Way, way back in the day, when I was a starry eyed high school student who would devour any book that they could get their hands on, I was given my first contemporary romance novel. I’m not talking harlequin romance or historical romance novels with a half-naked Fabio on the cover, but rather novels written like rom-coms in modern times, with women facing modern day problems. I swear, reading them at the time, (especially a lot of Jane Green – Jemima J and I were tight) I felt like I was growing up into a worldly woman. And I was sure that, before I knew it, the love of my rom-com life would come sauntering into the library and I’d have a romance for the ages.
Then I discovered horror novels and flipped my own script on it’s head.
But it was about two years ago, after finally getting back into reading after a long hiatus, that I decided I was going to try my hand again at a romance novel. I’ve still got zero interest in historical romance (and most half-naked man covers) but I am a sucker for a modern romantic company. And, a few years ago – not knowing where to start – I picked up a Christina Lauren novel. And since then, they (they’re a writing duo) have become my go-to when I want a sweet, pick-me-up romance novel to break up some of my darker reads.
And Love And Other Words might be my favorite one yet.
The Premise:
Then: When Macy is a young girl, her mother tragically falls ill and passes away, leaving in a note to her father that they should find a place to get away to whenever the world feels like it’s crushing them a bit. When that time comes, Macy’s father purchases a vacation cabin not terribly far from the bustle of their San Francisco life, but far enough away that it feels like a sanctuary away from life with nature and calm. And it’s on their first day viewing the home – before they even decide to buy it – she meets a neighbor about her age, Elliot.
As a child, Elliot was a quiet, bookish boy, but as he and Macy grow up spending summers and random weekends together at her vacation house, they become the best of friends. And as they grow up, those feelings begin to blossom into even more. But as high school comes to a close, Macy and Elliot have a catastrophic falling out.
Now: It has been 11 years since Macy has spoken to Elliot, but when she runs into him at a coffee shop one day before work, a decade’s worth of emotions begin to rise to the surface. Macy’s moved on from the heartbreak of their falling out and now she’s engaged. Elliot seemed to have moved on as well. But while he hunts for answers to what happened between them all that time ago and hopes to reconcile, Macy feels herself beginning to fall for him all over again.
My Thoughts:
I felt like Renee Zellweger in the iconic Jerry Maguire scene when she declared “You had me at hello” when I read the sentence: “It never occurred to me that love could be anything other than all-consuming. Even as a child, I knew I never wanted anything less.” From that point on, the fourth paragraph into the prologue, I knew I was all in. I adore a friends-to-lovers romance and, while this had a few eye-roll moments, this one fit the bill. Furthermore, both main characters are book lovers. (Insert my swoon here.)
Both Macy and Elliot feel relatable (though I kept imagining Elliot as the beachy writer with the same name in Stardew Valley) but that’s no surprise. Christina Lauren stories always have interesting, real feeling characters. While Macy can’t seem to get a break from tragedy in her life, the situations between them had a feeling of realism to them as well, that I find is sometimes missing in romance novels. (I think sometimes it can get almost too caricature-ish and feel silly.)
I also very much appreciated that the misunderstanding in this novel felt unforced. Once the details were laid out, it made sense as to why each character was feeling the way that they were and no one’s reactions felt particularly over the top. This feeling continued into Macy’s relationship with her fiancé as well. I, personally, don’t love the “we both need to break up our existing relationships because we’re in love” type trope because I sometimes find it hard to root for someone who’s breaking someone else’s heart in the process, but this one had a bit of a different take on it that felt like a breath of fresh air.
Lasting Impressions:
For me, Love and Other Words ticked all the boxes that I typically look for in a romance. It is a pretty run-of-the-mill novel as far as romances go, so like all of them, it might not be for everyone. But if you have a preference for friends-to-lovers or second chance romances, this is one to check out. With each new novel of Christina Lauren’s I discover, I am always taken by how well crafted the characters feel – even when the plot gets a bit outlandish. (But let’s be honest, I know at least for myself, I’m not really reading romance novels because I’m looking for a riveting plot. I want characters and emotions and, sometimes, a good cry.)
