The Margot Affair is a novel written by Sanaë Lemoine. It tells the story of Margot Louve, a seventeen-year-old girl who is the secret daughter of a prominent French politician, Jean-Pierre Louve, and famous actress Eloïse Lafontaine. Margot has spent her entire life hidden from the public eye, living in a small apartment with her mother on the outskirts of Paris.

The novel begins when Margot decides to reveal her true identity to the world by anonymously sending a letter to a journalist. This act sets off a chain of events that forces Margot to confront her complicated family dynamics and navigate the consequences of her actions.

As Margot’s secret becomes public knowledge, she finds herself caught between two worlds. On one hand, she longs for the love and acceptance of her father and his legitimate family. On the other hand, she is fiercely protective of her mother and their unconventional life together. Margot’s desire for connection leads her to form a bond with a journalist named Julien, who is determined to uncover the truth behind her story.

Throughout the novel, Lemoine explores themes of identity, family secrets, and the complexities of love. She delves into the emotional turmoil experienced by Margot as she grapples with her dual existence and tries to find her place in the world. The narrative also touches upon societal expectations, political power dynamics, and the price individuals pay for their choices.

Lemoine’s writing style is lyrical and introspective, allowing readers to delve deep into Margot’s thoughts and emotions. The characters are well-developed and complex, each carrying their own burdens and desires. The author skillfully weaves together past and present narratives, gradually revealing the layers of Margot’s story.

• The Margot Affair

• A Novel
• By: Sanaë Lemoine
• Narrated by: Hope Newhouse

Margot Louve is a secret: the child of a perennial love affair between an influential French politician with presidential ambitions and a famous stage actress. This hidden family survives stolen moments in a small Paris apartment on the Left Bank.

It’s a house of cards that Margot – motivated by a desire to see and hear – decides to do somersaults. The summer of her 17th birthday, she meets the man who will carry out her plan: a highly regarded journalist who seems surprisingly easy to trust. But as Margot is drawn into an adult world she tries to make sense of, she learns how an impulsive decision can threaten to destroy family bonds, disrupt the lives of those around her, around her in ways she could never have imagined.

Exposing the lines between private life and public faces, The Margot Affair is a novel of deception, lust and transgression – and the exhilarating blade of telling the dangerous truth. more dangerous than the price paid for secrecy.

Great Text Great Performance Great Summer Listening! Makes you feel like you’re a teenager in Paris

This book was very well written. That’s why I read the book — it took me to a place and a life that I’ve never been and never will. Not much action, but lots of insight.

I would never have picked this one up if it wasn’t recommended, but I’m so glad I did. Relatable characters and seamless storytelling bring out the nuances of the protagonist’s development in a perfect way. A true coming of age story. If you enjoy good writing then you’ll enjoy reading it, even if the topic isn’t something you’re usually attracted to.

I can’t stop reading – highly recommended. The author’s ability to capture the nuances of women’s relationships in all their complex forms is true to life yet feels like a new, unique perspective. Themes around voyeurism are elegantly and unsettlingly woven throughout the novel, serving as a mirror for the reader, who can’t help but feel a little voyeuristic as they follow the case. Margot’s increasingly complicated work and relationship with the adult world. My husband loves it too! Thanks for the ARC.

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