Lie With Me is the type of book that sticks with you long after you've read it. It walks the line between memoir and fiction, so we can't be sure of how much is real. It appears to be inspired by a teenage relationship between Philippe Besson and a boy from his school. It starts in 2007 when Philippe sees a boy who looks like his old lover. This brings all the memories, passion and heartbreak back to the author. We then travel back to 1984 and see Philippe embark on his first real love affair with Thomas Andrieu. The pair have never spoken until Thomas approaches Philippe asking to meet. What follows is a series of clandestine meetings in empty school rooms or at Philippe's house.

It is a relationship doomed to fail because Thomas has already decided the pair are too different. Philippe is the son of a headmaster while Thomas is part of a farming family. Thomas can't imagine ever leaving his childhood home but understands that Philippe is destined for greater things. While Philippe quickly falls for Thomas, the other boy finds it harder. His mother is a Catholic and Thomas understands the shame of his secret fling. With so much working against them, it's understandable that the two boys fall apart. Unable to continue with the affair, Thomas heads to Spain and the two never speak again. It's a heartbreaking and engaging tale of teenage love and how transformative it can be.

The book is short at under 150 pages but that's more than enough to make a point. It's told sparingly and we only see the important parts of their early relationship. It makes sense for the story being told that we only see snippets of Thomas and Philippe together. Outside of their hookups, they both had separate lives. The language used here is direct and sparse. I'm not sure how good the translation is and it might have sounded more lyrical in the original language. However, I think the book is very readable and captures the experience of young love. If it had been any longer it would have run the risk of being too self-indulgent.

This is a book that focuses on the topics of masculinity and accepting your sexuality. Thomas is never comfortable with his relationship with Philippe but the other boy wishes they could be more open. There is also the question of class here. Thomas is from a working-class background but Philippe is pushed into greater things. There is tension between the two with Philippe constantly wanting to prove how similar they are. Although, it never really works and you can see that Philippe is just playing a role. What the two have in common is attraction and passion. It's a beautiful and emotional book that captivates from the start. Lie With Me celebrates young love and laments the fact that so many men aren't able to come to terms with their sexuality.