I recently read Things I Know About Love by Kate le Vann, a young adult novel, for Around the World tours. It will be released on June 22, 2010.Summary: Livia, an English teenager who has grown up with Leukemia, feels unlucky in love. Now that she has been feeling better for some time, and believes that she may be recovering, she has decided to spend the summer in America, visiting her older brother who is attending Princeton. While there, she chronicles her time in the U.S. on a blog, as well as her past experiences of love, and also, the new guy she meets, Adam, who may just change everything she thought she knew about love. . .
My Thoughts: I think that the premise of this book was really cute and that it had a lot of heart, but that it ultimately fell a bit flat. I really liked the whole blogging aspect, and the reexamination of all of Livia's past relationships. They were all told in flashback style sort of, like mini-stories within the larger story. I also liked the fun brother-sister bond, and the romance between her and the new guy she meets, Adam.
The problem I found was that the story was too short therefore leaving the characters and story much too underdeveloped for my taste. The book was somewhere around 160 pages or so, and I really did not feel that I was able to connect with the characters much, and that the romance between Livia and Adam did not seem realistic. I believe if the book had been longer, everything would have been much more developed and this story would have been excellent. Otherwise, it was a cute story, albeit a bit heartbreaking at times. That being said, I think a younger audience would really enjoy it. For me, being an adult reader, I'd have liked to see more length and characterization.
My Rating: 3/5
This does feel like a cute read, but 160-odd pages is definitely very less for the reader to connect with the characters. I like the cover though - that may make me pick the book to read. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree that this does seem like a pretty short book, but still sounds like a fun read. Maybe it's for a younger audience? I like the blogging aspect, as I haven't read too many books that mention blogging. Enjoyed your review!
ReplyDeleteOh that's a shame. I have heard good things about Kate Le Vann. I understand your frustrations though. Depth of characterisation is a must for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest review. It sounds like this book has a lot going for it, and it's probably a fun read. It's a shame the characters weren't more fully developed.
ReplyDeleteCute review :) I like the cover.
ReplyDelete160 pages cant tell much.. but i like the cover though,it's cute ;p
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this. The story does sounds very cute and really short. Somethimes I don't mind that the characters aren't developed as well, but I think I have enough of that too. :)
ReplyDeleteI just adore the cover of this book.