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A review by imskylow
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This books was so much more than I ever could have expected. I guess I really do get caught up judging books by the covers and so when I was recommended this one I didn't think it would get this high of a rating out of me. I also don't generally like second chance romance but this was something else. I was blown away.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
First of all, I love the rhythm and pacing of this story. I absolutely love how the story unfolds flipping back and forth between timelines of the characters teenage days to their late twenties. The slow discovery and peeling back of what has happened to Macy and Elliot to have them lose contact kept me strapped in, binge listening to this book. I laughed out loud, was embarrassed for the characters during awkward childhood moments and, towards the end, I even got a little teary-eyed. The love that Christina Lauren weaves into her book is so thick and palpable. This book honestly took me on a ride and it's easy to feel what a passion project this was.
Lauren does a great job building up these characters and their personalities and fears. She really unfolds their likes and dislikes and interests in a way that you really feel like you know them and grew up alongside them in the closet library. It's honestly made me want to ask everyone and anyone what their favorite words are. (Currently, mine is susurration). You get to see the characters young and geeky grow into themselves and know what has impacted them into becoming the people they are at the end. Though the love they share is dreamlike and almost too idyllic (the key word is 'almost') it feels real and right that they should feel the way they do. Too often these days, romance books will summarize relationship building scenes to just skip to the romantic or steamy moments. This book doesn't do that. There are INDEED steamy moments but it's built on the all of the foundation of little conversations and experiences Macy and Elliot have gone through together.
I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death