Shifting through the motions in life can lead you down roads that you may not have predicted. Macy Sorensen was working in pediatric critical care, devoting long hours to her job, and was engaged to a man who ‘fit’ into her life. A contentment was evident between Macy and Sean. Not exactly the kind of romantic relationship you would expect when declaring that you were planning to marry.



Everything about Macy’s life seemed perfect on the outside until a familiar face from the past came barreling back into the present. Eleven years…..that is how long it had been since Macy cut Elliott out of her life. Elliott was Macy’s first friend, first love, first EVERYTHING!! Now Elliott is in the same town as Macy and has made himself plain in his desire to find out what has been going on in her life in his absence. What Macy fears most is Elliott’s desire to air out the events that lead to the dissolution of their friendship….then end of their love.



As Macy and Elliott begin to reminisce and spend a little time together, they both realize that the feelings they pushed aside all those years ago are still running rampant. Both have moved on with their lives, but clearly realize that tensions from the past will not be buried so easily.



The story surrounding Elliott and Macy is definitely a page turner. With a trail that leads you from the past to the present, nothing is off limits. What I loved initially was the way this story lets you know that an event happened during the past that altered the path that Elliott and Macy took from that moment forward. It was emotional and easily believable. A journey that was layered with unresolved affection and the notion that sometimes people ‘settle’ in life. It was so engaging…..until it wasn’t.



Let me explain…..it will be hard to put into words without giving away the plot, but I sure am going to try. The entire book gives you flashbacks to the past. Allowing readers to glimpse how the relationship between Macy and Elliott began. From those first tender tendrils of friendship, to the moments the two shared, each nuance of growing up and maturing. Each laid a foundation of what was to come. All during the past and present, readers never really know what the event was that justified the ‘breakup’ and over 11 years of separation.



There is one moment in the book that has really stuck in my head. The insane reaction to events were absolutely unbelievable and did not seem to ‘match’ the rest of the story. There is a moment that Elliott and Macy share at a family event, and the reaction that Elliott has is absolutely a ‘say what’ moment. Then it’s like ‘all is forgotten’ in the very next chapter. It’s not a hot/cold type scenario. It is one that literally doesn’t fit the dynamic of the story and certainly wasn’t thought out when fleshing out the plot of this story. It’s like hanging on the edge of a cliff, waiting for that finality, and you are just left hanging there. I kept saying to myself that the reaction wasn’t resolved or discussed. It happened and then it was completely glossed over. Kind of like ‘now you see me, now you don’t’. It was nuts!



Then readers finally discover the ‘why’. That event that led to the years of turmoil for these two characters. The one thing that caused hurt feelings, unresolved pain, and an event that altered every decision that Macy and Elliott ever made from that point on. When I read what the event was….I was seriously saying ‘is that it?’. The letdown from the revelation was epic for me. It wasn’t the ‘act’ that blew it for me…it was the way the secondary characters were so flippant. The way that the explanations explained the way this resulted in years of hurt feelings and loneliness.



Then another revelation is unveiled. It was a HUGE event that explained so much about Macy and how she looked at life. What it didn’t explain was how that led to Elliott’s explanation from that moment forward. The reaction or lack of reaction from Elliott’s family is simply not believable with the groundwork that was laid in the moments from the past that readers were privy to. Nor was the believability from that moment on in the story. There are some plot lines that simply were not fleshed out enough in this story.



If you can skip all of the hang-ups, then you will love this story unequivocally. The emotions will definitely overflow while devouring this book. It is not one you will want to put down once you start. While it was one that kept me glued to my reader, I know my reaction to the revelations will probably not be the ‘norm’. Regardless, it was still a compelling novel that is definitely swimming with emotion. If you are looking for a novel that will leave you thinking and is not the ‘same old’ romance novel, then this is the story for you.

I don’t know how they do it, but Christina Lauren manage to grab my heart each and every time I read one of their books. This book is no exception. I just finished reading it, and I am exhausted from all the emotions running through me. Macy and Elliott are childhood friends, who grow up and grow in love with each other during their teenage years. We see it all except the reason that they are now, eleven years later, apart, not having seen or spoken to each other during that time. The story winds from “then”to “now” in a beautiful pace, slowly giving us the “story”, and making us feel every emotion along the way. I am not sure how else to express my feelings about this book, but I truly loved it and am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this.

This book is the true meaning of made for each other and soulmates! Christina Lauren are a couple of my favorite authors and I love their writing, but I have to say this book just made its way to the top of their list.

Can two people that are meant for each other get a second chance? Can they get passed the hurdle that caused them to be apart for over a decade?

Macy has closed her heart for over 10 years and doesn’t event realize she’s done it, until she runs into the person that has had it for all this time. Do you stay in the safe, quiet relationship you are in or do you give it all up for another chance with the person that can shatter your whole life?

Elliot knows what he wants, he always has. Even as kids he’s known. But how can he prove it to the person that means the most to him. How can he convince her, he’s the one for her. Love, happiness, heartbreak and a second chance with the one he has always loved!

I love how this story jumps from present to passed. It has me questioning everything. Trying to figure out what happened to cause the separation. This book had be on a emotional rollercoaster! Amazing work ladies! I highly recommend it and guess what, it comes out tomorrow. So go 1-click now!

*This ARC was given to me by NetGalley for my honest review*

✌️❤️ Anastasia Triantos

This is a book I finished and just had to sit and “be” with while I tried to figure out how I felt about it.
This is an author team that I haven’t read a lot of and this is advertised as a departure from their norm. If that’s the case, then we need to see more like Love And Other Words.
The timeline flips between past and present for Macy and Elliot and while it causes a bit of a slow start to the story, it really works in this case. The fact that the two timelines mirror each other in a sense pulls things together and adds needed tension to the story line.
Macy and Elliot are both characters that are easy to like, even if some of Macy’s motivations don’t seem clear until late in the story. I found myself rooting for them to get things figured out and hoping that whatever kept them apart could be repaired.
While this is, at its core, a love story, there are also a lot of other significant emotional moments. Macy’s story is heavy and I think that is part of what makes her reconnection with Elliot so important.
It’s hard to say much else without running into spoiler territory. If you are looking for light hearted fun, keep moving. But, if you are looking for an emotional read with a sense of hope - stop, and get comfortable. My favorite word: promise.

I’m a sucker for second chance romances and friends to lovers romances. This book gave me both which I loved! Macy and Elliot met at a young age while she was there for the summers with her father. I loved how the story was told in the past and present. We got to see and feel the connection that build between Macy and Elliot. It was a nice and delicious slow burn which I loved. I loved the fact that they were bookworms and had their own library.

This wasn’t your typical second chance romance novels because at times this story was heartbreaking. I wasn’t sure how much my heart could take at times. As expected there was a twist and honestly I can’t believe this character would do this to the other character. I know I’m being vague but this doesn’t make sense and seems so unlike them. Like I still don’t believe this happened. Nope. Then when you think things can’t get any worse it does. Just rip my heart out Christina Lauren!!!

This is the third book that I have read by this author and I’m loving their books so much! This book was lot more emotional than “Roomies” and “The House” and I enjoyed every heart and soul crushing moment. This story will make you believe in second chance romances that can overcome so many odds!

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is a sweet, sexy coming of age story. It is different from the other books I have read written by this dynamic duo. I love their romcom novels. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, as it's not a romcom . But authors Christina Lauren exceeded my expectations with this beautifully written, angsty story.

I loved the characters of Elliot and Macy. They were well developed and perfectly imperfect. I loved how the authors take us through the relationship alternating writing with the past and present. I felt like I was there with the. At times, Macy and even Elliot had me frustrated. But that's because I was invested in their story.

I love the way authors Christina Lauren drew me in and kept me turning pages. I needed to know how it ended but I had to understand how they got where they were. Fantastic story. Highly recommend. Christina Lauren do it again!! Love and Other Words is one of their absolute best.

Oh my goodness, where to begin? This was my first Christina Lauren book and I am absolutely in LOVE! 5/5 stars for this beautiful, emotional romance. I truly believe in soulmates, and this book has just that as well as the saying for “they’ll always come back”. This was so beautifully written and the pain you feel from the characters is so real. I love how each chapter is a flashback in time to then and now, telling the story slowly as well as the underlying story. It all comes together so beautifully and the ending is perfect. Elliot and Macy have had their ups and downs, but it’s clear they are meant to be soulmates. This book is definitely heart-wrenching in a good way and I highly highly recommend. One of my top reads for 2018 so far.

Love and Other Words is a sweet and emotionally charged 2nd chance romance read by Christina Lauren. I don’t want to give any spoilers away but what I can say is keep your tissues handy. This is one that will make you think, will gut punch you; a story that focuses on friendship, life and loss and how romance plays into it all. Macy and Elliot will really have you rooting for their love story. This is not a steamy romance but a love enduring thru the years. Trust me, it is one of those that makes you believe in real love, enduring love . Ms. Lauren has done it again with Love and Other Words for it was a coming of age story that is told in the past/present and it shows how the H/h came to be where they are in their lives now and flashes to past. I loved it all, and if I had any complaints, it is just one small one- I would have liked to see them go forward in time to a year or so and see where they ended up. Otherwise, what a fabulous romance read.

My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

Wow! Another Top Fave of 2018! I have read back to back amazing books these past two weeks and I am on SUCH A BOOK HIGH!

You know that all-encompassing love that you dream about... the kind that pulls at your heartstrings, the kind of love that starts off as young love and becomes something more—the anxiousness of that "more" that consumes your every waking minute—this is how I felt reading Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, a new favorite of mine by this amazing writing duo.

Love and Other Words is addicting—the love story of Elliott and Macy told in alternating timelines of the past and present both uplifting and heartfelt yet devastating at the same time.

Elliott and Macy have known each other since their teenage years when Macy's mother passes away and her and her father find a vacation home next door to Elliott Petropoulos and his family. What begins as a friendship grows to best friends to best of everything to that something "more" that the reader can feel from their very first meeting. The relationship between Elliott and Macy is one of the most exquisite relationships I have ever read.

Elliott... oh sweet Elliott who is wise for his years. There was something about this gawky, nerdy teenage boy that captivated me from the get-go. Their conversations, their love of books, that something "more" that you can't even define that was always present when they were in each other's space was just so delicious.

And Macy... Macy growing up without a mother role model but with a near-perfect father who tried his best to be everything she needed... thrived in this special connection and relationship with Elliott and his family.

Reading the alternating timelines of then and now and watching their relationship grow then fall apart was magnificent to be a part of. Not only because it was riveting but completely all consuming... I wondered what and how things went wrong and was waiting with bated breath for what their future would hold and if they could ever find their way back to each other again.

And boy... Christina Lauren DID.NOT.DISAPPOINT!

I can't tell you how or why or what happens but I will leave you with this... people wish and hope for destiny and after everything these two characters have been through—the happiness they found stole my heart and soul and left me breathless. Love and Other Words is moving and extraordinary and everything a reader could ever want in a story. This book is complete and utter perfection.

<i>I'll go anywhere you go. </i>

I will LOVE this book FOREVER and EVER! This is Christina Lauren at their finest and just WOW!!! This is their first book in the women's fiction genre and I hope that they give us more! <3

I've read 1 and half other books by Christina Lauren and this one is my favorite of those. I'd argue that this is not women's fiction, though. It's pretty much a romance except that it's just from the heroine's POV. The story is pretty basic...I enjoyed the parts that were in the past much more than the ones in the present because there's really not a ton going on in the present. Overall, I think this was just a little too much over-the-top emotion for me, and the heroine's world both in the past and present were too small. And, despite this being the point, both the hero and heroine's inability to process and heal from the hurts of their past just felt so painfully unhealthy that I couldn't truly be happy at the end because it felt like they needed more than just that resolution to truly move on. Plus, I just felt like the thing that had come between them was going to be much bigger.

"I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on."

Not to worry over the category of 'Women's Fiction' - this book was surprisingly romantic and steamy! This story was also one of my all-time favorite Christina Lauren books. It captures the longing and insecurity of young love as well as the heartbreak and emotion of a great romance novel. 'Love and Other Words' checked all the boxes for me as a reader!

"It was bigger than we needed, with more land than we could possibly maintain, and neither Dad nor I would realize at the time that the most important room in the house would be the library he would make for me inside my expansive closet. Nor could Dad have known that my whole world would end up next door, held in the palm of a skinny nerd named Elliot Lewis Petropoulos."

I have lots to say about this book but it is hard for me to convey the emotion that it inspired. Suffice it to say once I started this story, I could not put it down. Macy and Elliot's story is gorgeous and tender and sexy and tragic.

This story is completely addicting. I was dying to know how Macy and Elliot's past and future would play out. Would they end up together after many years apart? They fell so deeply in love as teenagers but would that kind of all-encompassing love last all these years later?

"Have mercy. The only thought I have—bewildering and breathless—is that Elliot has become a man who knows how to use his body. I didn’t notice it yesterday, couldn’t have."

I must feel a connection between the main protagonists for me to feel invested in a book and Christina Lauren hooked me in right from the start with Macy an Elliot. I am trying to keep this review spoiler-free so I will just say that the alternating timeline works perfectly here. I related to the characters and the gorgeous ending was worth EVERYTHING. The authors managed to write a sexy and sweet romance without being overly sentimental. If you are looking for wonderfully-written, modern romance, this is the book for you. And honestly, I would LOVE a entire book written from Elliot's point of view!

“Favorite word?” he whispers.

I don’t even hesitate: “You.”

I liked this book, but it left me vaguely dissatisfied, I think because I just didn’t totally buy into the story.

Love and Other Words alternates between “now” and “then” timelines. “Now” Macy runs into Elliot, once her best friend and then boyfriend, who she hasn’t spoken to since their relationship abruptly ended. After they reconnect, she finds herself as drawn to him as she was back when they were teenagers in spite of the fact that she is engaged. In the “then” timeline, readers are how Macy and Elliot became everything to each other before it all imploded.

I didn’t have a problem with the reason the authors give for the end of the relationship between teenaged Macy and Elliot. That made sense to me, given Macy’s emotional state at that point, as did Macy’s almost complete inability to form deep relationships afterwards. (Can’t say more without spoilers.) Adult Elliot is still so gone on Macy that the fact that he hasn’t tried to contact her in over a decade didn’t quite ring true to me, however. If you aren’t able to handle even having a relationship with another woman because you are still hung up on your teenage girlfriend, why wouldn’t you try to contact her to get closure? I don’t believe that he couldn’t find her, given that he has no trouble looking Macy up online once he finally runs into her.

My other major issue with the book is that teenage Elliot is way too perfect. He almost never says or does the wrong thing, which doesn’t really fit in with my experience of teenagers of either gender. Even the incident that helps split the two of them up isn’t his fault. I’m not saying there aren’t super sensitive and supportive teenage guys out there, just that it gets taken to an extreme in this novel.

So, the book didn’t quite work for me, but I think that I’m going to be the exception, and other readers will be swept away by the romantic relationship at the heart of the novel.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

3.5ish, rounded down. Love and Other Words is being described as the first "women's fiction" novel from the author duo, and it's a solid foray out of the romance genre. This story focuses on the long history between Macy and Elliott, and why they have now been apart for eleven years. Flashbacks to their teen years reveal their past, until it gets to the point where they must reveal to each other the secrets that led to their sudden and complete lack of contact. It was a quick, easy read, though somewhat predictable, and the relationships and characters felt pretty surface level. I think this book shows that the authors have promise outside of the romance genre, and look forward to seeing what they tackle next.

There is no hiding the fact I’m a Christina Lauren enthusiast. They publish a book, I’m reading it. No matter the genre, no matter the blurb, no matter what, really.
I love their writing and pretty much loved all the characters carved out by the literary duo.
When I first heard about Love and Other Words I was over the moon, I had just finished Roomies and needed my next CLo fix. Woman’s fiction is not a genre I’m often turning to, but I believed Christina Lauren writing woman fiction would just be as interesting character and plot wise only with muted steam. Low key on the sexy times but with enough romantic elements to make it worth my romance reader heart while. In that aspect I’m glad to report I wasn’t disappointed!

Told alternatively between past and present , Love and Other Words remarkably portrays the unique and touching connection between Macy Sorensen and Elliot Petropoulos.

I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.
I started this book loving every word, every detail, all the small features making Christina Lauren‘s characters unique.

Macy‘s letters from her mother. Macy‘s relationship with her dad. Macy‘s point of view, every single peculiarity, curiosity of her teenage mind. She was a lovely character to discover, to read about and it took very little time for me to fall in love with her. I want to put an emphasis on how much I adored the story Christina Lauren created for her. Her upbringing, her mom, her dad… It was a beautiful thing to read.

Present time, the “now” Macy is a brilliant new pediatric resident, and shares a comfortable and convenient but overall unhappy relationship with Sean.
One day she has the shock of her life when she meets again with Elliot. The one.
Any contact between her and Elliot, her best friend from “Then” has been severed eleven years ago and we have no idea why.

With a painstaking attention to details, Christina Lauren takes us on an excruciating journey through past and present and illustrates one of the sweetest tale of friendship I’ve had the pleasure to read. To give you an idea of the level of cuteness and the attachement I started to develop for the characters, I had “My Girl” vibes reading about Elliot and Macy‘s tender bonding. I needed this book to never end and I wanted to crawl in it and never leave.

Painfully aware the back and forth between past and present was only slowly bringing heartache in its wake, I couldn’t help but read voraciously, lovingly, and with complete wonder every little idiosyncrasies, any small detail, whatever scraps of memories once shared by Macy and Elliot, the very fine points of their significant link. The core of their balance.
The past POV reeled me in, I wanted to stay in the past and bask in this feeling of love and innocence, of first times, of perfect summers and discoveries.
But also I wanted, needed to know what had happened to make Macy and Elliot’s world implode, to lead them apart and push Macy to choose conveniency and safety over love and happiness. The present POV felt dull and tasteless, but held hope when Macy accepted to give her relationship with Elliot a chance to start over. To be friends again.

Romance, emotional turmoil, loss, friendship and soul searing connections. This book had everything and until 80% I was sure of one thing, this was going to be a 5 stars read.
Until we finally learn the cause behind all the hurt. The reason leading soulmates apart for over a decade of time. I honestly had no tangible idea in mind, I could only speculate but any reason I came up with felt… impossibly lame. Whatever had caused them to grow apart must have been huge, that was the only possibility in my mind. And I guess here lies my disappointment. I came to expect something different, something extraordinary, something as original as the rest of the story.

The primary reason felt so… cliché. Absurd and so out of character for Elliot.
It’s hard to explain without giving away any spoilers. Let’s say it felt inadequate in regard to how special both Elliot and Macy treated each other. It felt so mundane suddenly. It made characters I had put so much esteem into, fall hard from their pedestal.
And then I felt such disappointment from the authors for taking the easy way out about this one fateful night. It felt so different and held so much contrast in comparison to the amount and care for small details delivered throughout the story, to keep whatever led to this one night mistake pretty vague and surrounded in shadows. Overlooked.
To me, this whole story stopped rather abruptly and ended in such an anticlimactic manner when all the building leading to it had been fascinating and spectacular.

I would still highly recommend Love and Other Words, I know many readers didn’t share my qualms regarding the ending, so it could be my own issue. In any case, the characters, the storyline and the writing deserve my highest praise. Christina Lauren proved once again how talented they are by delivering a tenderly poignant and moving story.

<b>---->"Favorite word?"</b>

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This emotional, teenage/adult <b>second chance romance</b> gave me ALL the feels and I just want to hug and squeeze this book tight! I cried before I was even 40% into the story. And I COULD NOT put down this book with the chapter transitions from <b>THEN & NOW</b> wanting to know where the authors are going to take me next for Elliot & Macy's story.

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One of the <b>BEST</b> parts of the Northern California based fictional book is that the two main characters are complete <b>BOOKNERDS!</b> Seriously they bond over words and books and hang out in a closet turned into a home library! I <u><b>HIGHLY RECOMMEND</u></b> this book the plot twists kept me shocked with how the story played out. If you are a Colleen Hoover fan you will DEFINITELY enjoy this book! I am already craving a reread.

Love and Other Words is Christina Lauren’s next epic romance! I have read all of this duo’s books and have loved each and every one of them. I will say that this book has a different feel than the others. It’s not full of hotness but sexy. It’s definitely not paranormal. It’s just different. More.

Eleven years. It’s had been eleven years since Macy had seen the boy that was once her everything. Now, he was standing in front of her, asking her to give him a chance. A chance to catch up. A chance to be friends. A chance to show her that he never forgot about her. Their weekends. Their summers. Their friendship. Their love. She never forgot any of it. She still thought about their time together but should couldn’t go there. She was engaged...

After seeing Elliot, she feels raw. Her feelings were all over the place. He wasn’t just a boy anymore. He was a man. A man who didn’t hide his feelings. A man who she still loved. A man who could hurt her all over again. Then there was Sean, her fiancé. The first man she felt something for since Elliot. She has to question herself...is she truly happy with her life or is she comfortable? She thought she had the answers until he showed up.

Elliot and Macy’s story will bring you back to where it all began. To their first moment. Their awkward teen years. Their fallout. It also will bring you to their present. Can two people who were once each other’s everything just be friends? Can they get over the past? What will happen when the truth all comes out?

I loved this story. It’s adorable. It’s sexy. It’s sweet. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. Elliot is so freakin’ yummy!! He reads. He plays a sport close to my heart. Romantic. Intelligent. He doesn’t hide his feelings. He puts them out there. Macy is beautiful inside and out. Strong. Intelligent and is also a bookworm! I just love them together. Their story is what second chance romances are all about!

P.S. I want her library!

Quotes:

“If there’s anyone I have to prepare for, it’s you.”

“Favorite word?”

“I made Elliot bring Imodium with us when we went to see the Backstreet Boys, because I was having tummy troubles.”
“The embarrassing part of that,” he says, “is that I went to see Backstreet Boys.”
“No,” I correct him, “the embarrassing part was that I caught you dancing.”
He acknowledges this with a little flicker of his eyebrows. “I had moves.”
I laugh. “Yes. Movement is the only way to describe what you were doing.”

I don't typically read women's fiction, unless of course it's penned by the talented duo that is Christina Lauren. Then I don't even think twice about jumping into the story. Though truth be told, while the story encompasses friendship, life and loss, the romantic element is very much at the heart of everything. So even though it wasn't the steamy romance that I'm used to from theses authors, the emotional connection that I developed to these characters and their story was more than enough to make up for it.

Macy Sorensen is a woman that seemingly has her life together with a loving finance and a budding medical career. But then everything comes to a screeching halt when she bumps into the one man that she never forgot or gotten over; Elliot Petropoulos. The boy that was once her everything, her confidant, her best friend, her escape, is now a man. And while it's clear there's a reason for their ultimate rift, the reader is left to wander what could possibly happen to tear apart such a strong bond. The story is told in alternate parts past and present, truly engrossing the readers into the connection that these two develop and share from the time they're just children. You get to experience them becoming friends, to developing feelings, and ultimately falling for one another. Christina Lauren did such a phenomenal job with the development of these characters and their sweet and budding love. You don't feel like you're just reading it, you truly feel engrossed in their experience. It's beautiful, emotional, and so incredibly real. It's a coming of age sort of feel with the addition of true adult feelings in the aftermath. It was, for lack of a better word, beautiful.

Elliot clearly never got over Macy, and Macy clearly never got over whatever it was that made her turn away from him. Years apart did nothing to heal the wounds or dim the love they had for each other. The story is brimming with emotion and overrunning with the rawness of their love for each other and pain of their past. It was magnificent and almost painful to read at times. It had me riveted to the pages, eager for just one more morsel to truly understand what could possibly go wrong to tear them apart.

This had all the makings of an epic 5 star read for me, until the big reveal happens. Man did I struggle with my feelings about it. And while I can understand how something like that could happen in the circumstances they had, it still felt like a betrayal to everything I had learned about these characters. I'd be lying if I said a part of me didn't absolutely hate it. Because I did. I hated it and it ripped my heart apart at the same time. But after sitting on my rating and review for over a week, I decided that I can't discount everything else this book made me feel, including the ultimate reveal of the truth. I may have hated it, but it also made me feel. It made me feel right along with the characters, and even though a part of me can't help but still feel like it was in part unnecessarily OTT, I get it. I truly do.

Love and Other Words was a beautifully crafted coming of age story and second chance romance. It was emotional and all encompassing. It made you feel everything. So much of it. And it left a bit of a gaping hole in your heart at the end, even while mending bits and pieces of it. I hated it and I loved it, and I still can't stop thinking about it.

At one point in this book, a character gets so upset and so grief-stricken that the character throws up from heartbreak.

I feel you, Character-I-Will-Not-Name. I feel you.

As Christina Lauren take you back and forth in time, from when Macy and Elliot met as kids through their reunion in the present, the authors invest you deeper and deeper in their story and in Macy and Elliot. This book isn't so much a "will they or won't they" as a "can they?"

You know that Macy and Elliot have been apart for a dozen years, and you quickly realize that there must be a very serious reason for this. Christina Lauren drop a few hints, but they keep you guessing, building to this cresdendo that might have you, too, heaving over a toilet. It is heartbreaking, dear readers. I knew I was into the book, but I guess I didn't realize just how deeply I was into it because when I got to that crescendo, I could not stop crying.

To tell you how beautifully and splendidly written this book is, Christina Lauren will have you wondering which character you sympathize with the most: Macy or Elliot. Each of them owns your heart.

I'm going to stop here because I risk giving away too much. I dearly hope you read this book, and I hope you come back here, hit up the comments, and let me know your thoughts. I am forever in the thrall of Christina Lauren's writing.

I have read (and liked) books by these authors in the past, and I have to say that this book completely blows the past books out of the water.

Alternating between the past and the present was the perfect way to tell the story. The reader is able to experience the past relationship and not just read about it. Also, it created cliffhangers and desperation that while you wanted to see what was happening in the present, you were compelled to go back to the past to find out where things went so wrong. I honestly think that one of my favorite parts of this book was the addictive nature of the past and the intensity of the characters and their situation. I reveled in the frustration of having to wait for the answers and the urgent need to get to the end of the book.

The title comes from a game that Elliot and Macy used to play when they were younger. They would ask each other 'What is your favorite word?' It may sound a little strange, but it really does tell a lot about the characters and what they are experiencing as the story moves on and their relationship begins to change. They have such a sweet beginning and their young love is something very special.

There were many surprises in the book, which I won't go into, but I just needed to say 'Well done,' to the authors for keeping me on my toes.

This was an emotional ride that brought me to tears on more than one occasion. I look forward to more like this from the Christina Lauren.

5 Stars

I absolutely love the pure brilliant simplicity of CLo’s storytelling....up until now. Love and Other Words is brilliant but so much more than simple.

This is my eleventh book by this dynamic duo and IMO holds the most feels. THIS book will make a dark, dead heart swoon. The story of Macy and Elliott effortlessly makes readers vividly recall the memories and feels of first love. The meeting, run in, first kiss I felt the butterflies every time Macy did. We’ve all felt pain, erected walls around our hearts, almost pushed love away out of fear to avoid feelings all of which makes Macy’s journey relatable....and likable.

Elliott, loveable, sweet, hot, smart, ELLIOTTTTTTT.....SWOOOOOON! So strong yet vulnerable making him that much MORE.

The meeting and their idiosyncrasies to us are perfect for them, endearing them to each other to form a friendship like no other. I love that these characters are smart and realistic. I love that the story is shown not told to the reader. Each scene stands out and had me turning pages well past 5am, actually reading it in one sitting.

I normally hate past/present storytelling but it works perfectly in Love and Other Words and with each chapter I grew to love them each even more and found each character relatable. The writing and storytelling unfold at a perfect pace.

I thought about my rating for a day because there is one thing that almost didn’t work for me but in reflection I think the authors did it purposely and it does work. Because this story made me vividly feel everything the characters felt and kept me turning pages late into the night it gets 5 stars from this hard to please Reader.