Review: Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 4.75 stars  
Cover Rating: 4 stars (I don't love the proportions of the illustration, but it's cute.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 328 p.
Add it: Goodreads

Eleanor dresses strange, has huge red hair and is not exactly the ideal body type. Park is one of the few Asian kids at his school (maybe the only one). When Eleanor gets on Park's bus for the first time, he feels embarrassed for her because she's not even trying to fit in. Once he begrudgingly lets her sit down next to him though. A small spark of hope finds both of them. She may have not wanted to let someone in and Park surely didn't want to like her, but regardless they still start to fall for each other. It won't be easy, but it may just be worth it.

Love this novel. I can not wait to read more by Rainbow Rowell. This is not one of your typical love stories. This is a real love story. There isn't insta-love there is a slow trudge toward each other. A misfit and a rich, attractive boy in love. A lot of readers will be able to relate to this one. And, what's that I see... Reading is what brings Eleanor and Park together, together. YES!

I hate that Eleanor's home life had to be so, so, so terrible. This book has a super case of the wicked step-parent. Her mom's husband is such an awful person. Her mom probably shouldn't have had so many kids either. What a toxic situation for Eleanor and her siblings. I see this sort of thing a lot in real life and it is just horrible. I'm so glad that Eleanor got to have a few moments of reprieve.

I feel like we didn't totally get to know Park in this one, not nearly as much as Eleanor. It could be that there just aren't a lot of dark secrets in Park's life so there's not much more to know. Park's life is far from perfect, but it's not too shabby.

I feel like I don't really need to try and sell this book to you. If you've read it, you know how wonderful it is. If you haven't read it, just do it, you'll fall in love. This book is lovely and funny and just a wonderful read. If you don't believe me, just read some of those lines below. Those should convince you that you need to read this book.


First Line:
"He'd stop trying to bring her back."

Favorite Lines:
"This house was designed by cave trolls, Eleanor thought."

"To Be able to talk to him without every inbred hellspawn in the Flats listening."

"It made her want to have his babies and give him both of her kidneys."

"It was at least twice as nice as seeing him somewhere she expected him to be."

"A walrus who's tasted human blood."

"The whole sky was the color of her skin."