The Heart of Everything

by Marc Levy, Maren Baudet-Lackner (Translator)

Even death can’t break the bond between father and son in an uncannily funny and poignant novel about love, loss, memory, and family by Marc Levy, the bestselling author of P.S. from Paris.

There’s nothing too unusual about a father asking his son for a favor—unless, of course, the father in question has been dead for five years.

Thomas, a young virtuoso pianist living a quiet, carefully structured life in France, is stunned when his late father, Raymond, suddenly appears in his home. He’s not a ghost in the traditional sense—he’s real enough to ask for help. His request? That Thomas travel with him to San Francisco to find Camille, the long-lost love of his life.

For Thomas, it’s as surreal as it sounds. And yet…it might be his last-in-a-lifetime chance to know his father as a man and to square the regrets of the past. Together they embark on a five-thousand-mile journey that questions the very nature of existence, proves that love never fades, and rekindles the curious, heart-tugging bond between a parent and child that somehow endures beyond death.

Genres: Fiction, France, Contemporary

208 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 1, 2026

About the author

Marc Levy was born in France. When he turned eighteen, he joined the Red Cross, where he spent the next six years. In 1983, he created a computer graphics company based in France and the United States. Six years later, he co-founded an interior design and planning company with two friends; the company soon became one of the leading architecture firms in France.

At thirty-seven, Marc Levy wrote a story for the man that his son would grow up to be. In early 1999, his sister, a screenwriter (now a film director), encouraged him to send the manuscript to a French publisher, who immediately decided to publish If Only It Were True. Before it was published, Steven Spielberg (Dreamworks) acquired film rights to the novel. The movie, Just like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo, was a #1 box office hit in America in 2005.

After If Only It Were True, Marc Levy began writing full-time. Since then, he has written 18 novels. His work has been translated into 49 languages and has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.

In addition, Marc Levy has directed a short movie, written short stories and song lyrics for various artists, including Johnny Hallyday.

Le Figaro newspaper recently commissioned a nationwide poll asking the French to rank their favorite author: Marc Levy and Victor Hugo were #1.

Marc Levy currently lives in New York City. Readers can learn more about him and follow his work on www.marclevy.info

Reviews

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon First Reads December 2025



“Hey, Dad. What does it mean to be a father?”

Told from a decidedly male POV, THE HEART OF EVERYTHING, by award winning, French author, Marc Levy, is unique in this genre. Amazon lists it as Ghost fiction, Paranormal Romance or Marriage and Divorce Fiction. For me, it was more Coming of Age, Father and Son. It’s also worth noting that the translation is magnificent. Had it not been identified, I’d have never suspected.

Thomas, the son and Raymond, the father, are the primary characters. Raymond appears to Thomas after he has a few hits of weed he found at his mother’s apartment. He’s in a fragile place: feeling unprepared for a big concert, his love life is a mess and it’s the 5th anniversary of his father’s passing. Thomas tries to sleep it off but no luck - dad is still here.

Dad needs a favor. Could you fly to San Francisco and unite my ashes with those from the love of my life so we can spend eternity together? Oh, and by the way, you have just a few days. Her funeral is on Friday. The remainder of the book is Raymond convincing Thomas to do his bidding and the escapades making it happen. Think I Love Lucy, Laverne and Shirley being Touched by an Angel - DAD!

Levy includes a nice assortment of secondary characters that serve to move the story along and fill in historical information. None are developed but that’s not their job. Father and son are given an opportunity many would love to have, me included. I’d give almost anything to spend a week with my father, no matter how preposterous the ask!

For those who are wondering, this male driven story does follow the basic traditions for the genre and a 9th hour HEA does happen for the destiny bound couple. There might even be progress on the love front for Thomas but more importantly, he finally gets an answer to his opening question about what it means to be a father; no spoiler from me📚

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of book but that’s what Amazon Firsts are all about; taking a risk because these books are like a free gift.

The parent and child relationship can be the most challenging, fulfilling, rewarding, hurtful, beautiful thing. You can luck out as a parent, make all the right decisions and have the most amazing relationships with your children. As a child, you can also luck out and you might have the loveliest relationship with your mum and dad. Relationships take respect and love on both sides.

This book made me miss my mum and dad. What I would give to spend more time with them or have one more conversation. I’d apologise to my mum for being a horrid teenager and I’d give my dad all of those hugs that I wish I’d given him.

Thomas didn’t have a close relationship with his dad, Raymond at the end of his life. He didn’t really understand him. Maybe Raymond didn’t tell Thomas how much he loved him and then it was too late. Raymond has one wish and that is to be reunited with the love of his life and only Thomas can help. Thomas does what a loving and caring son would do.

It’s a sweet and sentimental book.

“Heaven is the place where you say, I love you, son. That’s what it means to be a father, and I will always be yours. For all eternity.”

[Wendie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful premise

The Heart of Everything has a beautiful premise - a father who died 5 years ago reappears to his adult son requesting he accompany him on 1 final journey. As the synopsis indicates, this is a story about father-son love that was complicated when the father was alive, to which he's now trying to atone.

Some of the dialogue is corny and you have to suspend belief since the story is a bit fantastical (dead father reappearing), but it is entertaining & a quick read.

Not your typical RomCom.

[Amy Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad rating a book so low but this was just not good. I’m not sure if it’s the translation but the writing was so clunky. I could barely tell who was talking until halfway through a paragraph at times. Nearly all the characters were unlikable. The story was… unbelievable? Which is a weird thing to say given the premise. I just couldn’t get into the idea of anything that was happening throughout.

[Angela Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sweet and touching. A son who helps his father fulfill a final wish and learns who he truly is in the process. The movie Just Like Heaven is from a book by the same author and I could absolutely see this being a movie as well. As a result the ending is mildly predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Amilcar Viator · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very endearing and heartfelt story of a final adventure between father and son. Learning of a past untold, and more about his father than he knew in life. Really makes you think what love truly means. The love of a father. An unexpected love between 2 souls. The love you’re afraid to open yourself up to. A wonderful read.

[Drema Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving any spoilers, this short story is a unique love story. At times I was not sure where the author was taking us other than an unusual adventure to the USA filled with humor and then it all came together beautifully.

[Sandy Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Storyline!

I LOVED this book SO much that I didn’t want it to end, but I loved how the story ended. The characters sense of humor was very entertaining.

Having lost my husband 12 years ago & my mom 3 years ago, I enjoyed the writer’s portrayal of the deceased’s ability to visit his son after his death & that heaven is real.

[Veronica Gliatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

Almost gave it 5 stars! Superb on so many levels and hysterical too! Clever writing and should be made into a movie!

[Pam Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Funny! So Touching!

If I could give this book more stars I would. Well written, hilarious & plain old heart warming. OMGOSH I LOVED SO MUCH! This is how I want to write... and feel everyday with the books I read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lost my own father a little over a year ago, and still mourning him, this book gave me hope that in the end, there is happiness and peace. It's a novel that is a bit silly in parts and certainly unbelievable, and at the same time intriguing. I had to know what happened in the end, and I was not disappointed.

Amazon First Reads choice.

[SnowDevil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the English translation and American release of a 2019 book, originally written in French, called "Ghost in Love". I haven't yet read the French version, but I suspect there was a lot lost in the translation. The dialog in the English version is stilted in many places, and overly direct and plain at times where nuance seems to be called for. The tone of the narration and most of the dialog (usually serious and heavy) doesn't match the tone of the story events (hijinks with funerary urns, conversations with ghosts in public). And all of the characters sounded the same to me.

Since it's billed as a book about the relationship between father and son, I expected a lot more talk about fatherly advice and how the young can teach the old new things. Maybe some time given to the (often toxic) need for masculinity in father-son relationships that inhibits their ability to really share what matters. There *was* some of that in the book, but it was hampered by the fact that Raymond (the father) is a pretty insufferable character. He spends most of the book appearing to care about himself and his own agenda, without much caring about the impact it has on his son's life. He is flippant with his son up until the deeper conversations toward the end of the book, in his last chapter, and his son Thomas seems ill-equipped to do much pushing back. The resulting dialog is pretty frustrating to read and doesn't have much in the way of meaning.

Raymond is also a womanizer, and his views on women in general, even those he loves and claims to respect, are rather misogynistic and sexist in today's world (and... again keep in mind the book was written in 2019... so still in today's world). In addition to giving a lot of "ick" while reading it, it rather weakened Raymond's role as the provider of wisdom.

The ending is predictable and sappy, but I suppose as "happy" an ending as a story about leaving the living and the afterlife can be. Overall I got the feeling that this story was written to become a Hallmark made-for-TV movie - and I don't know how much of that is really an artifact of translation vs innate to the story itself.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my Kindle First choice this month and it was an easy choice because I read his Last of the Stanfields 7 years ago now (!!) and I loved that. However, this one has managed to surpass even that !! It is a lovely, lovely story and has a bit of everything. Laughter, tears, mystery....it's just a joy. When I looked at my device and realised there were only 13 pages remaining I was absolutely gutted !! I didn't want it to be over......am I gushing ??
It's a really super story...OK, you have to suspend belief somewhat but so what ? We could all do with some of that these days, some proper escape from the world we live in !!
I was howling with laughter at the bagless vacuum comment by Thomas's mother, then later on in the story I was also howling....tears....
AND we learn how to tell if someone is just knocked out or actually in a coma !! I found that fascinating. And also that you're not supposed to travel overseas with ashes.....who knew ?? I also googled the Columbarium when I finished and it's a truly beautiful building inside and out. I had never heard of one before !! So I've also been educated !
He writes a very touching and thought-provoking conversation about fairies and demons I really liked as well.....makes you really think and I like this.
I am sitting here in tears even now as I re-read my highlights to compose this review. Just trust me, you'll enjoy this, I SO recommend you read it. The translator has clearly done a super job, too so kudos to her as well.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Mamon declares toward the end of the book, “Fantasy is not my cup of tea.” Nor is it mine, but the many positive reviews encouraged me to give it a try.

It turned out to be a delightful story about Thomas, a concert pianist, who’s father’s ghost, Raymond, visits him and asks that his ashes be scattered with the love of his life. By ghost we are not talking about the scary kind as in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” For those enough to remember, Thomas’s father’s ghost is more like Topper from the 1937 movie and 1950s television series, where the deceased Kerbys and their martini loving St. Bernard love to play pranks on the ultra-conservative Cosmo Topper.

Thomas is asked to fly to San Francisco where his father’s soulate, Camille, is about to be cremated. Although somewhat predictable, Thomas meets Camille’s daughter, Mamon, and remembers that they played together as children while Raymond and Camille carried on a chaste relationship.

The narrative is amusing and heartwarming as the author explores issues of fatherhood (and motherhood) and the perspective that death brings to family relationships. Kudos to the translator who used many American idioms that I am sure were not in the French original.

[Cally Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was so much more potential for this book. I loved the premise of it and it was a light quick read. I did find the writing to be very clunky. Maybe there was some loss in translation. It just wasn't a smooth read. At times it was very awkward and a few exchanges between characters made little sense.

I was expecting so much more from a book written about a visitor from the afterlife. I wanted to learn more about the relationship between the dad and the mistress. I wanted to hear much more about their deep profound love but it seemed like nothing more than a deep friendship.

I did not like the father's character. I found him to be demanding and snobby. He was probably more like his archnemesis than he realized.

If the book was to focus on the relationship between the dad and the son, it didn't do a very good job of that either. It was a lot of dad barking commands at his son and his son dimwittedly going along with everything.

The ending was so awkward and abrupt as well.

I gave 3 because the premise was good, the creative was there.....it just really missed the mark for me. Maybe I should review my expectations instead of the book because everyone else seems to like this one.

[Phillip Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.
Marc Levy a French author translated for English readers by an American literary translator who is passionate about bringing exceptional works of literature by under represented authors to English speaking readers.
Not a love story, more a story of love in a family viewed from the twilight zone ( so to speak).
Read this book at a mindful pace. And experience the gems from each interaction between a father and son.
There are no extreme highs or lows although some scenes seem like they are building a tension. However it’s a hands in your pockets leaning against the wall view of life.
Just maybe if something is shared and one other believes it! Well what is it then?
For a world in turbulent and uncertain times as we are in 2025 this story may be beyond the realms of our reality however it grounds the reader in the heart.
Solid 4 star read. Enjoy.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas, a professional pianist in France, is living his structured, if somewhat empty life when his father who died 5 years ago “shows up” to ask his son to help him re-unite with the love of his life, a woman Thomas had never heard about and who was NOT his beloved mother. Thomas’ father had been a very successful but distant surgeon who hadn’t had much time for Thomas before he died, so their relationship was strained. I usually don’t like this sort of paranormal plot where dead people show up to haunt or demand attention, but I decided to go with it in this novel and was pleasantly surprised. It’s at times a rather silly, contrived plot but ends up being warm and funny and emotionally satisfying.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas didn't feel like he really knew his surgeon father who was gone a lot. Five years after his father's death, he is surprised to be visited by the old man's ghost, who has a favor to ask. His father amusingly shows up when he wants, including plunking himself on a woman's lap in the front row in a concert hall while pianist Thomas is playing. Needless to say, the distraction causes a couple missed notes. The favor requires Thomas to fly from his home in Paris to a columbarium in San Francisco where his father's mistress is being interred and engage in a few illegal activities. Delightful story.

[Pat Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is Too Short

This very imaginative book captures the plight of many people who are too tied up in careers and do not spend enough time with their families and loved ones. We learn much from Levy’s characters about regrets that none of us will ever be able to go back and repair.Don’t postpone expressing your love and appreciation of those around you.

Follow the wishes of the deceased. Are funerals and celebrations of life really only for those still living? Something to consider.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy. This book was really bad. The characters were all so annoying that I disliked all of them. The dialogue throughout the novel was elementary and just plain boring and stupid. The way that his dead father acted was juvenile and right out of a bad movie from the 1940's. The story started OK but why downhill quick after Dad tells son what he wanted him to do for him. I feel like Levy wants to write a Mitch Album

[Malcolm Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good fun read!

Thomas is a well renowned pianist whose father died five years ago and getting on with his life; however his father "returns" to ask him a favour.
The favour is to put his ashes with those of his 2mistress2 who has just died so they can be together in the afterlife.
What follows is a series of events that affect Thomas professional and personal life before he can attempt to help his father's last wish.

A feel-good read.

[Jessica Heck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Suspend Disbelief and Then Some

This story rested on the premise that a ghost was communicating with his son as they set out to reunite him with his love in the afterlife. The author carried out the story with the ghost father and his son conversing in public on many occasions. While it’s acknowledged throughout the take as being strange, I just thought it was over the top weird. Unfortunately, the writing style and characters were too basic to salvage the story.

[K. Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazon first reads. Not my usual genre. Stopped at 25%; found the storyline boring. Father’s ghost returned with request for son, “to mix the ashes of his gf with his so they can be together in eternity.” This will require stealing the ashes at the funeral. The son is having a hard time talking to dad’s ghost & dealing with their issues of the past.

Placed on my DNF list.

[Jill Turner]

Tugs at the heart strings

This book is beautiful. It made me cry (in a good way), and I'm writing this through my tears. If you've lost a parent, you need to read this, the journey a son takes to honour his father. It's full of compassion and so beautifully expressed, I really couldn't put it down.

It deserves 10 stars. Bravo to the author.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, heartwarming story about love and loss. It's got its share of laughs while working through the characters' challenges, which include dealing with death and experiencing grief. I enjoyed the author's imagination of what things might be like after death and how it affects the living. Great story. Heavy subject, but not a heavy read.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely sentimental read just before Christmas about love and families. It was an easy read, sometimes quite funny with dead Dad Raymond putting his son Thomas into awkward situations but mostly it made me think about the relationship with my Dad too
My only gripe is that I don't think it was the best of translations as often the dialogue felt too Americanized for me and didn't flow.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great First Reads choice. A short sweet love story with a ghost! Thomas is a professional pianist who is quite surprised when the ghost of his late father shows up with a favor to ask--help him be united for all eternity with his mistress who recently passed away. At first the book seemed just silly, but it grew on me.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous, heartbreaking, and humbling. This was a nice story about a father-son relationship. While the dialogue between characters was sometimes awkward, I believe it was because the book was translated from French to English. I enjoyed the characters, their flaws, and their strengths. It’s nice to think that are loved ones can enjoy their afterlife and that they might someday visit us.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not at all unusual for a father to ask a son to do him a favor. It does, however, become much more unusual when the father has been dead for five years! This fantastical tale explores parent-child relationships, unfulfilled expectations, revelations that will change lives.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story, which makes you think about the way you feel about your parents. It took a while for me to become interested in the main character - his dialogue felt off at first. But in the end I found this story very heartwarming.