**this review may contain spoilers**

I haven’t read a strictly romance novel in a while and let’s just say it was refreshing returning to my roots. I have previously read a book from Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners, but Love and Other Words is highly liked compared to the book previously mentioned.

Love and Other Words follows daughter, Macy Sorensen and fluctuates between the present and the past every other chapter. Macy lost her mother early on in life so she mainly had a relationship with her father which seemingly upheld. Her mother had left things for her father to know and do when certain moments arise such as when she got her period, had her first kiss, etc. Macy’s mother also wrote to get out during the weekend and with this suggestion they bought a weekend house 90 minutes from their Berkeley house to escape when needed. This is where Macy met Elliot.

Elliot Petropoulos is the boy next door to her weekend house and has a life filled with constant energy and activity having 3 older siblings and a dog. Macy and Elliot’s family lives differ but their interest remain similar. They both enjoy spending an absurd amount reading and find common ground through this interest.

Macy runs into Elliot, 11 years after not seeing him and they begin to catch up despite both of them being in relationships. Familiarity becomes a comfort and they end things with their partners to try at another love with one another. The author fluctuates heavily between past and present to provide context to conversation happening in real-time but also providing a sense of character between both Macy and Elliot.

This book wasn’t my favorite romance but it is a very quick read if you want to feel accomplished. I finished this in less than a day! Cute childhood friends to lovers, rekindling trope.

-Madison C.

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.