Review | Love and Other Words

Written By Igho Eferere

Author: Christina Lauren | Book: Love & Other Words

Synopsis

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulosβ€”the first and only love of her lifeβ€”the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire worldβ€”growing from her gangly teen friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much moreβ€”spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco reading books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

My Thoughts

β€œπ‘°π’ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’˜π’‚π’š, π’Žπ’š 𝒅𝒂𝒅 π’˜π’‚π’” π’‚π’π’˜π’‚π’šπ’” π’†π’‚π’”π’š 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅. 𝑯𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’” π’”π’•π’“π’‚π’Šπ’ˆπ’‰π’•π’‡π’π’“π’˜π’‚π’“π’… 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’’π’–π’Šπ’†π’•: 𝒉𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’π’Œπ’†π’… π’’π’–π’Šπ’†π’•π’π’š, π’”π’‘π’π’Œπ’† π’’π’–π’Šπ’†π’•π’π’š; 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 π’‰π’Šπ’” π’‚π’π’ˆπ’†π’“ π’˜π’‚π’” π’’π’–π’Šπ’†π’•. 𝑰𝒕 π’˜π’‚π’” π’‰π’Šπ’” 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’˜π’‚π’” π’ƒπ’π’π’Žπ’Šπ’π’ˆ. π‘―π’Šπ’” 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’” 𝒂 π’“π’π’‚π’“π’Šπ’π’ˆ, π’—π’π’„π’Šπ’‡π’†π’“π’π’–π’” π’ƒπ’†π’π’π’π’˜.”
— Christina Lauren

Love and Other Words is a wonderful triumph - the kind of story that draws you so intimately close to the characters that you almost forget they’re fictional. You’ll be swept away by the friendship, the ease of love - familial, platonic and romantic, the heartbreak, the joy, and the chemistry woven through the fabric of Macy’s and Elliot’s relationship.

CL never disappoints, so I was expecting this to be good, but HOLY SHIT this was amazing. I finished this in 3 days (that’s fast for me πŸ˜…). More than once, I wanted to physically shake both main characters (especially Macy) but I eventually understood 😒. I got it! This was such a quietly beautiful story and a true delight from start to finish. Love it!

Anyway, if you’ve read it, what did you think? If you haven’t read it? Read IT!!!

Easy πŸ’― recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

β€œβ€™Favorite word?’ He whispers. I don’t even hesitate: β€˜You.’”
— Christina Lauren

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Hope you're safe and doing well.

Igho Eferere
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