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Friday, December 16, 2011

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg

Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Publisher: Dial
Format: ARC
Age Group: Young Adult

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?


This was one of my most wanted upcoming reads. I thought the story sounded beautiful and maybe a little mysterious. It was everything I wanted and nothing like I expected all at the same time. The story mostly shifts between present day Earth and a sort of inbetween, heaven-like place. I really liked Brie as the narrartor. She was angry and immature a lot of the time, but given her circumstances, that makes the story stronger. Regardless of how mean or childish she is behaving, she finds a friend in Patrick. Long time resident of the strange inbetween. Patrick was the best kind of male lead, because he was sweet and caring, but he
didn't always bend to Brie and he even cracked jokes on her from time to time.

I love the world Jess Rothenberg created for these characters. The slice of heaven that is a lot like home, but not quite, and with a lot of practice they can make it whatever they want it to be. It was fun to learn, with Brie, about what her new existence can really be. They had such great banter and were so much fun to read. I also enjoyed spying on her friends and family with her, and it definitely added an extra sense of longing to the story. She could watch and want to do or say things, but she couldn't really get involved and being helpless is a hard pill to swallow. I like stories that are set in the after of life, exploring various different possibilities of what it might be like, and how the here and there collide.

This book was full of so much. There was love, sadness, heartbreak, betrayal and hope. All of them woven together so well, to tell Brie's amazing story and let you live in her world for just a little while. This is a world you will want to visit the first chance you get!


Check out my interview with author Jess Rothenberg, right HERE!

5 comments:

  1. I'm so excited to read this one!! I"m not a big contemp fan, and it seems like this one might be a good combo of contemp and sort of paranormal I guess? Looking forward to it, great review!

    Anna @ Literary Exploration

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  2. OMG! thanks so much for sharing this greta review! Now Im seriously want to read it as soon as it comes out! Im really exited yey!
    I had no idea this story was like in between heaven and earth and stuff! I want it now! I love thse kind of books!

    great review! muah!


    Dazzling Reads

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  3. Superb review, SarBear! I must admit that if you weren't talking this book up so much, I may not have found myself this interested to read it. It sounds like it's so much more than what the synopsis reveals. I look forward to reading it. =)

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  4. This is one of my most highly anticipated books for 2012. I'm so happy to see this enthusiastic review. Seems the book is all I hope it will be.
    Great review!

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  5. I'm so glad you loved this one! I really did enjoy it, despite my issues with it. And I think the main reason I didn't love Patrick was because of the nickname thing. I don't love pet names to begin with, even things like honey and sweetheart, and his were just so awful, haha. Great review!

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