A review by midnightrose_reads
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

This is a second chance romance between Elliot and Macy who live in Northern California. When Macy’s Mom passes away from cancer when she’s younger, her father buys a vacation home in a nearby seaside town. When they are moving into the house she stumbles onto a boy reading in the large closet in her new bedroom. His name is Elliot and his family lives next door. They quickly become fast friends sharing a love of books and favorite words. What follows is the beauty of first love and the agony of when that love is tested.

I really enjoyed this story. Elliot’s family was fantastic and Macy’s father was someone who loved her fiercely. The budding romance between Macy and Elliot is definitely swoon worthy. The Then and Now timelines really give a good sense of how they grow up to be the people they become in the present timeline. The only reason this wasn’t a completely 5 star read was because of the reason that Macy doesn’t speak to Elliot for 11 years.  In my opinion there, was no way he wouldn’t have heard about the event that took place. The news, newspaper or online, or perhaps someone would have told his parents. I feel like that crucial element, that hinges a lot of emotional weight on it, really requires the reader to suspend belief. Not so much the event itself, but the idea that Elliot remains clueless that it occurred, until Macy finally reveals what happened at the end of the novel. Other than that it’s a solid second chance love story.
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