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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected: after her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can’t write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer. Then, she meets Cal.
Cal’s ever-practical girlfriend Iris is looking ahead to her first year of college, and her plans do not include a long-distance boyfriend. When Lu learns that Cal and Iris have planned to end their relationship at the end of the summer, she becomes fascinated and decides to chronicle the last months the couple will spend together.
The closer she gets to the couple, the more she likes them, and the more she wants to write about them. The summer unfurls, and Lu discovers what it really means to be in love. On the page, or off it. The book is touching exploration of love and how it shapes us both during a relationship and after it has ended.
Review:
I really like Adi Alsaid's writing, and so when I saw that he had a new book out, A Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak, I was all in. His book takes the reader through a transformative summer in New York City. Idealized New York competes with reality as main character Lu muses on love and relationships, trying to figure out what when wrong with her first romance. I loved the New York setting, the story and most of the characters. But Lu did get on my nerves.
What I Liked:
Setting:
This is a YA novel that is basically a love letter to New York City. Having just been there for the first time over Spring Break, I can honestly say that the scenes that take place all over the city are authentic. From the marvel that is the Flatiron Building, to the tackiness of Times Square, to the subways with their mini musical performances, all of it painted a portrait of a much beloved city.
Characters:
Although I had mixed feelings about Lu (more about that later), I loved many of the other characters, particularly Cal and Iris. They take the cake as being the most romantic (and most mature) couple in YA literature! They are so romantic, that Lu becomes obsessed with them. They really do represent the idealized notion of first love. And while the book questions how realistic this kind of devotion is, I know from my own life that people can, and do, stay together through long distance relationships.
I also liked Lu's best friend, Pete. They are coworkers at a movie theater (also a job I had at that age). I was so grateful that the author didn't fall back on the "best friends falling in love" trope. I thought Pete had great advice for Lu, and was appropriately annoyed when she disregarded it.
I also liked that not all the characters were obsessed with finding a sexual partner. Pete seemed to be an Ace, and I liked that being represented in this novel.
Lu's mom is also a fun character. She shows her concern by texting constantly, and holding Lu accountable when she makes mistakes. She knows that Lu is technically an adult and can't be forced to follow her rules. But the mom does find ways to mete out tough love. Her punishment of cooking the strongest smelling food for Lu when she has a hangover was perfection!
Story:
I think that the summer after high school is over is such a bittersweet moment. Some people are all set for college. But many young people are confused about their future. They've been told that college is what should happen next, but that may not be the path for everyone. Whichever path one takes, teens are starting to experience grown-up realities such as showing up for work, budgeting their money, maintaining friendships, and choosing between what they want and what they actually need.
I think this story gets all of this right. Lu is faced with parts of her life changing course in unexpected ways. Sometimes she does not make good choices (there's a lot of underage drinking in this book!), but she learns that she needs to face her disappointments and forge ahead.
What I Was Mixed About:
Lu:I had really mixed feelings about Lu's character. I could totally sympathize with how heartbroken she was when she was dumped by her boyfriend. But I found myself really annoyed and impatient when Lu kept blowing off her deadline with her magazine article. For someone who got into New York University, you'd think she would have been more resilient. I kept wondering that if she couldn't handle some adversity before college even started, maybe she wouldn't be able to handle going to such a demanding college.
I also wished the author would have had Lu acknowledge that she seemed more in love with the idea of being in love than with any actual person. I think that some people are so caught up in the notion of being part of a couple that they check out after the initial rush of a new relationship wears off. Lu alluded to this in some of her writings about her boyfriend, Leo, but I wish this would have been explored more.
Rating:
Release Date: April 30th, 2019
Author: Adi Alsaid
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Page Length: 384 Pages
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A love letter to New York, this book about first love was a lot of fun.
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