Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Format: ARC
Pages: 451
Source: Borrowed from Yara at Once Upon aTwilight for ARC tour
When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.
By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it?
Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.
It took me only a couple hours to read this. It was short and sweet, but really tugged at the emotions. Love & Leftovers is written entirely in verse. Books written in verse always make my head hurt because of the way my mind processes the lines, but it was still an addicting read. It's really hard for me to write a review about this book, though, because the style is something I'm not overly familiar with.
Marcie is incredibly easy to relate to. She just wants to be loved, and because of that she makes some really stupid mistakes. The poems are all written from her perspective, so readers get real insight to her emotions and thoughts. She's very real and I did like her a lot! As for the guys...well, I lovedddd Linus. I thought he was sweet and my heart just broke for him throughout the entire novel. He was so sincere and earnest and you have to wonder wtf Marcie is thinking. JD, however, was obviously using her. Everything about him was so obviously temporary. And I'm pretty sure Marcie knew that, but she didn't really care. She just wanted to be wanted.
As for the leftovers. Some of them we don't really get to know, and others I had certain moments when I really disliked them. Emily just...erg. I can't say anything, really, without revealing a spoiler, but I can't say I'm all that thrilled with how she sort of betrayed Marcie, even if it was Marcie's fault. And her best friend Katie could either be the best best friend in the world, or the worst best friend in the world. But all the while you understand where every character is coming from. They all make mistakes and regret and have some flaws. And those flaws and the growth that the characters undergo is what truly makes this story. It is real and heartbreaking.
All in all, this is a very sweet read that I think lovers of contemporary would devour even quicker than I did. I was shocked by how much I loved the story and how attached I became to the story and the writing. I hope Tregay puts out more books as great as this one!
Marcie is incredibly easy to relate to. She just wants to be loved, and because of that she makes some really stupid mistakes. The poems are all written from her perspective, so readers get real insight to her emotions and thoughts. She's very real and I did like her a lot! As for the guys...well, I lovedddd Linus. I thought he was sweet and my heart just broke for him throughout the entire novel. He was so sincere and earnest and you have to wonder wtf Marcie is thinking. JD, however, was obviously using her. Everything about him was so obviously temporary. And I'm pretty sure Marcie knew that, but she didn't really care. She just wanted to be wanted.
As for the leftovers. Some of them we don't really get to know, and others I had certain moments when I really disliked them. Emily just...erg. I can't say anything, really, without revealing a spoiler, but I can't say I'm all that thrilled with how she sort of betrayed Marcie, even if it was Marcie's fault. And her best friend Katie could either be the best best friend in the world, or the worst best friend in the world. But all the while you understand where every character is coming from. They all make mistakes and regret and have some flaws. And those flaws and the growth that the characters undergo is what truly makes this story. It is real and heartbreaking.
All in all, this is a very sweet read that I think lovers of contemporary would devour even quicker than I did. I was shocked by how much I loved the story and how attached I became to the story and the writing. I hope Tregay puts out more books as great as this one!
Thanks again to Yara for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!
Oh this book is on my list! Sounds really great! :)
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