Seven days without opening a book might not seem long, depending of one's rythm, and certainely not an important matter. But for me, reading almost every day or so (353 days in 2022), it's undoubtedly sign of a reading slump. Suggested remedies from internet ? First : to vary genres. Too bad, I already always do that. And it's not like if I hadn't, literally, tons of books at home (even if those at the bottom of the back piles are more tricky to recover than others). But I felt the need of something else, simple, short, if possible seasonal. Some noise in other apartments made me flee to the local chain of stores selling books, video games and other multimedia products, wandering around adult and teen bookshelves, knowing I'd have more chance in the children's section. And indeed...
However, « Adèle et les noces de la Reine Margot » is definitely not a light read. It's not a simple time travel story, more focused on a crumbling family after the grandma's death and childhood friendships evolving and fading. Everything goes bad in Adèle's life. Her parents truly are a**holes and we feel how powerless she is even while being twenty years older than her. If, at the beginning, it can eventually be hard to get into the story (especially when high school is far, far away ; readers the same age as the heroine might immerse more easily), we quickly realize Adèle's struggles are very serious. And that she can't do anything about them. Silène Edgar hasn't forgotten how it feels to be a teenager, while being able to describe, better than anyone, imperfections and errors of the adults. The story is told from Adèle's point of view so we fully feel how unfair the situations are, how deep the gap between generations is, miscomunication, total lack of empathy. Ending to really want punching those irresponsible people in the face, with all our strength.
No surprise, then, Adèle doesn't hesitates to jump into the past as soon as she close her eyes, even if glitter soon is replaced by much more dramatic events than in her day life, but feeling more distant. Mostly because Adèle doesn't lives everything, only tiny bits of story. The Queen Marguerite's wedding ? Not even shown. Readers can never forget Adèle day life is the real important thing, as well witnessing the switch in her mind. The doubt about reality or not isn't left before far in the book, and as cute Samuel may be, or the end rushed, the conclusion doesn't feels bitter. Just... logic, as if things are how they are meant to be. Though it'd been nice to follow Adèle for a few more page, to get an epilogue, just to ensure she'll be fine.
« Adèle et les noces de la Reine Margot » is absolutely not the book you think you sign for, and undoubtedly much more darker. But it's precisely why it works. It'll resonate with teens living same household problems, and whose parents should read this book too. What if you're a 30-something, without children, but in the middle of a reading slump ? It'll resonate with the teen you were back then.