You Exist Too Much (2020)

Others: Mostly positive

A novel of self-discovery following a Palestinian-American girl as she navigates queerness, love addiction and a series of tumultuous relationships' The Millions, One of the Most Anticipated Books of the Year Told in vignettes that flash between the US and the Middle East, Zaina Arafat's powerful debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to creative and confused adulthood. In Brooklyn, she moves into an apartment with her first serious girlfriend and tries to content herself with their comfortable relationship. Soon, her longings, so closely hidden during her teenage years, explode out into reckless romantic encounters and obsessions with other people which results in her seeking unconventional help to face her past traumas and current demons. Opening up the fantasies and desires of one young woman caught between cultural, religious and sexual identities, You Exist Too Much is a captivating story charting two of our most intense longings - for love, and a place to call home.

ISBN:: 9780349701776
Length:: 320 pages

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Reviews3

Jack EdwardsDec 2023

Mixed

the title you exist too much suggests abundance whereas this book was not really giving anything at all it was actually incredibly lacking the one thing I think this book does really well and does tackle effectively is the concept of therapy