Reviews

The History of Us by Leah Stewart

wordnerdy's review against another edition

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4.0

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-book-307.html

jlholowaty's review against another edition

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4.0

Really enjoyed this book. Unique storyline with interesting, realistic characters. Well-written, told through various character's perspectives. Overall, definitely worth reading.

lauramarieski's review against another edition

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2.0

This book had so much potential but fell flat for me for a number of reasons. I'll save those for my book club discussion!

nursetess's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved the character development, and this is the first novel I've read in a long time where the prose was so stunningly beautiful that I was highlighting lots of it

ja42599's review against another edition

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5.0

Such a great read for anyone from Cincinnati. She captures it's essence well.

acdom's review against another edition

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4.0

"The Myth of You and Me" has been my favorite book since the moment I finished it, sobbing alone in my bedroom at 2 in the morning. Despite owning them both, I still haven't read her other two works, "Body of a Girl" and "Husbands and Wives". When I read the summary of "The History of Us", I was sucked it and immediately pre-ordered it on Amazon.

I really really liked it. Stewart's writing is simple, lovely, and very funny. As a teacher, I enjoyed the look into high education and especially Theo's little love affair. A quote I loved: “All teachers are heavy drinkers,” she said. “Our students drive us to it.” Yes.

Another quote I loved: "And Josh wanted to tell her what he knew: that love might look like a shore but turn out to be a desert island, where you roamed alone, talking to yourself, trying to crack open coconuts with your shoe. So thirsty you drank the salt water. So hungry you ate the sand."

I found myself identifying with each of the characters in different ways. Eloise's nostalgia, Claire's debate about her future, Josh's hesitance to share, and Theo's general bitchiness. There was a quote toward the end (this doesn't spoil anything), that knocked me over with the way it resonated with me:

He said, “You like being in love with someone who’s not going to love you back.” She opened her eyes. He looked at her. “Why would I like that?” she asked. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

In a year I'll go back and re-read this one because I think it deserves a second read, just like "The Myth of You and Me" deserved a second, third, and twelfth read.

susanmc36's review against another edition

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4.0

Complex, conflicted characters who survived a tragedy and became a family, in spite of their wounds.

alltheradreads's review against another edition

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2.0

This one was just ehhh. I kinda wanted to know what happened to the characters so i kept reading until the end, but i expected much more drama and interest... and there wasn’t much. Not a whole lot happens and the characters aren’t all that likable with their lies and weird family tensions, and i just wouldn’t really recommend taking the time for this one!

semantix's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved reading all of the Cincinnati references! It made me feel so close to the characters.

imbookingit's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars

The characters were normal people with normal flaws, but in larger than life situations, and the combination was very interesting, but didn't always settle quite right.