Love and Other Words

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫ Great Narration

While I really enjoyed most of this book, I have to say this could have been a 5 star book except I felt like there were a few different things with these characters that were either passed by like it was inconsequential or that were just so out of character for them both. I love a friends to loves story and I love a second chance romance so this book started out perfect for me. I really enjoyed the past/present story line and I enjoyed how different Elliot and Macy were from the time they met and how it just worked for them both. Elliot was very quirky as a teen and Macy embraced his "strange" which was probably my favorite thing about this book. I was on board until almost the end. Up until then I felt like the only thing really missing was a little more connection between them as adults, 10 years is a long time to not need any time to get back where you were. Then finally we get the explanation as to why it had been 10 years and that really didn't work for me. It was a little unbelievable the explanation about New Years Eve and then Macy having to tell him about the following day was a little unbelievable too. I say this because after all the years and the connections, for him to go on clueless just didn't seem like him at all. With that being said, I think those are just issues for me and I think most people won't have the same issues. I would for definitely recommend this book but I would be sure that you didn't grab this looking for a "beautiful bastard" type of story. These authors have changed (not a bad thing, just different) since the beginning, their stories are a lot deeper now so expect that when you read this book.

TEN STAR NARRATION
The narration for the audiobook was AMAZING!!! Erin Mallon is an incredible narrator and I have to say I was kind of excited to see she actually narrated this one alone. I say this not because I don't love dual narration because I do but because Erin doesn't need a co-narrator. She has an awesome male voice and she switches so seamlessly between the roles that you forget it's only one person. She was a GREAT casting choice for this book. She was able to narrate a teenage boy, teenage girl, 29 year old man & 29 year old women and it worked perfectly. At no point did she sound too young or too old for the characters and to me that is a great skills that most narrators do not have. I think she portrays the emotions of the characters so well that she has you convinced the situations are actually happening to her and she isn't reading someone else's words.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

What's your favorite word

Amazing! This was a really good friends to lover and second chance story. Macy and Elliot were quirky kids that started as friends and over their high school years fell in love until something happened and 11 years later they come across each other and old feelings that actually never left are right there again. I liked the way the past/present day of their story was told and as much as I loved this story I do think it should have been a little bit more at the end, but books I really enjoy always leaving me wanting more and I wanted just a little more of their story. I loved that even though there were years of separation and words unsaid that because they were friends first they were able to essentially pick their friendship up where they left off. As for narrator Erin Mallon there are not enough words to say what a spectacular job she did with this book. There aren't many narrators that transition from female to male as flawlessly as she does. I will always pick books narrated by her because you can always expect the best from her. If I could I'd give more that 5 stars.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Love and Other Words

I really enjoyed this story, usually, I am not a fan of Before and Now and the back and forth but when these authors do it I don’t mind.

Macy and Elliot are awesome, I love the best of friends and how they were exactly what each of them needed as they grew up. The time they spent apart in the early days made them coming back to each other so much more. I really enjoyed this and then the heartbreak they have well that is just terribly sad.

I will say I felt like the things that were keeping them apart were almost swept under the rug and the HEA was almost too fast. I don’t’ know I guess I wanted more of explanation and a few scenes of how they dealt with the truth finally coming to light.

I loved the narration, I think Erin Mallon was the perfect person for this book, because of her ability to not only bring female characters to life but also her male voice is amazing.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I want my Credit back

I am over halfway through this book and I had to stop and read the reviews and some spoilers on Amazon. Normally, I would read ahead with a physical book. The characters are boring, I hate the past/present alternating chapters and the author is dragging out the reveal Elliott and Macy stopped communicating for 10-11 years. I don't even care anymore. I felt like I was in adolescent hell. And there is no way Elliott would not know about how Macy's father died. I don't even want to read any other books by this author. So disappointing

8 of 11 people found this review helpful

Perfect

Such a great story. Young love, heartbreak, loss and end of dreams and plans. Time passes but hearts don’t heal and they find their way back to each other because that’s where they were meant to be. Erin Mallon is fantastic. Second book i have listened to her in and her male voice may be better than her normal one. Loved the story line and the twist in relevation of Duncan’s death was surprising. Love how tender Elliot is...he is adored from the start.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Favorite Word? Everything.

I’m a huge fan of Christina Lauren’s books, and this has to be my favorite—and not just because it’s about smart teenagers who like to read. Love and Other Words jumps back and forth from the grown up main characters reconnecting in the present to when they knew each other in high school. The emotional journey is so realistic. The ONLY thing I didn’t like was when Elliot asked if what he did was really that bad. I don’t want to give anything away, so all I’m going to say is that YES, what he did really was THAT BAD. I agree that everything that happened after the fact wasn’t his fault, but do understand Macy’s explanation of how it’s just all jumbled together in her head. Elliot’s refusal to accept responsibility bothered me, but I liked what Christina Lauren did with Macy’s character development and her other relationships. Well written and well read.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dizzy and Oh So Boring

The first few chapters intested me but very soon I was bored and lost total interest.
The back and forth from present day to 15-13 years ealier were not purposful but demonstated a lack of developement.
This is not well written or developed.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

oh my heart

In their first venture into Women's Fiction, CLo just go for it. I could read 100 more books like this one.

Whenever I struggle with a book it's because I can't connect to the characters. But I never have that problem with CLo books. With every book you say I'm a Chloe! No, I'm a Harlow! Nope, y'all I am totally a Lorelei. Wait hold on -- Holland, definitely Holland. But along comes the story of 28 year old Macy as she struggles through reconnecting with past and how it all impacts her present -- it's all the feels.

What makes this book for me is that it's a story told from the past and the present -- and that's something I never say. If it were just a story of teenagers finding love or just a second chance romance between old friends each would be a good story but weaving the tale through the past and present makes it a great story. The different timelines add to the depth and complexities of Macy.

I saw this thing on Twitter a while ago that says "I've lost people and found them again. The second time things just made more sense. Honestly, timing has a lot to do with everything. Sometimes you aren't ready for each other yet." As soon as I finished this book this was the first thing I thought of. As much as it hurts sometimes you need that time and distance. That time that space it makes it all worth it when it finally comes together. I can't think of a better way to describe Macy's journey and her relationship with Elliot.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Long on details, short on plot

Hard to believe the number of good ratings on what seemed to me like an unimaginative, predictable plot.
Thought the whole thing was trite and silly.

Amazing, Riveting, I didn't want it to end

This was sooooo GREAT! I rarely listen to books that I read first, but I'm so glad that I listened to this book first. The audio narration is STELLAR! Erin Mallon is truly gifted, she made every single voice/character come to life in a unique way, I truly forgot that it was just one person reading.

I LOVE slow burn romances, I love all Mariana Zapata's books and this book is the only one that even comes close to my all time favorite Wall of Winnipegg and me. Macy and Eliot's relationship is real and epic at the same time - it is honest, raw, funny and heart breaking.

I only let myself listen to books while I'm walking and I didn't miss a single workout the week I was listening to this book and had to use every ounce of my discipline to turn it off when it was time to go home!