I don’t even know what to say about this story! It’s unlike anything ive ever read and that is saying a lot! Will be recommending for those that want an original read.

Ivan, Boris and Me was interesting and well written and dealt with serious themes and subject matters (loneliness, illness) with humor and grace. Ultimately, this book wasn't for me as I struggled not to be distressed by Elodie's situation, however her growth and triumph over the story was heartwarming. For those that can read this book with a lighter heart, I believe it a fantastic read.

I loved the premise of Ivan, Boris and Me by Suze Leonie. The story revolves around twenty-five-year-old artist/children's book illustrator Elodie Ginsburg and her clown Boris, who has been her closest companion ever since she was four years old. Elodie lives with Boris, who creates much chaos in her life, in the house she inherited from her late grandmother. She is not particularly close to her family, who don't approve of her career choices. When she strikes up a friendship with her new neighbor Ivan Lennard, a former professional cyclist who is also dealing with his own life problems, she notices Boris behaving even more erratically than usual. As the narrative progresses we follow Elodie as she navigates her budding friendship with her new neighbor, her strained relationship with her family especially her mother who is critical of everything Elodie does and the shift in her her dynamic with Boris.

The novel touches upon themes of loneliness, emotional abuse, social anxiety, individual coping mechanisms, kindness, compassion and personal growth. The author poignantly portrays the deep impact of emotional abuse on a person’s sense of self-worth. The characters are well thought out and the narrative flows well. I loved the descriptions of Elodie’s artwork. Boris’s antics and the interactions between Boris and Elodie were hilarious. Elodie is an endearing protagonist - kind and thoughtful despite her inner struggles - and I was invested in her journey and was glad to see her evolve into a more confident individual.

This is a well-written, imaginative and emotionally impactful story with endearing main characters and much to reflect upon. The ending felt a tad rushed and I would have liked it if the author had delved deeper into some of the important issues that were addressed in the novel. My heart ached for Elodie and I could sympathize with her plight, but there were some issues that I found hard to ignore, such as how clueless everyone around her was to her situation, which seemed unrealistic. I did like how Ivan and Elodie’s dynamic evolved through the course of this novel, but I was left with a lot of unanswered questions and felt that the ending was abrupt, though I did appreciate that the author ended the story on a positive note.

I do not want to venture into spoiler territory, but I think you would enjoy this more if you could take the story lightly, which was not possible for me on account of the sensitive themes.

I loved the cover art!

Many thanks to Fidessa Literary for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Illustrator Elodie and her best friend, Boris, a yellow-haired clown, are inseparable. Their relationship changed with the arrival of their new neighbour, Ivan.

Initially, I started trying to guess at the nature of the relationship between Elodie and Boris: was it magic realism or the sign of a mental illness? Eventually I realised I was never going to win (to parrot a recurring phrase from the book) and that I was missing the point of the story. I let myself be captivated by the symbiotic relationship between the characters, following them in their surrealist journey through life's changes.

A recommended read for fans of literary fiction, Samuel Beckett, and open-ended reads.

Thank you to Suze Leonie and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[I will post a review on Instagram and Goodreads on 18 June and will add the links below]

A brilliantly written, poignant masterpiece. The author skilfully places you in the shoes of a talented and kindhearted woman, who fell prey to criticism from a young age, and consequently developed interesting coping mechanisms. We meet Elodie as a fragile bird, and leave her as a confident, accomplished woman. I can’t wait to read more from the author.

Ever since she was a child, Boris and Elodie have been inseparable. They are quite a pair. Elodie is an artist and has decorated her home with her beautiful artwork. Of course it's all circus themed because what else would it be when you live with a clown.

Boris is always creating chaos in his endearing clown way. He is everything that Elodie is not. He's her voice when she can't find her own and her rock when she needs to steady herself. I absolutely love their conversations and how their love for each other is so heartfelt.

When a new neighbour takes residence in their street things start to shift. Elodie is forced to believe more in her own self, stand up for who she is and to lean less on Boris. What will this do to their relationship?

Ivan, Boris and Me is a thrill to read. Boris will always make you smile with his unique clown ways to get what he wants. Elodie's art sounds so incredible I'd wish to own a piece myself and I could picture them easily in my head because of the vivid way the author tells this story.

I absolutely LOVED Ivan, Boris and Me. It's funny, heartwarming, sad at times, filled with friendship and most of all love.

I was excited to read it based on the blurb, but sadly, I just did not get into Ivan, Boris and Me. I couldn't work out who the target audience was. I suppose I was meant to be charmed and amused by Boris's antics but to my mind, Boris was the imaginary friend of an adult woman and it just made me feel sad for her. I couldn't get past those feelings unfortunately, and it was a struggle to read to the end.

I'm sure other readers will enjoy it and find it whimsical and it'll read differently to them. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.