Love and Other Words is out TODAY!
Synopsis:
Love, loss, friendship, and the betrayals of the past all collide in this first women’s fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).
The story of the heart can never be unwritten.
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 Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish 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 more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring 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 Review:
Being a huge fan of this writing duo, I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early copy of their newest book. From the very first chapter I knew this was going to be an unforgettable read, and boy was I right. It was simply sublime.
This is a different book we are used to reading from Christina Lauren and it really showcased the talent these two authors hold. These characters and this story were so fresh, so lovable, so memorable. It’s a story of living a childhood filled with both pain and wonder. About finding that one person you connect with through the happiest of times and the most trying of times. About an unbreakable soul-deep connection you can never break, no matter what ups and downs you experience with that person. It’s a story about forgiveness and love. A story about learning to let go of the past and embrace what the future may hold. A story that is so well written you will connect with every word on every page.
I don’t know how these authors do it, but they manage to create worlds that capture a reader every single time. There were so many reason to love this story. Macy is an honest and vulnerable gal. Elliott is her total equal in both of those respects. Together they begin as two beautifully endearing kids and grow into interesting and admirable adults. Unfortunately, there is a painful moment that interrupted their relationship and after years apart fate sees to it that they have the chance to mend what’s been broken between them. What starts out as a relationship of innocence and first love turns into a beautifully emotional and lasting bond built on the love they found when they first met. Truly a love story for the ages!
If I’m being honest, there’s no way I can adequately tell you just how much I adored this book! I laughed, I cried, I devoured every page and this is a book I recommend on the highest level.
Thank you, Christina and Lauren, for this memorable and heartwarming story! #TeamMelliottFOREVA
Five Loves
Book Links:
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Goodreads
More retailers from the author’s website can be found HERE
About the authors (form the author website):
Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in September, followed by a contemporary romance, Roomies in December, and their first Women’s Fiction, Love and Other Words in April.
Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.
Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you can find her at her desk, writing or watching BTS videos. She grew up in Utah and is absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 17 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter.
You can follow their shenanigans at:
@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!
For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie/TV news and more, follow @christinalauren.
Fabulous review jillian!! Loved it!! Shared on all my socials!!