You can come of age at any age. And find love in the oddest places. Even in the romantic city of Paris when you think there is nothing there for you expect more disappointing dates and alienation. Two women deal with their expat statuses, while a growing friendship that shapes their practically every move. From the point of view of Sarah, a British woman now living and working in France, we see the growth of self-awareness with an unusual but beautiful path.
You can enjoy Love Languages by James Albon on a few levels. It is a friendship story, a love story, and an understanding of yourself. It is about the “boys club” and “business club” of the work world. It is about ideals and values. It is about family, friendship and more. There are layers within the layers. It is not necessarily easy to read as these themes are not always easy to read. However, one of the largest reasons is how crowded a page can become. Colors are minimal and details are both busy, crowding items and text, and not always fleshed out. Also, as the two main characters are trying to improve their French, Sarah her Cantonese and Ping her English, the literal overlap of language bubbles can become overwhelming.
Yet, take your time, read slowly, savor every page. One thing I liked about the book is that while we feel things might go one way, they might not go as planned. The other thing I liked is how we learn about the city in ways that only two travelers who are not tourists (but do some touristy things) could learn about their new home. While I am not WOWED BEST BOOK EVER! About Albon’s graphic novel, it is pleasant and a strong read. It is both relaxing and exciting in unique ways.
Some bullying, misogyny, and racist moments do occur, but I felt they were handled respectfully and were there to move the story, to show the characters personalities and not be gratuitous or shocking.