Love and Other Words

Love and Other Words could be any of our lives. It’s so well written, very realistic, sad at times and tender at times. I love it, and look forward to reading more of Christina and Lauren’s books.

So this was my response first Christina Lauren Novel. I've heard really good things about it.The charactersI absolutely loved the character development of both Elliot and Macy.I love their shared love of reading and word. I love the slow burn element of their story. I relate to Macy's struggle in so many. I love the way grief is realistically portrayed. It's so raw and real and that's how grief is.I love how Elliot was always a steady force in her life.I thought the spice level in this book was very well done. It was definitely open door, but nothing too graphic. The spice was definitely present, but it didn't happen too quickly. The spice was definitely not the central focus.I normally don't like dual timelines or dual POV. But in the case of this book, it just worked.Macy and Elliot's relationship was definitely complicated. Not only did they have a lot of history, they also had a lot of baggage to sort through. From both the past and the present.I thought the writing was excellent. I was pulled into the story very early on. I especially love that Macy's mother wrote her husband helpful advice as Macy went through different mile stones. I also loved her relationship with her father. He was a man of few words, but it was very obvious he loved his daughter very much.This is a book I won't soon forget.

Fun easy read! Loved the characters and the story of first true love! Wish we saw a bit more of their lives together at the end, almost had me wishing for a sequel!

Summary: Macy & Elliot. They fell in love and became eachothers “everything“ Elliot was exactly who Macy didn’t know she needed in her life. That tall, skinny, bony, big rimmed glasses boy because her everything. So what happened that had her leaving him and what happened to make her stay away for 11years Shes older now, about to get married to a man she thought she needed, but just one look at HIM again has her feeling like she doesn’t know what she feels or what she wants. Eleven years later and She is still in love with Elliot“At thirteen you were my first real friend.At fifteen you were my first love. At eighteen youwere my everything. We were about to take on the world together, until one mistake shattered our future”⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5🌶🌶/5My dang heart❤️Okay first things first: DAD DAUGHTER relationship! He did everything he could to help even if he was following a list his wife had made he followed through to a T! Mr. Sorensen was quiet but Macy loved it.“I like your kind of quiet. Your heart isn't quiet.”Now: My boy Elliot. **SIGH**He was perfect. Awkward but perfect. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. He didn’t have to pretend to listen but he always just did“Shouldn’t you only have to tell me once?”I wish we would have known more of that night, or that it didn’t happen and Emma happen to stage it, not a big fan of the whole “I thought it was you” but we’ll let it slide because otherwise the book was beautiful.Ms. Macy guarded her heart, she wanted to let Elliot on a deeper level than just friends but she was afraid and I get that, but they lost so much time besting around the bush. She was very passionate about reading and I love that She and Elliot were able to bond over something like that. I love her personality with Elliot while they were growing up.This book was precious, It brought smiles, laughs and tears. I like how realistic they made their first time, how they didn’t exaggerate his size or unrealistic expectations about Sex it went with the whole theme of the book it was Awkward but beautiful at the same time.I’d 100% read this book again.

4.25 ⭐️Christina Lauren is an auto-buy/read author for me. This book did have a different vibe than some of the others I’ve read - The Paradise Problem and The Unhoneymooners are my favorites. This book had a more serious, heart wrenching vibe where others I’ve read have been hilarious with incredible banter. It was very reminiscent of Every Summer After.This book is told in dual timelines and follows the love story of Elliot and Macy who reconnect after a tragic falling out. The book has strong themes of grief and how to cope with loss.My favorite things:➡️ Elliot’s love for Macy➡️ The list Macy’s mom made for her before she died➡️ The closet book nook➡️ Favorite words➡️ Northern California setting (I’m from NorCal)➡️ Did I mention Elliot?Favorite quotes:“I think of her everywhere. She is everywhere, in every moment, and also she’s in no one moment. She misses every single one of my moments and I’m not sure who that is harder for: me surviving here without her, or her without me, existing wherever she is.”“I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.”“Just don’t be a testicle about this, she says. Sabrina hates using pussy to mean weak, especially after birthing her ten-pound baby the old-fashioned way.”

Love and Other Words is what I refer to as "Prestige" Christina Lauren.The novel is more in the vein of literature than their often fun and indulgent rom-com fare.My favorite word(s) to describe Love and Other Words: tender, quiet, honest, thoughtful, deep, precious, vulnerable, honest, quality, innocent, and delicate.