The plot seemed so intriguing: some kids who died a year ago are brought back to life by their music teacher, and told that they’ll have to perform magic in order to stay alive. Some of them, at the end of the challenge, will be allowed to stay alive, and the others will not. I expected surrealism- I got surrealism. I did not expect to be bored senseless. There’s way too much going on, I can’t keep up with all the different threads, and the pace is slow and plodding. Maybe I could push on through if the book was half the length? I don’t mind a tome- some of my favorite books have been in the 600-800 page realm- so, that’s not the problem. Furthermore, I don’t think the prose is absolutely terrible. I’m just not that into it. I’d probably like this book more if it stayed to just 3 or 4 perspectives, instead of hopping into the heads of every single character, major and minor. The story could be told much quicker and more interestingly if about half of it was cut out entirely. Maybe it al comes together in the end? I don’t have the patience it takes to find out.

A total marvel, a wonder, a delight! Kelly Link (one of the best short-story writers in the biz, one of the most inventive and magic minds to ever put pen to paper) has delivered her debut novel and it is exactly what you'd hope for: stuffed with magic, with humor, with weird turns and ebullient inventions. It's full-to-overflowing with life and love and love-of-life. Three teenagers find themselves suddenly back from the dead in the small town of Lovesend, MA -- and over the course of a week or so, right before Christmas, their new lives and the lives of all of those in town are caught up in a supernatural struggle of epic proportions, one matched only by the teenaged frustrations each character carries with them. It's got classic-Disney-Halloween-movie energy, both playful and scary, serious and frivolous all at once. It is one of the best things I have read in a long, long time. It's one-of-a-kind -- because, after all, so is Kelly Link.

I loved this so much. Kelly link has never let me down and she didn’t here. This novel was magical and romantic and scary and wonderful. I was completely enchanted from the first pages all the way to the ending. I cannot wait for the physical release to experience this magical book again.

The prose is beautiful, and the scope of the story is epic, but you have to have patience and go with the flow. It's an interesting book that I think will appeal to a certain type of reader.

I appreciate having access to this arc but I’m not sure that this should’ve been my first introduction to Link’s work. The writing style and the story telling didn’t mesh with me at all. I’m sure this book is for someone but that someone isn’t me.

The Book of Love by Kelly Link is an incredibly captivating and poignant masterpiece, filled with supernatural occurrences that will leave you spellbound. The storyline is exceptionally intriguing, drawing you in with its mysterious allure. This book effortlessly evokes a myriad of emotions, which is precisely what I seek in a truly remarkable literary work.

The Book of Love by Kelly Link

Summary:
In the long-awaited debut novel from bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle.

“A dizzying dream ride you will never forget.”—Leigh Bardugo
“An astonishing, gorgeous novel.”—Holly Black
“An incredible achievement.”—Cassandra Clare

The Book of Love showcases Kelly Link at the height of her powers, channeling potent magic and attuned to all varieties of love—from friendship to romance to abiding family ties—with her trademark compassion, wit, and literary derring-do. Readers will find joy (and a little terror) and an affirmation that love goes on, even when we cannot.

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.

Welcome to Kelly Link’s incomparable Lovesend, where you’ll encounter love and loss, laughter and dread, magic and karaoke, and some really good pizza.

Review: 4-star
To be honest, if I could give it a 3.5-star that is what it would have received. The storyline is very intriguing, but at times it was dry and I struggled to finish the book. I feel this was more me than the story itself. And here’s the reason why I feel it’s between that 3.5 and 4-star. The Charters all come alive and you feel them as real people not just a person in a fictional story. The flow of the story is flawless, the editing is top notched as I didn’t find any errors. You can feel all the emotions and these are what I look for in a good book. Will I read another book from Miss Link Yes.
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

I’m a big fan of Kelly Link. I’ve read most of her work. Her recent short story collection, White Cat, Black Dog, is a particular standout and showcases the talents of an author truly at the top of her game. I couldn’t have been more excited to see what Link could accomplish in a full-length novel. (600+ pages at that!) A dream come true!

The dream pretty quickly turned into a nightmare when I’m 10% into The Book of Love thinking to myself, “It’ll get better, right? This isn’t it? It just needs time to come together?” And then 50% in I’ve lost all hope, and by the end I was truly forcing myself to keep my eyes on the words on the screen because literally any other possible distraction in the room around me was more entertaining than this novel.

Strangely, this felt like a story I’ve read somewhere before. Nothing about it felt particularly original or fresh, though I can’t exactly name a similar title. The dialogue was forced in that way that makes you stop to think “no one would talk like that” about three times a page. The amount of detailed teenage sex kinda gave me the ick, to tell you the truth, and every character was annoying. And, well, it was too long. By about 550 pages.

I’ll still pick up future short stories from Link, but this novel just wasn’t for me. I hope other Link fans enjoy this and I’m just an outlier.

Despite being gorgeously written, Kelly Link’s THE BOOK OF LOVE is a smorgasbord of bizarre plot devices and character contradictions that results in a sluggish, unsatisfying read.

As if the product of a fever dream, THE BOOK OF LOVE launches readers from page one into a labyrinth of a plot that only gets more confusing with every subsequent twist. The novel chronicles the overlapping experiences of a group of teens who suddenly come back from the dead with no memories of what happened to them. Add in a dizzying array of realms, magical coins, a villainous goddess and wizard or two, and you’ve got THE BOOK OF LOVE.

It’s been days since I finished reading Link’s latest and I still have no idea what to make of it. The prose is undeniably beautiful, but everything else is largely incoherent. Although it is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, the muddled, nonsensical structure makes it an ordeal to get through.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

DNF at 40%. This book is just too slow for me. It does not need to be this long. The writing is good, but there’s just too much here that does not seem relevant to the story.

I was hopeful that the mystery of not knowing what happened to the characters would keep me interested, but really I just keep getting lost on what was actually supposed to be happening.

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.

This wasn't like what I expected but it was better. Really interesting with great characters.

I'm so glad I read this book. It had everything I love: mystery, love, and it was beautifully written. Will continue reading this author's future books.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy reading The Book of Love by Kelly Link. I found the beginning very confusing, I almost think the story should have started off differently with a little more background information. I also did not resonate with the author's writing style which I found disjointed. It was a struggle to finish this story whose plot I did not like.

Well, if Leigh Bardugo recommends it, you kind of have to read the book, right? I am so glad I did. This was fantastic. I loved it! (pun intended!). It had a thrilling, original plot with wonderful dialogue and characters and the romance...it was absolutely unputdownable and my new favorite of the year! After I write this review, I am off to read it again! It was that good! Do yourself a favor and go get this book for yourself and all your friends. They will love you for it, and you will enjoy every second!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was not the book for me . I found the writing style drawn out and boring. I couldn't finish the book.

"The Book of Love" by Kelly Link is a novel that effortlessly weaves together elements of magic, mystery, and the enduring power of love. Throughout, Link infuses compassion, wit, and a depth of character that kept me turning page after page. It took me a little bit to get used to her style of writing, but once I’d adjusted, I appreciated the almost stream of consciousness writing and the extra details it could bring to the characters.

Laura, Daniel, and Mo mysteriously reappear almost a year after vanishing from their hometown of Lovesend, Massachusetts. And their struggle to reclaim their lives is riveting, and the mysterious bargain they strike with their music teacher adds layers of tension and intrigue.

Kelly Link has crafted a tale that is heartwarming, unexpected, and haunting, and it's an absolute must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of an engaging story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

When I found out Kelly Link was writing a novel, I basically died. Those who have discovered the magic of Link’s short stories will understand my joy.

Link hasn’t dipped her toes into novel-writing with a brief story; The Book of Love is over 600 pages long. Susannah, Mo, and Daniel have returned from the dead, a year after they disappeared. They reappear in the classroom of their old high school music teacher, Mr. Anabin, who offers the trio some answers, if they pass three magical tests.

However, a mysterious fourth figure has accompanied the trio back from the dead, with their own agenda. When other weird people start entering the lives of Susannah, Mo, and Daniel, it becomes apparent that things are going to get strange in an otherworldly way.

The Book of Love is beautiful. I loved spending time with these wonderful characters. Link has created such rich lives for Mo, Daniel, and Susannah. It was a pleasure to spend time with these incredible young people as they learned important lessons about love, and the many forms it can take. One of the villains of the piece, Malo Mogge, quickly became one of my favorite characters; flamboyant, powerful, and a little bit psycho.

The Book of Love is also a celebration of music (all of the key characters are musicians), writing, and the joy that is found is artistic expression.

I have always found Link’s tone so comforting, and this completely continues in The Book of Love. Her gentle voice guides the reader along, with a warm arm around their shoulder, but unafraid to steer them down some dark corridors. There are some incredibly bleak moments, as in life. But there is also boundless hope.

As the book ended, I felt bereft, overwhelmed, and optimistic. I left the beautiful world Link created, I blinked away my tears (there were so many tears), and emerged full of joy. I feel so fortunate to be a reader, and that there are so many wonderful stories in the world.

If you love books with quests and rules, completely engrossing plots, and general escapism, I highly recommend The Book of Love.

This book is the equivalent of watching paint dry and is filled with beautiful prose but there is nothing that makes you want to keep reading. There is some plot but by the time you get to an actual plot point. You’re already bored. If this book moved a bit faster and had more plot. I would’ve been more invested. But sadly I wasn’t

"The Book of Love" by Kelly Link is a spellbinding and imaginative debut novel that blends supernatural elements with themes of love, loss, and the intricacies of human relationships.

The story revolves around three teenagers—Laura, Daniel, and Mo—who mysteriously reappear in a high school classroom a year after they were presumed dead in their hometown of Lovesend, Massachusetts. In the room with them is their unassuming high school music teacher, who presents them with a proposition: they can return to their families and friends if they complete a series of magical tasks, all while keeping the details of their disappearance and return a secret. With no other choice, they agree to this cryptic bargain.

As the trio navigates the challenges set before them, they begin to unravel the mysteries surrounding their deaths and the supernatural forces at play. Meanwhile, their resurrection has attracted the attention of other enigmatic beings with their own agendas, setting off a chain of events that threaten their community.

Kelly Link's writing is enchanting and lyrical, effortlessly weaving together the fantastical and the mundane. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own fears, desires, and regrets. Laura, Daniel, and Mo's journey to uncover the truth about their pasts and the consequences of their actions is both suspenseful and emotionally resonant.

The novel explores various forms of love, from the bonds of friendship to the complexities of family relationships and romantic entanglements. It delves into the idea that love can be both a powerful force for redemption and a source of vulnerability.

Kelly Link masterfully blends genres, incorporating elements of fantasy, mystery, and even humor into the narrative. Her world-building is imaginative and immersive, creating a sense of wonder and enchantment that captivates the reader.

"The Book of Love" is a dazzling and thought-provoking work of literary fiction that showcases Kelly Link's exceptional storytelling abilities. It is a testament to the enduring power of love and the lengths people will go to for the ones they care about. This novel will leave you with a sense of both awe and introspection, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary fantasy and literary fiction alike.

Did not finish. Not for me I could not connect with the story and writing style. Interesting premise but not my type of book.