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A Little in Love
As a young child Eponine never knew kindness, except once from her family's kitchen slave, Cosette. When at sixteen the girls' paths cross again and their circumstances are reversed, Eponine must decide what that friendship is worth, even though they've both fallen for the same boy. In the end, Eponine will sacrifice everything to keep true love alive.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2014
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About the author
Susan Fletcher
8 books578 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Fletcher is a British novelist. She was born in Birmingham and studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, Eve Green, won the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and the Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize; it was also picked for Channel 4's (UK) Richard and Judy Summer reading list. Subsequent novels have been shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Writers’ Guild fiction award, and longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. Her novel Witch Light won France’s 2013 Saint-Maur en Poche award. Fletcher is a former Fellow at the University of Worcester, as part of the Royal Literary Fund's fellowship program, and is the author of The Night in Question.
source: Amazon
Susan Fletcher is a British novelist. She was born in Birmingham and studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, Eve Green, won the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and the Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize; it was also picked for Channel 4's (UK) Richard and Judy Summer reading list. Subsequent novels have been shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Writers’ Guild fiction award, and longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. Her novel Witch Light won France’s 2013 Saint-Maur en Poche award. Fletcher is a former Fellow at the University of Worcester, as part of the Royal Literary Fund's fellowship program, and is the author of The Night in Question.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
September 12, 2021
We all leave something behind us. A bird in flight will lose a snow-white feather, and flowers in the hedgerows will drop petals. And people? We leave memories. Footprints in the dust and fingerprints on everything we’ve touched, warmth in every hand we’ve held. We become stories that are spoken of, for always. And in this way, we carry on.
This is Eponine’s story. If you had no familiarity with Les Miserables and did not know the events that took place in that novel, you might feel a little lost and let down in this one. I tried to imagine not being able to fill in the blanks with the true story of Les Miserables, and I felt, under those circumstances, I would have ended this with more questions than answers.
Susan Fletcher is a good writer. She is very effective at drawing her reader into her characters. I suppose what bothers me here is that this is not her character, this character belongs to Victor Hugo, and his Eponine is more real and complete for me than Fletcher’s is.
I feel it is imperative to say I am seldom enthusiastic about one author adopting another’s characters or storyline to their own purposes. I find it fails far more often than it succeeds. I acquired this book without realizing it was that kind of story, but entered hopefully, after all this is Susan Fletcher. I love Fletcher and this is the only time I have not felt inclined to give one of her books 5-stars. That is not to say this is not a good book. I did enjoy it; I just didn’t love it.
I must end this review, as I end all my Susan Fletcher reviews, READ Corrag (also known as Witch Light). It is too marvelous to miss. It is Fletcher at her best.
This is Eponine’s story. If you had no familiarity with Les Miserables and did not know the events that took place in that novel, you might feel a little lost and let down in this one. I tried to imagine not being able to fill in the blanks with the true story of Les Miserables, and I felt, under those circumstances, I would have ended this with more questions than answers.
Susan Fletcher is a good writer. She is very effective at drawing her reader into her characters. I suppose what bothers me here is that this is not her character, this character belongs to Victor Hugo, and his Eponine is more real and complete for me than Fletcher’s is.
I feel it is imperative to say I am seldom enthusiastic about one author adopting another’s characters or storyline to their own purposes. I find it fails far more often than it succeeds. I acquired this book without realizing it was that kind of story, but entered hopefully, after all this is Susan Fletcher. I love Fletcher and this is the only time I have not felt inclined to give one of her books 5-stars. That is not to say this is not a good book. I did enjoy it; I just didn’t love it.
I must end this review, as I end all my Susan Fletcher reviews, READ Corrag (also known as Witch Light). It is too marvelous to miss. It is Fletcher at her best.
January 18, 2020
I couldn’t help but fall a little in love with this book.
Originally I expected a boring, but short historical fiction read. Instead I was met with a strong protagonist named Eponine in a story dealing with the hardships in life.
Ever since a young age, Eponine and her sister have been taught to steal to support their family. This gave them a stable life that was ruined one day when their father murdered a man.
On the run for 6 years, Eponine and her family struggle to survive. When they finally arrive in France, Eponine has every right to hate her family and her life. She’s a teenager made of skin and bones, abused by her family, and known only for stealing to make money.
However, Eponine is an admirable and relatable character. I saw a little of myself in her as I read this book, and that’s all I need in a ya book. Sometimes I get sick of the cliche ya girl and Ephonine is nothing like that.
I aspire to be like Eponine and this book will always hold “a little pebble in my heart”.
Originally I expected a boring, but short historical fiction read. Instead I was met with a strong protagonist named Eponine in a story dealing with the hardships in life.
Ever since a young age, Eponine and her sister have been taught to steal to support their family. This gave them a stable life that was ruined one day when their father murdered a man.
On the run for 6 years, Eponine and her family struggle to survive. When they finally arrive in France, Eponine has every right to hate her family and her life. She’s a teenager made of skin and bones, abused by her family, and known only for stealing to make money.
However, Eponine is an admirable and relatable character. I saw a little of myself in her as I read this book, and that’s all I need in a ya book. Sometimes I get sick of the cliche ya girl and Ephonine is nothing like that.
I aspire to be like Eponine and this book will always hold “a little pebble in my heart”.
June 5, 2016
When Sarah recommended this to me, I was skeptical about it, since I know barely anything about Les Miserables, and thought that would limit my enjoyment, but, I really grew to love Eponine, Cosette and Marius. The writing style was beautiful, the story read like a tragic fairy tale, and I definitely fell a little in love with it!
September 14, 2015
I can't think of a secondary character in a classic work of literature who is less in need of an author to champion her than Eponine. I read it anyways. I might not have, if it didn't look so much like Fletcher would be taking much of her inspiration from the book, not the musical. But who knows? I was really just kind of happy that this was published.
This really is the book's Eponine, and the book as a whole is essentially Eponine's perspective of the things she could reasonably know about, and nothing else. So she does not, for example, know that Valjean is a convict who broke parole, because she doesn't actually have an opportunity to learn that. Probably, it would be easier for most people to follow this if they had already read the book, or at least knew the basic plot synopsis, to fill in holes.
Much of this book is focused on Eponine's relationship, such as it is, with her family, such as they are. The Thenardiers are (spoiler alert!) really really terrible people, and Eponine is... not entirely. That she steals only because she's directed to, and not because it's in her blood, makes her sort of the black sheep of her family. Her younger sister, Azelma, on the other hand, is her father's daughter, through and through. This is all reasonable extrapolation on Fletcher's part, by the way. I was very pleased with the way she fleshed out both characters, and it made absolute sense with the way they were portrayed in the book. Fletcher's Eponine is really driven by her need for love and approval, especially from her family, and it can be quite sad to read.
But I was really nervous about how she was going to show Eponine's love for Marius. I guess I didn't need to be. Marius was appropriately kind, but romantically disinterested. Cosette is sweet, not the stealth bitch of thousands of fanfics. And it all plays out just exactly as it needs to. Yes, I feel for Eponine, but it's good that Fletcher doesn't give her her heart's desire, nor does she romanticize or pretty her up. She has a somewhat closer relationship with both Marius and Cosette than she does in the book, but it fits really well. I like how Fletcher wrote the childhood relationship between Cosette and Eponine. They weren't quite friends, but they both wanted to be. Later in the book, Cosette tells Eponine that she had felt sorry for her, because though Cosette's own mother was absent, at least she knew that she loved her. And it's kind of a perfect summary of the differences between the two girls.
Les Amis also show up, sort of. That is, the barricade happens, and a few of them are alluded to, but only Enjolras plays any sort of part. And thank God, but Fletcher wrote him correctly. Yes, I wish the rest of Les Amis could have had bigger parts (especially Grantaire) but really, the few pages of Enjolras I got was more than I expected. But I can't help but wish.
I don't have any real complaints about any of this. Not the writing, or the dialog, or the characterization, or the plot. But I do kind of feel the need to point out that Fletcher polished out both Marius and Eponine a bit. Taking a page from the musical (I think), Fletcher made this version of Marius a rather more ardent republican than he had been in the book. Which allows her to bypass one of the more objectionable things book Eponine does: I was a little disappointed by this, because I feel like it would have added another layer of complexity to her character, and it wouldn't have been terribly out of keeping with the way Fletcher had been portraying her to that point. But do I blame her for leaving that bit out? Of course not! It's... a little dark, let's be honest, and it would be really tough to write around that. She does something sort of similar earlier in the book, though, when Eponine does let her jealousy get the better of her.
Maybe Eponine profic wasn't really necessary, but I ended up quite enjoying it. I would highly recommend this for Les Mis fans, especially those with a special interest in Eponine. Even Les Amis fans, like myself, have some things to be happy with. As far as adaptions of a classic go, it's remarkably faithful, understands the source material very well, and actually does bring some new depth to at least one of the characters. I was kind of scared of this book, given how much I love Les Mis, but I ended up being glad I'd read it.
Before reading: It was only a matter of time before somebody got their Eponine fic published. I'm choosing to take it as a positive sign that Fletcher took her title from Eponine's last words in the book ("And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you," which is one of my favorite lines) and not from the musical.
This really is the book's Eponine, and the book as a whole is essentially Eponine's perspective of the things she could reasonably know about, and nothing else. So she does not, for example, know that Valjean is a convict who broke parole, because she doesn't actually have an opportunity to learn that. Probably, it would be easier for most people to follow this if they had already read the book, or at least knew the basic plot synopsis, to fill in holes.
Much of this book is focused on Eponine's relationship, such as it is, with her family, such as they are. The Thenardiers are (spoiler alert!) really really terrible people, and Eponine is... not entirely. That she steals only because she's directed to, and not because it's in her blood, makes her sort of the black sheep of her family. Her younger sister, Azelma, on the other hand, is her father's daughter, through and through. This is all reasonable extrapolation on Fletcher's part, by the way. I was very pleased with the way she fleshed out both characters, and it made absolute sense with the way they were portrayed in the book. Fletcher's Eponine is really driven by her need for love and approval, especially from her family, and it can be quite sad to read.
But I was really nervous about how she was going to show Eponine's love for Marius. I guess I didn't need to be. Marius was appropriately kind, but romantically disinterested. Cosette is sweet, not the stealth bitch of thousands of fanfics. And it all plays out just exactly as it needs to. Yes, I feel for Eponine, but it's good that Fletcher doesn't give her her heart's desire, nor does she romanticize or pretty her up. She has a somewhat closer relationship with both Marius and Cosette than she does in the book, but it fits really well. I like how Fletcher wrote the childhood relationship between Cosette and Eponine. They weren't quite friends, but they both wanted to be. Later in the book, Cosette tells Eponine that she had felt sorry for her, because though Cosette's own mother was absent, at least she knew that she loved her. And it's kind of a perfect summary of the differences between the two girls.
Les Amis also show up, sort of. That is, the barricade happens, and a few of them are alluded to, but only Enjolras plays any sort of part. And thank God, but Fletcher wrote him correctly. Yes, I wish the rest of Les Amis could have had bigger parts (especially Grantaire) but really, the few pages of Enjolras I got was more than I expected. But I can't help but wish.
I don't have any real complaints about any of this. Not the writing, or the dialog, or the characterization, or the plot. But I do kind of feel the need to point out that Fletcher polished out both Marius and Eponine a bit. Taking a page from the musical (I think), Fletcher made this version of Marius a rather more ardent republican than he had been in the book. Which allows her to bypass one of the more objectionable things book Eponine does: I was a little disappointed by this, because I feel like it would have added another layer of complexity to her character, and it wouldn't have been terribly out of keeping with the way Fletcher had been portraying her to that point. But do I blame her for leaving that bit out? Of course not! It's... a little dark, let's be honest, and it would be really tough to write around that. She does something sort of similar earlier in the book, though, when Eponine does let her jealousy get the better of her.
Maybe Eponine profic wasn't really necessary, but I ended up quite enjoying it. I would highly recommend this for Les Mis fans, especially those with a special interest in Eponine. Even Les Amis fans, like myself, have some things to be happy with. As far as adaptions of a classic go, it's remarkably faithful, understands the source material very well, and actually does bring some new depth to at least one of the characters. I was kind of scared of this book, given how much I love Les Mis, but I ended up being glad I'd read it.
Before reading: It was only a matter of time before somebody got their Eponine fic published. I'm choosing to take it as a positive sign that Fletcher took her title from Eponine's last words in the book ("And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you," which is one of my favorite lines) and not from the musical.
May 1, 2016
I'll admit that my excitement upon finding a teen novel telling Eponine's tale quickly turned to dubiousness, as these kinds of books can often end up as a let down. I'm delighted to be able to say that A Little In Love was not one of them; this is a moving, thoughtful, gorgeously written book that adds so much to the Les Miserables story.
Eponine's always been my favourite tragic waif in Les Miserables, and Fletcher does her wonderful justice here, from her childhood in an inn being taught to steal from patrons by her parents, to her jumbled adolescence hiding from the police as her murderer father goes on the run and drags his family with him. A Little In Love is based on the novel, rather than the musical - sadly, there are no interludes of singing in this book - but it'll make sense even if you haven't waded through the original Victor Hugo brick, and if you have, there are lots of little details and cameos to look out for. Eponine's desire for affection and her struggle to be "good" are beautifully, emotively written, as are the other characters: her sister Azelma, delighting in her life as a thief, her poisonous parents, Cosette, both as an abused child and a strong young woman, and Marius, who Eponine finally falls hopelessly in love with.
This is a lovely, sad, richly atmospheric novel. Fletcher's writing conjures up nineteenth-century France perfectly, and her characters are amazingly vivid. We all know Eponine's story before even opening the book, but new life is breathed into it here, making it a lovely and not at all superfluous addition to the Les Miserables canon. And, inevitable or not, I still brushed away a few tears at the end. Wonderful and heartwrenching.
Eponine's always been my favourite tragic waif in Les Miserables, and Fletcher does her wonderful justice here, from her childhood in an inn being taught to steal from patrons by her parents, to her jumbled adolescence hiding from the police as her murderer father goes on the run and drags his family with him. A Little In Love is based on the novel, rather than the musical - sadly, there are no interludes of singing in this book - but it'll make sense even if you haven't waded through the original Victor Hugo brick, and if you have, there are lots of little details and cameos to look out for. Eponine's desire for affection and her struggle to be "good" are beautifully, emotively written, as are the other characters: her sister Azelma, delighting in her life as a thief, her poisonous parents, Cosette, both as an abused child and a strong young woman, and Marius, who Eponine finally falls hopelessly in love with.
This is a lovely, sad, richly atmospheric novel. Fletcher's writing conjures up nineteenth-century France perfectly, and her characters are amazingly vivid. We all know Eponine's story before even opening the book, but new life is breathed into it here, making it a lovely and not at all superfluous addition to the Les Miserables canon. And, inevitable or not, I still brushed away a few tears at the end. Wonderful and heartwrenching.
July 7, 2018
It's beautiful and sad and melodramatic and even though you know very well what will happen, you will be sobbing at the end. Just a really lovely re-telling of Eponine's story from Les Miserables by one of my favorite writers, Susan Fletcher. Marketed as YA, the book itself is strikingly pretty, red with black endpapers and a good introduction to Hugo's novel for a young person, although, it is a great read I think for any age.
December 16, 2015
*I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Audio: Melody Grove does a fantastic job of bringing Eponine and the rest of the characters to life. Her French is flawless and her accent made the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Story: I love Les Misérables. I saw it on Broadway when I was 15 and have loved almost every adaptation since. (Except the movie version where Russel Crowe sings. That nearly ruined the whole story for me.) Les Mis was the inspiration for this book, but if you go into it expecting a straight retelling of Hugo's story, you will be disappointed.
I was expecting a backstory filled with details and emotions that would add more layers to the character of Eponine I admire and respect. A girl who doesn't always make the right choice, does what she needs to survive, but who loves a boy so much she is willing to set aside her own feelings for his happiness. A girl who was bold, strong and ultimately, selfless.
What I got was a sad, depressing story about a lonely girl with horrible parents and little to no backbone. The Eponine in A Little In Love is a shadow of the girl in Les Misérables.
Audio: Melody Grove does a fantastic job of bringing Eponine and the rest of the characters to life. Her French is flawless and her accent made the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Story: I love Les Misérables. I saw it on Broadway when I was 15 and have loved almost every adaptation since. (Except the movie version where Russel Crowe sings. That nearly ruined the whole story for me.) Les Mis was the inspiration for this book, but if you go into it expecting a straight retelling of Hugo's story, you will be disappointed.
I was expecting a backstory filled with details and emotions that would add more layers to the character of Eponine I admire and respect. A girl who doesn't always make the right choice, does what she needs to survive, but who loves a boy so much she is willing to set aside her own feelings for his happiness. A girl who was bold, strong and ultimately, selfless.
What I got was a sad, depressing story about a lonely girl with horrible parents and little to no backbone. The Eponine in A Little In Love is a shadow of the girl in Les Misérables.
December 4, 2018
It is so amazing how could a story, few pages make you think about every single little thing you do and it had could be the life its self, I won't lie I already know that, but to be more honest, this book makes it so clear to me.
To thank the God for the Good parent who raises me up to a better person no matter what, and for this lovely house I have, food, warmth, Decent life I'm living through this lifeless life and it is sham if I asked the God for more than that.
To thank the God for the Good parent who raises me up to a better person no matter what, and for this lovely house I have, food, warmth, Decent life I'm living through this lifeless life and it is sham if I asked the God for more than that.
January 2, 2023
okay- so- i have a lot of thoughts, and this won't be a very composed review but I NEED TO RANT AND RANT I WILL (is that a real saying??)
- the thenardiers are horrific in the movie, and this book only made them more villainous
- susan fletcher's writing style in here was,,, unimpressive to say the least. but i enjoyed this story so much that i'm giving it five stars because EPONINE AND MARIUS AND COSETTE AND ENJOLRAS AND GAVROCHE AND EVERYONE ELSE
- eponine was so sympathetic and broken and i love her so much
- i'm trapped between hating cosette and loving her *shrugs*
cw: mild and infrequent language (what the h*ll, b****), sexual assaulttechnically just a forced french kiss but it was still pretty intense (pgs 171-172), emotional & physical abuse, some gore, death, creepy perverted men, brief non graphic references to prostitution, non graphic references to vomiting
- the thenardiers are horrific in the movie, and this book only made them more villainous
- susan fletcher's writing style in here was,,, unimpressive to say the least. but i enjoyed this story so much that i'm giving it five stars because EPONINE AND MARIUS AND COSETTE AND ENJOLRAS AND GAVROCHE AND EVERYONE ELSE
- eponine was so sympathetic and broken and i love her so much
- i'm trapped between hating cosette and loving her *shrugs*
cw: mild and infrequent language (what the h*ll, b****), sexual assault
April 20, 2016
4.5 stars
And perhaps I live too and always will, for love is the strongest thing of all—and love never dies, never dies.A Little in Love is a retelling of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables from the perspective of Eponine. The result is an emotional and beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you finish it.
In Les Misérables - both the original book and the musical - Eponine's story is relatively simple and overlooked. A Little in Love adds so much depth and emotion to Eponine's story - all leading up to her tragic sacrifice.
Eponine is such a complex character. She is a victim of poverty, abuse, and unrequited love - yet, despite all this she still believes in the power of love and kindness.
I will give. Yes, I had to steal but I would try—try really hard—to give as well. With each bad thing, I’d do a good one, because that might, just might, make it all better. I’d be kind more than I’d be cruel.The romance between Eponine and Marius is, as expected, heartbreaking and bittersweet. You can't help but sympathize for Eponine as she watches Marius reject her affections and fall in love with Cosette instead.
Love. Redemption. Friendship. This is Eponine's story, and it's not something you want to miss.
Because such things don’t matter! Not to me. Pearls? Satin? They’re worthless in the end. It doesn’t matter how much money might be in our pockets or whether we are thin or well fed. What matters is our hearts, and what is in them.
October 12, 2015
If you don't mind that the ending was unfaithful to Les Misérables (and didn't wholly make sense), it's a good, miserable book.
And Enjolras is in it!
And Enjolras is in it!
June 16, 2017
In cosa mi sono cacciata.
Premessina che è tanto che non lo dico: I Miserabili è il mio libro preferito. Per tutta la vita ho avuto decine di libri preferiti (cavolo, li ho ancora), ma ricordo distintamente che - una volta arrivata alla fine del mattone di Hugo - un pensiero è sorto spontaneo nella mia mente: "Oh. Allora è questo IL mio libro preferito".
Per cui il suo retelling YA era qualcosa che non potevo lasciarmi sfuggire, esattamente come quello di Anna Bolena ed Enrico VIII, o quello di Romeo e Giulietta nemici mortali.
Ma voglio lasciare da parte i miei sentimenti personali per fare una considerazione, ossia: che senso ha farne uno su questa particolare opera? I Miserabili è lungo più di mille pagine, cosa si può approfondire, o raccontare di nuovo, in meno di trecento?
Per via della complessità del "materiale d'origine", i personaggi di Hugo sono tra quelli che meno necessitano di una nuova voce, e se ne hanno una è perchè qualcuno ha cambiato media (il musical). Eponine non ha bisogno di essere messa sotto i riflettori, e soprattutto non di esserci messa in questo modo. Ha già sofferto abbastanza, per la miseria.
Com'è A little in love? Per molti versi è come me lo aspettavo: inutile, non aggiunge niente e - avendo letto ciò da cui è tratto - irrispettoso nei confronti di Hugo.
Non mi aspettavo, però, che fosse anche fastidioso (o forse, in questo caso, la mia soglia di tolleranza è più bassa): la Fletcher non ha rielaborato niente, limitandosi a riassumere gli eventi col pov di Eponine - qui voce narrante.
La cosa non funziona molto bene, anche perchè ogni volta che l'autrice avrebbe avuto un po' di spazio di manovra (in virtù del fatto che Eponine è un personaggio secondario, e poi ad un certo punto c'è un salto temporale) lo sfrutta malissimo, con i Thenardier che - costretti a fuggire dopo un omicidio - vivono nei boschi per sei anni, roba che Jean Valjean levati, a te non ti cerca nessuno a confronto.
Sul serio: ci mettono sei anni a concepire il piano "andiamo a Parigi e cambiamo nome, sanno assai chi siamo". Anche Valjean ci ha messo meno a dire "fanculo, io cambio identità e mi rifaccio una vita", e aveva Javert a dargli la caccia (e il destino a ficcarli sempre nella stessa città), non il Gendarme Generico™.
Comunque il problema principale non è la scarsezza dei contenuti: il problema pricipale è la banalizzazione di tutto quello che rende Eponine un bel personaggio, unito al fatto che l'autrice sbaglia pure la categoria di generalizzazione. Se proprio dovessimo ridurre questa ragazza ad uno stereotipo, sarebbe la bad girl. È indurita dalla vita, Eponine, una che è un miracolo che riesca a provare un sentimento come l'amore, e che ad ogni modo non le porta nulla di buono. È una dei miserabili del titolo, con tutto ciò che di negativo la condizione si porta dietro, che non merita niente di quello che le capita anche se non è concentrato di virtù.
Questo rende Hugo grande: non ha denunciato il suo tempo scrivendo di quanto sono buoni e virtuosi i poveri, lui ha scritto personaggi realistici, che sono esattamente quello che la morale condannava... e sbatte in faccia che non se lo meritano.
La Fletcher questo non lo capisce, o non lo sa fare: lei prende Eponine e la trasforma in una santa, e così facendo le fa perdere tutto il suo fascino.
In A little in love Eponine è buona fino alla nausea, ma non ha scelta se non comportarsi da cattiva perchè i suoi genitori sono un incrocio tra Satana e un villain Disney senza fascino: Madame Thenardier si lancia in discorsi allucinanti su come diserederebbe la figlia se dimostrasse un briciolo di onestà, oppure fa deliranti monologhi su come trasformerà Cosette in una schiava che manca giusto la risata e il baffo da arricciare.
Eponine, dal canto suo, ha edificanti battute in stile che essere gentili fa sentire bene, e cerca di fare ammenda per i suoi furti compiendo buone azioni ed annaffiando le piante. Alla fine diventa una fervente sostenitrice del fatto che ad aria e bontà si vive benissimo: una volta abbandonata la famiglia si dice felice e sollevata anche se dorme per strada e sopravvive chiedendo l'elemosina. Ma può essere apertamente buona e questo fa pari con fame, freddo e malattie.
Una pioggia continua di becero buonismo e banalità che può funzionare - forse - con una dodicenne alle prese con il suo primo libro ever.
Un altro problema è dato dal fatto che il libro parla di Eponine, e solo di lei: siamo con la prima persona di un personaggio secondario e con un'autrice che non riesce a darle una storyline fuori da quella di Hugo. Si può facilmente intuire che la trama risulta incompleta: Eponine, quando lasciata a sé stessa, sospira su Marius e affronta dilemmi morali come "cosa mangio se non lavoro, non rubo e non mi prostituisco?" senza però che se ne veda mai la soluzione (e infatti il mio dilemma era "Come fai a non essere ancora morta di fame se non lavori, non rubi e non ti prostituisci? In fin dei conti Fantine muore facendo tutto questo"); la rivoluzione semplicemente ad una certa succede; nella quarta parlano del rapporto tra Eponine e Cosette e boh, hanno una scena insieme; qualunque mistero introdotto non ha soluzione perchè non riguarda la protagonista.
Davvero, se non si è letto I Miserabili o guardato il musical non si saprà mai:
1) cos'è successo a Fantine
2)chi è Jean Valjean, perchè ha salvato Cosette e perchè si sta nascondendo
3) perchè Javert ha un nome e delle battute se appare una volta sola
4) cosa succederà a Marius, Cosette e Gavroche
Già, perchè il libro finisce con la morte di Eponine e la Fletcher non si prende il disturbo di dare un'epilogo a, non so, tutti gli altri. È come se avesse voluto fare una di quelle novelle 0.5 o 1.5 che vanno di moda perchè Hugo non è stato abbastanza lungimirante da farne una lui.
Alla fine si tratta del retelling più inutile del mondo, di una superficialità sconcertante, il cui unico lato positivo è che potrebbe invogliare qualcuno a leggere il libro da cui è tratto.
Note sparse: per qualche motivo Valjean usa il suo vero nome anche se è ricercato e condannato all'ergastolo; a Parigi i Thenardier vivono in un buco spazio-temporale in cui è sempre inverno a prescindere da tutto; c'è una scena imbarazzante in cui Eponine prova a rubare i candelieri di Digne.
Premessina che è tanto che non lo dico: I Miserabili è il mio libro preferito. Per tutta la vita ho avuto decine di libri preferiti (cavolo, li ho ancora), ma ricordo distintamente che - una volta arrivata alla fine del mattone di Hugo - un pensiero è sorto spontaneo nella mia mente: "Oh. Allora è questo IL mio libro preferito".
Per cui il suo retelling YA era qualcosa che non potevo lasciarmi sfuggire, esattamente come quello di Anna Bolena ed Enrico VIII, o quello di Romeo e Giulietta nemici mortali.
Ma voglio lasciare da parte i miei sentimenti personali per fare una considerazione, ossia: che senso ha farne uno su questa particolare opera? I Miserabili è lungo più di mille pagine, cosa si può approfondire, o raccontare di nuovo, in meno di trecento?
Per via della complessità del "materiale d'origine", i personaggi di Hugo sono tra quelli che meno necessitano di una nuova voce, e se ne hanno una è perchè qualcuno ha cambiato media (il musical). Eponine non ha bisogno di essere messa sotto i riflettori, e soprattutto non di esserci messa in questo modo. Ha già sofferto abbastanza, per la miseria.
Com'è A little in love? Per molti versi è come me lo aspettavo: inutile, non aggiunge niente e - avendo letto ciò da cui è tratto - irrispettoso nei confronti di Hugo.
Non mi aspettavo, però, che fosse anche fastidioso (o forse, in questo caso, la mia soglia di tolleranza è più bassa): la Fletcher non ha rielaborato niente, limitandosi a riassumere gli eventi col pov di Eponine - qui voce narrante.
La cosa non funziona molto bene, anche perchè ogni volta che l'autrice avrebbe avuto un po' di spazio di manovra (in virtù del fatto che Eponine è un personaggio secondario, e poi ad un certo punto c'è un salto temporale) lo sfrutta malissimo, con i Thenardier che - costretti a fuggire dopo un omicidio - vivono nei boschi per sei anni, roba che Jean Valjean levati, a te non ti cerca nessuno a confronto.
Sul serio: ci mettono sei anni a concepire il piano "andiamo a Parigi e cambiamo nome, sanno assai chi siamo". Anche Valjean ci ha messo meno a dire "fanculo, io cambio identità e mi rifaccio una vita", e aveva Javert a dargli la caccia (e il destino a ficcarli sempre nella stessa città), non il Gendarme Generico™.
Comunque il problema principale non è la scarsezza dei contenuti: il problema pricipale è la banalizzazione di tutto quello che rende Eponine un bel personaggio, unito al fatto che l'autrice sbaglia pure la categoria di generalizzazione. Se proprio dovessimo ridurre questa ragazza ad uno stereotipo, sarebbe la bad girl. È indurita dalla vita, Eponine, una che è un miracolo che riesca a provare un sentimento come l'amore, e che ad ogni modo non le porta nulla di buono. È una dei miserabili del titolo, con tutto ciò che di negativo la condizione si porta dietro, che non merita niente di quello che le capita anche se non è concentrato di virtù.
Questo rende Hugo grande: non ha denunciato il suo tempo scrivendo di quanto sono buoni e virtuosi i poveri, lui ha scritto personaggi realistici, che sono esattamente quello che la morale condannava... e sbatte in faccia che non se lo meritano.
La Fletcher questo non lo capisce, o non lo sa fare: lei prende Eponine e la trasforma in una santa, e così facendo le fa perdere tutto il suo fascino.
In A little in love Eponine è buona fino alla nausea, ma non ha scelta se non comportarsi da cattiva perchè i suoi genitori sono un incrocio tra Satana e un villain Disney senza fascino: Madame Thenardier si lancia in discorsi allucinanti su come diserederebbe la figlia se dimostrasse un briciolo di onestà, oppure fa deliranti monologhi su come trasformerà Cosette in una schiava che manca giusto la risata e il baffo da arricciare.
Eponine, dal canto suo, ha edificanti battute in stile che essere gentili fa sentire bene, e cerca di fare ammenda per i suoi furti compiendo buone azioni ed annaffiando le piante. Alla fine diventa una fervente sostenitrice del fatto che ad aria e bontà si vive benissimo: una volta abbandonata la famiglia si dice felice e sollevata anche se dorme per strada e sopravvive chiedendo l'elemosina. Ma può essere apertamente buona e questo fa pari con fame, freddo e malattie.
Una pioggia continua di becero buonismo e banalità che può funzionare - forse - con una dodicenne alle prese con il suo primo libro ever.
Un altro problema è dato dal fatto che il libro parla di Eponine, e solo di lei: siamo con la prima persona di un personaggio secondario e con un'autrice che non riesce a darle una storyline fuori da quella di Hugo. Si può facilmente intuire che la trama risulta incompleta: Eponine, quando lasciata a sé stessa, sospira su Marius e affronta dilemmi morali come "cosa mangio se non lavoro, non rubo e non mi prostituisco?" senza però che se ne veda mai la soluzione (e infatti il mio dilemma era "Come fai a non essere ancora morta di fame se non lavori, non rubi e non ti prostituisci? In fin dei conti Fantine muore facendo tutto questo"); la rivoluzione semplicemente ad una certa succede; nella quarta parlano del rapporto tra Eponine e Cosette e boh, hanno una scena insieme; qualunque mistero introdotto non ha soluzione perchè non riguarda la protagonista.
Davvero, se non si è letto I Miserabili o guardato il musical non si saprà mai:
1) cos'è successo a Fantine
2)chi è Jean Valjean, perchè ha salvato Cosette e perchè si sta nascondendo
3) perchè Javert ha un nome e delle battute se appare una volta sola
4) cosa succederà a Marius, Cosette e Gavroche
Già, perchè il libro finisce con la morte di Eponine e la Fletcher non si prende il disturbo di dare un'epilogo a, non so, tutti gli altri. È come se avesse voluto fare una di quelle novelle 0.5 o 1.5 che vanno di moda perchè Hugo non è stato abbastanza lungimirante da farne una lui.
Alla fine si tratta del retelling più inutile del mondo, di una superficialità sconcertante, il cui unico lato positivo è che potrebbe invogliare qualcuno a leggere il libro da cui è tratto.
Note sparse: per qualche motivo Valjean usa il suo vero nome anche se è ricercato e condannato all'ergastolo; a Parigi i Thenardier vivono in un buco spazio-temporale in cui è sempre inverno a prescindere da tutto; c'è una scena imbarazzante in cui Eponine prova a rubare i candelieri di Digne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2014
Its very rare I get excited about a book which in many ways is just ‘glorified and bound fanfiction’ and from my past experience books in this category can be horrendously disappointing. So when I read about a young adult novel telling Eponine’s story I admit I was nervous, nervous about one of my favourite charters from one of my favourite novels was about to be butchered into a tale which she wasn’t going to belong in. However, I needn’t of worried, this book is thoughtful, potent and wonderfully written and grasps what Hugo failed to do, it gave a back-story which I never realised I was craving. Which is why when I sat down to read a quick chapter one morning I didn’t move until I was turning the final page, quietly content that her story had finally been told.
In my opinion Eponine is so much more than a thief and a pawn to get the two lovers together in Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ she has a character and a presence which I personally felt Cossette never possessed, which is possibly why (in the musical world at least) Eponine holds more popularity than her rival in love; Cossette. This may have more to do with the fact people will always route for the underdog and Eponine is nothing if not an underdog or it may just be that ‘On My Own’ is one of the most well loved songs which springs from the epic stage show. Fletcher managed to capture this love while adding subtle details and references to the novel, which as a lover of Les Mis in all forms I’ve been missing. A Little in love follows Eponine from her younger years of childhood in the Inn where she is forced to steal originally in craving any kind of affection from her parents to being forced by her mother to become hardened and cruel.
Although ‘A Little In Love’ is based on the novel, as apposed to the musical which in recent years has possibly become more well known than the original 1000 page long epic, it still makes sense if you haven’t read ‘the brick’. Although there are details, which are only picked up on if you’ve read the original text. Cameos of characters that are, only mentioned briefly in the musical (if at all) play a part in the book.
The novel is beautifully written depicting Eponine’s struggle to be good and also still be accepted into a family of thieves is touching and emotional, while not losing the depth of the other characters, Azelma is cruel and spoiled and in many respects depicts what Eponine could have been had you not had an ounce of good in her.
Although this novel is obviously going to be a desperately sad, Fletcher manages to keep the story rich and atmospheric, a true ode to Nineteenth-century France. I’m sure that anyone who picks this novel up knows the tragic story of Eponine’s life but Fletcher takes the character laid down originally by Hugo and adds colours to her life, while not changing any details from the original novel, although as I brushed way tears at the end, I wish she had. This book was exquisitely heat breaking.
In my opinion Eponine is so much more than a thief and a pawn to get the two lovers together in Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ she has a character and a presence which I personally felt Cossette never possessed, which is possibly why (in the musical world at least) Eponine holds more popularity than her rival in love; Cossette. This may have more to do with the fact people will always route for the underdog and Eponine is nothing if not an underdog or it may just be that ‘On My Own’ is one of the most well loved songs which springs from the epic stage show. Fletcher managed to capture this love while adding subtle details and references to the novel, which as a lover of Les Mis in all forms I’ve been missing. A Little in love follows Eponine from her younger years of childhood in the Inn where she is forced to steal originally in craving any kind of affection from her parents to being forced by her mother to become hardened and cruel.
Although ‘A Little In Love’ is based on the novel, as apposed to the musical which in recent years has possibly become more well known than the original 1000 page long epic, it still makes sense if you haven’t read ‘the brick’. Although there are details, which are only picked up on if you’ve read the original text. Cameos of characters that are, only mentioned briefly in the musical (if at all) play a part in the book.
The novel is beautifully written depicting Eponine’s struggle to be good and also still be accepted into a family of thieves is touching and emotional, while not losing the depth of the other characters, Azelma is cruel and spoiled and in many respects depicts what Eponine could have been had you not had an ounce of good in her.
Although this novel is obviously going to be a desperately sad, Fletcher manages to keep the story rich and atmospheric, a true ode to Nineteenth-century France. I’m sure that anyone who picks this novel up knows the tragic story of Eponine’s life but Fletcher takes the character laid down originally by Hugo and adds colours to her life, while not changing any details from the original novel, although as I brushed way tears at the end, I wish she had. This book was exquisitely heat breaking.
December 29, 2016
Review coming... soon? ... ever??? Let's just say that this book combined three things I love: retelling of stories, stories about kindness and feeling so much love for characters that it makes me bawl my eyes out. (So yes, I recommend it!!) Xx
March 22, 2016
Well, I gobbled up this book! It was beautiful. Full review coming soon.
November 29, 2025
Laten we wel wezen: Heel Les Mis lezen ging 'm niet worden. Dus dan maar een verhaal over het verhaal van Eponine. Ik had altijd al medelijden met haar, maar nu helemaal. Wilde aan 't eind eigenlijk huilen, maar zit ik een vierzits in de trein naar Londen dus kon me inhouden. Wel note to self om zakdoekjes te kopen voordat we maandagavond naar de musical gaan.
#Londonbooks1
#Londonbooks1
June 23, 2017
A very cute retelling but I don't think it added much more to the original story.
July 31, 2020
I always loved Eponine as a character from Les Mis. But this story basically rehashed the exact same thing from the original novel. Eponine loves Marius, he doesn't love her back. Blah blah blah. Nothing new was brought to the plate. Just a tiny little back story for Eponine, but again, mostly what we've seen before. Really badly written and all around a terrible book.
February 26, 2017
my les mis heart is so joyful & sad in the best way possible
July 17, 2015
I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. This was a well done retelling of Eponine's story from Les Mis. This was a sweet story set in a harsh time. For those of you who already know the story of Les Mis you know that this is also a tragedy.
Those who are familiar with the story or musical of Les Mis already know the story. Eponine is the daughter of an innkeeper and his wife, both of whom make their living by preying on and thieving from others. At a young age the young Cosette comes to live with Eponine’s family and Eponine is forced to treat Cosette as a slave in order to garner her parents’ good will. As time goes on Cosette goes to live elsewhere and Eponine’s family falls deeper into poverty. Eponine’s only times of happiness are those spent either in the company of or watching Marius.
This story was well written and a quick read. I would think of it as a light young adult retelling of Les Mis. Fletcher does an excellent job of portraying poverty of the time but never gets too gritty about it.
I think my favorite part of the book was how Eponine was portrayed. Fletcher really did an excellent job of showing Eponine's unique ability to find beauty and hope in the darkest circumstances. This made Eponine a very hopeful and engaging character in an otherwise dark and tragic story.
The story does focus mostly on Eponine’s obsession with (and honestly stalker like behavior toward) Marius. So keep that in mind if you are picking up this book, it definitely has a more YA romance focus than anything else.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or the Les Mis story. It was a fairly light read and focuses more on Eponine’s love for Marius than anything else. I did really enjoy how Eponine’s character is portrayed with the wonderful ability to find beauty in the darkest of circumstances.
Those who are familiar with the story or musical of Les Mis already know the story. Eponine is the daughter of an innkeeper and his wife, both of whom make their living by preying on and thieving from others. At a young age the young Cosette comes to live with Eponine’s family and Eponine is forced to treat Cosette as a slave in order to garner her parents’ good will. As time goes on Cosette goes to live elsewhere and Eponine’s family falls deeper into poverty. Eponine’s only times of happiness are those spent either in the company of or watching Marius.
This story was well written and a quick read. I would think of it as a light young adult retelling of Les Mis. Fletcher does an excellent job of portraying poverty of the time but never gets too gritty about it.
I think my favorite part of the book was how Eponine was portrayed. Fletcher really did an excellent job of showing Eponine's unique ability to find beauty and hope in the darkest circumstances. This made Eponine a very hopeful and engaging character in an otherwise dark and tragic story.
The story does focus mostly on Eponine’s obsession with (and honestly stalker like behavior toward) Marius. So keep that in mind if you are picking up this book, it definitely has a more YA romance focus than anything else.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or the Les Mis story. It was a fairly light read and focuses more on Eponine’s love for Marius than anything else. I did really enjoy how Eponine’s character is portrayed with the wonderful ability to find beauty in the darkest of circumstances.
August 31, 2015
(Sung to the tune of Les Miz's On My Own.)
*ahem*
And now I'm forced to read this ARC,
My rotted brain suffered through this affliction.
Without some reasoning, without common sense,
I managed to get through this fanfiction.
And now I must skim through this trap
And suffer through this crap.
Sometimes you look for the best,
And hope the book gets better
I think of the Broadway musical
And imagine turntable Wheel of Fortune letters.
A Little in Love has messed with my head
So I'll just stick to the Cliff's Notes instead.
You will groan,
Looking for this book's deeper meaning.
You will moan,
Eponine is quite demeaning.
Without her,
The author can't cash on the character.
And when you see the Thenardiers and Gavroche,
You'll scream like a fangirl who saw a spectre.
It's a pain,
Susan Fletcher's prose shines like silver.
Her writing style flows like a river.
Her potential,
Is wasted on an unoriginal concept.
She should've done a period piece that's not so wet.
And then there's the clichés.
From soapy plots and teen angst tales,
Don't forget the relationship drama
And unrequited love.
And although, we know love triangle sells,
Still they say
She might have chance with Marius - NOT!
I love Les Miz!
It's an epic story but the plot is gone
And substituted with a fanfic.
Even with Eponine,
The story around her changes.
No wonder she is bare and everywhere,
Marius treats her like a stranger.
I love Victor Hugo!
The publishers must be still learning,
Stick to the classical text
And stop with all the pretending!
Eponine,
Will continue to live on in memory
Even with a spoiler of getting shot and dying a heroine!
I love her!
I love Les Miz!
I love the original book!
So forget that this novel has been pwned!
(My apologies to composers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil.)
*ahem*
And now I'm forced to read this ARC,
My rotted brain suffered through this affliction.
Without some reasoning, without common sense,
I managed to get through this fanfiction.
And now I must skim through this trap
And suffer through this crap.
Sometimes you look for the best,
And hope the book gets better
I think of the Broadway musical
And imagine turntable Wheel of Fortune letters.
A Little in Love has messed with my head
So I'll just stick to the Cliff's Notes instead.
You will groan,
Looking for this book's deeper meaning.
You will moan,
Eponine is quite demeaning.
Without her,
The author can't cash on the character.
And when you see the Thenardiers and Gavroche,
You'll scream like a fangirl who saw a spectre.
It's a pain,
Susan Fletcher's prose shines like silver.
Her writing style flows like a river.
Her potential,
Is wasted on an unoriginal concept.
She should've done a period piece that's not so wet.
And then there's the clichés.
From soapy plots and teen angst tales,
Don't forget the relationship drama
And unrequited love.
And although, we know love triangle sells,
Still they say
She might have chance with Marius - NOT!
I love Les Miz!
It's an epic story but the plot is gone
And substituted with a fanfic.
Even with Eponine,
The story around her changes.
No wonder she is bare and everywhere,
Marius treats her like a stranger.
I love Victor Hugo!
The publishers must be still learning,
Stick to the classical text
And stop with all the pretending!
Eponine,
Will continue to live on in memory
Even with a spoiler of getting shot and dying a heroine!
I love her!
I love Les Miz!
I love the original book!
So forget that this novel has been pwned!
(My apologies to composers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil.)
January 27, 2015
A little in love is a story of a girl set in the backdrop of revolutionary France. She comes from a family of thieves who are terrible and from the outset you feel sorry for her and the way she is forced to live. Over the course of the book her family get worse and worse but she finds a ray of light in a boy who is kind to her and she starts to fall in love with from afar even though it is never going to work between the two of them
Interesting enough but suspect I would have enjoyed it more had I seen or read les miserables as I believe this book ties into that story but event without that I found it engaging enough.
March 13, 2015
Oh, y'all...this book will warm your heart and also break it into little pieces. I've been waiting for something like this since I first became familiar with Les Miserables (I'm more familiar with the musical and movies than the book.). Eponine is by far my favorite character, and this little book tells her story beautifully. It's a tale about how a little girl who was never loved learned to love and learned to love herself. Read it on a rainy day while listening to the Les Mis soundtrack. Now where is the Enjolras book? ;)
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital ARC I read!
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital ARC I read!
September 16, 2015
So, if I'm honest, I expected Eponine's character to be edgier, more hard-hearted. She seemed a little lovesick here and so, so young. Full of ideals about love. It was sweet and sad and...distant. I wish we'd had more of the gritty details of life on the streets and of the day at the barricades and less of her mooning about trying to be good. Still a lovely little book, and it has made me seriously consider tackling Hugo's classic.
August 5, 2017
Hmm. I might just be getting too old for this sort of thing, but it seems to me that Fletcher has missed the point of Eponine in thinking that the tragedy of her is that she really was a good person, when really the tragedy of her is that she never had a chance to be a good person. This makes the story cleaner but less interesting.
December 27, 2015
Eponine is a very relatable character and the story is just enjoyable and a heartbreaker too.
Extremely beautiful. Loved every bit of it. Glad that I bought it in a whim.
One of my favourites for sure.
Extremely beautiful. Loved every bit of it. Glad that I bought it in a whim.
One of my favourites for sure.
November 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this and it did make me care about the characters, which was all I was looking for in this book. My only criticism was that it felt quite rushed at some points but that is so be expected when you look at the length and depth of the original story.
October 5, 2018
This was a very short, but very interesting, story about one of Les Mis's more complex and colorful characters. There's so much that could be said and explored about Éponine, and I think Susan Fletcher handled it with a good hand. The character's voice is in conaonance with the source material, and the author fleshed it out in a way that really works, and which makes for a pleasant yet emotional read.
March 7, 2018
I’m crying. I even know how this book ends because I love Les Misérables and I’m STILL CRYING. Ahhh. I loved getting to know Eponies story. It was beautiful!
September 16, 2018
As seen on www.readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk
" A little in love is one of the most beautiful books I have had the pleasure of reading. Susan Fletcher is a master with words."
A little in love is an alluring, haunting read which I couldn't put down. Eponine's story was so full of sadness, heartbreak and sorrow but also full of hopes, dreams and untimely love!
Eponine's story is of one girl who doesn't want to be the person her surname dictates she be. She has hopes and dreams and goodness in her heart. She tries so hard to be kind and good and seeing her struggle written in some of the most beautiful prose I have had the pleasure of reading was breathtaking.
Susan Fletcher's A little in love is among one of my favorite reads of the year and I know it's a book that will stay with me for a long time, for as long as the stars shine bright!
Note: I have never read Les Miserables , a book fail in my opinion
Note: A little in love has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen!7
" A little in love is one of the most beautiful books I have had the pleasure of reading. Susan Fletcher is a master with words."
A little in love is an alluring, haunting read which I couldn't put down. Eponine's story was so full of sadness, heartbreak and sorrow but also full of hopes, dreams and untimely love!
Eponine's story is of one girl who doesn't want to be the person her surname dictates she be. She has hopes and dreams and goodness in her heart. She tries so hard to be kind and good and seeing her struggle written in some of the most beautiful prose I have had the pleasure of reading was breathtaking.
Susan Fletcher's A little in love is among one of my favorite reads of the year and I know it's a book that will stay with me for a long time, for as long as the stars shine bright!
Note: I have never read Les Miserables , a book fail in my opinion
Note: A little in love has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen!7
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