You Exist Too Much

Zaina Arafat's debut novel, You Exist Too Much, is a captivating story of a young woman caught between cultural, religious, and sexual identities. It explores themes of love, belonging, and self-discovery and is praised for its nuanced writing and provocative exploration of these issues.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Deeply compelling... sexy. Roxane Gay takes you on a dizzying tour of love addiction, rehab, homophobia, betrayal, obsession, and the aching need for a mother's unconditional love. At different times throughout, you'll find the protagonist needy, reckless, and selfish, but also smart, intuitive, and trapped between two cultures—because, as we all know, humans are nothing if not complicated. Roxane is right: this deserves five stars.


Stylist
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 deeply 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.


As heard on Radio 2 Book Club, this captivating novel is perfect for readers who love Maggie Nelson and Garth Greenwell.
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.


What people are saying about You Exist Too Much:

Real and deliciously messy.

Attitude

An elegantly written debut... A thought-provoking exploration of love and belonging, and how the two come together to create a sense of self.

New European

Exquisitely written and crafted with a compelling lightness of touch.

Living Magazine

A nuanced, sparky debut.

Observer

A wonderfully w.

Weight: 218g
Dimension: 127 x 199 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349701776