Eleanor & Park Hardcover – February 26, 2013

No words can justify how much I fell in love with Eleanor & Park. I'm kicking myself for not picking it up the minute it came out! Why did I wait so long? Oh that's right, stupid me read the ending beforehand and decided it wasn't worth it. If only I could go back in time and smack myself! Eleanor & Park was hands down THE BEST BOOK I've read this year EVER! It was so romantic, funny, super-adorable yet shocking realistic. This book had the perfect balance of hilarity and seriousness and I can't even count the number of time I laughed, giggled (I'm not a giggler!), snorted and even cried during this book. It was perfection at it's best!Eleanor and Park are very ordinary high school kids but they still stand out because of their physical appearance, Park being a half-Korean and Eleanor being an overweight girl with bright red hair and a weird sense of style. Oh God, Eleanor was such a character, I can honestly say that there is no one like her and probably there won't ever be. She was such a blast to read about, her sarcastic nature in addition to her sense of uneasiness around others was what made her so special. Eleanor was so real, her doubts, fears and insecurities were something I could completely relate to. Though her family's situation was very difficult to understand but I loved how Eleanor made me feel and experience those parts with her words. Simple words ended up making huge impact in my reading progress, whether it was about her crushing and fangirling over Park (atleast on the inside) or her trying to survive her family, I loved every second of Eleanor time, she was a wonderful, strong, brave and truly an admirable character. Plus, she was hilarious, her one liners were the best. There was a scene where Eleanor thinks about some racist comment regarding Parker's eyes and it cracked me up. I loved her so much and I wish I knew a Eleanor in my life.Eleanor and Park met in a bus and what started as a awkward bus ride ended up being one of the things they both looked forward to everyday. They both were so adorable and their romance was even adorable, and now I want to repeat adorable a millions times in this review because it's the perfect word to describe what Eleanor and Park were all about. But what I loved the most in this book was that the romance never went on the cheesy side, well just a little but most of it was extremely realistic. I do want to mention Park's family, specially his mom for lighting up this story. She was hard to handle in the beginning but the minute her opinion changed about Eleanor, that's when Park's mom became one of my favorite character in this book. She truly made Eleanor feel like a part of her family and in a way, that made Eleanor's life so much better.Coming back to the ending, I think it was the most beautiful endings I've ever read in a long time. I'm a fan of happily-ever-afters and perfect wrapped up ending, but sometimes a hopeful one works the best. The ending for Eleanor & Park made me so happy and I've heard there are talks about sequel but this is the first time where I'll say that a sequel is not required. Not everything needs to be spelled out, I loved how the author wrote Eleanor and Park's story and I wouldn't change a thing. Plus, can I just add that this is the perfect way to write a third person narrative along with a dual narration. Kudos to Rainbow Rowell for pulling that off so beautifully. I'm a fan and can't wait to explore more of the author's work. Highly recommend Eleanor & Park to readers who would like to experience the joys of first love all over again. (<-- That was very cheesy)

The very concept of Eleanor & Park is heartwarming; two young adults who know that first love almost never lasts, but are brave enough to try. Set in Omaha, Nebraska in 1986, Eleanor & Park is about two outsider "misfit" teenagers that are initially drawn to one another through a mutual love of comic books and music that they share on the school bus. Over the course of the plot, the two begin to care about one another, forming a bond that grows into the unmistakable and relatable first love sparked by holding hands to and from school on the bus.Eleanor Douglas is a short red-haired girl who is the oldest of five children living in a home that is far from comforting. She's constantly bullied at school for her appearance, her paternal dad abandoned her family, her step dad regularly abuses her mother, and the home she lives in is far from luxurious. Park Sheridan is a half-Korean boy who feels like he never fits in because of his race and appearance. His father is a war veteran who met his mother while serving in the army during the Korean War. He's not bullied nearly as often as Eleanor due to being passibly popular and being friends (acquaintances) with one of the school's major bullies, Steve. The two are also in completely different scenarios at home. Park's parents are peacefully in love and comforting to Park, while Eleanor's is as much of a contrast as possible, creating constant tension in such a strained family. The characterization is brief, and while I was able to easily picture Eleanor as Lorde with red hair (I don't know why, that's just what I saw), I had a more difficult time picturing Park.One of Eleanor & Park's major strengths is in its conflict. The story's major antagonist is simply society. Society can't allow Eleanor to have a boyfriend because she's poor and unpopular, society can't allow Park to have a girlfriend because he likes to read comic books and wear eyeliner. There's every opportunity for the story to take the easy way out with the "love conquers all" theme, but readers can be assured that there's much more to this one. It's climax, in the form of the last forty pages, is nothing short of captivating. It's ending will leave you in contemplation long after you see the final blank page. It's good. I won't spoil it.I was mixed about Rowell's writing style. The narration is third person, alternating between Eleanor and Park's perspectives. I was able to connect with the characters, and I liked the straightforward and uninhibited style, but there were times where I found the dialogue a little over dramatic considering their relationship only lasts for about as long as the school year. "I don't even think I breathe when we're not together," and, "I think I live for you" come to mind (111).A lot of attention this novel has gathered has been the result of criticism and controversy. However, that doesn't mean its not a good read. The language and mild sexual content, in my opinion, has been blown out of proportion. It's scattered throughout the story as much as the 80's pop culture references are. Not everyone will like the language, but it's crucial to the plot's development; not everyone will understand the references, but you don't have to to understand the story. The language is relative of the straightforward writing style Rowell chose to use. For a story is so strongly centered around sensitive topics in abuse and a young adult's difficult life, Eleanor & Park goes headfirst (fearless?) into it. Even if you don't necessarily like it, you have to respect it.Eleanor & Park is definitely worth your time. John Green summed it up perfectly: "[The book] reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book." I personally didn't connect with all of the characters, and I found some of it to be a little unrealistic, but that doesn't change the fact that Eleanor & Park is a wonderfully heartfelt book with an engaging and relatable story that keeps you guessing and leaves you speechless long after you reach the end.