Release Date: Out now!Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 400pgs
The Story
Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning . . . Welcome to forever.
BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart - literally.
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost - and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
The Review
THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME is such a brilliant and powerful debut novel brought to you by a very talented author, Jess Rothenberg. This woman is a goddess to young adult literature to be honest with you. With a beautiful and an eye-catching cover (I mean seriously have you seen this book in the flesh?) I didn't really come into this novel with any high set expectations, but by judging the raving reviews that have circulated the internet and after finally reading this novel and finishing the final chapters, I can say without a doubt that I've never read a book in my life that had that instant WOW factor about it and I loved every single bit of detail of this book - from the light-hearted moments to the music titles of each chapters. Both contemporary, romantic, paranormal, and adding a few other little surprising elements to the mix, it's no wonder why so readers adored this book as much as I did!
Like with many other readers out there whom have gushed about this book non-stop (which I'm doing right now and I promise I won't try and oversell it to you), it was nearly impossible not to love the main character, Brie. The girl who died of a broken heart. Literally. Not only was she a girl displaying a wonderful element of real human emotion, but she was also someone that made your own heart crack on the surface (you could really feel it on your insides) because you wanted to be there with her and comfort her as she explores the life she suddenly left behind too early, and deciding how to deal with her own grief while also learning how to move forward in the afterlife. Anyway the bottom line was: She was such a great character. She was strong. She was understanding. She was a little selfish and stubborn at times for sure . . . but hey, that's what a teenager is all about, right? Without spoiling things for you guys, let's just say it was a such a pleasure to share her experiences and become emotionally invested in her heartbreaking journey to find peace within herself which now brings me to the next shining star of the novel . . . that being Patrick.
Patrick, the guy or rather a lost soul who guides Brie through her five stages of grief, was utterly adored by me from the very first meeting and I wanted him so badly for myself. If there was any guy for me out there, this would be him. I mean, I knew I should've been born in the 80's but this only proves it! From his leather pilot jacket to his James Dean smooth-upon-smooth 80's attitude, there's no way a girl could NOT fall for his charm and cheesy lines . . . there's just NO WAY! If you thought Brie's adventure was heart-aching, just wait until you begin to dive into Patrick's backstory because it sure as hell surprised me! Oh Patrick - your beautiful, non-stop bantering friendship and romance between you and Brie was one of the best relationships I've read in a long while and I just want more of you Patrick, and it's so sad to let you go now! *infinite cries*
Overall, THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME is more than a novel about death , saying goodbye to your loved ones, and learning to finally let go! It's also about embracing life for what it is and recognising that while life may have its downfalls, but you must always remember there is always that possibility to change things for the better! Both imaginative, beyond hilarious, inspiring, heart-wrenching, and provocative, this is easily one of the best books of 2012 and I'm definitely looking out for this talented author, Jess Rothenberg! Expect big and wonderful things from her! She's amazing!
The Rating
5/5 stars
