Favorite Word? Elliot Petropoulos.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Started: November 10, 2021

Ended: November 12, 2021

Rate: ★★★★★

Synopsis

• Elliot and Macy are childhood best friends who bind over reading different books in their own small little library

• Something happened between the two of them in their senior year of highschool which caused a rift of silence for eleven years. Until now.

• Elliot runs into Macy where they both have had lived their lives and they try to rectify the damage that happened between the two of them

Friends to lovers. Heart-felt. Heart-wrenching.

Review

Plot

Ok, this couldn’t wait until tomorrow. It is currently 1:57 am and I just finished Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. That book was. Wow. I don’t even think I have words for this book. Well no, I do. It was a perfect, warm-hearting, heart-wrenching, restores-your-faith-in-love kinda book.

Elliot and Macy. It’s been a while since I read about a couple as perfect as them. Well, they weren't perfect, but that is what I loved about them. Their story makes me believe in soul mates. I was already a light believer of soulmates and the idea that there are multiple in the world, but this book really strengthened my belief in them.

This book jumps back and forth between the present and the past but both Macy and Elliot’s chemistry in both the then and now chapters feels like eleven years haven’t passed; their spark is still there and its painstakingly obvious they still love each other. There were so many times in which I wanted to stay in the then chapter and not go back to the present and vice versa because of how good both they were. Their chemistry is unmatched.

Characters

I have read a total of seven? eight? contemporary romance books in the last few months and I don’t think I have ever fallen for someone as deeply as Elliot Petropoulos. A lot of the romance books I read always had these male protagonists where they were interesting to read because they were fun to admire. I like to read about the grumpy moody guys in the romance book because they were entertaining. I knew that in real life, I would actively avoid these people because they would be too intimidating to talk to. But Elliot Petropoulos made me realize that, realistically, he is the kind of person I want in my life and to spend the rest of my life with. He set the standard for my future boyfriend and husband. His demeanor and the way he isn’t afraid to say what he feels and how he knows exactly what he wants.** And how he is just brilliant but never in a condescending way and the way he loves in ways that words cannot comprehend--but he most likely can because of his way with words. and the fact that he waited eleven years. ELEVEN YEARS. That’s more than a fucking decade and he said he has always loved Macy and has known for as long as he knows. Always. He hasn’t loved anyone since. I want someone like Elliot Petroplous. He just felt like such a real character, like someone I know that can exist in my life. I know that he sets the bar a bit high but I don’t care. This book made me realize that I deserve so much more (than a guy who can’t comprehend his feelings ahem ahem).

**The fact that he also made it very clear what his feelings were at the BEGINNING OF THE BOOK. That was new to me. Refreshingly new. Because usually in books, the guy doesn’t confess until the end of the book and it’s this whole monumental thing. But with Elliot, he’s straightforward and emotional and wants to make it clear how much he loves Macy. My absolute favorite quote...well one of them said by him:

“You’re the love of my life. I assumed I would get over you eventually, but seeing you yesterday? I couldn’t go home to someone and pretend to love her with everything I have” (66).

THIS IS PAGE 66. 66 PAGES. AND HE SAYS WHAT HE FEELS. I love him.

Another quote that made me fall in love with him all over again:

“I sighed, chewed my lip, fidgeted. ‘Why can’t everyone be like you?’ ‘I can be enough of your world that it feels like everyone is’ "(227).

When I read this, my heart warmed up and then exploded. Just. His way with words. oh my. Can someone like him be in my world? PLEASE.

Ok, last one which gave me more reasoning why I should raise my standards for men. When Macy was talking to Elliot on the phone she says that she doesn’t have any plans for Thanksgiving. And mind you, they are still are trying to recover from their long silence of eleven years:

“I expect him to poke at this, to make some sort of What does this mean? Investigation, but he doesn’t. He just clears his throat and says ‘Okay so you’re coming here. I’d better do those dished then’” (257)

A MAN WHO ISN’T WISHY-WASHY AND MAKES IT CLEAR THAT HE WANTS HER THERE. STRAIGHTFORWARD. KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS. FUCK. the perfect man.

Final Thoughts, Parting Words

I think I need a couple of days before I go and read my next book because this book was just amazing. And also, I just need to recover. But once I recover and read a couple of other books and need a little pick me up to remember that soulmates exist, I will reread this book.

Side note: the people we meet on vacation being the go-to book for the trope of friends to lovers is an absolute crime. This book IS THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION of friends to lovers. I will be taking no further questions, thank you.

I guess one thing that I didn’t like about this book—ok but let me clear: I loved this book. But I didn’t cry. At this point, I think I find that more concerning than disappointing. I finished the book and I put it on my bookshelf and sat in the chair for a solid five minutes questioning whether I have the ability to cry and if I am actually dead inside. At this point, I think I need to find a book to cry to as a sign that I am ok. Because I need to know if he broke me or if I just haven’t found that book yet.

Also when I was in the middle of the book, Taylor Swift dropped her re-recording of Red and I had switched moods of “yes love exists” and “fuck men. they only bring heartbreak”. So a good part of the book didn’t make me feel a whole lot but luckily I was able to overcome that by listening to Lover.

Speaking of which, the game I would like to play is "Which Taylor Swift Song Encapsulates this Amazing Book?" And there they are:

• You Are In Love

Buy this book on Amazon!