I Love You Too Much

by Alicia Drake

" I knew I was in Paris, I knew that was the Seine beneath me, the sky above, but when I looked around for help, the grand apartment buildings of the Quai Voltaire stared back at me, indifferent.In the sixth arrondissement everything is perfect except for the loneliness. This is the Paris of thirteen-year-old Paul. Shy and unloved, he quietly observes the lives of the self-involved grown-ups around his glamorous Maman, Séverine, her younger musician lover, Gabriel, and his fitness-obsessed Papa, Philippe. Always overlooked, it’s only a matter of time before Paul witnesses something that he’s not supposed to see…Seeking solace in an unlikely friendship with tear-away classmate Scarlett and the temptation of the numerous patisseries in his elegant neighbourhood, Paul searches for unconditional love. But what will he do if he can’t find it?Alicia Drake evokes contemporary Parisian life with the subtlety of a latter day Francois Sagan, and she captures in Paul the pains of adolescence as poignantly as Salinger's Holden Caulfield. I Love You Too Much is a novel of extraordinary intelligence and heart, a devastating coming of age story told from the sidelines of Parisian perfection."

Genres: Fiction, France, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Novels, Family, Womens Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2018

Reviews

[Nat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! Bittersweet.

"Everything was extravagant and elegant and I cried then because I knew it would always be this way. Paris will never change, not for you, not for me. Paris doesn't care that you are dying inside; it will always be beautiful, untouchable, aloof, unmoved by you and your pathetic fate."

Paul is a shy and sensitive teen whose parents have recently separated. He seeks solace by comfort eating, and feels somewhat responsible for their split. He is also very observant and notices many things the adults around him don't.

Living in the leafy sixth arrondissement, Paul feels stymied by the Paris surrounding him. As if he doesn't quite fit in with the elegant neighbourhood and the expectations of those living there.

Paul's beautiful Maman Séverine has no sooner given birth to a baby with her younger lover, than she's off for a weekend spa treatment to de-stress and regain her youthful vitality. Juggling work commitments, a new baby, and keeping the relationship with her lover Gabriel on track, Séverine does not have as much time for Paul as she used to.

Paul's father Philippe has joined the "mamil" tribe (an acronym for "middle-aged-man-in-lycra"). He has become obsessed with fitness, long distance cycling, protein shakes and getting the perfect bod. He too doesn't give Paul the time he deserves.

Both are more involved in their own lives and troubles to notice Paul, only being concerned with his maths grades and that he seemed to be eating just a tad too much.

More love and care is shown to Paul by the family maid-come-nanny Cindy. So sad!

The extended family of grandparents, uncles, aunts and assorted cousins fare no better. They are all pitted against each other at Sunday family lunches, via competing school/uni grades and work promotions. Even the lunch isn't safe! The wine has to be from "somewhere", as do the olives etc etc. Yawn.

Paul strikes up and unlikely friendship with Scarlett, a girl from his school. As confident as Paul is shy, as rebellious as he is cautious. But both are hurting and looking for someone to love them as they are.

This story captures the pain of being an awkward adolescent beautifully. Paul's friendship with Scarlett is deep and fast, like a struck match, and burns out just as quickly.

A lot more happens along the way, but you'll just have to read it to find out.

This is an absolutely gorgeous debut novel.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember how I came to request this book from the library many moons ago....when it finally came in months later, I had no memory of it. The title threw me; it didn’t sound like something I would like. I checked Goodreads and only one of my friends had read it. Where did this obscure book request come from?

Doesn’t matter - in spite of the cheesy title, this debut novel packs a punch. It’s the poignant story of a lonely thirteen-year-old boy living in Paris, the city of eternal love and matchless beauty. Paul’s divorced parents are a nightmare - completely self-absorbed narcissists. The father is all about competition and the body beautiful, training for marathons and badgering his son about his grades and his weight. The mother has mirrors all over the house so she can admire herself. Beautiful, manipulative and clinging to her fading youth, she has just had a baby girl with her younger lover, who has a wandering eye. Paul is primarily left in the care of the housekeeper, Cindy, who left her family in the Philippines to come to America for work. The housekeeper provides Paul with what comfort she can, which is primarily in the form of food. Paul is overweight and uses food to soothe himself.

Paul befriends a schoolmate, Scarlett, who is another lost soul. Their friendship is a balm to Paul and they form a close bond. The bond frays as the toxicity surrounding them leaches into their relationship, causing devastating consequences.

The book does have flaws, but it burrowed into my heart. I read it twice. Paul’s vulnerability and sorrow are heart rending. Drake does an excellent job creating atmosphere and characters that are deeply flawed and memorable. Paul’s relationship with food as self-medication is vividly drawn:

”At the back of the top rack, I found a box of mini-chocolate cookies meant for five-year-olds. Maman lets Cindy buy them because she reckons the smaller the cookie, the less weight I’ll put on. I ripped open the cardboard. I tore open each pack with my teeth and I held them above me and let each happy chocolate face fall into my mouth. I ate them five at a time. I ate them fast to get the factory-sweet creaminess, cookies turning to mush against the roof of my mouth; I held it there, closing my eyes, the vacuum-packed vanilla in my nose, on my tongue, then I let the mush slide down the back of my throat and reloaded.”

Paris itself becomes a character, the perfect setting for this story:

“I crossed over the road and looked into the windows of the antiquaires, lavish shops selling chandeliers and dark tapestries with unicorns and weeping ladies. There was a long black-and-white marble table that stood on heavy gold legs in the shape of bare-breasted women. On top of it there was a silver bowl of red flowers, petals the color of blood. Everything was extravagant and elegant and I cried then because I knew it would always be this way. Paris will never change, not for you, not for me. Paris doesn’t care that you are dying inside; it will always be beautiful, untouchable, aloof, unmoved by you and your pathetic fate.”

I’m a little surprised this book doesn’t have a wider audience. Short, but poignant and affecting. Paul’s story will stay with me for a while. Recommend to those who enjoy character-driven stories with unlikeable characters.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH by Alicia Drake - I’m so incredibly grateful to Little, Brown and Company for providing my free copy - all opinions are my own.

Paul is thirteen, lives in Paris, and is constantly shuffled back and forth between his self-absorbed and insensitive parents. His mother is narcissistic and only pays attention to her boyfriend and their infant daughter. His father has an explosive secret that unfortunately gets revealed in a traumatic way. Paul is unwanted and unloved, so when he meets a new friend, Scarlett, he makes an instant connection and friendship.

Drake’s writing style is interesting because it feels as if you’re reading from the voice of a young teenager. Paul has grown up way too fast and the way he talks about his life and parents reflects that. Paul is ignored and my heart ached for him. Scarlett makes for a great, dynamic character and helped to keep my interest in the story.

I found the book very distressing as no child should be subjected to such treatment. But it does provide a very interesting and heartbreaking glimpse into Paul’s world.

This is a very short read and I was able to complete it in one sitting, a perfect book for a quiet afternoon on the couch. Also, I really enjoyed all of the details of Paris in the story. It’s my dream to go there one day.

For all of my reviews, please visit https://shereadswithcats.com

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

“Paris will never change, not for you, not for me. Paris doesn’t care that you are dying inside; it will always be beautiful, untouchable, aloof, unmoved by you and your pathetic fate.”

I Love You Too Much was very sad, very tragic, but also very moving. This is a coming-of-age story about a lovable boy growing up in a cruel world.

The pain and loneliness he felt reached from the page and grabbed my heart. This book is so well-written, I actually felt like Paul was a real boy telling his own story, making my heart ache even more. This book will stay with me for a long, long time.

My full review is posted on my blog 😊

A huge thank you to Little, Brown and Company for sending me this advanced copy for review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down

It's hard to muster much enthusiasm to write reviews when 7 out of the last 8 books you've read have been 2 or 3 star ones. Am I in a rut or do I start all books with expectations that are way too high? Who knows!

I Love You Too Much is Alicia Drake's debut fiction offering, and is a love story (of sorts, I guess) set in contemporary Paris. Paul is a miserable 13 year old from a well-off family. His parents hate each other and borderline neglect him, his mother's boyfriend is an idiot and his grandparents are all pretty terrible people. The only person who seems to care about Paul is their Filipino nanny, Cindy. Paul's mum has just had a new baby with the shitty boyfriend, so pays even less attention to him than usual. Paul copes with all this by eating. A lot. Early on in the story he meets Scarlett - a girl from his school - while he is at some kind of spa place in the north of France with his family. The book follows Paul's friendship with Scarlett and his crumbling family.

The content of this book was a lot sadder than I expected from the arty cover. Paul's story held my interest but wasn't particularly stand out or memorable (I feel kind of shitty saying that as he goes through some rough stuff... but unfortunately it's the truth). I felt sorry for Paul but it was hard to sympathise with anyone else in book except for his little sister Lou and the nanny, Cindy, who cannot return home to see her family. You could do a lot worse than this short novel, but on finishing I don't feel inspired to rush out and recommend it to anyone.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This one kind of punched me in the gut and didn't let go. It's taken me awhile to even write about it as most of the characters were so despicable I had trouble not throwing the book across the room. Thirteen-year-old Paul lives in Paris and is shuffled between two selfish and self-absorbed parents--his father, who harbors his own dark secrets, and his mother who is concerned only with her new infant daughter and her much younger lover. Paul feels unloved--as well he should as neither of his parents seem concerned about his well-being or happiness at all; he is literally being raised by his mother's maid who overfeeds him to compensate for his lack of familial love. When he meets Scarlett at school and she befriends him, he feels "seen" for the first time in forever. But nothing is meant to last as he witnesses the dark side of both adults and adolescents as he begins to see the disparity between the glamorous world of wealthy Parisians and the innocence of young love. This is a lovely, albeit dark, coming-of-age story that will resonate with you long after its end.

[MaryBeth's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, but heart breaking story of a young man who is only wanted by his parents when it is convenient to them.

Set in Paris, Paul feels although he is lost and unloved. His mother has had a new baby with her younger boyfriend and his father only seems concerned with his work, Paul's grades and what he is eating. Paul is constantly criticized and overlooked.

School is no better. Bullied for his weight and taunted with gender slurs, Paul feels alone and helpless.

I feel funny saying I "liked" this book because it was so sad. But I couldn't put it down.

[Jami M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was brutal. But beautiful. A stellar debut and the writing is so, so good. The author has captured the conversational nuances of the French language perfectly while writing in English. She has also managed to capture a very specific sense of place with amazing attention to small details, and oddly enough, food. AND, she writes convincingly in the voice of Paul, a young boy, and also the main character of, I Love You Too Much.

That said, this book made me sad. Because it is told from the perspective of a 13 year old boy, I felt very ashamed when I found myself occasionally sympathizing with the adult characters. It is hard being a child and yet it is equally hard being an adult and a parent. Everyone in this story is suffering. It is impossible for me to say the characters in this book are simply horrible people, when, truly, beneath all their misery and agony is this universal dark, unresolved sadness. The author has done a magnificent job creating very real, flawed characters that are unlikable and absolutely hell bent on destruction- but, sadly, all too recognizable.

I Love You Too Much, is a short read but big on emotion. A strangely compelling bleak coming of age story. It stands in strong contrast with the book, In Sight of Stars, another novel I recently read, also with a young male narrator grappling with very similar subjects. It was accidental that I chose these two novels at the library, and upon comparison, enjoyed the cultural contrasts that shaped each book- one being quintessentially French, and the other, American.

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will look at as few reviews as possible once I add a novel to my tbr list, but will look at a few after finishing it. I’ve just seen this given the tag ‘unrelentingly bleak’ by one reputed review site. Perhaps the sort of thing that may put a reader off, and a good reason not to read too much prior to the book.
I think that tag is unfair.
It is like those cliched sports commentators say, ‘a game of two halves’. The first half of the book is the protagonist and narrator, 13 year old Paul, describing his life in Paris. His parents have recently split up, but both have good jobs. What appeals, is that this is little contrived about his circumstance, it is not untypical of our time. His mother’s occupation is not revealed, but she is away a lot travelling, earns plenty of money, and is very concerned with her appearance. His father has become infatuated also with his appearance, spending every free moment working out with a personal trainer. 13 year old Paul, in the first stages of adolescence, is overweight, and finds it increasingly difficult to identify with them. And, on a vacation with his grandparents, finds his first relationship, with one of the most popular girls in his school year, Scarlett.
But, as the review tag I quoted at the start suggests, the second half of the novel gets much darker.
Few authors write about adolescence convincingly, and yet of course they’ve all been there. It’s not all unremittingly miserable, for many, mixed in, there are often memorable and fun times.
Drake does this very well. My issue with the ‘tag’ is that neither Drake’s story, nor adolescence is ‘unremittingly’ bleak. It’s bleak in parts, and that works very well.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything in Paris is constrained. Everyone is trying to hold you down, make ordered beauty, afraid that you'll run wild. p127

No matter what they do to you, you still keep wanting them to love you. p163

This coming-of-age novel is a stunning debut; an awkward plunge into the gap of disconnection between reality and conviction, truth and perspective, belief and disillusion, childhood and the adult world.

I couldn't figure out what she would do next, what was real and what was not. p170

Pauls stylish, narcissistic parents are too wrapped up in their own drama to pay much attention to the lonely, imaginitive boy. Following him on his ramblings, the reader gets an uncommon glimpse into the dailiness of Paris, not the underworld nor yet the glittery Paris selected for tourists.

When Paul is befriended by the enigmatic Scarlett, of course his whole world transforms.

Paris will never change, not for you, not for me. Paris doesnt care that you are dying inside.
p127

[Astrid Inge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godsamme... wat een boek...

"'That's us Paul," Scarlet said. "You and me. Two wounded hearts. No matter what they do to you, you still keep wanting them to love you. And then you hate yourself for thinking that way."

Wat een krachtig en in- en intriest verhaal. Het verplettert me. En zo, zoo goed geschreven.

"I go to school. I take my pills. They block you off and shut you down so you don't feel anything. But the pain is still there. It is a darkness that covers me, like an eclipse of the sun. It bangs up against the sides of me. It is a deadweight hanging from my ankles."

Ik voel Pauls pijn.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Paul, a teen living on the Left Bank of Paris, lost, confused, alone. His family is very rich, and that is oddly isolating. His parents have split up and moved on with new relationships, and Paul is left out. There's no one he is close to at school either, and Paul doesn't do well there academically either, another reason he is a disappointment. Paul finds some consolation in food, and he spends a great deal of the story eating foods he has been asked not to eat.

The story is very well written. I felt every detail in the plot was exactly the way a teen would see things. It was a desperately sad story, exactly how one feels as a teen, as if parents have let you down, friends let you down, life has let you down. The three stars is simply a reflection of how uncomfortable and unhappy I was to read this story, not a reflection of the amazing writing. I, like most people, would never want to go back to those awful and uncertain days as a teen, and, in reading this book, I did.

[Fred · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paul is 13 and is growing up amidst conflict at home, at school, and inside himself. His self-absorbed Parisian parents use him for their own pleasure and gratification, and toss him aside when he's no longer necessary. His school life is deteriorating, and he can't seem to bring his math grades up to where his family (again, being demanding of something for their sake rather than for his) want them. In addition, he forms a friendship with a girl in school who may be using him for her own purposes as well. The inner turmoil his situation is causing him to overeat compulsively and gain weight.

I started reading this eagerly, as there is little in literature that is as interesting as a bildungsroman, and watching the blooming, growth, and conflicts that a young person encounters on the way to self-knowledge, maturity, and adulthood.

However, Paul's story becomes increasingly and unrelentingly depressing. In addition, there does not seem to be much growth or redemption for him. It's one sad thing after another, until the very end.

The author's technique and writing skills are outstanding. She is able to characterize Paul into a very recognizable person. I felt deeply for his sorrows. She captures the angst of being 13, the difficulties of dealing with parents who don't realize their child knows more about them than they think, and the estrangement from all the people and things around him that he cares about is heartbreaking. So Kudos to Drake on that score.

But I can't get away from the darkness of the story, again, its unrelenting sadness in Paul's situation and head.

[Brittany | thebookishfiiasco · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘That’s us, Paul,’ Scarlett said. ‘You and me. Two wounded hearts. No matter what they do to you, you still keep wanting them to love you. And then you hate yourself for thinking that way.’
•
I had been warned before getting into this book, but it still broke my heart, anyways. This book was kindly shared with me from Little Brown, and I’m grateful I had the chance to read this one.
•
For starters, it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I pictured almost like, a memoir-y reflection kind of story telling, where this felt much more like I was going through this experience with Paul. You’re with Paul in feeling alone, overwhelmed, and discovering the parts of his life impacting how he feels. It’s a tough read, certainly, especially for those with broken families, trying to make sense of it all.
•
Overall, I appreciated the experience this book gave me. It didn’t shy away from the difficulties within relationships, some of the harsh realities we face in witnessing parental relationships fail, and heartache surrounding betrayal and loss. I recommend going into this prepared for feelings, and open to the experience.
•
4/5 ⭐️

[Kaytee Bole Posner (glitteringeyes418 on Instagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking coming of age story set in Paris.

[Selena Hanet-Hutchins · Rating 1 out of 5]

About forty words in this became a hate read. I read all the way to the end and did not stop hating it.

[Ylenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

UUUUHHHH I am pissed off. I really am.

There I was, minding my own business, when this book came out and someone told me it was set in Paris and followed a young boy discovering a tremendous secret. It even says that in the synopsis:

Always overlooked, it’s only a matter of time before Paul witnesses something that he’s not supposed to see.

As you guys (probably) know I am obsessed with Paris and I miss it terribly every single day so I am always happy if a book is set there so I can relive the experience of being there.
BUT THIS BOOK... this book kinda sucked.

Let's start by saying that the big secret was revealed halfway trough the book so I was forever waiting for something to happen and it ruined my experience a bit. Either don't mention it in the blurb or change the timeline! Don't make me wait for half of the book!
The novel was also way too short but in a negative way. I love short books but in this case the big, important themes felt underdeveloped.
I had problems with the reveal itself, too, but I won't get into it because I don't want to get into spoilers.

Paul was an interesting main character, always looking at and paying attention to people while being unobserved. All of the other characters, unfortunately, weren't as well developed as Paul. Scarlett, especially, was annoying and created unnecessary drama. The author could have used her character in so many other ways but she went down the easy path.

I don't mind sad stories but this one felt tragic and for no reason at all. It felt tragic-lazy.

The editing felt lazy, too. I can't believe the author lived in Paris for eighteen years and still wrote macaroons instead of macarons (for at least two times). You spent so much of your time writing down all of those street names and details about the city and then you can't be bothered to check how a certain dessert is spelled?

This book could have been so intense but all I can talk about are fucking macarons. UGH.

[Tracy (The Pages In-Between) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lauren at Little Brown Books for sending me an ARC of this book, in exchange of an honest review.

So, I came across this book on Netgalley while I was window shopping, and knew that I had to request to review it. Something about it just grabbed me. Luckily Lauren said she would send it, and she did, the very next day. Score! 

So I finished up some prior reading and jumped into this book, which is considerably small, at 214 pages. I am confused with my thoughts on this one. Paul is 13, parts of this book, he acts his age, some parts of the book he comes across much older, as does his friend Scarlett, reading about the two of them, you'd peg them for at least 16. No big deal really, That doesn't really bother me. The parents in this book I hated, with a passion. They were self-absorbed, egotistical, selfish, pricks who had no desire to be a parent, or even knew how to be one. 

I felt that parts of this book drug on, and I kind of struggled to get through the first 100 pages, however once I got past the halfway mark, this book really improved. The last half of this book was just full of  emotional gut punches. What Paul is put through, and witnesses is intense, and very heartbreaking. Much more than any 13-year-old should ever have to bare witness too. I think I would have liked to see more of what happens after these life events, than to have seen what lead up to them. I think that's where the best part of the story could have been. 

Overall, it was a good read, that evoked some strong feelings from me. I am glad that I got to read and review it, and share this book review with you guys. 

[Heather Boaz ( mlleboaz.bibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for this copy for review! All opinions are my own.

Do you know Francoise Sagan? This book starts out a bit like Bonjour Tristesse - a young person on the verge of a sexual awakening, a first crush, a distracted parent... but it quickly takes a dark turn. Though this was a very speedy read, it took me some time to digest and process afterwards.

Paris, as a character is so perfectly captured in this story - the curiosity around every corner, the self-involved but passionate crowds, the loneliness, isolation and despair that one can feel when surrounded with such great beauty - truly I felt transported back every minute of this book.

Drake's young characters too are so strong and unique with clear and distinct voices. I really felt I knew and understood Paul and Scarlett which is particularly notable as they are so young.

I think it's important to note some trigger warnings - if you have triggers please read the "spoiler" (though I won't describe any part of the actual plot), if you don't, perhaps just understand that it gets quite dark and this isn't something easily gleaned from the synopsis - Trigger Warnings: there is suicide and childhood sexual trauma in this book. For me, this was hard to read toward the end. but I wouldn't take back reading it. Drake handles it with such great empathy for these characters and pathos so that nothing feels gratuitous. No difficult detail is unnecessary. This absolutely heartbreaking read asks for a quiet afternoon alone with some time to reflect afterwards.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up initially because of the cover, but after reading it I am not even sure which characters of the book could be on the cover. This book was a series of sad experiences Paul, a 13-year-old boy, goes through during a period of his childhood in Paris. As I read this book, I waited for something to happen. But nothing did and I struggled to understand the point of the story. Fifty pages from the end I realized that there was not going to be a solution to Paul's problems and I was going to continue reading about this poor boys suffering and lack of ability to understand the people around him. Seeing the world through Paul's eyes and reading his thoughts was quite insightful. This book is well written and despite the frustration I had with every character, except the babysitter, I continued to read with hope. It's a story of grown-ups failing to be fulfilled and a boy trying to find some stabilization in a broken mother.

[Kevin Tindell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rattled through this in no time and loved it. Initially I thought it was too short and that the story could have been expanded, but actually it's probably just right - a perfect nugget!. The atmosphere of a sometimes oppressive but beautiful Paris is perfectly conveyed. I wouldn't necessary recommend it if you are looking for something to cheer you up during lockdown. The adult characters, with the exception of the Filipino maids, are totally grotesque and the overall theme is quite bleak. However it's about how young Paul deals with the family issues and how his relationship with Scarlet helps or hinders him. Bleak - yes but there are some heart warming moments.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely coming of age book about a young boy named Paul growing up in Paris amid the divorce of his parents, a social life that is heavy with struggle, and an unlikely friend who is ridden with even deeper problems that Paul. I loved that it was set in Paris, and the author was generous with her rich descriptions of city and culture.

I Love You Too Much felt is a well written story about seemingly real characters you find your self rooting for, hoping they find their way.

[Thelastwordreview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paris the eternal city of love. A city I have come to love ever since my first visit in the early 1980’s watching young couples in love walking hand in hand by the River Seine. What images this memory conjures.
I Love You Too Much is the debut novel by Alicia Drake (Picador) and the main character is Thirteen-year-old Paul who is somewhat shy and through his eyes we see his world and those adults who inhabit Pauls world. An extraordinary novel set to an extraordinary backdrop.

Paul’s parents are on the cusp of divorce, from the mother is obsessed by shopping and a father who is obsessed by his looks and making sure he stays lean and handsome. But there is beauty in Paul’s life in fact it is everywhere. He cannot escape the beauty of the women that seem to be around his life. Paul though is not loved he is something of a loner, he is addicted to the wrong type of food that contains large amount of sugar or salt and he is overweight. Now he has a baby sister, as his mother has been seeing a guy who thinks he is a rock star and dresses like one! So now Paul is getting even less attention, so his addiction to sugary snacks increases.
You instantly feel sorry for Paul as his family are real achievers in life but Paul seems to fail in his studies much to his father’s chagrin. Paul would rather sit and eat and play computer games. There is going to be a court battle over custody of this unloved boy and yet it is Paul who will lose out no-matter who wins. What this boy wants more than anything is to be loved. In fact, he is silently crying out to be loved. All the signs are there, yet his self-effacing parents just don’t see it.
Paul finds solace in a new girl in School and Scarlett is a bit of a tear-away and does not seem to be bothered by anything or anyone. So a friendship is born and soon they are spending time together after school. You get the sense there is utter heartbreak coming sooner or later and how Alicia Drake draws the reader into Paul’s world.
Our protagonist likes to watch other people and not just within his own family but those that live just across the hall from their apartment. But one day Paul arrives at his father’s apartment and his word is destroyed by what he walks into. Something that shakes his world to its very core. This has effected Paul deeply. His life is shattered.

A family hell bent on seeking admiration of those around them yet this sad and lonely boy is caught up in their own sad Parisian lifestyle. There is evident within this powerful story of self-destruction but they are all too busy with their own lifestyles to see the pain that they create.
I have to say I absolutely loved I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake. She has created such incredible characters and the pain of adolescence. A novel so powerful and so utterly heartbreaking. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

256 Pages.

[miss claire mcnish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really dark and sad story of a teenagers difficult life in Paris. I loved it!!!! Very different from my normal reads.

[Áine Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing and thought the character development subtly effective. But the relentlessly terrible events in such a short space felt almost cartoonish? It took me out of the story unfortunately.

[Lotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not funny, cried

[Pat Albu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the saddest, most depressing stories I have read in a long time. The writing was beautiful, however. The redeeming value was that it was set in Paris, one of my favorite places in the world. My heart is heavy having just finished this book.

[Helvetica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing debut novel, a secret Paris you never see as a tourist, the real story behind the chic privilege. The details are so so interesting but it's the emotion of it, the profound story of a little boy that makes it top tier -- it wrecked me yet left me with the exaltation, the sheer satisfaction of a great tale told.

[Justine Anweiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!! And right after I finished it I gave it to my mom and she devoured it too. Paul is such a lovable character in an unfortunate environment. I love that the reader is taken on a journey of discovering Paul’s world, through Paul’s eyes, and is able to slowly unpeel the f*cked up layers of those around him; making the reader and Paul discover how special he really is.

Incredibly well written. Fantastic character development. I can not rate this book high enough. I really loved it and it is not a book I would normally go for. READ IT!!!

[Talia Carner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 13-year old in Paris forever fails to live up to his parents’ expectations. He never has the scholastic abilities to enter into the school of their choice—a choice that will make them socially proud, nor the physical beauty both his parents possess. His father, always training for a marathon, can’t accept his clumsy, overweight son.
Lonely and unloved, Paul eats. He gobbles sweets and cookies and the special rice dishes his mother’s Filipina housekeeper, the only one who seems to care for him, prepares for him as comfort food.
We meet Paul soon after his parents’ separation, with the divorce still pending, but his exceptionally beautiful mother gives birth to a baby girl her musician boyfriend has fathered.
While the adults around Paul continue to move in their own self-centered universes and Paul continues to gain weight, a popular girl in his school befriends him. She’s first notices him while both families are on vacation, and unbelieving his good luck, in the coming months Paul becomes her friend and confidant. But Scarlett is fickle, disturbed, and no less self-centered than the other people in Paul’s life.

The novel is well-written with sensitivity to a growing boy’s emotions and challenges. The author uses interesting and diversified ways to describe the anger, frustration and pain that are all-consuming in the world a maturing boy must navigate.

A note as an author: When filing to post this review on Amazon, I've noticed that it has not garnered nearly as many as it should have--and deserves--since being released last year. Besides a marketing issue, I wonder whether the book's title is much too obscure. I almost did't pick it up because of it sounded like a light romance, which it is not, but since I select books that are based in Paris, I happened to give it a try. The title is too general and could have applied to thousands of other books. Too late for this book, but a lesson for us, novelists.