L'Enfant de Cœur, a novel by Laure de Rivières, delves into themes of adoption, identity, and family relationships through the story of Noah, a Black child adopted by a white family. The narrative opens with the disappearance of Marie, but the core of the story centers on the tensions and misunderstandings within the family. Noah's experience as an adopted child creates a rift that the adults have largely overlooked, emphasizing the divide between his understanding of the world and that of his adoptive parents. He describes feeling "a huge gap between the house and the outside," highlighting the disconnect between his identity and the family's expectations. The novel critiques the idea of parental colorblindness, as Marie claims "we don't care about others' gaze," while Noah recounts a very different experience. The text avoids stereotypes by recognizing both the parents' good intentions and their shortcomings. Adoption is not portrayed as a past event but as an ongoing condition that continues to shape Noah's life, reappearing in questions, documents, and the absence of shared similarities. He states, "Being adopted, it sticks to your skin, it cannot be forgotten," emphasizing the lasting impact of his adoption. Noah's sense of exclusion does not justify his actions, and the novel distributes responsibility without confusing explanation with forgiveness. The inclusion of psychological reports, interviews with the Judicial Protection of Youth, and administrative documents adds depth to the narrative, framing existence through institutional language. However, this approach occasionally feels repetitive when the fiction has already conveyed these points clearly. The novel's prose is direct, spoken, and unpolished, mirroring a family that can no longer create a shared story. Moments of vulnerability, such as Marie admitting "I was blind to survive," reveal the rawness of the characters' experiences. The novel navigates a challenging balance, refusing to reduce Noah to his violent actions while also refusing to ignore them. It questions the blind spots of a loving family and adds tension where the intimate drama might otherwise be sufficient. The novel excels in its exploration of family ties, identity, and perspective, though it is less compelling in its suspense elements. It remains readable, painful, and capable of raising questions without offering answers, particularly regarding how to love someone without determining the meaning of their story.