


Q: Could this cover be more perfect?
A: No. No, it could not.




1 heart I loved seeing the relationship between Eleanor and Park develop so naturally in fits and starts over time. I loved that the obstacles that might keep them apart were realistic: a combination of social pressures, family pressures, and internal doubts and fears. So many teen romances are based on silly misunderstandings, but the challenges our protagonists face are so very very real.  I loved that every character had shades of gray, even the characters that you think you love, and those that you think you hate. I thought the plot was taut and carried an undercurrent of menace and danger that made me keep turning the page to see if everything would turn out alright.

ymmv-logo I think there are some aspects of the story that some people will like more than others. I liked the comic book references, but they are not for everyone. Likewise, the 80s music references meant nothing to me, but will mean something to others. I don’t think it’s that important to have the same cultural references as Eleanor and Park, because it is more important to recognize that feeling of bonding with someone over common interests. But I think people who really like The Watchmen and The Smiths will appreciate the book even more. There were also quite a few Romeo and Juliet references which felt a little heavyhanded to me, and made the already dramatic circumstances of the story feel   a little bit overwrought – but I don’t think everyone will feel that way, especially teens who are themselves going through intense emotions around love, family, and school.


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