Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away. But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother...only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her. Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.An alternating past and present timeline with drama and a will they/won't they love story.I read this story really quickly. I also didn't realize it was a romance novel until half way through it. Okay, maybe it's NOT a romance novel, but there were a few steamy scenes in it. What is the difference between a romance novel and an adult fiction novel? Asking for a friend...I love the characters in this book. Macy was relatable and flawed. Elliot was an amazing book boyfriend- blunt and true. Sabrina- an amazing best friend who is kind but doesn't beat around the bush. Macy's dad- kind and putting a lot of effort into parenthood.A lot of this book was realistic to me.  That ended when the sex scene occurred in the book. Two grown adults, having sex at a wedding, not remotely intoxicated, clothes totally off, outdoors in a public garden.... Kind of ruined it for Me. Nobody Does that! It wasn't romantic or realistic. I don't think it flowed well with the storyline. So that was a pretty big bummer for me.Thanksgiving - it's mentioned quite a few times throughout the book!Listen to this short playlist:Find a Way by SafetysuitVillains by JohnnyswimFall by Justin BeiberEat: A turkey dinnerClick here