Amazon.com Review
Ellen Wittlinger, author of the Printz Honor Book
Hard Love, mines the turbulence of young adulthood in this modern-day epistolary novel (think smiley-face emoticons and IMs) that examines the weird summer between high school and college. The story begins when 18-year-old, Boston-born, singer-songwriter Chloe visits a college in Connecticut as a prospective student and meets the dreamy singer-actor Julian from Florida. Both primed to say good-bye to high school and hello to the rest of their lives, the two share an intense, somewhat smooch-filled weekend that blossoms into an online romance. Inconveniently, Chloe already has a boyfriend. And both of them have prom, graduation, and summer jobs to contend with. A bouquet of ill-timed roses exposes Chloe’s secret tryst and wrecks prom, but the revelations don’t stop here. Chloe’s sister Genevieve comes out as a lesbian via e-mail and Julian’s sister e-announces her Las Vegas wedding to a man no one has met. The reaction of Chloe’s parents to Gen’s coming out is both comical and wince-inducing. (If she grew her hair long again would her heterosexuality be saved?) But, with the help of a few instructional books, everyone comes around in the end.
While typical teen confusion runs rampant, Wittlinger’s characters are intelligent and considerate--always following honest outbursts with heartfelt apologies. Despite the large cast of characters shooting off e-mails, IMs, letters, and postcards--all depicted with distinct fonts or handwriting--the novel manages to be cohesive and effectively multi-layered. Cleverly, Chloe’s subject heads are lines from songs by Dar Williams, Greg Brown, John Prine, the Indigo Girls, and more, and a "playlist" is included in the back. (Ages 13 and older) --Karin Snelson
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–This epistolary novel combines e-mails, instant messages, "old-fashioned" pen-and-paper letters, and postcards to tell a story that is familiar to many teens poised between the friendships and romances of high school and the promise of new social possibilities in college. Seniors Chloe, of Massachusetts, and Julian, from Florida, meet and create sparks with one another during a visit to the college each plans to attend. Back home, they cope with how to treat current or potential love interests, best friends, parents, and sisters who have their own baggage. The two teens fan the flames of their mutual attraction through regular correspondence, not only with one another, but also with their recently independent older siblings. Wittlinger handles all of these relationships credibly and engagingly. While the parents seem to be close to moronic–especially in Chloe's case–all of the involved young people, as well as more minor characters, are individuated and realistic. Subplots include Chloe's sister's gay identity, the uncertainties inherent in beginning college and learning to create one's identity anew, and class differences, which are gracefully and authentically depicted. While the novel's structure sometimes seems artificial–all of the characters are articulate and concise writers–the story is meaty and offers a variety of access points. The title is apt, describing a state known to many if not most older teens.
–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
