Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Lie with Me by Philippe Besson

54 reviews

katieb94's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for and honest (but late) review. I do feel I wasn’t the right audience for this book however, it was a queer coming of age story and I really couldn’t connect with the characters at all. 

I’m also not sure if it’s semi-autobiographical or not. 

Another issue I have is with the layout, I just get confused by novels that don’t have speech marks for anything spoken. Even though it was indicated I still
got lost. 

The main part of the story is told to use by the writer/narrator as he tells us about his relationship with a boy, Thomas, whilst at high school- including the details of their sex lives too. I liked this part of the book best and seeing their relationship develop was nice to read.

It felt very obsolete though when it came to their adult hood. They drifted away, didn’t contact each other and it isn’t until the narrator meets Thomas’ son that we have any idea what happened after.

It takes a surprisingly sad turn towards the end that I didn’t see coming and there’s no direction it’s going to happen. 

3/5 stars.
Sweet little queer romance book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia

risemini's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Homophobia, Suicide, Bullying, and Death

janewsom8112's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am inconsolable 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content

molly_kate's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide

q_bert13's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

a memoir of the author's high school years that tell the story of a young 80's romance. Its an absolutely wonderful read and a tear jerker at times. This is the first book I've read by Philippe Besson, but it won't be the last

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Classism, and Bullying

Minor: Suicide and Abandonment

morebedsidebooks's review

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Ableism, Death, Miscarriage, Car accident, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Vomit

imrereads's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide

madamelacy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A coming of age story set in France in 1984. The story recounts the relationship between Philippe, who’s destined to pursue his studies, and Thomas whose future lies on the family’s farm. 

Thomas is very taciturn and clearly not ready to come out as gay, whereas Philippe feels like he’s more comfortable in his own skin and more enthusiastic about the relationship.

I loved all the cultural references as I spent a lot of time in France in the 1980s, so this definitely contributed to my enjoyment of this book. 

I believe the book is semi-autobiographical, which I think possibly made the author too close to the story, so Thomas’ character is less well-developed. However Philippe is the narrator, so maybe it’s understandable that I felt like I got to know him better. 

I don’t like coming of age stories but keep on accidentally reading them. This one was more than tolerable though. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Suicide

marleywrites's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Reminded me of my own life in a way. This was such a gorgeous novel. I’m so glad I read this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Homophobia, Death, Sexual content, and Suicide

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Bullying