*Every image in this post was made by me, i decided to had something new to the reviews.*
Guys… Guys… If you read this book you understand me. I just read Eleanor & Park.
I’m in a glass of emotions. I Love it so much but i needed to rethink everything by the end!
This was my first Rainbow Rowell book and it center around a couple, 2 misfits.
Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.
Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
Source: Goodreads
Eleanor isn’t the girl every bully want’s. She doesn’t fit in school, she isn’t like other teenagers. But not totally because she want’s it. Her life led her to be like that.
Park is the almost invisible asian boy. He doesn’t suffer a lot of bullying but suffers from disappointment, he thinks his father doesn’t like him.
They meet in her first day of school when he “gives” him his spare sit on the bus. From where their relationship evolves into something beautiful, a relationship with problems just like every other.
A teenager type of relationship, everything is beautiful, but unlikely those relationships, they show true friendship. But also some secrets. 
Of course, and because this relationship is so true to teenagers, the way everything they feel is very “teenager-y”. They think they will be together forever, they love each other. It starts like this to evolve into this real relationship, that isn’t just about loving that rush, but loving someone because of the way they are.
Rainbow did an amazing job portraying the self stem problems of both characters, specially Eleanor. She isn’t perfect and she knows it, but Park loves her the way she is, every inch of her. It’s good to finally read the man side of that. I feel a lot of time like Eleanor and reading from Park’s view was a good experience, because it felt so genuine.
And i have to point out the secondary characters, also very well written!
*I know what you guys are about to say about my next words but bare with me!*
While reading the book i started to her Ellie Goulding “Love me like you do” and started to associate the book to the song because of the lyrics. Forget this song is 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack. The lyrics express exactly the things Eleanor and Park felt. If you don’t believe in me please go see it and hear it!
If you enjoy a good contemporary, i really recommend this book. A cute story, but to be honest a great sub plot. I’m not a fan of full on romances, it has to have something else. In this case the subplot kept me reading like a crazy person.
Of course, 5 ou of 5 stars. I can’t wait to read another book by Rainbow. I have Fangirl in English and everyone says it’s a lot better let’s see. A full review next!
A few things i loved:
– Park’s family. 5*! His dad and mom remember me of my own parents and it was great reading the relationship they had with their sons. And this includes their grandparents. Also awesome!
– Finding that Tina and Steve grown a little bit. They helped Eleanor, event though they mooched her all the time but when it was time to truly help her they did it.
– How Park tried to move with his life, because he knew time didn’t stopped.
– The relationship between Eleanor and Park started with sharing interests. To me that is a great start. Before being a couple people should be friends.
– The sub plot was amazing! I really wanted to know more and more about their lives and how worked, how did Eleanor mother hold on, how the kids would end up like.
Things i hated:
– Eleanor stepfather. (JUST KILL THE HECK OUT OF HIM!!!!)
– Now knowing what happened to Eleanor family.
The ending:
I will this let out of my chest, the 3 words (in my Portuguese edition, 2)…. To be honest i really think it’s ‘I Love You’. The reason behind my opinion is the grown Eleanor went through. I got really mad at her, at first, not writing, not even calling Park. To me that was hurtful, because Park is such a great person.
But then i started to think about everything she went through and how Park has the only good thing in her life. How she didn’t said goodbye, how she freezes time in her head. Still, she was being selfish, very selfish. In the mean time Park was suffering and not understanding what was going on. But after 1 year (or more) they still love each other. That is great to know! Left me with such a happy feeling on my heart.
Overall, i truly loved the book. I believe firmly this will be in my top 10!
Stay awesome,
Viviana
Enchanting Wolf 