The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily

by Laura Creedle

[Sam@WLABB]

I loved so many things about this book, but mostly I loved Lily. Obviously, the hopeless romantic in me adored that Lily and Abelard found each other. These two people, who were considered "different" connected through the words of two long ago lovers, and from there, love flourished. This one delivered a lot more than I was expecting, and I loved just about every second of it!

•Pro: Lily. I LOVED Lily. Being in her head was quite an experience. Her voice was clear and distinct. She had so much to say, and I wanted to listen to it all. Her observations were witty and often insightful. Most times, she made me laugh, but there were many time where my heart broke for her.

•Pro: The romance was very different. Lily and Abelard had a very successful texting romance, but it was tricky for them to navigate in person. I found it quite sweet that each was willing to make sacrifices for the other, and I was keeping my fingers crossed that they would make it.

•Pro: The texts! Lily and Abelard's exchanges were so sweet and swoony. Whereas they were somewhat awkward in real life, each of them were really able to communicate their feelings effectively when messaging. Also, the Abelard and Heloise quotes were wonderful and used so well. I thought it was fantastic that they could connect this way.

•Pro: Because both Lily and Abelard were quite intelligent and well read, there were some really great exchanges on many different topics that piqued my interest.

•Con: I know some people like them, but I abhor open ended endings. I need closure, people!! I need definitive answers, and though the ending is hopeful, it is by no means an ending without many questions.

•Pro: People keep talking about the "instalove" in this book, but Lily and Abelard actually had a history. Abelard mentions it. Lily mentions it. Even Abelard's mom mentions their past playdates, and apparently, Lily showed a kindness to Abelard which he never forgot.

•Pro: I thought the book had some really fabulous auxiliary characters. Rosalind was a wonderful best friend. I enjoyed her and her family tremendously. I also thought Lily's sister was quite special. You could tell how much she loved and cared for Lily.

•Pro: For a guy who was not big on socializing, Abelard knew the exact right things to say some times. When he told Lily, "You are a fractured snowflake, a pattern repeated in infinite detail in a world full of salt crystals. You're not broken - you're perfect," it melted my heart.

Overall: This book delivered emotions galore! There was laughter, tears, anger, and a lot of grins. This was a solid debut, and I definitely hope to read more of Creedle's work.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review

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