
If you are one of those people who don’t read romances then I would still recommend it; I’m not a person who reads romances, but this author writes it so well that I honestly connected with the book. This book is, in one word, exquisite.
Paige Cameron
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