Love and Other Words

Ich habe es vom Anfang bis zum Ende geliebt. Einmal angefangen und schwer beiseite gelegt. Die Geschichte fesselt einen und man möchte immer mehr erfahren wie es weitergeht. Elliot hat mein Herz erobert!

Schon aus anderen Büchern wusste ich, wie einnehmend und berührend der Schreibstil der beiden Autorinnen ist. Sie schreiben mit so viel Gefühl und Tiefgründigkeit, dass ich mich gern zwischen ihren Seiten verliere. LOVE AND OTHER WORDS ist eine melancholische Second-Chance-Romance, die eher unaufgeregt und leise ist. Zeitsprünge zwischen früher und heute lassen dennoch Spannung entstehen, da man sich bis fast zum Schluss fragt, was damals eigentlich passiert ist. Die Charaktere habe ich sehr ins Herz geschlossen, auch wenn ich einige ihrer Verhaltensweisen nicht immer nachvollziehen konnte. Auch das Setting in Kalifornien gefiel mir, auch wenn man da vielleicht noch etwas mehr daraus hätte machen können. Insgesamt hat mich das Buch sehr gut unterhalten, sodass ich es unbedingt weiterempfehlen möchte.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is one of my new favorite books by these two and Macy and Elliot‘s story was everything. The two characters meet when Macy‘s dad buys a summer cabin that is right next to Elliot‘s house. They are not only neighbors, but also become friends and connect over books and I loved that. At the same time they are each other’s first everything until something happens and they loose contact. The book is told in the time lines of their teenage years and then in the present when they meet again and have a chance to sort through what happened. This was stunning and I felt for them from the first page and their story is so captivating, heartfelt and romantic and I can only recommend it. One aspect I also love was how they would ask each other what their favorite word is. 4,5 stars.

Disclaimer: This review represents personal opinion and aims to provide an individual perspective on the book. Readers may have different interpretations and experiences. "Love and Other Words" was a highly anticipated book for me, fueled by its popularity on BookTok. However, I found myself deeply disappointed by my reading experience. While the writing style was commendable, there were several aspects that hindered my enjoyment of the story: 1. Unconvincing Childhood Bond: The friendship between Elliot and Macy lacked the depth and authentic connection that would typically be expected between childhood best friends. Their limited communication as children left me questioning the true foundation of their bond. 2. Premature Exploration of Intimacy: The eagerness with which the characters approached physical intimacy felt rushed and out of place, potentially making the story more suitable for a young adult genre. This overshadowed the emotional development and depth that could have been explored further. 3. Deferred Conversations: The postponement of crucial conversations between Elliot and Macy created frustration and hindered the progression of their relationship. It left me yearning for more open and honest communication between the characters. 4. Disappointing Reason for Estrangement: The pivotal event that led to Elliot and Macy's separation fell short of my expectations. The rationale behind their prolonged silence seemed contrived and failed to resonate with the gravity it should have held. For goodness' sake, that reason was one of the worst I've read.

Auf Tiktok ziemlich gehyped, aber leider fand ich die Geschichte eher langweilig. Erst ab Seite 350 wurde es etwas spannender. Ist okay, aber nichts besonderes. Kann gar nicht verstehen, warum das Buch so sehr gemocht wird.