FEATURED BOOK

A Coeur Perdu

International Author, Speaker & Cultural Commentator

A compelling debut that explores the fragile ties between memory, identity, and the secrets we carry within.

OVERVIEW

A Story of a Place
and Its People

A Coeur Perdu is a psychological thriller and romance fiction debut written in French – a novel that moves with the quiet insistence of a memory you cannot outrun. Set across the professional world of international institutions and the private terrain of grief and longing, it introduced Siwar Al Assad as a writer of emotional precision and moral seriousness.

SYNOPSIS

A Story of Courage,
Loss & Resilience

After receiving a heart transplant at a remarkably young age, Paul Ollenson emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. He devotes himself to serving others within the United Nations and marries Elisabeth, a brilliant American lawyer. But as their life together unfolds, Paul senses a growing disconnect – his mind and heart drawn increasingly to the memory of Carla, a woman from his past who vanished without explanation. What really happened during his operation? And why is he only now learning that Carla’s parents died in a mysterious boating accident? Part love story, part psychological thriller, A Coeur Perdu explores the fragile ties between memory, identity, and the secrets we carry within.

THEMES

Profound Themes. Timeless Questions.

Memory

The way the past refuses to remain past - especially when it has never been resolved.

Identity

Who Paul is, and who he has been quietly not allowing himself to be.

Longing

The specific grief of loving someone whose story you were never allowed to finish.

Truth

What it costs to pursue what you were told to stop looking for.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A Nation at
a Crossroads

The novel draws on the landscape of international professional life in postwar Europe – the institutions, the careful decorum, and the personal histories concealed beneath it. French literature has long explored this territory: the interior life held under pressure, the emotional knowledge that exceeds what language is permitted to say. A Coeur Perdu sits within and extends that tradition.

BEHIND THE BOOK

A Personal Journey

“A Coeur Perdu began with a question about second chances – not the romantic kind, but the moral kind. When you are given more time, what do you do with what you left unfinished? Paul’s answer is the novel.”

READER GUIDE

For Deeper Conversations

Discussion questions, themes, and resources to help readers explore the novel’s ideas, characters, and historical context.

INSIDE THE GUIDE

  • Discussion Questions
  • Key Themes
  • Historical Context
  • Activity Ideas
  • Further Reading

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions.

Find answers to common questions about the book, the author, and the ideas behind the story.

Identity, belonging, love, cultural memory, and the moral weight of the choices we make under pressure.

Use the speaking inquiry form on the Speaking page to share your event details.

All titles are available through major international retailers. Visit the Books page for direct links.

GET YOUR COPY

Available Worldwide

Find A Coeur Perdu At Your Favorite Retailer.

CONTINUE THE JOURNEY

More Stories
to Explore

Discover other books by Siwar Al Assad and step into new worlds of history, love, and unforgettable people.

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