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Lie with Me

By: Philippe Besson, Molly Ringwald
Narrated by: Jacques Roy
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Summary

The number one French best seller and winner of the Maison De La Presse Prize

Just outside a hotel in Bordeaux, Philippe, a famous writer chances upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to his first love. What follows is a look back to Philippe's teenage years, to a winter morning in 1984, a small French high school, and a carefully timed encounter between two 17-year-olds. It's the start of a secret, intensely passionate, world-altering love affair between Philippe and his classmate, Thomas.

Dazzlingly rendered by Molly Ringwald, the acclaimed actor and writer, in her first-ever translation, Besson's exquisitely moving coming-of-age story captures the tenderness of first love - and the heartbreaking passage of time.

©2019 Philippe Besson and Molly Ringwald (P)2019 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"Stunning and heart-gripping." (André Aciman, author of Call Me by Your Name)

"A beautiful, shattering novel about desire and shame, about passionate youth and the regrets of age." (Olivia Laing, best selling author of Crudo and The Lonely City)

"It has been years since anything moved me as much as Lie With Me. It will become a classic." (Jonathan Coe, best selling author of Middle England)

What listeners say about Lie with Me

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Tragic and beautiful

Amazing writing capturing the tragic destiny of a love long lost. I now look forward to seeing the film

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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so beautiful

Just finished it. Still crying. So beautiful. Need a few tissues now. Lovely narration too. Just beautiful.
I haven't listened to a book as beautiful as this for ... ever.
I can't find any other translations of Besson. I really hope I do .

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Tragically beautiful - with such a valuable message

The story, the writing and the narration make this an unmissable book. Although sad, and quite short, it does not disappoint. Above all, it manages to usher in, through the poignancy of its tender story, one of the most powerful messages we all need to hear: that to love oneself for who and what you are is the key that unlocks the door to your heart and to the happiness this can bring. To live a life regretting what you are and stepping away from self acceptance is a sadness that this book embraces us in, as a reader, and to me, invites us to see in ourselves and others the infinite beauty and possibilities of life lived with an open heart. A beautiful book. So sad, but so glad that I had the chance to hear this story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely book, poor narration

I feel so dissappointed with the narration, which I found strangely mechanical, devoid of emotion. It almost ruined the book for me. I wish now that I had read it myself, which I think may have resulted in 5 stars.

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Heartbreaking

So glad I came across this book. A painfully tragic book about love, loss, regrets, homophobia that will stay with me for a long long long time.

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One of the most moving books I’ve listened to for a long time

It’s a beautiful story written with certain simplicity and incredible lyricisms at the same time. Honest, brutally touching in a way. It’s screams a true experience by the author - you have to know love to be able to portray it this way. It might be just by longing though. And your sexual orientation doesn’t matter in the slightest. If it is work of imagination- very well done. I couldn’t put it down

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Heartbreaking

Never read anything like this before, how close to home it is. Beautifully written. I cried when I read the last sentence

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Touched a Nerve that made me cry

An enthralling tale of young unfulfilled love and how not accepting yourself drives you away. So many parallels and frightening how doubt can cause the ultimate sacrifice. So well written It took you on that journey.

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Wow!

I was gripped right from the beginning. Intoxicating story, so vivid and tender. I so did not want it to end.

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beautiful...

it was beautiful. No words.... I wish to have the courage to turn my life around when I'm happiness is gone.

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2 people found this helpful