Apparently this is a reprint from a book published in 2002. I did not read it then. This is the first book that I have read by this author.

From the reviews that I read, I was supposed to be mesmerized. It was supposed to be the love story to end all love stories. Well, that's not what happened to me.

I thought it was a decent read and a nice love story. I remember thinking that after I read it and was at a loss as to how to review this book. All these raving reviews, and I thought it was okay. To be honest, I finished this book 12 days ago and I remember parts of it, like the Craigslist ad, but that's about it. I've written reviews today for books I've read as far back as 17 days ago and I remembered all of them except this one.

Thanks Sourcebooks and Net Galley for approving and allowing me to read and review this book.

I've been meaning to review this book for a long time but I always felt I couldn't explain why I love it so much. Maybe I still can't, but I feel like gushing about it.

First of all this is a book I had been wanting to read for years (since I found out about it in 2009-ish) and it wasn't until 2013 that a friend gifted it to me (as back then I wasn't comfortable shopping online and that was the only way I could get it). Finally, I had the book that I had told my friend I was just dying to read. I was so excited I could barely get through our lunch that day without glancing at the book inside the bag every few minutes. Naturally, I began reading the moment we said goodbye. I got around 7 chapters in and then life happened and I sort of... put it on hold...for over a year. HA! So typical of me. I make no sense like that. It wasn't until early 2015 that I picked it up again and then... I couldn't stop.

So okay, I knew I needed it but it wasn't insta-love, I must be honest.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to read it so badly was because of the blurb. "When I was twelve, a fortune-teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone..."

Give me the romance, give me the angst, give me tragedy and tears! Plus, I had read several quotes from the book and fell in love with it through them, they made me think, they made me laugh, they made me sad, and I hadn't even read it. If this isn't a quotable book then I don't know what is. That was a good sign.

The book starts with Jacob publishing an ad on the newspaper "If your intentions are pure, I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world." Trixie (our MC) responds to his ad on a whim, and so their doomed relationship begins.

Trixie was one of the most relatable characters I had read in a while, even when she is several things I'm not. I loved her sense of humor, her thoughts, her eagerness for change. She's relatable and yet, unique in her ways. I loved that she broke the mold for many romance heroines out there, she was patient and supportive, but she set some limits, stuck to them, knew her worth and what she wanted without being a bitch about it--unless she absolutely needed to act like one. Which she did a couple of times.

I didn't instantly fall in love with Jacob, in fact, I'm not sure I ever did. He's a great character, no doubt about that, and maybe the fact that I couldn't see myself loving a man like him but understanding why Trixie did, went a long way. He was sweet, thoughtful, fun and smart, but he had this...broody side that I wasn't a fan of. I must admit though, the way he dealt with his issues reminded me so much of exactly what I do when I'm feeling like crap, and admittedly it's not the greatest way to deal with your problems, even less so if you're in a relationship. I just hated that he kept pulling the same thing on Trixie. Maybe that's why I couldn't love him, I saw something of myself that I hate in him. Too much alike, love, too much. Other than that small big flaw he was perfect for Beatrice.

Jacob and Trixie had one of the most organic and healthy relationships I had read about in a while. Of course it wasn't perfect, of course they had big flaws and unintentionally hurt each other. But that's the thing, you knew it was sincerely unintentional, and that they were honestly struggling to learn and become better.

This book is basically about their time together, how they slip into a relationship, help each other grow and deal with their own separate issues, and begin to plan their future. It's about personal growth, making the change you want in your life happen, and coping with whatever life throws at you. Sounds standard-ish and boring. But it's not, belive me, it's not. Tiffanie DeBartolo knows her stuff.

I literally laughed out loud several times, I even snorted once when I was in public , and I cried, oh I cried so much (In private, luckily).

This book is amazing. The characters, the writing, the feeeeeels.

This being a quotable book, you'll understand if I can't help myself. I won't spoil anything, no worries.

First some silly quotes:

"Besides, maybe if he would've talked to me first, instead of staring embryonically at the wall."

Okay, this one was one of my favorites and it's so silly and dumb it may not be all that funny to a lot of people but I literally had to put the book down as I dissolved into a fit of laughter because...well..."Staring embryonically at the wall." It's perfect. Excuse me.

I bolted upright in bed and purposely made a lot of noise around the room. I like to live by the rule that if I'm not sleeping, nobody's sleeping. (could not relate more)

"Jacob, if you want the milk, you have to buy the cow a meal."
"Excuse me?"

I left Chick early that day. I had an appointment at Helen Nail's. My monthly ten dollar pedicure.
"Listen, Trixie," Jacob said to me not long after we moved in together "I wouldn't trust a place that doesn't understand how to correctly form the possessive of a noun."

"All I could think was, why can't I be as stupid as Lucille? Why can't I blame all my successes and failures on The Lord Jesus Christ Almighty? I would be so fucking happy if I lived like that."

Other quotes:

"But there's a limit to how long you can starve a hungry person before they're going to bite your leg off."

"Committing suicide so as not to be murdered is the worst reason I've ever heard of to die."

"He was well aware of his skill as a writer, so if he poured his heart into something, and then other people didn't like it, he thought it no fault of his own."

"There's nothing like a little heartbreak and pain to inspire."

"Love alone couldn't turn a speck of dust into a galaxy of stars."

And my absolute favorite quote in the entire book, the one I keep going back to when I need a little motivation and that deeply touched me when I read it. Because well, it's basically something I tend to do. Think I have all the time in world.

" [...] You can't put life on pause and then catch up with it when you have more energy to give."

This book was fantastic, so just read it, okay?

I've been playing this on repeat (much to my children's chagrin) the last several days after finally finding a copy of Grace on vinyl.  It's not my usual style of music, but I find it to be straight up amazing.  As for why I'm posting this here, Tiffanie DeBartolo based her book God-Shaped Hole around this album and Jeff Buckley himself in Jacob Grace's character in the book.  It's such a strong tie that I can't read or listen to one with picturing the other anymore, they've just become interwoven with each other.  I love when a book can do that, and I haven't read an author who can do it better than Tiffanie.  So, if you haven't read either of her two books, get on it.  

 

 

FYI, the husband is officially deployed and I turn into an over-emotional freak when that happens.  It's not a good look for me or my reviews.  I bid all of you readers a good luck.  Ha. 

As I was going through my read book list, I realized that this year kind of sucked for reading for me.  The few that I loved, I really really loved though, so I guess that is something.  I did kind of cheat because I added Geek Love even though I'm not quite done.  When you know, you know though.  Anyway.  

 

Mud Vein was probably my overall top book this year.  It was such a beautiful, yet heartbreaking book, Tarryn Fisher can write.  

 

God-Shaped Hole...well I still can't talk about that one without wanting to cry.  

 

Ditto The Bronze Horseman. I wish I liked the rest of the trilogy as much as I liked this one.

 

 

The Handmaid's Tale was nothing short of amazing.  I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks.  

 

Get in the Van made me alternately hate, love and pity Henry Rollins.  

 

What's Left of Me was an awesomely realistic (finally) look at the start of a relationship while coping with cancer and it's ramifications on everyone.  

 

I'm stretching a bit including Dust to Dust in this, because I don't think it entirely compares to the rest of the books on this list for me, but I LOVED the entire EIT series as a whole so I'm using this to represent that.  

 

The Haunting of Hill House was probably the best horror novel I have ever read. It was so freaking creepy solely based on writing that wasn't your typical "horror" type style, I loved that.  

 

Veronica Mars...once a Marshmallow, always a Marshmallow.  LoVe forever!

 

Lastly, Geek Love, like I said I'm kind of cheating but the writing is amazing and the story line is so complex in it's build up that I couldn't not include it knowing that I'll get it finished in the next couple of days.  If something happens and ruins everything, I reserve the right to change my mind though.  *Edited to add that I was absolutely right about this book.  It actually is taking my top spot for favorite read of 2014 now.  

 

 

I can't say that I'm overly disappointed with my reading year, but I also can't say that I'm thrilled with it.  I obviously need to expand my genres out more than I have in the last couple of years since most of the reads that I've had complaints over are among the same genre.  I got stuck in a bit of a rut reading the same type books over and over, which isn't surprising in the slightest.  I've always been the type to find something I love and then indulge so much that I OD on it.  I plan on working to curb that in 2015..  

 

 

WOOW
5 HUGE STARS

What a beautiful read it was..!! HUHH... awesome. simply awesome. It was sooo emotional so captivating. It kept me up all night long and i finished it at 5a.m. Now that proves IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE BOOK!!

Jacob and Trixie meet by an ad, Yes, a newspaper ad. Jacob publishes it, and Trixie answers it.

If your intentions are pure,
I'm seeking a friend
for the end
of the world

These are the words of the Ad, and when a book starts with such a paragraph, then....You know it is worth it !!

“It’s easy to plant a seed and sprinkle it with water, but once the sun scorches the ground, and the earth soaks up all the moisture, you’re left with nothing but a thirsty little flower trying desperately to make it out of the dirt.”

“And no matter what anybody says about grief, and about time healing all wounds, the truth is, there are certain sorrows that never fade away until the heart stops beating and the last breath is taken.”

The writer has, no doubt, done an incredible job. It is recommended to everyone who needs a great read with loads of emotion along. It made me cry real bad. I was touched. It was worth a read.

“You wanna know how to make God laugh?”
“Tell him your plans.”

This is a Sad book, this is a depressing book, this is a heart-wrenching book, but don't let these remarks make you give up on this book. It is beautifully-paifully-heart breaking kind of book. You'll love it for sure. !

"A soul never truly loses hope until hope has turned to ashes, or has been buried six feet underground.”

AAH I loved it.