(Picked up a beautiful physical copy at The Booksmith on Haight St, San Francisco)

Let’s Gab

This book was SO GOOD.

Let’s start off with the main character, Madeline Whittier. She’s pretty much allergic to everything, and her mom keeps her protected inside the home with almost no visitors, aside from her caretaker Carla. She goes to school via Skype, reads a lot, and plays Fonetik Skrabbl with her mom in her free time. Madeline is amazing in her ability to stay positive in such a isolating situation, which she has been in her entire life. I can’t imagine not having any friends, never going to the ocean, being forced to experience the world vicariously through books and movies.

In comes Olly, whose family moves next door, and who immediately Madeline becomes interested in. Olly wears all black, likes to spend large amounts of time of the roof, and can’t seem to stop jumping off of things (he’s pretty much obsessed with Parkour). Not only is she fascinated by him, but he seems equally as interested in her, the mysterious girl next door. She observes him and his family from afar, until one day they begin talking through email.

Olly becomes her first friend besides her mother and Carla; he’s funny and smart and attractive, and amazingly to Madeline he thinks the same things of her. Their romance is somewhat unconventional, as you can imagine it would be since it involves a girl who can have no visitors and can’t leave her house. Besides the obvious issues based on their physical separation, both Madeline and Olly have some serious emotional/family baggage, which can make a new friendship (relationship?) hard to navigate.

I loved how interesting this book was, as it incorporates illustrations, email messages, diaries, and so many other interesting formats that came together to form a beautiful narrative!

The risks that Madeline takes on her own, and together with Olly, help her learn what love really is, and help her understand that there is a difference from being alive and truly living.

Overall Impression

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and took me by surprise at every turn! The story is incredibly original and unique, and the romance is so sweet. I don’t think I’ve read anything like it before.

In short, READ THIS BOOK YOU GUYS! It was amazing. It comes out next Tuesday, September 1st!

OVERALL RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS!