Book Talk: I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You

A story of lost & found love by Courtney Maum

On weekends in Boston, she’d make me stand in crowded places and report back on whether I agreed with her about how clean people smelled. “Like mangoes,” she said. “American girls always smell like fruit.”

Like most people who love to read, I have a huge TBR list and many, many unread books on my shelves and in my Kindle. Every time I add a book to my Kindle I feel a little guilty about all the books I already have that I haven’t read. Their vibant covers seem to wave at me, hollering “Me, me! Pick me!” So about a week ago I decided to scroll down my Kindle library and choose a book I’ve had for a long time.

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, Courtney Maum’s first novel, was published in 2015 (Touchstone) which is probably when I bought it. That is quite a few years ago but, guess what, I feel like I read it at just the right time. I wanted a novel centered on a relationship that would hold my attention, a story set in an exotic or interesting place. Funnily enough, I recently started following Courtney here on Substack, not realizing I had her debut novel until I selected it to read. A coincidence…? or karma?

This book tells the story of a married couple, Richard, an artist, and Anne, a lawyer, and how their life in Paris comes apart after Richard’s infidelity. As I’ve said before, the intricacies of human relationships are fascinating to me so although this sounds like just another story of a cheating man, it’s not.

UPDATE: I started this post on June 13, the very day my back went out on me. Today is June 19, the first day since then I was able to walk downstairs. I’ve written a post in my head about the past six days, the pain and the progress, and what I’ve relearned about fragility, fear, and attitude. That post will come. Maybe. Or maybe I’ll keep those thoughts for myself, a covenant, if you will.

Back to the book. In addition to the effective storyline, Maum’s characters are infused with a rainbow of emotions; giddy new love, stoic routine, unbelievable betrayal, panicked pleading, resigned ambiguity, and much more. All of her characters are real and fully fleshed out, propelling the story forward. What happens next? As a writer myself, I often enjoyed her choice of phrasing and I wish I’d done better with annotation so I could give examples. You’ll have to take my word for it - her writing is fresh, immersive, often delightful. It seems a bit odd to say delightful in a story about betrayal but other writers will get what I mean. An interesting turn of phrase is delightful regardless of the emotion attached. (See quote above that had me laugh out loud with its spot on observation.)

I read several reviews after finishing the book and this one in Bustle corresponds closely with my opinion. I recommend this book despite the awful term “chick lit” I’ve seen it labeled. You don’t have to be a woman to enjoy a book about the complexities of human nature.

…there is an openness between us now that makes our coming togethers feel like the truest version of love —- love in all its tenderness, its frustration, and the realization that despite its shortcomings, this place, with this person, is the place we’re meant to be.

And the above quote is extra meaningful for me after all these days of care and attention my husband has given me. A beautiful and cherished gift given unselfishly, with love.