Another one I was lucky enough to snag from Hatchette Children’s on Netgalley (and another one I somehow managed to lose the review file and bought a finished paperback for).

 

I think this is a case of I liked the concept of this book, I loved the supporting characters, but I completely hated the main characters for most of the book. The book is an Australian based YA, telling the story of two main characters, Rachel and Henry.

 

Henry’s family own a popular second hand book stop, and have this wonderful thing called a Letter Library, a section of the bookshop stuffed with books that aren’t for sale, but where customers can put letters in the books where anyone can pick them and read them, and maybe write back. This was such a wonderful concept, there’s something about writing a letter where you can express yourself in words that you would never be able to say to someone’s face. Rachel and Henry were best friends, but Rachel has been crushing on Henry for years and never told him. When her family has to move, Rachel leaves a letter for Henry in his favourite book in the Letter Library telling him how she feels.

 

By this time Henry has a girlfriend, the beautiful Amy, who Rachel doesn’t really like much or get along with that brilliantly. Henry never finds the letter. Fast forward to school being over, Rachel is suffering from a family tragedy and struggling to cope, she hasn’t told any of her friends about what happened and is keeping everything bottled up inside. I found Rachel aloof, cold and rude. Yes, I get she’s going through something terrible and I could certainly empathise with her, but I really did not like her as a character at all. Her attitude grated on my nerves.

 

Rachel comes back to her former home town to move in with an aunt. She finds a job at Henry’s family’s bookshop. She hasn’t spoken to Henry since she left and he never found her letter. Henry meanwhile, is moping over a broken heart. His beloved girlfriend Amy has broken up with him, just weeks before they were scheduled to go on a round the world trip together. Henry can’t get over it, he can’t figure our or understand why Amy had ended the relationship. 

 

Out of the two characters, Henry was marginally more likeable than Rachel. He was friendly and approachable, though he spent most of the novel pining over Amy and basically acting like a love sick moron. It got very annoying very quickly.

 

One thing I really loved about the novel was the supporting characters. Henry had a wonderful family, his mom and dad were active characters, as was his sister George. Rachel’s aunt was also wonderful. The two of them had the same friends, and some additional characters came in, and I loved them all. I just didn’t like Rachel and Henry (or Amy and her douchebag new boyfriend). 

 

The more time they spend together the more Henry realises he might have feelings for Rachel, and Rachel finally finds herself dealing with some of the stuff she’s been going through and talking about it, and therefore finally able to get to a place where she can be comfortable with herself and move on. 

 

It was well written, and very easy to picture what was going on. As I said, I just did not like the two main characters at all. There were some lovely emotional parts towards the end, but it wasn’t really enough to give this book a wow factor for me. It was just okay. 

When I read Words in Deep Blue, why I pick it up because of its setting, the concept and of course, the blurb. Then, there is the title. In no time, I took my time to finish reading it and I love every thing about it. Although towards the end I felt it was short for me, I almost felt the right emotions might play it out right if only it was strong at the end but it wasn't. In every thing, I thoroughly enjoy the excerpts of in-between letters within the pages as it was written through the view of two protagonist best friends. Its quite a typical character-driven about two best friends who love each other but never admit and some where along the way, some thing happens and lost and found their way back. And every thing about it is how the people they meet finally put them together and love found their way. But what really set this book that won me over are the written letters, they are the true main strong points of this book.

 

For me, this is some thing I would recommend to any true book lovers out there. Its beautiful, its poetic and its one that connects lost souls in a world that people believe in materialism rather than passion. I wish I could say more about it but pick this up if you love a book about books, lost loves that later found and what we lose will eventually be found from someone close to us with certainty and commitment.

I loved the idea of the bookstore in this novel. Henry’s parents own a secondhand bookstore and I could see Henry owing that bookstore one day. I could see the regulars coming in, talking and browsing during their day. I can see the garden with the tables covered with games, the door off to the side leading into the bakery in case you need something to drink or eat while you are reading. I could see the couch located in the fictional section that Henry’s sleeps on at night surrounded by novels, stories read and unread. It’s the Letter Library that I find interesting. Extra copies of novels, set off into their own special section here in this bookstore, where individuals can write notes, circle words or write letters to others. Oh, the stories these novels would tell.

 

I was sad when Henry’s parents talked about splitting up. It’s devastating to the family structure but what about the life of the bookstore. His father lived and breathed that bookstore while his mother ran the numbers, she knew if the bookstore was actually on life support or not. Everyone in the family has a vote in the matter and his sister will vote the same as Henry. Henry loves the bookstore but then there is Rachel. Now back in Henry’s life, Rachel is shedding new information that should have been said years ago. It gets complicated when I felt it really was plain and simple but individuals are trying too hard, communication is lost, and some individuals cannot be trusted. It’s a cute novel about loss and romance.

I'm sad because it looks like almost everyone else loves this book. I totally get why most people would love this. The whole time I was reading I was thinking that it what something that I usually like, but I just wasn't connecting with it. It took me two weeks to finish it and that's because I didn't feel like picking it up again in between readings. Really though I don't think it is the book's failing, but mine. It just didn't strike a cord with me. It's got memorable characters, witty banter and a very cute love story, I just didn't love it.

My thoughts are kind of scattered as I'm trying to make this review. It was okay while I was reading it, but it didn't really leave a mark. It was just one of those books that kind of fleet by and bound to be forgotten soon.

Two main characters, two voices. Charlie never fit in, doesn't stand for herself, and doesn't have friends. Rose wanted to live the small town and follow her dreams in the city. Both have their longings, and they finally get it that summer. The author used simplistic language in narrating the story and it was easy to follow. The progress of the characters were great, because they both resolved issues, leaving them both happy. Yay for happy endings. What I liked in this story was about imperfections; there is no such thing as a perfect life. But you have to go past these, conquer your fears, and things will work out.

It was okay while it lasted. To be honest, whatever I read is slowly slipping out of my mind. Ooops.