by Kasie West
Date Published: July 16, 2016; Point
From Goodreads:
Signed, sealed, delivered…
While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!
Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
I should not read this in one sitting. I should not read this in one sitting. I should not... Yeah. That's exactly what I did.
I told myself that I WOULDN'T read this at eleven in the evening because I know I won't be able to stop. But that cover is so pretty I could stare at it all day and Kasie West is one of the best authors out there. So I stopped kidding myself and just read it. Who needs sleep on a school night anyway?
No matter how much I think of the best way to start my review I come up empty. I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA HOW TO PUT WHAT I FEEL INTO WORDS BECAUSE THIS BOOK BROKE ME. IT BROKE ME. I was scared my poor heart could not take any more of this ADORABLE, HILARIOUS, SWEET, FLUFFY AND ROMANTIC book. I was LAUGHING and GRINNING and SWOONING my way through the whole thing and thinking about it now I would gladly take a magical memory eraser elixir just so I can READ THE BOOK AGAIN and FALL IN LOVE WITH IT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME. I don't know why I'm writing so many words in caps. But I hope I am getting across that I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK SO VERY MUCH.
I have always equated Kasie West to sassy, realistic heroines. Every time I read one of her books I couldn't just not love her characters. It's like she climbs into people's brains and writes exactly the kind of characters anyone would love and could relate to. I cannot say I'm as passionate with music as Lily is. I enjoy a few good songs and have a favorite band as much as the next person but that kind of passion I have to say goes to reading. So yes I get Lily. That kind of drive and determination you get only when you're doing something you love. And I could totally relate to her. I wasn't the most popular girl in school (far from it), had a few close friends and was mostly awkward when faced with unexpected situations. I love her genuineness, her humor but most of all her loyalty towards people she cares about. I love the mess and unexpectedness that is her family. That scene with the rabbit peeing? I laughed so hard my sister was looking at me like I was crazy! I can't even remember the last time I laughed that hard over something I read in a book! And that's another thing I love about this. Lily's family wasn't brushed off to the sidelines like most ya contemporaries I have read. Their portrayal was so on point. They were weird yes. Unconventional yes. Loud and messy too. But that's just it. That's family. Wyatt and Jonah were adorable. Anyone who reads this book will fall in love with those two no doubt. And Isabel? She's the perfect best girl friend material ever. Now I'm not going to tell you who the "secret person Lily exchanges song lyrics with" is. (Although it was easy to guess.) Rest assured you're going to fall in love with him. HARD. And you're GONNA WANT TO. There was definitely chemistry and the banter had me giddy and grinning EVERY. TIME. And those letters they wrote each other? Those beautiful, butterfly-in-the-stomach inducing letters? I have always been a huge romantic and reading the letters was absolutely one of the best things I loved the most about the book. The only complain I do have is that I don't feel like the crap Sasha pulled was necessary. But heck it made the book longer and I NEED IT LONGER. So maybe let's just forget I said that.
I don't know if I will ever look at YA contemporary the same way again after reading this. I have LOVED EVERY BOOK that Kasie West has written but I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that this is by far MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. It hit me right in the FEELS. It was everything you could ask for in a book. This is a heartfelt, romantic, sweet, charming and beautifully written novel you wouldn't want to miss.
I received an e-arc from the publisher via Edelweiss+ to read and review.
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