Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

I am 100 percent sure that I lived on the Russian River in a past life. From the first time I took a day trip there in 2007, everything about it felt not only lovely and exciting, but also friendly and familiar. I made a bee-line for the Coffee Bazaar one day without anyone telling me it was the best place for coffee and people watching. So it did not come as a surprise to me when this book suddenly appeared in my mailbox one day, without much warning. I read the first few pages and saw quickly that the plot took place on the Russian River, and I knew instantly it was a book for me. Stories about bookish people are what I love most, and when Macy and Elliot meet one summer after her mother's death, they quickly focus their new friendship on books. Macy's late mother left her dad with a laundry list of advice for raising their daughter. But it is Elliot who brings Macy out of her shell and back to life again. Childhood romances often fizzle as this one does momentarily, until grown ups Macy and Elliot meet again in a coffee shop in San Francisco one day. Love, loss, friendships and betrayals are not unique to young adult fiction, but in the capable hands of author Christina Lauren they are reminiscent of the Judy Blume books I loved so much as an early reader. Interesting to note: Christina Lauren is the pen named for the two co-authors: Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Together they have produced 18 New York Times bestselling novels. Diving into "Love and Other Words" is one way to keep the summer vibe going a bit longer. To buy this book on Amazon click here.