Everything Love Is, Claire King

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review*

Author: Claire King
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 384
Format: DRC
ISBN-10: 1408868423
ISBN-13: 9781408868423
Publisher: eBook | Hardcover 
Everything Love Is

4 stars

Baptiste Molino has devoted his life to other people’s happiness. Moored on his houseboat on the edge of Toulouse, he helps his clients navigate the waters of contentment, yet remains careful never to make waves of his own.
Baptiste is more concerned with his past than his future: particularly the mysterious circumstances of his birth and the identity of his birth mother. But Sophie, the young waitress in his local bar, believes it is time for Baptiste to rediscover passion and leads him into the world on his doorstep he has long tried to avoid.
However, it is Baptiste’s new client who may end up being the one to change his perspective. Elegant and enigmatic, Amandine Rousseau is fast becoming a puzzle he longs to solve. As tensions rise on the streets of the city, Baptiste’s determination to avoid both the highs and lows of love begins to waver. And when his mother’s legacy finally reveals itself, he finds himself torn between pursuing his own happiness and safeguarding that of the one he loves.

This book is beautiful. It starts of very confusing with two narrators telling a different part of Baptiste life. The one narrator is Baptise himself. Talking about his life on the boat. How he is experiencing life on his boat. How he falls in love with one of his clients. How he is struggling with giving that a place. The whole situation seems to throw him off his game so much that his whole life is starting to get confusing.
The other story is told by someone close to Baptiste but it is not clear who. It is the future or the now depending how you read the story. It often contradicts things Baptise is saying in his parts of the story making it unclear what is reality and what not. As the story unfolds the stories come together and start to make sense but the reading is slow and it takes a long time for things to become clear.
I did not mind this part though because the story is written very well and there are many things to think about. Friendship and the value of it. Love, being in love, falling out of love. The worth of different relationships. Loosing people, loosing yourself. Parts are heartbreaking.
I liked Baptiste though he seemed to worry a lot for a person that preaches happiness. Eventually it is clear he has a good reason to worry. I did enjoy Sophie a lot too. The way her story is evolving is very interesting. Amandine is one big mystery and this does not change much. Though as with the whole book a lot is written between the lines and you have to read very careful.

Previous
Next Post »