French Exit

by Patrick Dewitt
French Exit cover
Good Books rating 3.8
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 8971
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-12-24
absurd 2.50

It's an absurd and surreal novel that will be a hit with some readers, but not all. The reviewer found it to be somewhat disappointing.

Goodreads' review describes 'French Exit' as an absurd and surreal novel that will likely be a hit with some readers. However, the reviewer found it to be somewhat disappointing. The novel's eccentric characters and surreal plot are noted, but the reviewer's personal taste did not align with the book's style. The review is mixed, acknowledging the novel's potential appeal while also expressing a personal preference that did not resonate with the story. The reviewer's opinion is that the novel's absurdity and surrealism may not be for everyone.

Quick quotes

    It's an absurd and surreal novel that will, I'm sure, be a hit with some readers.

    Unfortunately, not me.

    The novel's eccentric characters and surreal plot are noted, but the reviewer's personal taste did not align with the book's style.

I've Read This · I've Read This · 2019-05-17
entertaining 4.00

The characters are delightfully entertaining, even though they live somewhat sad or disturbing lives. The novel is compared to a Quentin Tarantino movie, with its unique blend of humor and darkness.

I've Read This finds the characters in French Exit to be delightfully entertaining, despite their somewhat sad or disturbing lives. The reviewer compares the novel to a Quentin Tarantino movie, highlighting its unique blend of humor and darkness. The characters are eccentric and memorable, making the novel a captivating read. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to create such a rich and engaging world, filled with characters that are both hilarious and deeply flawed. The novel's dark humor and unique perspective make it a standout in the literary world.

Quick quotes

    Similar to a Quentin Tarantino movie, the characters are all delightfully entertaining even though they live somewhat sad or disturbing lives.

    A brilliant and darkly comic novel about a wealthy widow and her adult son who flee New York for Paris in the wake of scandal and financial disintegration.

    This seems to me to be about death and money, but mostly about death and reminds me a little of Muriel Spark's The Driver's Seat.

The Guardian · 2018-10-10
brilliant 4.50

The novel is a brittle, unsettling delight, evoking both laughter and screams with its fairground ride of a plot. It's a darkly comic tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The Guardian's review paints a picture of a novel that is as thrilling as it is unsettling. They describe it as a fairground ride, swooping through vertiginous drops, eliciting both laughter and screams. The characters are eccentric, and the plot is a delightful mix of the unsettling and the hilarious. It's a darkly comic tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it a unique and memorable read. The reviewer finds the novel to be a brilliant exploration of human nature, with a plot that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    A brittle, unsettling delight: a fairground ride swooping above vertiginous drops, wringing out laughter and screams as it rattles.

    A darkly comic novel about a wealthy widow and her adult son who flee New York for Paris in the wake of scandal and financial disintegration.

    A mother-son caper, a sparkling dark comedy that channels both Noel Coward's wit and Wes Anderson's loopy aesthetic.

NPR · NPR · 2018-08-29
sparkling 4.20

The novel is a sparkling dark comedy that channels both Noel Coward's wit and Wes Anderson's loopy aesthetic. It's a mother-son caper that is both understated and over-frank, making it just the right amount of funny.

NPR's review highlights French Exit as a sparkling dark comedy that channels both Noel Coward's wit and Wes Anderson's loopy aesthetic. The reviewer describes it as a mother-son caper that is both understated and over-frank, making it just the right amount of funny. The characters are eccentric and memorable, and the plot is a delightful mix of the hilarious and the thought-provoking. The reviewer appreciates the novel's unique blend of humor and darkness, making it a standout in the literary world. The novel's witty dialogue and engaging characters make it a captivating read.

Quick quotes

    Aptly billed as a tragedy of manners, is a mother-son caper, a sparkling dark comedy that channels both Noel Coward's wit and Wes Anderson's loopy aesthetic.

    A sly little packet of witty observation and dark humor. It's a pleasurable read, mainly because it's quickly digestible.

    Full of sarcasm, dry humor, and strange theories, this plot will need your undivided attention.

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