Finally, a novel from Kelly Link! It's just as magical as anything she writes and might appeal to anyone who's skipped her work because they "don't do short stories." For such a big book with multiple POVs, I was pleasantly surprised at how fast the plot moved and how much depth every single character had.

Although the book was a bit of a struggle to get through, Kelly Link's prose was beautiful and atmospheric. Her writing took me a bit to get used to, it felt like I was in the character's mind with them-it was so descriptive. Her characters and their stories were engrossing and after 50% I was able to grasp what was happening. Overall, I'm glad to have gotten into the mind of Kelly Link and her characters, but I feel like the book could have been cut in half.

A synopsis of this book does little to explain what it contains. The story unfolds like a dream. You never know where it’s headed. The fantastical elements are matter-of-fact. Link’s deep imagination is something to behold while her characterization keeps the story grounded. While long, the novel’s multiple points of view kept the plot interesting and the pace manageable. You’re never quite sure whose side you should be on, and in the end it doesn’t much matter. This book will appeal to readers of many genres (fantasy, mystery, literary).

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up. I love Kelly Link's short stories, but translating her writing to novel-length proved a bit tricky. The story dragged from the beginning, and it took me a long time to really get into it. It does eventually pick up the pace, and I ended up enjoying the last third or so more than the rest of it.

The premise itself was sound, the characters were well-thought out, and ultimately it was an enjoyable read. I think it's one that I need to sit with for a bit to really let the full experience sink in.

DNF at 9.5% (the page count on Goodreads and NetGalley are different 🤷)

Okay so Susanna and Laura Hand live across the street from Daniel Knowe. They've grown up together, done all the usual shenanigans that childhood friends get into together, including starting a band. The name of the band is ✨ My Two Hands Both Knowe You✨
That's it. That is why I'm DNFing this book.

I could tell you all that the reason I'm putting this book down is because the language is excessively flowery and the book feels overwritten within an inch of its life. Or I could tell you that at nearly 10% in I feel absolutely nothing for these characters and the story feels like it's going to be a slow trudge through cold molasses. But what really sold me on the " I'm never going to like this book" is the name of their band.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I was very eagerly anticipating this but it fell flat for me unfortunately. What i thought was going to be a beautifully captivating story left me with only lyrical writing but no real sense of a story. I got through the parts that i read, but with no benefits of a good story. I haven’t read anything by this author so im unsure if this is just her writing or if i just didn’t mix well with this story when i read it.

What a strange but very original storyline! The writing style takes a bit of getting used to, but after the first few chapters the story is totally engaging. I was simultaneously very frustrated with but rooting for all of the characters, including the antagonist (can she be called that?) Malo Mogge. Thanks to netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

Wow, what a trip. This book had me totally on edge and so curious I couldn’t stop flipping the pages. The mystery was done so well I had suspicions but could never quite figure it all out, and that’s my very favorite feeling. So glad I got a chance to read this early, now I can sit back and watch other people fall in love with these characters and their mind-bending story!

Unfortunately, this book was almost a DNF for me. I'd say about 60% of this book (right from the beginning) was slow and a smidge hard to into. It just wasn't as interesting to me, as I hoped it would be. Sadly, I finished it, but lacked enthusiasm doing so.

With a hefty dose of surrealist fever dream, Link brings readers along several stories of love in its many forms. A bigger game is at play when three teens are resurrected months after they mysterious demise. Bringing her distinct voice from short stories, Link's novel is full of snapshots threaded through a compelling narrative.

This just wasn't for me - and no one is more disappointed than I am. The synopsis was exactly the sort of book I was looking for - fantasy mixed with mystery. I was so excited to be approved... but from the very beginning I struggled with this book. The prose just did not work for me from the very first chapter but I pushed on, thinking it would get better or I'd get used to it, but it never happened. The book was also quite slow, with little to nothing actually happening, and mixed with the prose... it just wasn't for me. I do hope this book finds its audience though and that others end up enjoying it far more than I did!

I had to DNF this one at 35%.

Kelly Link's The Book of Love presents an interesting premise and characters that are clearly well thought out; unfortunately, it trips over its own feet and doesn't quite go anywhere, even with its beautiful prose.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The premise of this book sounded right up my alley and I really wanted to love it, but I had some trouble feeling invested in the characters. The story felt too convoluted, and while I usually don't mind being patient and waiting to see how things resolve, this particular book was too long-winded for my personal taste. That being said, I think Kelly Link's writing has a lot of potential, and I'd still be interested in trying out her other works.

The Book of Love was a long and twisting novel told in a disjointed fashion. Three teens long presumed dead have arrived in the music room of their former high school where they are put to a test that will determine if they return or remain. They are plunged back into their physical lives, unable to tell anyone what has happened to them and forbidden to speak about their quests for answers and attempts to perform magic. As they try to determine the cause of their deaths, they encounter heartache and engage in various forms of love. The title of the novel, The Book of Love, is echoed in the chapter titles which unfold as "books" that focus on the different teens and their family members and friends. There are also cryptic otherworldly characters who stand between the teens and the afterlife.

The book has a lot to offer and is in many ways a meditation on love and life. I did find the narrative thread difficult to follow; most of the characters are in the dark regarding their circumstances which leads to some confusion for the reader. The prose is engaging and well-written, but I would have liked a more consistent narrative perspective. If you enjoy books that unfold with mysterious circumstances and writing that contemplates the purpose of life and beyond, this one may be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review

**3.25/5** (DNF AT 24%)
I went into this hopeful but cautious. Despite the quality of her other works, I know how often the writings of short story authors can get a bit lost when translated into a full length story. The writing itself was beautiful and captivating, but I'm someone who needs to be drawn into the characters and the plot a bit earlier on than what I got in The Book of Love. There was far too much description of the surrounding environment and not enough substance to really draw me in. I've seen reviews of some who praise this book, and I'd you are one who can hold out a while for the story to begin, you may truly love this. But for me, it's just not something I'd recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley along with Kelly Link and Random House Publishing for allowing me to preview this ARC of The Book of Love.

WHEW this book is long and convoluted! But also very fun, and wacky in a way that actually didn’t annoy me, and I tend to be picky about literary wackiness. Three kids in their late teens are newly back from the dead, endowed with mysterious magical powers, and have to figure out how they died and why and what to do with their magic to save them from having to return to the world of the dead. A HUGE cast of characters from the underworld and from their cute New England seaside town help and hinder them. It’s romantic, and sexy, and funny, and queer. The kids all talk like they are Very Online, but it didn’t really bother me. A lot of fun (if confusing) mythology and magic hijinks, and mostly sticks the landing. Recommended if you like this sort of thing.

I really wanted to like this book - it has a great premise, great writing, great characters - but I ended up DNFing. I think the slow pace in combination with the fractured feeling that comes from having short sections before hopping to another character meant I never really could get hooked by either the forward momentum of plot or deep engagement with any one character. Since it's our world with just a bit of delightfully mysterious not-quite-reality layered on top, there wasn't worldbuilding to sink into either. I skimmed a couple of hundred pages and appreciated the various character and plot points that jumped out to me, but of course lost most of what makes Kelly Link's writing great by taking that 30,000 foot approach. I would absolutely still recommend this book to others, but it was not for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Kelly Link! This book falls into the sweet spot between fantasy and realistic fiction in a way that makes you wonder what kinds of magic might be hiding right under our noses in the real world. Narrated in many distinct voices, all in a luxurious and elegant prose, what begins as a novel about an unlikely group of friends ultimately turns into a story about love—friendship, family, sisterhood, hometown hookups, centuries-long yearning—in the seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts.
Reading this novel feels like embarking on an epic journey replete with live music, tigers, and bears (oh my)! When Laura, Daniel, and Mo wake up in their high school music teacher's classroom on an abnormally warm December day they have no idea how they got there. As they come to, they realize that 1) they are barefoot, 2) they are dirty, and, maybe most importantly, 3) they have been dead for months. It only gets more complicated when their magical music teacher Mr. Anabin issues them their quest: Find out how you died. Find out how to fix it. Find out how to wield your newfound magic. Tell absolutely no one living what you know.
This tale of the most chaotic winter break known to man (or magic) unravels through the collaboration of a fantastic ensemble of characters, each wonderfully unique and opinionated in their own ways. I especially appreciated how well Link captures the mentality of her young narrators. The 19- and 20-year-olds at the center of this novel walk through this magical life with the headstrong, take-no-sh*t attitudes you would expect from someone whose whole life has been flipped upside down, but you still see them worry. They worry about themselves, their loved ones, the future, and if they're making the right decisions. Some of the scenarios our main characters find themselves in are shocking, some bordering on unbelievable, but I do almost feel like their reactions can be justified—these are some stressed out teens trying to save their world!
Overall, I think this novel shines when Link lets her characters think out in the open. Understanding who each of them was—and how they perceived themselves—made this read all the more cozy as I really rooted for (almost) all of them to succeed in the end. Link's attention to detail as she drops clues throughout the novel gives the reader lots to chew on as you too try to put all of the pieces together and save the kids from Bogomil's realm.

The Book of Love, clocking in at a staggering 640 pages, is the first novel from acclaimed weird short story writer Kelly Link. It tells the story of four teens from the sleepy town of Lovesend, New England, who find themselves trapped in a metaphysical melodrama when three of them mysterious die, are mysteriously resurrected (and joined by a strange being they definitely didn’t know in life), and must return to life in a world magicked to think they were just gone away studying abroad in Ireland. They’re immediately given an unsettling ultimatum - of the four newly resurrected souls, two will get to remain alive, and two will have to go back to the haunting, desolate land they can only half-remember.

When imagining how a short story author might tackle the novel, you might wonder if they’ll end up with something more like a novella - slim and lean and (in Link’s style) a little sexy and quite a bit feral. I’ll admit, that’s what I was expecting. Instead, Link seems to have taken the plunge into the novel with arms spread wide, creating a messy, sprawling tale that allows for complicated magical shenanigans, and most importantly, deep dives into the book’s four main characters; Laura, an ambitious and closeted musician who aspires to greatness; her older yet more aimless sister Susannah, living at home and the only one not to have died and returned, the sisters’ neighbor, friend, and Susannah’s on-again-off-again situationship Daniel, the protective older brother of a host of little siblings; and Mo, a gay Black teen living in the rather homogeneously white town, reeling from the loss of his grandmother and caretaker while he was gone, and struggling to ever open up enough to show the world his art.

Laura, Susannah, Daniel, and Mo are a fractious lot, keeping secrets from each other, fucking around behind each others’ backs, getting into petty arguments, and in general, just acting like shitty teens. Link understands what many who write teen characters don’t: teens aren’t just people halfway in the transition from childhood to adulthood, but rather people who remain most definitely children in some aspects and most definitely adults in others. Over the course of The Book of Love’s lengthy page count, we peer into the minds and lives of these four - as well as a number of other secondary characters - enough to really get a sense of who they are, to love them because of their messiness, their hungers, their shames, their loves. Not to say that short fiction can’t deliver memorable characters, but I have to say I can’t remember too many, and these four will likely stick with me longer than many characters.

If Link leans into the novel’s strengths, she also brings with it some of its weaknesses, though, like her characters, these are understandable and probably inexorably tied together. The Book of Love is definitely a “slow” book, one who other earlier reviewers have stamped with that most overused judgement of “nothing happens.” For much of, to be honest, the first half of the book, our characters just live their lives, struggling to process what’s happened to them, and reaching for whatever sense of self or love they can find. Digging through the character work and tonal groundwork and looking only for the “plot” might leave some readers bored or confused, and it may be that the book doesn’t really need to be this long.

But if it were shorter, would I feel as much for these characters as I do? Link’s relatively newness to the form lets her play with it in ways many other novelists don’t, or at least don’t feel like they can do some and still gain commercial success. I’ve been bored to tears with a lot of contemporary sci-fi and fantasy fiction that, on paper, are lean and propulsive narratives that I get caught up in…and then just entirely forget. The Book of Love luxuriates, it spirals, it rambles, it sprawls; until it doesn’t. Eventually, the character work done, we get a dazzlingly fast and sometimes overly complex series of plot machinations between the four teens and the five other supernatural beings who’ve caught the teens in their web.

I don’t imagine most readers will understand the reference, but throughout my time with The Book of Love I couldn’t stop thinking about the tabletop role-playing game Monsterhearts, my favorite of the genre. I’ve ran Monsterhearts more than any other game, and my stories always involve these messy, dysfunctional, horny, monstrous, heartrendingly sympathetic teens as they fight and flirt their way through life, even as they’ve stumbled into supernatural struggles too big for them to comprehend. There are a number of wildly specific things that happened in some of my campaigns and in The Book of Love that I won’t spoil, but it makes me wonder if somehow Link was listening in on the stories I told with my friends!

All in all, it’s clear how much fun Link had when writing this, and how much love she has for its cast of prickly, moody, terrible teens. It’s definitely too long, and it burrows its way down many paths and twisting alleys before its primary “plot” kicks into focus, and some of its tropes feel clumsy or predictable; but in the end, I found myself too charmed by its characters to resist its particular flavor of magic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

A fever dream of a story, The Book of Love starts with Laura, Daniel, and Mo turning up one night in their high school music classroom almost a year after their disappearance. Everyone in their small town of Loveland, MA, thought they were dead. And in fact they were. How did they return? How did they die? Where were they in between? These questions hang heavy on their minds, but answers are in short supply.

The three revenants, plus Laura’s sister Susannah, who stayed behind, all get caught up in the machinations between several supernatural beings with their own agendas. Mr. Anabin (their music teacher) and his opposite number, Bogomil, seem to be playing some kind of game, and the teens have no choice but to play along, even though the stakes may be life and death.

In the early chapters, the story is occasionally as disjointed as real dreams can be, but as it goes on, the mysteries steadily clear up, even as still more emerge. Link’s writing is poetic and evocative, with occasional flashes of humor. Her story deals in magic and love of all kinds — from romantic, to familial, to friendship.