THank you to NEtGalley and Random House for the ARC, all opinions are my own. I appreciate the ARC but this was a big no for me. Confusing and not compelling even though the premise was so strong. Way too little plot and way too much prose.

I chose to read this book because I recognized the author from an earlier book I enjoyed, and also because the description caught by attention because I like fantasy and this one sounded interesting.

Description:
Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are.

With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearance—and what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where they’ve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers.

But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Laura’s sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster.

My Thoughts:
The prose is beautiful and is atmospheric in nature - almost like a fairy tale. There is a good story here. I liked some of the names: the band name is My Two Hands Both Knowe You; the coffee shop is What Hast Thou Ground?; and one of the magical characters is called Carousel. I thought those names were fun. I liked how some of the characters could turn into animals using their magical ability. Unfortunately, and I'm likely in the minority here, I found the book to be overly long and I was bored through a little over half of the book. I had to force myself through. Luckily the second half of the book had a little more movement to it. Also, I couldn't get invested in any of the characters. Nothing made me feel anything while I was reading this. It is not likely that I will recommend this one to my friends.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on February 13, 2024.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I'm sure it will find its audience. I wanted to like it. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

(Posted to Goodreads) I have a soft spot for books that are memorable and unique. I can't think of another book like this one. I enjoy the way the style plays with voice. The plot is all over the place, but in a fun way... and the prose is fun and the characters are endearing. I was never bored, and that's all I really ask for.
What keywords can I even come up with for this book? It's YA I suppose but it feels a little more literary fiction. Magic. Bargains with Powerful Forces. Mystery. Love. Sisterhood. Music. Small towns. Half of these words don't seem right but I don't want to give a lot away. I can't emphasize enough that I really enjoyed how unique this story is.

Thank you to #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is February 13, 2024.

• 640 pages • first pub 2024 • fiction • contemporary • fantasy • magical-realism • 3.5 Stars

Three teenagers, Laura, Daniel, and Mo, disappear from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, and are presumed dead. Almost a year later, they find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom. In this “afterlife” the teens find themselves being used as pawns in a supernatural power struggle.

Speaking of struggling, I found this book rather challenging, which is disappointing because Kelly Link is one of my go-to authors. After having read and enjoyed all of her short stories, I expected more from this the long-awaited debut novel.

#Bookstagram #TheBookOfLove #KellyLink

The Book of Love by Kelly Link is a beautifully written and poignant story. Link's first full-length novel knocks it out of the park with an intriguing storyline, fascinating characters, and beautiful prose. I have been a fan of Link's short story collections, particularly her most recent, White Cat, Black Dog. I was excited when I learned she was writing a full novel, which certainly lived up to the hype. The characters and places feel real, yet there is magic on every page. Link expertly navigates the story, drawing the audience in. You are quickly hooked on the story; I couldn't put it down. I have always enjoyed Link's beautiful prose, quick wit, and engaging storytelling, presented in spades in The Book of Love. This is a book that anyone will love, and I can't recommend it enough!

Honestly, the book is not for everyone! Numerous perspectives, unreliable characterization, a slow burn of entire conjunction, a high volume of profanity, and violence may disturb most readers. However, I have to show respect for its uniqueness, bold style, unusual plot choices, and original execution. I consider myself one of the admirers amid the critics or those who opt to remain neutral. It's fresh, smart, unusual, strange, eccentric, different, and complex.

In this intricately woven narrative, "The Book of Love" by Kelly Link beckons readers into a realm where love, both mundane and magical, intertwines with mystery and danger. The story unfolds like a dream, leading the characters—Laura, Daniel, and Mo—back to life, a year after being presumed dead in Lovesend, Massachusetts.

Link's storytelling technique employs an "in the meantime" style, revealing overlapping perspectives that add complexity to the plot. Susannah, grappling with loss and anger, provides a unique lens into the aftermath of the characters' mysterious return. The narrative touches on themes of love, grief, and the blurred lines between life and death.

The novel introduces a magical pact with their music teacher, Mr. Anabin, setting the stage for a series of trials that challenge the characters to remember the night they died. As they navigate through the tasks, their lives intertwine with supernatural figures, weaving a tapestry of chaos and impending disaster.

The reviews offer diverse insights into the book's structure and content. The narrative's disjointed fashion, as described in one review, adds to the dreamlike quality, keeping readers uncertain of the story's direction. The varying perspectives and cryptic characters contribute to the novel's uniqueness.

While I appreciate the complexity and skillful portrayal of characters like Laura and Susannah, there are still challenges in following the narrative thread. The multiple points of view keep the plot engaging, but the shifting perspectives might leave readers questioning whose side to be on, mirroring the characters' uncertainties.

The explicit exploration of love and its various forms, including intimate scenes, adds another layer to the narrative. The intertwining of love, magic, and music creates a rich tapestry, and the novel straddles the boundary between fantasy and realistic fiction.

Overall , "The Book of Love" offers a challenging yet rewarding reading experience. Link's deep imagination, intricate characterization, and exploration of themes make it a novel that defies expectations, leaving readers enchanted and intrigued by the enigmatic world of Lovesend.

A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this unique work's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

An imaginative, big-hearted magical adventure for a set of teens who stumble into the bloody sport of a minor god and her minions. Reminiscent of a younger, queerer American Gods. Link's wit and creativity are on full display and there are some gorgeous pieces of writing.

My biggest pet peeve with books is formatting, and I hated this format. There’s something about un-numbered chapters that just doesn’t make for a good reading experience for me.

While I didn’t dislike the writing, I couldn’t get into this. DNF

I love Kelly Link's writing style, and have loved her short story collections for years, recommended them to others, especially Magic For Beginners. Therefore I was so excited to see a novel length work! This was a beautiful story and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for the ARC!

A beautiful yet confusing book. Slow-paced yet kept me reading.
Link has made every character so engaging, and you care so deeply about what is going on. Yet sometimes that "what is going on" makes absolutely no sense. However, I still kept reading and it overall didn't detract from the beauty of this story.
This is one of those books that it's hard to explain why I cared so much, and reading other reviews that just seems to be Link's style. You will care and you will be confused why you care but it will still be beautiful.

This novel was okay. It wasn't as spellbinding as I'd hoped. There was definitely great imagery. It was an interesting story, but it took too long. It only gained traction towards the later half of the novel. My rule of thumb is if I'm not invested by chapter 4, we have a problem. This was the problem. It dragged, immensely. The novel is way too long for the story that was being told. It could easily cut 100 pages or more. As a freelance editor, the first chapter could have been elevated. The circle of dialogue took me out of the story more than once. Wordiness doesn't always equate to eloquence.

The Book of Love starts with Susannah grieving over the death of her sister, Laura, along with their friends Daniel and Mo. Then Laura, Daniel, and Mo are resurrected, with a back story that they've been in Ireland for nearly a year, participating in a music scholarship program that also allowed them to complete their high school graduation requirements a semester early. After that, it gets weird, but in a good way.

The magic in this novel centers around Malo Mogge, a goddess from another dimension, and Anabin and Bogomil, who guard Malo Magge's door, the only door she has left out of the multitude she once had. Anabin and Bogomil were once human, before they were recruited as priests to guard the door, a process which requires a key that has been lost for centuries. In their search for the key, the two priests found Susannah, Laura, Daniel, and Mo, who are bound to each other and those around them by a complicated web of love of multiple types: familial, romantic, and platonic. This book explores the various types of love and how each type of love impacts the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the characters. It is told by multiple narrators and can be a bit hard to follow; be sure to watch the chapter headings that indicate the speaker. Recommended for older teens and adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was incredibly excited to see this when it popped up, and was even more stunned when I was granted an advance of this (thank you again!). I've been interested to see what Kelly Link would do for her first full length novel, as she's mostly been known for her short story work. We get a fascinating look into a small town through three teenagers, who are unexpectedly bought back to life after a death they can't even remember, and the tasks that are put to them by two guardians of a door. It blossoms out from there to involve an ancient goddess, the grudge of a brother and his dead brother's lover, two guardians long past their time, and the core of the whole book, which ties all of these characters together in a horrid happening and an amazing climax. She hits the ball out of the park on this one. Pre order it now, I'm sure that Barnes and Noble is doing another preorder sale to entice people.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a few different tries to initially understand what was happening at the beginning of this book. Having earned a Ph.D. in English, I would like to think I’m intelligent enough to read most books. However, I’m still not entirely sure I “completely” understand the plot, even at the end.

I gave this book 3 stars (generously) because it wasn’t a bad book, but it just didn’t quite mend all of the fences holding the plot line together.

I was sad to finish this remarkable fantasy based on classic European folklore. It’s got a fascinatingly complicated plot and many dimensional characters, and if you immerse yourself in it you’ll be richly rewarded!

The Book of Love, full of love, and more so magic, is, I suspect, magic itself. A magic pondered and woven and given substance by the grand magician extraordinaire: Kelly Link.

There are many keys, here. Magical keys. And yet, the greatest key of all is the one all around us: love.

It can open doors, and close them. It can take life and it can give. It can mend and (re)build. Magic, alone, can do this, too. But sometimes

“Magic is volatile.”

Laura and Daniel and Mo are dead. Until, that is, they escape and return. They, and one more. Not all is as it once was, though. And all the while, magic forces follow them, manipulate them, taunt them, and hunt them.

When Malo Mogge, the biggest, hugest big bad, comes calling, our friends, their loved ones, their unknown-to-them ones, and their whole town are caught in the trying-est of perils.

In this book, “who will survive and what will be left of them” takes on a whole other ball of wax of a (magical) meaning. And love, magic or no, maybe might just conquer all? Perhaps, perhaps. Either way, “love goes on even when we cannot.”

Kelly Link didn’t just shoot for the stars with her debut novel, she brought the stars to us.

The Book of Love is “dark and lovely and strange.” It couldn’t be more perfect.

This is an interesting book. While it took me a little while to get into, I eventually found myself really enjoying it and looking forward to picking it up again to read further. The characters were well developed and realistic for the age they're meant to be — teenagers — while displaying complexity and depth. The writer leans harder on evocative prose than rapid plot development, but overall, the characters' unique, surreal and high stakes journey feels fresh.

Thanks, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lovely prose, but bad pacing.

I wanted to like this. Blurbs by some of my top authors led me to believe that I’d really enjoy this book. It was just too long for the amount of plot given. I wanted the story to MOVE and it felt like the writing just…got in the way? I don’t know how to describe it because I was just uninterested the whole time.

Not a bad book by any means, but not for me. 3/5 stars. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Book of Love. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The story seems interesting and original. The writing is lyrical and almost dreamlike. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t something I personally enjoyed.

I didn’t connect with the characters. It’s also very slow pacing wise. The back and forth between characters and time was a too much for me.

I do feel that there are people that will love this story and how it unfolds, the characters and the writing itself.

Thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC!