Saturday, 6 June 2009

Review - Love You Hate You Miss You / Elizabeth Scott

Summary - You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.

Review - Elizabeth Scott reminds me of sunshine. I see her in a photograph or on her vlog and I feel joyous. There's just something about her that makes me smile like a loon. I have read three of her titles so far (Stealing Heaven, Bloom and Perfect You) and enjoyed them all but Love You Hate You Miss You trumps all of them.

There's a harder edge, plenty of sarcasm and a lot of negativity in the form of the protagonist, Amy. She's brittle and fragile in one tall, red haired, resentful and mostly silent package. Amy's best friend, Julia, has passed away due to their formerly reckless behaviour and Amy carries the burden of guilt, grief and buckets of anger. Fresh from rehab, Amy is integrated back into school where she is all alone amidst hateful classmates and previous one night stands. Yet, it's her home life that makes me really sympathise. I haven't read a story where a character's parents are so in love and involved in one another that they effectively remove their children of all importance, worth and love. The reader will be able to empathise with this fresh take on the ways parents can negatively affect their child.

Love You Hate You Miss You is told from Amy's perspective, sometimes through the letters she writes to Julia. You will find yourself responding to the sarcastic, wounded edge of Amy's voice. She's hell on wheels but she has her reasons. She's trying to change while keeping everyone at a distance. Her friendship with Julia was her lifeline but their codependency wasn't always a good thing. They enabled one another in the worst possible way - Amy's alcoholism and Julia's drug use.

Elizabeth Scott possesses such an entertaining voice - one that really cuts to the heart of the matter, seeks out the humour and yet can describe something in a way you might have thought of before. The dialogue flows naturally and create a story that travels along at a great pace, unfurling authentically and concluding in a way that gives hope (but not all the answers).

Love You Hate You Miss You is a definite must read!

Published: June 1st, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Origin: USA
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Elizabeth Scott's Website
Elizabeth Scott's Blog

5 comments:

Steph Su said...

Wonderful review. I don't know why I don't read your reviews more often. Must start doing that now! You make me really want to read this. :)

a flight of minds said...

I've yet to read Love you, Hate you, Miss you, but your review makes it sound similar to Wintergirls, in the way that the protagonist's best friend is gone and the protag must get over it. And the fact that both the girls in both novels (gaah, can't think of a better way to phrase it :P) relied on each other with their bad habits, be it anorexia and bulimia, or alcoholism and drug abuse.

I loved Wintergirls, so really, this comparison is a good thing. And absolutely brilliant review.

- Alex

Adele said...

Alex and Steph Su - thank you for your lovely words. I am glad you are liking the reviews, I think I am improving but you know what it's like...some books are easier to write about than others.

I have yet to read Wintergirls, it's being released here in Oz next year so I'll just have to wait. What a wait!

Thao said...

Mixed reviews kinda shook my excitement for this book and after reading you review I'm thrilled again. It sounds so perfect. I love how LYHYMY is different from her other books - it seems less light hearted, and I also like the fresh take about the parents. Can't wait for my copy to arrive. Thanks Adele!

Anonymous said...

if you loved this novel of hers, check out living dead girl. i absolutely ADORED that one - it's made it into my top ten books ever.


ps: link exchange?