Book Review: The First Thing You See by Gregoire Delacourt

Hardback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £12.99 (ebook £6.99)

Gregoire Delacourt’s The First Thing You See (translated by Anthea Bell) sets you off on a “What if” story, about that person who changes your life in a special way. Arthur Dreyfuss, a mechanic, living alone in a village in France, is settling down one evening when there is a knock on the door. Standing in front of him is Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson, or so it would seem. You see Arthur had never thought himself special, but when he sees the beautiful actress standing there, he’s on cloud nine.

Unfortunately, although possessing a striking resemblance to the actress, Jeanine Foucamprez is not she… and her story is very different from the actress’s. The story centres around Arthur and Jeanine as they enter a relationship that exposes both of their pasts and reveals that, although they have a dark side, love can appear anywhere.

A very easy and at times comical read, if the real-life Scarlett Johansson had had her way, the book would not have published in English.