Do You Remember Your First ‘Love And Other Words’?

Starting September on a love note for plenty of reasons of my own. But first comes first. A romantic novel can be a fresh of breath air. I only took 5 days to complete this book. It was that good. The two timelines, then and now, was a little confusing at first but it got better as you go. The ending was unexpected for me because I didn’t see it coming. The reason for not keeping in touch for a decade was indeed shocking. As thrilling and heart-wrenching as it can be, ‘Love and Other Words’ is a celebration of the fragility of love, the beauty of literature and the strength of true friendship to overcome anything.

“Favorite word?” he whispers. I don’t even hesitate: “You.”

*Christina Lauren*

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.

A story of first love, loss, friendship, and the betrayals of the past all in this first fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren.

The book was published in 2018 with around 400 pages and 94% likes on Google. Christina Lauren stated that the area around Santa Rosa had burned down and the place where she was editing the book, left with ash and rubble. But the memories will live forever in Elliot and Macy’s story. This makes the book even more special with a history, people she met and a little piece of her. Now, I can’t wait to share the things I find fascinating in this book. Do you remember your first ‘Love and Other Words’?

1. Parents love.

“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.“

Before Macy’s mother died, she left her father a list of things she wanted him to remember as Macy was getting into adulthood. It was pretty much everything he needed to know to raise their only daughter without the mother. They both wanted the best for Macy and it shows. Even if it means with or without them being around. Unusually, her father became her safe haven instead of her mother.

2. Grief.

“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.“

People say they don’t remember what happened immediately after being told of the death of a loved one, but Macy remembered everything. She remembered everything from her broken arm, the feeling of wanting to claw her skin off and run. The effort it took to eat and dress was already so intense, the funeral was too much. Macy had to go to therapy but she didn’t argue. She went to college right after.

3. Reading and passion for words.

“And because when I find that book that makes me lose myself for just one hour, maybe more, I forget.“

Macy and Elliot always spend their summers reading and picking their favorite words. Macy’s mother loved books, too. Every gift was a book, a journal, cool pens or paper. And she read everything. Her father made her a library closet that she and Elliot started sharing once they became friends. Books made her escape reality just like a lot of us out there who loves to read.

4. Friendship.

“Sabrina’s silent again; I hate having this conversation over the phone. I want the reassuring presence of her on the couch next to me.“

Macy had another friend. Sabrina who she got close to during college. She believes that the administration prepped her in some way, though she insists they didn’t. She lost her brother in a car accident two summers before. So she understands exactly what Macy was going through without her explaining anything to her.

5. Betrayal.

“That was the horrible thought that threaded through my dreams-dreams of running into him on a bus and not recognizing him, dreams of passing him in the hall and feeling the uncomfortable echo that I’d somehow missed something important but didn’t know what it was.“

Macy had no doubt that Elliot loved her but there was also Emma. Every day at school, all year long, accessible, convenient and familiar to Elliot. Macy doesn’t really feel like she knew the real life Elliot. Her Elliot existed only on certain days and only in confines of their library closet. She blamed everything on Elliot when he cheated on her. Eleven years ago.

Have you read this book? What do you think? I can’t wait to share my next read.