Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 

Release Date: February 26, 2013 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press  

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance,  

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we're 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet?
Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love-and just how hard it pulled you under.

Review: 

A long time ago I read Rainbow Rowell's Attachments and I was blown away. I loved the romance. I adored the characters. I talked it up to just about anyone who would listen. 

Recently, I had no clue what book I wanted to start next. Nothing was drawing me in, and I could feel a book slump beginning - one of my worst reading related nightmares. Then I stumbled upon Eleanor & Park, a book that had been setting on my TBR for far too long. I knew many people had loved it and I had loved Attachments so I figured why not. I'd read the first chapter and see how it went. 

Six hours later and all I can say is WOW....Eleanor & Park is a spectacular novel. It's one of those can't-stop-won't-stop-I-NEED-to-know-how-it-ends kind of books, which are my favorite kind. 

While Eleanor & Park fell in love with each other, I fell in love with their characters. Out of the two, I think Eleanor was my favorite. She's one of a kind. She's independent, brave and caring. She has a spark to her that makes her easy to love. I could easily relate to her struggles over weight. Additionally, my heart broke for her time and time again. Her family situation was horrific, and I wanted nothing more for her to have a happy home and not always be so terrified of what came next. Parker, on the other hand, is quiet yet kind. When the story first begins, Parker is terrified of making a scene - he wants nothing more to blend into the background. I could understand that; however, as the book continued and his relationship with Eleanor developed, a new side of Parker came about. He became fearless and willing to stand up for those he cared the most about no matter what. The scenes with his parents especially warmed my heart - seriously his parents are amazing! - and I loved that he convinced them to take a chance on Eleanor. 

At its heart Eleanor & Park is about love - first loves to be exact. 

Over the course of the story, Eleanor & Park fall in love. It's a sudden, unexpected, and messy. More importantly, however, it's an all-consuming kind of love - the type that makes one reckless and willing to risk everything and anything. I adored seeing their relationship evolve. They had fantastic chemistry. Their banter had me swooning as well as laughing. Better yet, I loved how they inspired each other to be better, to ask for more, to want more. Additionally, I appreciated that it wasn't always sunshines and rainbows; instead, sometimes storms - big and large - rolled in. It gave a realistic, raw feeling to the narrative - one that made my heart soar as well as sink time after time. 

Last but not least: the ending. Throughout the story, I prepared myself for the worst while hoping for the best. There were many ways I could see this ending, and I was well aware it could either be happy or sad. What Rainbow provided was a mixture of both. It was bittersweet and open-ended yet hopeful. One thing is for sure, though, I'll be thinking about it sometime. 

In all, Eleanor & Park is fantastic! I can't suggest it highly enough. Now on to Rainbow's other backlist titles...I have some major catching up to do. 

5 stars!!

Waiting on Wednesday (140)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My picks for this week are...

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

Okay, I ADORED Rainbow's first book, Attachments, and ever since then, I've been eagerly anticapting her next one. So when I first heard about Eleanor and Park, I was beyond excited! It sounds quirky and fun, and since Rainbow rocked at using a past setting before, I'm sure it will be the same for this one. Basically,  I need this book now.

Elanor & Park will be released March 2013!

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

Some say the seaside town of Echo Bay is cursed. They may be right. When a game of truth or dare spins out of control, three beautiful teen girls start receiving mysterious dares containing hints to dark secrets long buried. For artsy outcast Sydney Morgan; perfect, popular Caitlin "Angel" Thomas; and queen bee Tenley Reed, the truth is not an option.

This is no party game-it's do or die.

And it's their turn to play.

This one looks chilling yet thrilling, and since it's another book associated with the amazing Paper Lantern Lit, I can't wait to give it a try! :)

Truth or Dare will be released May 2013! 

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.

Review:

Sometimes all I want is a sweet and cozy read to slip into for a few hours, and with Rainbow Rowell’s debut novel Attachments, that is just what I received.

Attachments tells the story of Beth, Jennifer, and Lincoln, employees at The Courier. Beth and Jennifer have been best friends for ages, telling the other of their romantic woes with a certain musician boyfriend in Beth’s case, or in Jennifer’s case, her conflicted fillings over starting a family with her husband. Lincoln, on the other hand, is a new worker. Hired at The Courier as an Internet Security Officer, Lincoln never thought he would be reading and moderating people’s emails- especially the emails interactions between Beth and Jennifer. While he should of reprimand Beth and Jennifer for misusing company emails long ago, he quickly found himself captivated not only by their emails but also by Beth. However, what is a man to do when he falls for someone he has never seen before in person? How will ever be anything besides the creepy person who reads people’s emails? More importantly, will Lincoln ever get the girl? Only time and more pages will tell in this charming book of love, missed singles, and happy endings.

One of the many high points in this novel would have to be the characters. Well developed and full of wit as well as charm, I adored nearly every single one of them. Lincoln was the typical nerdy yet sweet guy you cannot help but adore, while Beth and Jennifer were hilarious as well as relatable due to their realistic characteristics. Better yet, I loved the friendship between the two of them!

Due to the nature in which this was told (a combination of emails between Beth and Jennifer as well as Lincoln’s narration) this novel moved in a smooth and fast paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep nearly any reader committed. However, what I loved the most that while this novel was predictable, it still managed to not only fell fresh and new but also through a surprise or two in everyone once a while.

Rainbow Rowell’s writing was also decent. She created the characters in a way that they jumped of the page and came to life with each sentence and word spoken. More importantly, I loved how she had the perfect balance of light and seriousness in this.

The only aspect about this novel I was a little iffy about was Beth and Lincoln’s relationship. I always thought Lincoln’s infatuation was her was a bit odd due to the fact he barely knew her, but by the end, I truly didn’t care for a variety of reasons which I won't get into here as I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

Adorable and full of many laugh-out-loud moments, Attachments manages to shine repeatedly thanks to its lively main characters and airtight writing. I can only hope Rowell’s next novel will be as great.

Grade: A-

Attachments is now out!

Source: Publicist at Penguin- thanks Liza!