You've Got Mail

"Love. Purpose.

Those are things that you can't plan for.

Those are things that just happen.

And what if they don't happen?

Do you spend your whole life pining for them?

Waiting to be happy?"

--Rainbow Rowell, Attachments

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher: Dutton Adult, 323 pages

Publication Date: April 14th, 2011

Source: Bought

Goodreads

Goodreads Description

Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.

My Thoughts

Book Karma strikes again. I was in such a need to read a smart, witty, hilarious and sweetly romantic adult contemporary and Attachments was just that. It was perfect. Perfect timing for me to read. A perfectly adorable love story that I felt like I, as well as almost any girl, could relate to in some way. In fact I kind of wish I could live out this story in a different version for my own life...but I digress.

I adored this book. The books goes back and forth between Lincoln's life and perspective and the e-mails between Beth and Jennifer. First of all, Beth and Jennifer--LOVE. Their e-mails had me cackling out loud. They reminded me so much of me and my best friend that I had to text her to tell her that we should publish our text conversations because we could make it rich haha. For serious. I recognized so much in their friendship that echoes my own. The witty banter back and forth with references that only they really understand; the in your face and blunt observation of difficult situations that only true friends can tell you; the caring and deeply emotional 180 degree turn of conversation when you can tell your friend is really hurting and just needs to be comforted. Their relationship drove the book for me. I loved them. I wanted to be friends with them.

Lincoln's point of view was just...beautiful. We all love characters we can connect to and Lincoln is a character that I just got. I understood him so well it scared me a little. I am still trying to decide whether I like him so much because he may literally be my weird science guy or that I recognize myself so much in him. The former--a big, kind, quiet guy who is beyond smart. He doesn't go out and drink. He loves his mom...so much he feels bad moving out. He reminded me of the big friendly giant. He just made me swoon with his quiet unawareness. He is my weird science guy. I need him in my real life...like yesterday. And then the latter--I feel like there is a part of me that thrives on the distant crush. My life is a series of unrequited love and admiring from a distance. And just hoping, wishing, praying that the guy I ogle might be thinking the same thing about me. Pipe dream. I know. This book made it real. It made me feel like there is still a hope for an adorable start to a relationship that ends in a happy ending. Time will tell, I guess. 

The two previous paragraphs are exactly why I fell in love with this book. It reminded me of why I love my best friend and that comfort that goes along with having somebody that knows you better than you know yourself. And that hopeful feeling that goes along with thinking a romantic relationship might be starting. We all know that feeling. We all LOVE that feeling. I don't know if I can explain in more words why I loved this book. It was just adorably perfect. The movie and book references were so well-placed and completely hilarious. I loved that they recognized a situation like this only happened in books and movies. I loved Lincoln's habits and his geek moments. Goodness, every time he mentioned that his standing Saturday night date was Dungeons and Dragons made me laugh out loud. I loved it! I think we can all relate to that but our geek moments are with books, right?!  I just loved it all.

I think this book was just beautifully written. It was hilarious, witty, smart, sarcastic, and heartfelt. It was a very quick and fun read. It was exactly what I needed at the time. Fun, easy, romantic. Well played, Rainbow Rowell, well played.

Should You Read This? YES! It is fun and sweet and tender and funny and just gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a feel good book.