Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads)

All the Feels…

OMG you guys, this book.  This BOOK.  So first of all, it’s set in the 1980s, which is so nostalgic for me.  Sure, I was 6 when the characters were 16, but I still remember so much of this time period.  Things really were so different then than they are now, and so much simpler in a way.  So I love when books are set in that time period, even though it’s not THAT long ago.

I loved so many other things about this book.  I love that Rowell shows us right away exactly what it’s like to be a new girl.  So many books and movies have new girls who are gorgeous who are just brought into the cool group right away, or are fawned over by all the hottest guys in school.  Well, I was a new girl in high school and it was NOTHING like that for me.  I got teased on the bus, and had no one to sit with at lunch sometimes so I sat and ate my lunch in the bathroom. (Gross, right? But it was a good place to hide, where I could be alone and it wouldn’t be so obvious that I had no friends.) It was a sad existence, not a cool, fun adventure.  And Rowell paints this picture of Eleanor as the new girl so realistically for me.

And I loved the progression of Eleanor and Park’s relationship.  It was so cute when she started reading his comic books over his shoulder on the bus and he would turn the pages slower so she could read it!  And he lets her borrow the comic books and then makes her a mix tape!  You know he’s a keeper if he makes you a mix tape!

And I loved their first, long phone conversation.  It’s the epitome of a new, fresh relationship.  You spend hours talking about anything and everything, relishing in all that makes up that other person, feeling like you could talk to them for days.

But there were some extremely sad parts in this book, so don’t expect it to be all fresh young romance and lovey dovey stuff.  Eleanor has a HARD life, and it gets worse.  But that ending!  I cursed and started crying.  One of the best endings I’ve read in forever!

Bonus Points…

Rainbow Rowell scored some major bonus points for the following reasons:

• Willy Wonka reference = 50,000 points
• Multiple Star Wars references = 200,000 points
• Doctor Who reference = 100,000 points
• Jane Eyre reference = 50,000 points
• Superman, Batman, X-Men references = 100,000 points
• That ending = ALL THE POINTS.

Disclaimer:  I borrowed this ARC from a friend (Thanks, Jessie!).  I was not compensated in any way for this review.

*I read an ARC of this book, but I checked the quotes against a finished copy.