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attachmentsWhat: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Who: Plume

When: April 14th 2011

How: A copy of this novel was provided by Plume via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. And was subsequently purchased because of amazingness.

“Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . ”

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It’s company policy.) But they can’t quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O’Neill can’t believe this is his job now- reading other people’s e-mail. When he applied to be “internet security officer,” he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth’s and Jennifer’s messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can’t help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

B

I’d heard a lot about Rainbow Rowell’s books; namely Eleanor & Park, and more recently Fangirl. I hadn’t heard much about Attachments, and now I am left wondering why because as soon as I finished it, it catapulted itself into that barely reachable, highly sought after, and unquestionably fantastic place on my favourites shelf.

I cannot say much, but inevitably will end up saying a lot, about how perfectly amazing I think Attachments is. How much it made me feel, how much I connected with it. This book is very muchy, and I am simply in love with its muchness.

One thing that I found fantastic about Attachments, which isn’t saying a lot because I found almost every thing fantastic about Attachments, is how it’s written. It’s an adult book, with adult characters, yet it’s written in that witty connecting way of contemporary young adult novels. There were no boring ‘oh woe is my life because I am an adult’ passages, and it had all the magic that YA books have. And then some.

The characters. Where do I even begin to talk about the characters in this book?

We have Lincoln, and I guess we could say he is our protagonist. A little on the weird side, awkwardly adorable, still broken over his high school girlfriend, and living at home with an incredibly eccentric mother – Lincoln. This is where the loss of words comes. How can I explain to you my incredible love for Lincoln, or how incredible he is as a character, and how he well and truly attached himself to my heart with grapple hooks and will most likely never set it free? How can I explain how much I identified with him, not only because he’s been through similar experiences, but because of the way he thinks and the way he feels? How can I explain how he is so imperfect that he is truly the perfect character?

And then we have Beth and Jennifer. Two women who are hilarious, and yet broken all at the same time. Who use snark to hide their true feelings, and who sometimes believe that what they have is enough, even though it is so far below ‘enough’. Who I wish I could meet and spend time with because they are the kind of girls that would follow you to the ends of the earth if you needed them to, and who would be the best friends anyone could ever ask for. Who I love with all my heart.

But beyond these characters is an amazing story. A story about so many things, it could really be described as novel of stories. Of finding one’s self and letting go and opening up and breaking down and rising again. These stories are so true to life, and incredibly heartfelt and sincere. And also quite heartbreaking.

I am not known to get emotional over very many books. There’s fangirling galore, but that’s different. When I get emotional about a book, when a book makes my eyes well up with tears, when a book has to be near me because I need it there – that means it’s special. And Attachments did all these, and then some.

I simply cannot say anything else to convince you to read this book, except that if you do, I don’t think you’ll regret it. Because I found a piece of myself and a piece of my heart in this book, and I will never forget it.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: May 2, 2014 • By: Chiara

26 Responses to Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

  1. I was iffy about reading this. I don’t read many adults books – the only adult author I read regularly is Jodi Picoult, and only because I’m addicted to the awesome court cases she writes about. But, you know…it’s Rainbow Rowell. And everyone seems to love Attachments, so I’m stuck!

    • Chiara says:

      I mentioned in my review that this book is written like a YA novel, just with adult characters. I think you’d enjoy it if you are a Rowell fan!:)

  2. I’m so so glad you love this! Many people mention Eleanor and Park and Fangirl, but very few mention Attachments and it is my absolute favorite among Rainbow Rowell’s released books. I’m usually into YA contemporaries, but I simply loved Attachments. Lincoln is in fact adorable, and Beth and Jennifer would definitely make good friends! <3

    • Chiara says:

      Me, too! I am surprised people don’t mention it more. It’s my favourite Rowell book so far :D
      I’m so happy that you feel the same way about this fantastic book, Francine ^.^

  3. Punkfarie says:

    I’ve been meaning to read a Rainbow Rowell book for ages. MAybe I’ll actually get to it this summer.

  4. This is one that has to go to the top of the TBR. I’ve got to get my hands on it soon.

  5. Attachments is a very good book. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much!

  6. Attachments is tied with Fangirl for my favorite of Rainbow Rowell’s books (which is saying something because everything she writes is FABULOUS). I’m so glad you loved it! It’s such a great book.

    • Chiara says:

      I haven’t read Eleanor and Park yet, but I think I loved Attachments just a teeny bit more than Fangirl. I just loved the characters so much!

  7. Lincoln is my book boyfriend, and this book really touched my heart. I got super emotional over it and it was wonderful and amazing. I love that you loved it too! <3

  8. I loved this one, too. Lincoln is truly such an awesome character that made me just want to crawl inside the book and hug him. I loved both of the women, too, and LOVED the epistolary aspect of the novel with their hilarious email exchanges. I couldn’t get through E&P, but did enjoy Fangirl, and cannot wait for her new adult novel, Landline. Great review!

    • Chiara says:

      Yay! Yeah, I loved Linc, as well. He was so alive, it’s amazing. Beth and Jen were amazing – everything about this book was amazing, haha!
      I haven’t read E&P yet, but absolutely ADORED Fangirl. I also cannot wait for Landline ;D
      Thanks so much, Natalie, I’m glad you liked it!

  9. Shannelle C. says:

    Rainbow Rowell is just more of a hit and miss author for me, with two misses and one hit, and thathit was Fangirl. I was very creeped out by Lincoln, and I didn’t like how his affections came off to me as stalking. And I didn’t find anything to recommend about Beth and Jennifer, since all we ever got was their emails. It would have been nice if they had been met in person, because I wasn’t really satisfied.

    But I have to agree, their conversations were great and funny, with a lot of dynamic. But in the end, I didn’t think that the love justified Lincoln’s reading their emails. Loss for me, I guess. :D

    • Chiara says:

      Aw, no! I’m sad this one wasn’t a hit for you. But I can understand your reasoning. I’m glad you liked Fangirl, though! I absolutely adore that book. I have yet to read E&P but have heard SO many good things about it, I am kind of wary of it, haha.

  10. I’d really love to try this! I LOVED Fangirl and I thought Eleanor & Park was really sweet (not a total favourite though) aaaand, so why not try one of Rainbow Rowell’s adult books?! She sounds unbelievably talented. And funny?! I’m a sucker for anything funny.

    • Chiara says:

      You should! It’s so fantastic. I read this before Fangirl, and completely fell in love with Rowell’s writing style. I still need to read E&P but I own it, so I’ll get to it soon enough, haha.
      It’s very funny but emotional as well. I just love it.

  11. Alright, you have convinced me. Except, which one do I read first?! I really want to read Fangirl but I also really want to read Attachments. And then Landline is coming out soon as well! Gaaahh so much Rainbow Rowell!

    • Chiara says:

      YAAAY! My mission has been accomplished, haha. I actually read this before Fangirl, and I am really happy I did. It’s quite a bit shorter than Fangirl and really introduces Rowell’s unique writing style.
      I am so excited for Landline it’s not even funny! :D

  12. I’ve read Fangirl (loved it) and think I need to conduct a Rainbow Rowell weekend read-fest. I want to read all of her books after that first one. :) Great writing.

    • Chiara says:

      Yes! I think you would love Attachments. I liked it a teeny bit more than Fangirl, but I still adored FG. I desperately need to read E&P and cannot wait for Landline!

  13. I’ve read Fangirl before, and I agree with you on Lincoln! I absolutely adored his character, and the snark that the ladies bring to the book. :)

    So happy you liked this book too! :D

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