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A review by evergrn
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’ll be honest—this book just didn’t live up to the hype for me. I know a lot of people loved it, but I’m definitely in the minority with my rating. The first half of the book? Great. I was really enjoying it. The story had that sweet, nostalgic vibe, and the chemistry between Macy and Elliot was super engaging. I was all in, ready for a great read. But then, as the story went on, I started to lose interest. The second half just didn’t hit the same way. It became so repetitive. It felt like Macy and Elliot couldn’t have a single conversation without it turning into some endless back-and-forth kissing and making out.
What really got under my skin were the characters. 11 years and there was zero character growth. The whole story felt a bit all over the place. The plot had potential, but the characters were so basic, and there was no real depth to them.
Another thing, without giving too much away, the book takes a turn into that cheating trope, and honestly, it ruined it for me. I just can’t get behind that plotline, especially when it feels like it’s thrown in for drama’s sake. It had a lot of missed opportunities to explore deeper emotional moments, but instead, it just felt like a bunch of surface-level drama with no real substance.
What really got under my skin were the characters. 11 years and there was zero character growth. The whole story felt a bit all over the place. The plot had potential, but the characters were so basic, and there was no real depth to them.
Another thing, without giving too much away, the book takes a turn into that cheating trope, and honestly, it ruined it for me. I just can’t get behind that plotline, especially when it feels like it’s thrown in for drama’s sake. It had a lot of missed opportunities to explore deeper emotional moments, but instead, it just felt like a bunch of surface-level drama with no real substance.