I Always Think It's Forever: A Love Story Set in Paris as Told by an Unreliable but Earnest Narrator

by Timothy Goodman (Author, Illustrator)

A sweeping, unique graphic memoir about an artist’s year abroad in Paris and how it gave way to an all-encompassing love affair and crushing heartbreak as he wrestled with trauma, masculinity, and the real possibility of hope.

Renowned graphic artist Timothy Goodman planned to do what every young artist dreams of and spend a year abroad in Paris. While there, he fell in love in a way he never had before. For the first time in his life, he let himself be loved and finally, truly loved someone else. But the deeper the love, the more crushing the heartbreak when the relationship eventually fell apart, forcing him to look inwards. He confronted traumas of his past as well as his own toxic masculinity, and he learned to finally show up for himself.

I Always Think It’s Forever is a one-of-a-kind graphic memoir that chronicles it all—the ups, the downs, love lost, and love found—all in the bold illustration style Goodman is best known for, with poetic prose and handwritten wording to accompany the artwork with a touch of humor added as well. It’s a glimpse inside the heart and mind of a man, first focusing on the time Goodman spent in Paris, including diary entries relating his experiences learning about French food, culture, and language. This touching memoir also explores the painful break-up just six months later in Rome. Goodman artfully describes his attempts at learning to love himself in the end, his scars, cuts, warts, and all in a way no book ever has before.

Genres: Memoir, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Romance, Comics, Art, Biography Memoir

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interviewing the author at B & N. Paris is my favorite city so I enjoyed reading about a man taking some time away to live in Paris. Baguette 4eva.

[Petra X]

Story of my life....

My first graphic novel!

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have written previously of how bad my brain is at reading graphic novels. (Pictures are confounding!). On the other hand, my brain is exceptionally skilled at listening to audiobooks, so that's what I did. How lovely to have the option!

So, the thing that interested me in this graphic memoir in the first place was the love story "set in Paris." I'm immersing myself in all things Parisian in months leading to my first visit. I'm so into Paris, I'm seriously considering looking at the illustrations of this book at a later date.

So, I hear you saying, "How much can you get out of a graphic novel without the graphics?" Quite a bit, actually. And specifically, in this case, because the audiobook is read by the author. So much comes through in his voice. I'm not just talking about raw emotion. There is that. But also significant portions of the book are written in verse, and his rhythms and cadences are everything. His is a sad story, but he tells it with humor. And though we see just a little snippet of Mr. Goodman's life, it's a pleasure to make his brief acquaintance.

Oh, and there's a Greek chorus. Ha! Draw that on a page! (Which, obviously he must have. But I'm a firm believer in choruses having voices.)

Okay. I'm going away now.

[Vovka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustration: 5 stars. Actual words: 2 stars. Cliche, trite, full of narcissistic wallowing.

[Juj · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to simon & schuster for sending me a copy of i always think it’s forever! i really love and connected to this art style and found the mix of text, illustrations, and “written” sections compelling and just the right amount of whimsical. i didn’t super connect with this story or its themes, probably because i’m just not really in a place in my life to do so. that being said, it ended on a very melancholy and poignant beat about parenthood that i was incredibly touched by.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't poetry but it is poetry in rhythm. It isn't a graphic memoir but it is a graphic memoir. I'm really not quite sure what I just read, but I think I loved it.

[Brooke Eubanks]

Very raw

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the artistic way the author told the story incorporating his artwork amongst the prose.

[Izzy Pilares · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was a great cozy read, I’m not sure I would consider it a graphic novel simply because the story was entirely told through words and most of the images provided seemed like Keith-Haring styled graphic designs meant for merch. I also felt like the author thought he was being profound throughout most of the novel, which was kind of exhausting. I’ll admit though, I feel completely hypocritical saying so since I’m the exact same when I’m going through a breakup.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended: eh
If you're able to read slowly through, if you love poetry, if you're good at tongue twisters

This has a lyrical, almost poetic flow to the prose. It honestly made it really hard to read for any longer than 5-10 minutes at a time because it was like doing mental gymnastics or reading a story told entirely in tongue twisters. My brain had to focus so much on the literal words that the larger meaning was frequently lost. I started off with a lot of re-reading and trying to take single sentences or even phrases at a time to figure it out, but got quite exhausted doing that and ended up stopping.

My overall experience with this was being tired by it, despite a distant appreciation for the clever wordplay. It's a great example of how to write cleverly and be playful with words and homophones and synonyms but my god, I felt a little braindead by the end.

Although this is ostensibly about one (or more) of the author's great romantic loves, I'd say ultimately it's truly for the love he has for his mother.

[Mugren Ohaly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is cold and distant. Goodman gives the reader the bare minimum to have them relate to his heartbreak. Almost everyone has dealt with heartbreak in life, and this doesn’t offer anything that justifies it being published. I guess we’ve reached the point where anyone partially famous on social media gets to have a book deal.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovered this book at the library and fell for the title and subject. I liked the structure and anecdotes. I really like when he brought in quotes from other people. Overall, it was too general and loose for my taste.

There is nothing better than getting to know the person you are going to fall in love with and then falling. [Listen to Fall for You by Leela James] And there is nothing worse than when they eject you from their lives and choose someone else. [Listen to Strange by Celeste] I need to work on my Buddhist nonattachment skills. [Listen to Ten Percent Happier podcasts]

Quotes
"I knew then that I was falling for her because when you're falling for someone, you really try to listen to everything they say because everything they say says something about who they are." (30)

"...it's so hard to come to grips with the fact that I'll never hang out with her again for as long as I exist." (128)

"It made me so ashamed that I shared my heart with someone who could (be) insensitive to [who I am]." (137)

"Sometimes we need loyalty and safety above everything else. Sometimes we have to ask for help." (139)

"I'm never really prepared for the idea that a relationship can fail when everything is going so well in the beginning." (159)

"And when I lose them, particularly when they leave me, I'm left with all these feelings that I can no longer cash in on. It's like having a currency for a casino that is no longer around. It's a sobering feeling, sitting there with all my expired chips, finally able to admit that I was playing to win." (160) It's funny how I usually use the analogy of "going all in." [Listen to Bet Ain't Worth the Hand by Leon Bridges]

[Neil Pasricha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy Goodman grew up with a single mom in an all-black neighborhood in Ohio in the 1980s. He started painting homes after high school and discovered a love affair with the craft. He moved to New York for design school and has evolved into a suddenly-everywhere “doodle artist” who designs everything from hotel lobbies to garbage trucks to Kevin Durant’s new shoes. His very first book is a graphic memoir sharing an earnest story about millennial love. What’s remarkable about the book is his attention to detail: endlessly-rhyming couplets, pop-pop-pow staccato artistic interruptions, and a fun flip through the heart and mind of an introspective and philosophical expressionist artist. There's a deep sea swirling in this man's beautiful heart. I love Timothy’s work and am excited to share he's a guest on my podcast 3 Books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

We each read and our experiences affect how we interpret books. For me, this book just didn't resonate. It was a purging of raw feelings, an attempt to understand and process the hurt. I just felt maybe journaling this work in-progress would have been more apropo.

I felt the whirl of feelings as I read, the self-questioning and the need to find understanding. It was too much, it didn't flow or answer questions for me. I found the book confusing.

The graphics made me laugh but I felt they got in the way. Maybe the author came full circle and was able to heal. As the reader, I felt this should have been his personal journey. Others may feel this honesty was what they needed to find healing themselves. If that is the case I'm happy for them. For me, the book just didn't resonate.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can feel so alone but then realise how many songs, poems, and art are about the same thing you are feeling. it's great."

I Always Think It's Forever is a personal memoir by the graphic designer Timothy Goodman, describing his whirlwind romance in Paris - its conception and ultimate downfall (the name is a giveaway).

This book is like food for the soul for anyone who has experienced a breakup of sorts.
The writing is mushy, at times preachy but the cute doodles distract you from the preachy-ness.

Moreover, it is refreshing to see a man challenge toxic masculinity and advocate for vulnerability and empathy.
(Bonus points for not relying on female characters for emotional heavy lifting but rather doing it himself).

[Nastasia Tebeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, touching, and humorous. The writing flow felt a bit stronger in Part 1 versus Part 2 but overall was great. Made me laugh on more than one occasion. It also had me feeling, remembering, and reflecting on my last two decades of dating. The graphic art was punchy and made me smile. As an illustrator who enjoys doing diary comic style artwork lately, this book really felt like it hit home for me. Can’t wait to do a graphic memoir of my own! I’ve been following Timothy Goodman ever since his 40 Days of Dating Book (which I loved too) and it’s been a fun ride to see his art blossom and his heart expand over the years.

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the idea of a graphic novel type memoir. The style is very bold, and mostly words with some pages presented more stylistically. There's some relatable bits here, for those of us who have weathered heartbreak, but the backstory of said heartbreak is rather spare, content-wise. If the point of the book is working through the relationship, I was expecting more of the relationship . . . Otherwise, it's difficult for the reader to be invested in the story.

I did enjoy some of the humorous asides about red flags on dating apps, and the trope-y advice his friends give him after the split.

It's a cute idea, but a little lacking.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Tim. Such an amazing artist and an inspiration not only for his talented beautiful artwork but also as a person, how he shows his support to others in need. Continuously sharing from his vulnerability and beautiful caring heart.
I enjoyed reading his book and loved his art.
It’s a simple story, easy to read but it was also refreshing to hear a love story from a vulnerable man author. I have read many novels and books written by men that were often hard for me to read because of the lack of really showing the broken parts, the deep emotions, the pain and the longing for love.
Tim’s writing is refreshing, lovely.

[Fern F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, earnest graphic memoir about Timothy Goodman, a hopeless romantic who needs to rethink his attachment issues (don't worry, he's very aware of this). I expected a little more Paris, but considering that Goodman is the type of person who goes all in with relationships, its not surprising that once the love story begins, Paris takes a back seat. At the forefront is Goodman who, through this meteoric rise and fall of a love story, provides an earnest portrait of what it means to be in love when you allow yourself to fully experience that love no holds barred. It's also about how you dig yourself out of the post-breakup funk. A charming, quirky read that leaves you rooting for Goodman.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this as an audiobook before realizing that this is a borderline graphic novel? I'm a bit torn, as the verbal retelling was very good, but I think the illustrations add just a littl something else. This is also really grew on me. At first it felt like a pretty standard set of poetic snippets about a romantic summer in Paris, but it honestly felt like a lot more by the end. Goodman displayed a lot of real honestly and vulnerability about himself and his approach to relationships. It was insight, sweet, and very quotable. Definitely a recommend (especially if you might be tending a broken heart)

[P M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really finished it in two days! And more importantly, I finished the two-thirds of it within 2 hours into the midnight! I just couldn’t stop. I dug this kind of book so much—words and vivid sketch pictures inserted in the right place with the right rhythm. I just turn one page after another until I reach The End.

Really like the about about man choosing vulnerability over toxic masculinity, and the part “Every decision I made is right, because they are mine.””I should love myself.”

Ready to read Timothy’s other book!

p.s. I know Timothy from Jennette, who writes I’m Glad My Mom Died. She’s a great book recommender.

[Hunter Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very easy read however I had seen Tess Holliday talk about it a few years ago on her story and I was intrigued enough to add it to my TBR. I’m glad I finally read it, as I often found it very relatable. The author is just trying his best while stumbling through love and life and talking about the very real experiences of loves that don’t go the way you planned but the experiences you gain from them none the less. I felt myself often relating to the narrator and feeling seen through all his raw and honest imperfections. I also loved the ways in which he blended his art with his prose.

[Lindsay Petralia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know why I’m crying but I am? Maybe it’s because it’s over, or I’ll never be able to experience reading that for the first time ever again, maybe it’s the goosebumps? Maybe it’s the fact that I’m reminded that how I feel isn’t solely felt by me.

Timothy - you inspire me. Both creatively and humanely? Is that a word? Idk. But just know, even though I couldn’t make your first book tour stop (even as it was essentially down the road from me😩) - I’ll never stop supporting you.

[Laura]

Interesting format - it’s technically a graphic novel, but not in the traditional sense. Lots of word/infographics and illuminated writing. Regular text (with rhythms like spoken word) interspersed. Beautifully done, in a somewhat minimalistic style that I appreciated.

I would recommend this book for when you’ve gone through a breakup and want something that reflects that experience. The author has good insights about a variety of topics in the book, but that’s really the focus. If you’re not in that headspace, you might not connect as much to it. At least, that was my experience.

[M Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this, and feel like I missed out on on the design/visual portion. Timothy writes poetically and with a certain rhythm, but it feels like we only get partial beats of the love story in Paris. I wanted more substance and more insight on his growth in relationships from 40 days of dating to now, but didn't quite get that. I will revisit this review after I check out the book in print since I feel like this story kind of depends on the art and design done by Timothy.

[Rachel Lauto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the graphic design/illustrations of this book and can tell that the author is a talented spoken word poet. However, the book as a whole felt fairly sub-unique when it comes to the experience of heartbreak…is its universality possibly the point? It felt like the tone was much more, “I invented heartbreak! I am such a big-hearted human!”

Was happy to find the author on Instagram and see that he’s now in a happy, thriving relationship though. Well done on the whole moving-on thing!

[Dania · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. It's got to be something about the fact that Timothy Goodman is a true "momma's boy" 😊

Also the fact that he owns his vulnerability and exposes toxic masculinity for what it is: apathy and escaping from the truth. There were so many fascinating quotes in this book and wowzers I didn't expect to be enchanted by the sheer simplicity of it all!

What a delightfully jarring look at relationship in the span of 6 months in Paris and Rome. 😉

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this graphic memoir! I loved that Timothy focused on a specific year of his life. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and a few that made me feel so sad for Timothy. I found myself bookmarking so many pages of this book.

*Thank you Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

[Emma Schroder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to try out reading a new style, so I picked up this graphic memoir. It was pretty cool in regards to the illustrations, but pretty flat on the story-telling side. There were lots of repetitive thoughts, and I felt like I was ready the author’s journal - lots of telling, not much showing. It was interesting, though, and I was glad to try something new.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein Buch, auf das ich über Instagram aufmerksam wurde. Der New Yorker Künstler T. G. schreibt über seine Liebe zu einer Frau, die er in Paris kennenlernt. Dahinter stehen die Fragen: Wer bin ich? Was will ich? Wie gebe ich mich? Was gebe ich meiner Partnerin? Das alles leicht bekömmlich und cool illustriert. Ein romantisches Coffee Table Book. Hat mir gut gefallen.