A review by saxz_library
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Love and Other Words started strong for me. The early chapters beautifully captured the grief of losing a parent during formative years, and I especially loved Macy’s bond with her father. Her relationship with Elliot in the "Then" timeline was tender and nostalgic, building slowly through shared words, quiet moments, and a love of books.
However, once their relationship shifted to romance, much of that emotional depth gave way to lust, and the present-day storyline felt stuck in that teenage headspace. Both Macy and Elliot, now in their late twenties, lacked emotional maturity in their conversations, and many pivotal moments were underexplored or rushed.

 The reveal about their 11-year separation -
that Macy walked in on Elliot being taken advantage of while he was intoxicated
was a heavy, emotionally complex moment. However, it wasn’t given the weight it deserved. There was no meaningful processing of the fact that
Elliot may have been sexually assaulted
, and the characters quickly brushed over it in favour of a romantic resolution. 
Macy’s grief-driven reaction and misinterpretation at the time were understandable, but the lack of conversation about the trauma and misunderstanding made their reconciliation feel unearned.
 

The writing itself was engaging and heartfelt at times, and the “favourite word” concept was a lovely recurring thread. But I was left wishing for more exploration of found family (especially Macy’s college/high school friends and Elliot’s family with Macy), more nuanced discussions about grief and forgiveness, and a more balanced resolution between past and present. The romance leaned heavily on physical attraction, in both timelines, rather than emotionally mature communication. 
Overall, this had moments of genuine potential but didn’t fully land for me.
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