Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.

Review

You know when a story just grabs you and melts your heart, well that is exactly what this story did to me. 

This was totally not what I expected from a Young Adult novel; it was a lot more raw and more real than just a teenage love story. I loved it for that reason and I can now understand why so many people have been raving about this book.

I was instantly taken by both Eleanor and Park. They are both such fantastic characters and their features in particular really stood out in my mind; Eleanor with her wild, curly red hair and Park with his spiky black hair and honey hued skin. Their relationship with each other was just so unique and I loved the coarse honesty between the two of them. I loved how we get to see right into what Eleanor and Park are each thinking and what is going on separate to them being at school by the story switching between Eleanor and Park's point of view. 

I just kept wanting to pick this up and immerse myself in their world. Despite their difficulties, teenage awkwardness and hardships, I wanted to have what they had. It was utterly heart wrenching and beautiful. Seriously I really hope this is made into a movie, just so so so good!

I wasn't quite sure what to make of the ending though. I think the three words said could have been anything, but I really wish the ending had had more of a finality rather than leaving us wondering what would happen. 

But despite that, this was a fantastic, unique story that I completely fell in love with. Rainbow Rowell has made it to my top favourite authors list.


4.5/5

Eleanor and Park is available from Waterstones and Amazon UK