Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Review!

Two misfits.

One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. 

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Review:

I absolutely love stories about first loves. This story will have you falling along with Eleanor and Park. The entire time I wanted to be there, with the characters cheering them on.

The story takes place as two high school students navigate the pressures of being in a high school. Their relationship initially develops on the school bus. It is because of this that I found the storyline believable and quite realistic.

Eleanor has a very bad home situation and is therefore bullied at school due to her unique clothing style and image that she portrays.

“My girlfriend is sad and quiet and keeps me up all night worrying about her.” 

Park is always dressed in black with headphones in his ears and a comic book in hand. He is kind of an outsider and does not fit in that well either.

"Nobody thinks Asian guys are hot”, Park said finally. He had not look away from her when he said it – way away, he turned his head completely. “Not here, anyway. I assume Asian guys do all right in Asia.” 

Eleanor and Park quickly got to know one another and began to realize that they were developing real feelings for each other.

"Okay?” she whispered. He nodded, taking a deep breath. They both stared down at their hands. Jesus.” 

“Holding Eleanor's hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.” 

This story is a definite must read! I give it a huge 4 stars!