A review by callanisreading
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.0

A Palestinian-American woman in her twenties has recovered from an eating disorder, moved in with her girlfriend, and accepted a position at a prestigious MFA program; her successes belie a woman on the brink of unraveling. In vignettes that jump across time and continents, she reflects on the relationships, places, and identities that define her — and wonders how she would like to define herself. In this tender character study, Arafat explores the physical and emotional borders we draw, and asks where people who occupy both sides of a border can find home.