Review: Better off Friends

Better off Friends
by Elizabeth Eulberg

Synopsis

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY . . . for teens, from romantic comedy star Elizabeth Eulberg.

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan's friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they're best friends -- which wouldn't be so bad if they didn't keep getting in each other's way. Guys won't ask Macallan out because they think she's with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can't help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again -- and one kiss away from true love?

Review

This book pretty much had me at "WHEN HARRY MET SALLY...for teens". I LOVE When Harry Met Sally. Love Love Love. And this book??? I loved it! It has two very believable characters with a believable love story. And the writing style! I loved how each chapter was written by either Macallan or Levi and in between they had their little banter in short dialogue (You'll get it when you read it because you WILL read it). 

Macallan is a strong leading female, which is my weakness! She's strong but emotional and not cold. Levi is misguided but lovable. Together they have the perfect friendship. And by perfect I also mean imperfect (because nothing is perfect people). This book definitely reminded me of when Harry Met Sally due to the intelligent banter of it's characters. There was a lot of love between friends and family and it spanned years...YEARS of the two leading characters' lives. That's right people - this isn't a love that happens after the next big dance or whatever. The duo basically meet in middle school and their friendship, with it's love and hardships, spans until Senior year in high school. 

I got this book from the library, but once it's in paperback, I'm so going to get it and re read it. 

Verdict

I loved it. If you love contemporary love stories with lovable characters who have their flaws but aren't annoying - this book is for you. 

Zine Review: Pieces #8.5

Pieces #8.5: 24 Hour Zine 
by Nichole and Laura

Review

I absolutely love reading and reviewing zines. I don't remember how I got into them, but I know that I love having glimpses of other people's worlds. And the 24 hour zines that I come across are fantastic. 

This issue of Pieces is actually a split zine between Nichole and her mother, Laura. 

Okay, first of all - these ladies rock. 

Seriously. The first pages of both zines have to do with library-love. As an individual who didn't get to go to the library as a kid (I first stepped foot into a library when I was a late-teens teenager), reading about someone else growing up in that world made me simultaneously jealous and happy. 

I'm probably biased, as I adore books, but I really enjoyed reading those memories from both perspectives of mother and daughter. Each author put a lot of themselves and each other into their works and it makes it that much more enjoyable to read. 

Each side of the zine is filled with memories or tidbits of the author. I specially liked this:

Because of how true it is, but also because the reader can tell that the authors held onto a part of themselves from when they were younger - and that is what makes this split zine so entertaining and heart-warming to read. 

Verdict 

Uh, read it. DUH. No, but seriously, if the reader wants something nostalgic, sweet and creative - this is your zine. I suggest reading Nichole's side first, just because it's really great to read her mother's take on the memory afterward.


Look for this zine and many others at my friend Sage's distro, Sweet Candy Distro!