The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg Published by Penguin on February 21st 2012
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, YA, Young Adult
Goodreads
Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.
BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
I’ll admit that when I first heard about a book about a girl dying from a heartbreak, I was wary to read it. But nonetheless, when it went on sale, I immediately bought it because of all the great things I’ve heard from others. I’m just excited to say that I really enjoyed reading this one and I can definitely see why it comes so highly recommended.
When Brie’s boyfriend breaks up with her, her heart literally breaks in half and she passes away. While I know that sounds kinda tacky, and lame, it actually turned out really well in The Catastrophic History of You and Me. This novel follows the events passing Brie’s death, including what happens to her family and boyfriend. For a novel with an odd concept, the plot actually plays out really well and the whole dying thing seems semi-plausible.
I loved all of the characters in The Catastrophic History of You and Me and I especially loved reading about how her parents, best friend, and ex-boyfriend deal with her death. I also loved Patrick, Brie’s partner-in-crime in death, and how he tried to help her cope with her own loss. The characters were all developed well and I especially enjoyed seeing Brie’s character development over the course of the book.
In terms of romance, this book has plenty. Both Brie’s flashbacks and new boy Patrick make some great plot points in the book. The world-building was also amazing and I loved seeing the author’s interpretation of life after death, and what happens beyond.
Overall, The Catastrophic History of You and Me is an amazing novel dealing with themes of loss, friendship and betrayal. I loved this book and I highly recommend it to contemporary lovers!
