Author: Rainbow Rowell

Year of Publication: 2012

PLOT: 4/5

CHARACTERS: 3.8/5

WRITING: 4/5

CLIMAX: 3/5

ENTERTAINMENT: 4/5

BUY HERE

Plot:

“She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”

Eleanor is a new girl in town, and it would be difficult for her to stand out more if she tried given her turbulent home life, mismatched wardrobe, and unruly red hair. The boy in the back of the bus is named Park. With his head buried in a book, black T-shirts, and headphones, he believes he has become invisible. Nevertheless, never to Eleanor—never to Eleanor.

Eleanor and Park fell in love with one another over late-night discussions and an ever-expanding collection of mix tapes. They fell in love the same way you do when you first meet someone, when you’re young and feel like you have nothing to lose. It would appear that they are unlucky because a cruel guy and several mean classmates are threatening their relationship.

I certainly hope I’m not the last one to go through Eleanor & Park’s wonderful yet agonising suffering. Sure, I am aware that the conclusion irritated me greatly and probably millions of readers before me. Why, specifically, did the author have to manipulate our emotions? Yet because I’m a happy person, I’d want to imagine a fresh start for the romance between Eleanor and Park. Possibly a pleasant beginning rather than a joyful finale.

The author’s writing is clear and simple to understand. The story is utterly captivating and heavily influenced by the real voices of regular teenagers. I hate to report that my copy of this book is covered in yellow highlighted lines since the author made the narrative so quotable, but the story is captivating from the very first page. No, the author does not dwell on the idea of insta-love as it exists today. Instead, because the story is set in the 1980s, the author emphasises the culture of that era, which included wearing band T-shirts, listening to mixed tapes, using landlines, and engaging in other activities.

The plot grips the readers’ brains and ties their hearts into intangible links of connection with these two individuals, which causes the pacing to go extremely quickly.

What I liked about/didn’t like about the book?

The readers will long for the love tale between them because it is full of genuine feelings that will touch their hearts. Although the author accurately captured their shared sympathy, she kept their romance simple and charming. This novel will undoubtedly soften the hardhearted folks and evoke strong emotions in them. Yes, there is no doubt that this story made me cry a lot, but I also occasionally grinned and roared aloud at their jokes and shared joys.

Eleanor and Park are both imperfect but honest and genuine people, and the author powerfully captures their temperament via this novel. From the very first page, readers are sure to identify with these two unique characters. Eleanor fights for herself every day because of her family, and she strives to be brave by not letting anyone get to her despite the continual bullying and derogatory comments. Eleanor ends up serving as a symbol for girls who experience bullying both at home and at school. If you had a million dollars, you would swap it for Park because he is the kind of guy that people will do anything for. A strange boy who is also very, charming & adorable.

Will I recommend this book?

Yes, recommended

Final Verdict

A good book that explores teen romance. You will experience the story’s rich, evocative feelings as though it were your first time falling in love. I hate to say that, but when it comes to Rowell, she creates her characters based on flawed, regular people in real life.