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booklvrkat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I haven't been living without him. I've been merely surviving.”
Second chance love stories are one of my favorite tropes. This story had it in aces. Not only did Macy and Elliot get that second chance, but their love story also survived so many obstacles. I found this to be a very fast read, one that was emotional and kept me craving the next page. Alternating timelines were easy to follow, and the authors really kept you wondering if these two would be able to heal their hearts in time to make it work together. I might not always get a Christina Lauren book read in a timely fashion, but I will always read them.
“His kiss is an aching prayer; devotion pours from him.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Alcohol
vanesst's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident and Alcohol
kellymoroney's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Love & Other Words was a sweet and surprising romance that made me laugh, tear up, and feel a whole gambit of deep emotions. It was a great time, and if you’re looking for a lighthearted yet emotional romance I would definitely recommend it.
Macy and Elliot, especially in the “then” chapters of the book, are so sweet! Seeing their relationship grow from new friends to new love was so sweet, and I’m glad the book was structured the way it was. I do think some of the chapters were a little short, but the back and forth between then and now worked really well for me.
I do wish we had gotten a little bit more time in the now after their reconciliation, but other than that and the open door teen sex scene, which while it worked in context still always gives me the ick in adult books I had a really great time with this book.
This was only my second book by Christina Lauren, and it won’t be my last. 4 stars.
Macy and Elliot, especially in the “then” chapters of the book, are so sweet! Seeing their relationship grow from new friends to new love was so sweet, and I’m glad the book was structured the way it was. I do think some of the chapters were a little short, but the back and forth between then and now worked really well for me.
I do wish we had gotten a little bit more time in the now after their reconciliation, but other than that and
This was only my second book by Christina Lauren, and it won’t be my last. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol
fairytales's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book has stuck with me and made me think more than many other romances…I think because of the sad parts. The idea of Macy grieving and being sad for 11 years just guts me. Having her lose both her parents and Elliot is so heartbreaking. I do wish that the authors had talked a bit more about mental health and counseling for both characters, especially Macey, in the present day because I think she could really use that support—even if it was just a mention of starting therapy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
lawoodworth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book captured my heart- I loved the dual timelines and all of the characters. This romance book was a mix of friends to lovers and second chances. I adored Macy’s dad, Duncan, and Elliot’s whole family. This book elicited all of the emotions, I was deeply invested and laughed and cried along with the characters. I enjoyed this one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
When I’d gotten to 80% in and the past conflict still hadn’t been revealed I knew I was going to feel like the ending would feel unresolved. And I was right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
syazahaniss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It started off sweet and a potential 4.5-star book but gradually it became more explicit, which I didn’t really appreciate. Not every interaction has to lead to sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
readers_sea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved Macy and Elliot's story so much.
Macy and Elliot meet when Macy and her father buy a "vacation home" in the small town where Elliot lives. They're still young, but immediately hit it off and become inseparable. Since Elliot lives there full time and Macy doesn't, their time together is sporadic and unpredictable sometimes, but they always make the most of it when they are together. Growing up together, they saw each other grow a lot, and of course that led to first loves and other firsts.
This book is told in dual timelines. One timeline is the past when Macy and Elliot were younger and still getting to know each other. Throughout the book, we get to see them slowly grow up throughout this timeline. In the other timeline, we are in the present. The present starts a decade after Macy and Elliot last talked/saw each other. Their departure was abrupt and left a lot of questions for some characters. As the story unfolds we are leading up to the night ten years ago when they stop talking. We get to see what happened and what led them to where they are today.
This story was so well done and layered. I loved how it was told in dual timelines because I felt like both stories were unfolding perfectly. I was rooting for them in both timelines, but also so curious as to what led them to not talk for a decade after seeing how they were growing up together. This story had a lot going on, and I loved watching it all unfold. There were a lot of themes and subjects that were brought up that I wasn't expecting, but overall I really enjoyed it and these characters.
Macy and Elliot meet when Macy and her father buy a "vacation home" in the small town where Elliot lives. They're still young, but immediately hit it off and become inseparable. Since Elliot lives there full time and Macy doesn't, their time together is sporadic and unpredictable sometimes, but they always make the most of it when they are together. Growing up together, they saw each other grow a lot, and of course that led to first loves and other firsts.
This book is told in dual timelines. One timeline is the past when Macy and Elliot were younger and still getting to know each other. Throughout the book, we get to see them slowly grow up throughout this timeline. In the other timeline, we are in the present. The present starts a decade after Macy and Elliot last talked/saw each other. Their departure was abrupt and left a lot of questions for some characters. As the story unfolds we are leading up to the night ten years ago when they stop talking. We get to see what happened and what led them to where they are today.
This story was so well done and layered. I loved how it was told in dual timelines because I felt like both stories were unfolding perfectly. I was rooting for them in both timelines, but also so curious as to what led them to not talk for a decade after seeing how they were growing up together. This story had a lot going on, and I loved watching it all unfold. There were a lot of themes and subjects that were brought up that I wasn't expecting, but overall I really enjoyed it and these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Grief, and Alcohol
nuttus's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The amount I hoped the book would end where Elliot walked away and was mean to Macy is ridiculous.
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Macy has no personality other than jealous and sorry for herself, a wet gray rag. She is so self centered and focused only on herself that I don’t understand what Elliot saw in her. Macy was always so sure that Elliot would chace after her that she was dumbfounded when for once he didn’t do it. She never ever stopped to think and take responsibility for the fact that she hurt Elliot. For fucks sake, Elliot was raped and clearly traumatized and she threw a fit that he cheated. Then she didn’t even bat an eye about it but just went on to tell that her dad died and once again, Elliot had to be there for her. She hasn’t done anything nice to Elliot, only strung him along for years making excuses and then wanted to be coddled. Was Elliot some sort of replacement of her mom or what, I don’t know but it didn’t feel like romantic love. Both were acting like robots, with weird and frankly child-like (not teen-like, child-like) honest communication without being honest about everything after all. It was not realistic in any way.
And what it comes to Elliot, he is a dumbass for clinging on to Macy for apparently clingingness-sake. There was no chemistry between them, other than sexual. And even the sexual chemistry wouldn’t translated without Macy constantly telling that. It felt more like Macy is just horny and it doesn’t really matter who or what Elliot was. She had just decided that yea, it needs to be Elliot.
Many have said that Every summer after was a better book and a copy of this one and commented on the reviews of that one that this is better and without the cheating. I strongly disagree. This one was unnecessarily dragged out. Not much happened and half of the pages could’ve been ripped out without the loss of nothing of value to the overall plot. The flashbacks didn’t connect to the present bits in any way, unlike in Every summer after. And that one didn’t have rape that was just brushed over with another trauma dump and angst Olympics by Macy.
In my mind the book ended where Elliot for once had a spine, told Macy off and Macy was shocked that for once someone did that to her. Not every romance book couple deserves or needs a happy ever after
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Car accident