Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: 4/14/11
Publisher: Dutton Adult
[Goodreads|Amazon]
Blurb(GR): Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.
When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.
But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.
Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.
Review:
My favorite thing about this book is that Rainbow Rowell took so many of the “chick lit” hallmarks – a down on luck main character who’s living at home, a crappy job, a bad break-up, a love from afar, a makeover, a new apartment, a feisty old lady friend (with a basset hound!), a wedding, and a baby – and thought…yeah, I could cast a dude in that lead role. And it worked!
This is the one and only chick-lit novel I’ve ever read that featured a man as the lead character, and I have to say that Rowell really pulled it off. It probably doesn’t hurt that she has an impressive ability to craft nerd girl versions of the superhunks. In Eleanor & Park, she gave us a new wave listening, comic book reading, eyeliner wearing introvert who has a thing for the awkward ladies – so, pretty much my dream guy in high school. Here, she gives us Lincoln – an intellectual homebody who is a gentleman, hates bars and casual relationships, loves Dungeons and Dragons and computers but also somehow manages to be sort of cool – so, pretty much my dream guy right now. In fact, I may actually be married to a version of this guy. Clearly, Rainbow Rowell knows what makes a nerd girl’s heart go pitter-pat, is what I am saying.
However, when I look at my overall love for this novel, Lincoln and his goofy cuteness are really just the cherry on top of everything else. Through Lincoln, we are given the friendship between Beth and Jennifer, two writers at the newspaper office he’s tasked with monitoring for email violations. And their friendship is really what charmed me the most. Throughout the work day, they exchange emails filled with random comments, inside jokes, painful revelations, and tough love. They encapsulate everything wonderful and good about female best-friendship. Reading their very familiar conversations made me so thankful for every best friend that I’ve had in my lifetime.
Rowell again lost me during the mushy romance parts (which happen at the end in this novel). Although I was really rooting for the romance, it all happened a bit too quickly and neatly to be believable for me. But, I think that for most romance-lovers, this sweet book will be a home run.
Perfect Musical Pairing
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: 4/14/11
Publisher: Dutton Adult
[Goodreads|Amazon]
Blurb(GR): Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.
When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.
But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.
Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.
Review:
My favorite thing about this book is that Rainbow Rowell took so many of the “chick lit” hallmarks – a down on luck main character who’s living at home, a crappy job, a bad break-up, a love from afar, a makeover, a new apartment, a feisty old lady friend (with a basset hound!), a wedding, and a baby – and thought…yeah, I could cast a dude in that lead role. And it worked!
This is the one and only chick-lit novel I’ve ever read that featured a man as the lead character, and I have to say that Rowell really pulled it off. It probably doesn’t hurt that she has an impressive ability to craft nerd girl versions of the superhunks. In Eleanor & Park, she gave us a new wave listening, comic book reading, eyeliner wearing introvert who has a thing for the awkward ladies – so, pretty much my dream guy in high school. Here, she gives us Lincoln – an intellectual homebody who is a gentleman, hates bars and casual relationships, loves Dungeons and Dragons and computers but also somehow manages to be sort of cool – so, pretty much my dream guy right now. In fact, I may actually be married to a version of this guy. Clearly, Rainbow Rowell knows what makes a nerd girl’s heart go pitter-pat, is what I am saying.
However, when I look at my overall love for this novel, Lincoln and his goofy cuteness are really just the cherry on top of everything else. Through Lincoln, we are given the friendship between Beth and Jennifer, two writers at the newspaper office he’s tasked with monitoring for email violations. And their friendship is really what charmed me the most. Throughout the work day, they exchange emails filled with random comments, inside jokes, painful revelations, and tough love. They encapsulate everything wonderful and good about female best-friendship. Reading their very familiar conversations made me so thankful for every best friend that I’ve had in my lifetime.
Rowell again lost me during the mushy romance parts (which happen at the end in this novel). Although I was really rooting for the romance, it all happened a bit too quickly and neatly to be believable for me. But, I think that for most romance-lovers, this sweet book will be a home run.
Perfect Musical Pairing
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
This book is that mushy romantic tune that everyone and her sister has as the first dance at her wedding (it was the first dance at mine!). It’s replayed over and over again, but everybody just smiles and sheds a tear because it is so timeless, genuine, and classic. Maybe we’re all familiar with the themes and outcomes, but still…this book is a pleasure to read.
3.5/5 Stars
3.5/5 Stars
