4 Reasons You Should Read A Totally Awkward Love Story

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Totally Awkward Love Story by Tom Ellen, Lucy Ivison
Genres: Contemporary (YA), Romance (YA)
Pages: 320
Goodreads

Kate Sullivan at Delacorte has won North American rights at auction to Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison's A Totally Awkward Love Story (previously titled Lobsters in the U.K.). The book, which Sullivan calls The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight meets Bridesmaids, is a dual narrative novel by authors who dated when they were in high school, about a boy and girl who must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears about being virgins forever. It's slated for summer 2016; Allison Hellegers of Rights People brokered the deal on behalf of Barry Cunningham and Elinor Bagenal at Chicken House in the U.K.

1. All the feelings

This book is adorable and stressful at the same time! There are connections, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, kissing, fighting, laughing – basically everything. All of it combined will make you go through a rollercoaster of emotions. There were times I laughed and times I had to put the book down out of embarrassment or frustration.

2. It’s real

I guess this is where I should include a warning to younger readers: This book includes mentions of drugs and alcohol and describes a few sex scenes.

OK, with that out of the way, this book is so real. It’s not sugar-coated at all – and I’m not only talking about the above warning. This book also addresses friendships, the competition that can happen between girls, the stress of graduating and getting into your favorite college. It is a very authentic representation of 17-year-old’s struggles. (Well, maybe not the fact that they have enough money to go on trips to Greece and basically Coachella, but hey, it’s a book, not a reenactment of all our lives).

On top of that, this book is told from two POV’s – Hannah and Sam. I loved this because you got to see how the relationships played out on both sides, what boys thought of a situation and then what girls thought of the same situation. The contrast was just superb and really contributed to the authenticity of the story.  

3. It will make you feel old (or young)

Which can be a bad or good thing, depending on how you look at it.

Basically, there is a time that Pink Floyd is referenced and no one knows who it is. Later, all on the same two pages, One Direction, Twilight and Harry Potter are all referenced with everyone knowing what those are.

Ok, ok, I’m not old, I’m mid 20’s, but who doesn’t know who Pink Floyd is?! What are the parents teaching these kids!?

Either way, this book made me feel a little old, but in a good way. It was such a great representation of high school seniors (17-18-year-olds) that I couldn’t help but feel like a teenager again. Sure, I wasn’t that crazy and wild when I was young, but who didn’t stress about college? Who didn’t think because they were about to be 18 they knew everything about the world (ps; it’s a rude awakening when you actually start #adulting) Who didn’t have a group of girlfriends with some drama attached?

So, basically, it made me feel old and young at the same time and it was a wonderful feeling.

4. It was written by real high school sweethearts

Seriously. Tom and Lucy were high school sweethearts who dated for a bit through college, broke up, stayed friends, then wrote this book that is partially inspired by their story. 

HOW. FUCKING. CUTE. IS. THAT?!?!?

Almost as cute as odd animal pairings:

THE END

No, really, are you reading this yet?

PS; in case you actually don’t know who Pink Floyd is, here is their magic:

Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing
World Building
Overall:	5 / 5