November 01, 2011

Review: Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay


Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected Publication: December 27, 2011 by HarperCollins

My wish 
is to fall 
cranium over Converse 
in dizzy, daydream-worthy 
love. 

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father. 

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it? 

Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.


I’m a sucker for novels in verse because they reach me emotionally in a way that other books rarely do. With that in mind, I was fairly certain I would enjoy Love & Leftovers, but I actually adored the book! It was better than I imagined it would be.

The thing I loved most about this story is the raw realness it has. Marcie is a flawed character, and she makes some very poor decisions that made me think she deserved what happened in the aftermath. And she did deserve it, but at the same time I couldn’t help but start to feel sorry for her. I felt sorry for everyone, actually, because each character is struggling with their own version of lonely, and loneliness makes for a miserable existence. It also makes you do things without thinking about the consequences.

I was originally going to give this book four stars, because it deals with so many things, one of which being cheating, and that is something that always turns me off in a book. However, the way the book made me feel surpassed all of that. I read the book in one sitting, my emotions on a roller coaster. When I finally went to bed I thought about reading it again.

Furthermore, Marcie’s actions weren’t just glossed over by a happy little romance. It is definitely romantic, but before Marcie can experience that, she has to deal with the consequences of her actions.  This is rare, a YA character really dealing with consequences, and I loved that about Love & Leftovers.

I think this is a great book for YA romance lovers, especially (but not exclusively) if you’re a fan of novels in verse.

5/5 Stars 




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3 comments:

  1. I don't think I've ever read a novel in verse I might just make this my first one! Great review!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never read anything in verse, but I think I could get into this book. It sounds warming and sexy at the same time, and the rereadable aspect is a definite plus!

    - Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just read this and I love love loved it. It was touching and funny and heartbreaking. Loved the verse. Thanks for your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete

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