This story follows a girl Rosie from her childhood to her senior days. What takes center stage is her friendship with Alex and all the trying events they go through. Such as him suddenly having to move away, forcing them to give long distance friendship a go. What's unique about this book is that the story is written entirely through emails, letters, instant messenger and notes passed during class. It's both a pain and a delight, trust me.
Cecelia Ahern is the author of book-made-into-movie PS, I Love You. I'd watched that movie with some girlfriends like two years ago, and I remember us all gushing at how bittersweet but lovely the story was. It was a tear jerker.
This one's quite the contrary. I dub it a korean drama, except you haven't got the eye candy to help you through each episode. I did not enjoy this book for a number of reasons. (I should have taken a hint from the title)
For one, this story reaches almost 600 pages. 600 pages of emails, letters and postcards. I find it quite boring when a story is told via recounting as opposed to present tense. Because it tells you the person is still alive. LOL. Not that I intended for her to die, but stillllll. It takes away the drama from the drama.
That's also 600 pages of the most boring drama. I do not care if your daughter is friends with a nose-picker.
I also find the protagonist, Rosie, a bit of a self-pitier. That's the worst kind of narrator to have. Rosie spends 600 pages complaining about something she could change. I remember at one point being so annoyed at her because she got angry at her friend for not asking her how her new job was. Like calm down. And then the next day you see her send a letter all about herself and her new job to her friend. ==.
And because I don't believe in fate (your life is in no way set for you), the fact that everything that happens in this book coincides at the perfect times annoys me. Like, the story-line basically has this central issue. And every time this central issue is about to be resolved, fat intervenes and stops it from happening. That's cool for the first 100 pages but you've got to cut it after that man. It's like in korean dramas how they always have the guy looking for the girl or vice versa, and then there's that scene where they walk past each other without knowing. IMAGINE THAT, for the ENTIRE BOOK. Nightmare!
Also with the lingo used, scattering typos here and there does not make it 'child's handwriting'. Neither does saying really intentionally cute things. In reality, when kids write, they write really weird shit that makes you question their sanity. Take it from me, I have 3 young cousins. And since when could a 5 year old type an email? How do they even know how to use a computer?
That's what also bugs me, why are kids so young emailing and chatting with each other? It just doesn't seem realistic. If I had a kid (IF), I wouldn't randomly make it email to a kid all the way in another continent. ==.
And the only moment of relief you get in the entire novel is the last paragraph. The entire book is a lead up to the last paragraph which in itself doesn't present much either. God I really feel like I've wasted my time.
I'm trying to think of something good to say to end this review on a good note. If you're looking for a book about friendship and love and life's dramas, I suggest you pick up One Day instead. Same themes, different take. (No offence Cecelia, PS ILY was good..?)
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