Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!
Dear readers,
Hi and welcome to another book review! Today I would like to introduce The Heart of Everything by Marc Levy! This shorter story detailing what it means to lose someone was originally published in French, but this translated copy is still written beautifully. Thomas, the main character, feels like he is being delusional when his father who has been dead for five years comes knocking at his door. This moment turns out to be the beginning of a journey, physical and emotional, that this father and son duo embarks on. Raymond, Thomas’s father has such a funny personality that it lightens the sadder themes of the book and definitely made me laugh out loud a few times!
Goodreads Summary
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.
My Thoughts
This book had an unsuspecting hold on me while I was reading it, and I was always thinking about when I could read the next bit! The interesting boundary this book sits between makes it feel realistic while also having fantastical elements. I highly recommend picking this book up, not just because of the valuable insight it offers, but because it is such a funny and exciting novel. If you have any traveling coming up soon, I feel like this book is perfect for a flight, or even to read while on vacation. The entire book took me about 4.5 hours to read, which entertained me throughout my four day winter break trip! The chapters are on the shorter side, meaning that you can pick this book up anytime, even if you only have 15 minutes! The Heart of Everything is a sweet and impactful novel about the father-son bond, and how it overcomes death.
While The Heart of Everything is an adult novel, I believe it is perfectly readable for anyone who enjoys YA books. Some mature themes to keep in mind though are death, loss of a loved one, and drugs. Enjoy your reading!
**Thanks so much, Sofia!**