Ismaël Khelifa evokes the father-son relationship. A complex subject that he treats with gentleness. With an eye for detail. – Léna Lutaud, LE FIGARO

A great slap in the face in a breathtakingly raw setting. – Didier Arnaud, LIBÉRATION

A first novel of great depth. – AVANTAGES

For his first novel, Ismaël Khelifa (…) touches us right in the heart. – Corentin Marouby, TÉLÉ LOISIRS

A novel that blends filial love, wilderness and human adventure. – ELLE

A moving story that proves the lives of everyday people can be epic too. — ECHAPPÉES BELLES LE MAGAZINE

This novel transports you to the heart of a life-saving, introspective journey. — Carine Didier, LE PARISIEN

In ECHAPÉES BELLES, the globetrotter shares his wonder at the world, which he also cultivates in Ce que la vie a de plus beau, his first novel. — Catherine Pacary, LE MONDE

A story about second chances and what it means to be part of a family.

The career of Romain Sollers, a 35-year-old photographer and filmmaker is on the rise.  He travels to the remotest parts of the world to take pictures of wildlife and indigenous people.  His work has made him world famous and his latest film has even made it to the Cannes Film Festival.

As he is basking in his glory, he gets an unexpected visitor: Nathan, an 18-year-old boy, the son he had after a one-night stand, he knew of his existence but was never part of his life as per his mother’s wishes. Romain does not know how to handle Nathan, whose life has been very difficult, but he is determined to get to know him.  He takes him with him to Iceland, on assignment to Hornstradir, the most remote peninsula in the Northwest of the country.

There, Romain will try to be a father to this teenager in a rugged and dangerous environment.

An extremely moving novel about filial and paternal love. A great human adventure set against a backdrop of wild nature.