A review by taratearex
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A character driven novel of a woman going through a 28 day program for love addiction. I enjoyed the vignette flashbacks to other times in her life that added depth to the story being told in the present. The main character is not very likeable, but I found myself rooting for her anyway. I think the theme of generational trauma and trauma through occupation and war is done really well, the moments with her mom and when she is talking about Palestine are heartbreaking and painful. This story is mostly told through the main characters relationships, which makes sense given her issue with love, but it did feel like there was a lack of something- it might just be that I usually feel that way about character driven stories. Overall, really interesting and some lovely writing but I wanted more.

I listened to the audiobook for this and was a thrown by the narration, and it took me a while to get into. I think the narrator is British but doing an American accent, but many of the words were pronounced in what I assume is the British pronunciation, as it's not the American. Otherwise some words were just pronounced with the emphasis not where it would be for an American pronunciation. 
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