
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

An emotional riveting tale that transcends the beauteous message of hope and love. I j’adore I'm Still Here (Je Suis Là) by Clélie Avit as this author completely had me enraptured with her deep poetic and tangible prose. In this modern take of Sleeping Beauty meets Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Avit writes a delicate balance of love and friendship brewing between two strangers.
I'm Still Here (Je Suis Là) is told in dual perspective. Elsa is a young woman who has been hospitalized for five months after a terrible accident that has left her unable to see, speak or move. Being placed in an irreversible coma, her family see little hope in her recovery that is until a stranger walks into Elsa’s hospital room.
Thibault was looking for a quiet place to regroup his emotions after visiting his brother, who was involved in a drunk driving accident that was responsible in killing two innocent young girls. When Thibault enters Elsa’s room, he finds the silence deafening and soon he begins to find comfort in talking to her. As Thibault continues to talk to Elsa, he believes that she can hear him and sense his presence. And soon an unlikely friendship that is blurred by love begins to ignite. Readers are well aware that Elsa can indeed hear Thibault, her mind is lucid but her body are held captive by the coma. What others may see as a hopeless case for Elsa, Thibault knows the truth that she is still here.
In this emotionally compelling story, Clélie Avit sensitively wrote a story that was full of heart and hope. With Avit stunning prose, she lures readers to feel the tangible connection that Elsa and Thibault have formed. So if you are a looking for a story that was devastatingly raw, beautiful, poignant and touching then I would recommend you give this book a try. Nothing was lost in translation because Avit depicted the power of hope in a celestial and moving manner.


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