5.0 out of 5 stars Happily Wrecked

R.V. · June 15, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I finished this book with plenty of tissues and ice cream, both of which were needed.The prologue of this book made me cry, prompting an immediate call to my sister. As I continued, I knew this would be a wonderful, albeit bittersweet, journey.And I was right.Every chapter, paragraph, sentence, and word felt purposeful and essential, never like filler. As a fellow author, I was deeply affected by the significance of it all.We all aspire to craft a story as enduring as this one. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I found myself reading ten chapters at a time without realizing it.I’ve read extensively throughout my life, and “Love & Other Words” is easily a top-ten favorite—and I said that with my whole heart.You'll adore this one if you enjoy books filled with second chances, unexpected plot twists, and superb writing.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great read from this author!

M.P. · May 12, 2025

4.25 ⭐️Christina Lauren is an auto-buy/read author for me. This book did have a different vibe than some of the others I’ve read - The Paradise Problem and The Unhoneymooners are my favorites. This book had a more serious, heart wrenching vibe where others I’ve read have been hilarious with incredible banter. It was very reminiscent of Every Summer After.This book is told in dual timelines and follows the love story of Elliot and Macy who reconnect after a tragic falling out. The book has strong themes of grief and how to cope with loss.My favorite things:➡️ Elliot’s love for Macy➡️ The list Macy’s mom made for her before she died➡️ The closet book nook➡️ Favorite words➡️ Northern California setting (I’m from NorCal)➡️ Did I mention Elliot?Favorite quotes:“I think of her everywhere. She is everywhere, in every moment, and also she’s in no one moment. She misses every single one of my moments and I’m not sure who that is harder for: me surviving here without her, or her without me, existing wherever she is.”“I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.”“Just don’t be a testicle about this, she says. Sabrina hates using pussy to mean weak, especially after birthing her ten-pound baby the old-fashioned way.”

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, Nostalgic, and Full of Heart

A. · June 6, 2025

4.5 stars rounded up 🥹Love and Other Words was such a comforting, feel-good read. It reminded me of the kind of romance I devoured when I was younger—the kind that makes your heart race a little faster and fills you with that warm, emotional buzz you never quite forget.The connection between Macy and Elliot is so beautifully written—tender, emotional, and full of those little moments that feel completely real. The dual timeline added such depth to their story, and by the end, I was so invested that I almost cried… which is saying a lot, because I never cry at books. That earns serious brownie points from me.It’s a perfect blend of second chances, young love, and healing, all wrapped up in Christina Lauren’s signature easy-to-read, emotionally resonant style. If you’re looking for a sweet, heartfelt romance that will make you smile, sigh, and maybe even tear up a little, this is the one. Highly recommend!

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Sweet Romance

S.L.M. · April 26, 2025

The Love & Other Words book is one of those that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. As a woman who has been blessed to reconnect with my true love and get married to him, I love a good second-chance love story.I spent most of the time reading Love & Other Words, eager to find out what he did that was so horrible, and it started to frustrate me at one point. I felt like their reason for being separated in the first place should have been told to us sooner. Yet, in the same token, I think we would have probably lost interest too quickly had that been done. In turn, we would have lost sight of how their bond was formed and its true power.Del and I have a long sixteen-year love story, which culminated in our marriage in 2008. It feels good knowing we've finally been back together longer than we were apart, but I still feel like I lost way too much time with him over fear.If you like reading about how true love never fails, regardless of how you try to avoid it, then you'll have fun reading this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Such a good read

Y. · May 17, 2025

Spoilers ....spoilers .......spoilersMacey and Elliots is a story for the books. Love the characters. The story was greatly written. The kind of love they had for ever other is the love everyone is looking for , i believe they had such a great love since they did start as such great friends that told each other everything. I knew Elliot cheated from the beginning but i did want to know his side he was taken advantage of and Emma was just a girl that wanted what she had with him and was willing to do that to ruin them. I would have like to know if he ever had a conversation with her. The pain that she went through to lose one parent is hard enough but to lose the surviving parent only a couple of years later is unbearable and to do it with thinking your boyfriend cheated on you is what makes it worse. I wish she would have reached out but i understand why she didnt. Love the end of the story that they got their happy ending they deserved it after all that heartbreak and years apart.

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Word? YOU

M. · May 11, 2025

"I've been waiting for you to come home for eleven years. I'll go anywhere you go."I loved this story. I’ve always had a soft spot for the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, and this one delivered in such an emotional, heartfelt way. When the characters finally confront what happened the night they drifted apart, it was genuinely heartbreaking. Having lost my father nearly four years ago, any storyline involving that kind of loss hits especially close to home.Elliot completely stole my heart—his love for Macy was so pure and unwavering, and his family added so much warmth to the story. Macy herself was incredibly relatable, and once the truth of that night was revealed, I completely understood her.

Perfect holiday read

r. · August 1, 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Started this and finished it on my 8hr flight. I did want a little more out of the ending but I’ve rated this 5 stars purely based on vibes and that I was not bored at any stage while reading. The book was such a page turner so it was the perfect choice to bring along for my long flight. I loved the past and present povs and did not predict the plot twist. Another one to add to my list of comfort reads 🥹

An Emotional Read

N. · December 31, 2024

Love and Other Words is a beautifully woven second-chance romance that explores love, loss, and forgiveness in a deeply moving way. The story begins with an intriguing mystery surrounding why Macy and Elliot, once inseparable, grew apart. This suspense is skilfully maintained, keeping readers captivated until the very end.The author has crafted both complex characters beautifully. The growth of Macy and Elliot as individuals and their fight to rekindle their love are among the book's standout highlights. Macy is a well-developed character. Her journey through loss and back to love is poignant and deeply relatable. My heart broke for her multiple times while reading. Her grief over her mother’s death is portrayed with sensitivity, especially through her mother’s list, adding layers of emotion and insight into Macy’s character. Lauren handle themes of grief with remarkable depth, and Macy's journey through the pain of losing both her parents is heartbreaking, with her inner reflections particularly moving. The story doesn’t just show the rekindling of a romantic connection, it also depicts the reunion of two best friends, making it feel as though Macy is reclaiming a piece of herself.I fell in love with Elliot a bit more with each of his scenes. Throughout the book, I found myself wondering how a man could be so perfect. I seriously wanted to hug him for everything he went through in both his teen and adult life. I wish the author had given us his point of view, so we could understand his character more deeply and hear his inner thoughts. His declarations of love were some of the book's best moments, I couldn’t stop smiling as I read them.One of the book’s highlights is its dual-timeline structure. We witness Macy and Elliot’s tender, youthful bond, as well as the complex emotions they navigate as adults. Their moments together as teens especially the innocent jealousy and the slow-burn connection are touching, offering a nostalgic view of young love. I only wish we had more scenes of their reconnection as adults, as I loved the way they rebuilt their relationship from the ground up. However, the involvement of third-party relationships for both main characters felt somewhat unnecessary and disrupted the story’s momentum, slightly detracting from the otherwise touching narrative. Also, it was seriously disappointing the way the author didn’t throw much light on how Elliot was sexually assaulted, I didn’t appreciate the way it was still addressed as “cheating” in last chapters. Despite this, the way Macy and Elliot work through their misunderstandings and rebuild their love is heartwarming.Overall, Love and Other Words is an emotional, beautifully written romance with just the right mix of nostalgia, heartbreak, and redemption.

The Best CL book so far

F. · September 2, 2023

The book talks about the friends that grow up together, experience love and suddenly break up on a very misterious way for the reader. Manys years later they unexpectedly meet and all unsolved problems and feelings get back and the truth about what happened is shown to us.With a more drama flavour, in my opinion, the best Christina Lauren book so far.

Emotional, funny, and with so much heart

E.-.C.R. · March 6, 2020

Christina Lauren has done it again... Love and Other Words is authentic, romantic, and well-written.A romance that captures readers' hearts and keeps them glued to the pages. I couldn't help but fall in love with Macy and Elliot. Christina Lauren's writing is so good that the reading went too fast, and, in the end, I wasn't ready to let the story and characters go.The young Macy and Elliot sound so familiar with their dialogues, their routine, and those fears that brought me back to adolescence.I always love characters driven story, and I appreciated how the characters here, through their actions, appear so flawed, and realistic. It's so easy to feel connected with them, and I was so thrilled to know more about the events that took them apart for a decade-long silence.Emotional, funny, and with so much heart, Love and Other Words, is absolutely a book I recommend, and that definitely lives up to the hype for me.

10/10

L.K...F. · February 25, 2025

Gripping from start to end. One of the most emotional and wholesome stories I ever read. Definitely recommend to any childhood friends to lovers fans