Customer Reviews

Love You Hate You Miss You

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are my least favorite kinds of reviews to write because I honestly have nothing particularly exciting or intelligent to say about this book. Love You Hate You Miss You was good. It was believable. I was sympathetic towards Amy and continuously hoped for her to feel like she deserved to have her own life in the aftermath of Julia's death. Elizabeth Scott wrote the novel very well, in a way that teens will really understand and relate to.

But that's about all I got. The book was good, it wasn't great. I liked it, I did not love it. I will probably not remember much about this novel a few months from now. I think my issue with this one is that I assumed that it would be a very emotional read - it sure sounds like it would be, right? But I personally just didn't connect with the story like I wanted to. I empathized with Amy and I rooted for her, definitely, but I just didn't FEEL it. So that leads me to conclude that it's something to do with me specifically, a connection that I personally missed with the novel. Which leads me to believe that you, dear reader, may have a totally different experience with this book.

So my conclusion is that Love You Hate You Miss You is a good book by an excellent author that I personally did not connect with in the way in which I was expecting to. So I'm recommending the book to YA fans with the caveat that I still need to figure out what about the book did not work for me...

In the seventy-five days since the accident that claimed her best friend Julia's life, Amy has been at Pinewood, a rehab center, recovering from her dependency on alcohol, trying to live with the absence of the only person who ever truly understood her and her overwhelming guilt concerning the night of the accident. When she gets out of rehab and is back home, her shrink asks her to keep a journal. Instead, Amy writes letters to Julia. Thus begins her tumultuous, painful, and somehow hopeful process of reconciling with the past, and learning to face the present.

Elizabeth Scott has created yet again another beautiful, eye-opening, and magnetic read that will grab readers and take them on a roller coaster ride of pain and suffering, hope and joy. Scott's tight and brisk writing perfectly convey Amy's tidal wave of feelings--regret, guilt, loneliness, and resentment, but also her hope to find a place where she doesn't feel self-conscious. Scott's treatment of Amy's tendency to use alcohol as a crutch is very straightforward and blunt, and she doesn't let it get in the way of the story, nor does she try to preach to readers on the issue, which is a refreshing gesture some readers will appreciate.

One of the main focuses in the novel is friendship, how it affects and molds who we are as people, and how difficult it can be to reach out to someone new. Scott captures all of the embarrassing, awkward, and frustrating aspects of connecting with those who you have misjudged and the complexity of relationships influenced by peer pressure and the need to belong. Another important element of the novel is how Amy's parent's are portrayed rather unconventionally; as parents who are too consumed with each other and are attempting to live the childless life they originally planned on rather than devote their time to being good parents. How they and Amy deal confront these issues and reveal long-withheld feelings is just another mark of Scott's excellent storytelling abilities. Few writers can pull off such emotional, authentic, and truly striking novels as Elizabeth Scott has done with Love You, Hate You, Miss You.

I've read Elizabeth Scott's book Perfect You and fell in love. I had recently heard a lot about Love You Hate You Miss You and decided to read it. I had expected something as wonderful as Perfect You and I was let down.

Elizabeth Scott writes a novel about high school, best friends, true love, family, and death. Love You Hate You Miss You grabs you right from the start. You immediately want to know what exactly happened, what is the conflict with her parents, and who is Amy? The story begins to drag on though and you wonder if you'll ever find these things out. It seemed that something crucial to the story would happen and than nothing would happen for awhile.

Scott is able to create believable teen characters though and that is what kept me reading. Although it was not one of her better books, the plot was a wonderful idea. I just wish it had been conducted better.

It is not something I would read again, but I'm sure many would enjoy this book. I don't recommend reading it all in one sitting though, it may get a bit slow.

It's been seventy five days, and Amy still doesn't know how to function. Seventy five long days and Amy doesn't know how she's supposed to live without her best friend Julia. But she has to live, because living without Julia is her punishment for letting Julia die. And so Amy struggles along, barely able to bear her parents' phony concern, endure the trials of school, and weather her shrink's uncomfortably probing questions. Angry and frustrated, Amy starts writing letters to Julia instead of journaling as her shrink suggested. But with that writing comes reflection and remembrance, and Amy starts to realize Julia may not have been the perfect friend Amy held her up to be, that there is a limit to what she can control or change, and that the future also deserves a chance.

Scott has continually been one of my favorite authors for her incredible writing, and she does not disappoint with Love You Hate You Miss You. Scott departed from her usual unique teen romances, as in Bloom and Stealing Heaven, with Living Dead Girl to tackle more intense and serious topics. Even though the idea of Love You Hate You Miss You isn't quite as original as Scott's previous novels, since the "teen doesn't know how to live once best friend dies" storyline has already been explored, this novel is still a moving and gripping peel into a mind devastated by loss. Amy is a realistic character, and her grief is compounded by insecurity, stubbornness, and loneliness. Her desires and despairs are surprisingly easy to relate to, because I'm sure everyone of us has visited a part of Amy's life at least once, if not in such extreme a way as she. Amy's struggles are so heartbreaking, and the reader really feels for her because of all she's gone through. I find the human mind so fascinating, so I appreciate how Scott has broken down Amy's head into surprisingly simple elements with such great insight. I like how Love You Hate You Miss You is much more than just a grief story; it's a contemporary psychological novel that explores the effects of our choices through the span of time. I completely fell in love with this novel and commend Scott for her delicate writing and superb storytelling.

Fans of Scott's earlier writing in Bloom, Stealing Heaven, and Something, Maybe will likely enjoy Love You Hate You Miss You even is the plot is so much different than Scott's romances. This novel should also be read by fans of Freeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe, The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, and the very similar Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers. Love You Hate You Miss You is my new favorite from Scott, and I can't wait to see what she has in store next.

I must say that Elizabeth Scott is a good writer. She can create good characters. This book was well written and in the beginning, I could sympathize with Amy. She created the characters well. However, Like with some of her other books, I felt that there was alot of build-up, only to say to myself in the end "Oh... That's It?" What happened to Julia was an example. She kept referring to Julia's accident and that it was her fault, but in the end I even had to ask "how was it Amy's fault?" The other part was in the end. Amy had this great Revelation that she was a compulsive drinker, but was never labeled an alcoholic. Amy decided that this made it ok for her to start drinking again at a party. So she searched the house for the "good" liquor. Hello.. You were what, 15 when that accident happened and were also sneaking drinks at school in the bathroom. She whined the entire book that all she wanted was a drink. I found her to be sympathetic until the end of the book. She boasts about how she was drunk most of the school year. But don't worry she was just a compulsive drinker. It really doesn't send a great message to teens. It's OK to be a compulsive drinker, not an alcoholic. So keep drinking until you are officially labeled an alcoholic.
I thought it was a really good book, but the ending left a little to be desired.

Elizabeth Scott has created quite a splash, at least in my world of YA literature.

Her previous novels (if you don't live under a rock, you will at least know of them, even if you haven't read them) really struck a chord with me. I am sad to say that I've had this book on my shelf for quite some time, and I only recently got around to reading it.

Needless to say, Elizabeth Scott has amazed me once again. After a three month long reading slump, I have been revived. The story goes something like this: After the death of her best friend, Amy has been going through struggles, not only with herself but with her classmates and her family. In 288 enthralling pages, you follow her through her struggles.

I was expecting simplicity when I started this book. I've read enough books about life throwing cruel obstacles, and a character finding closure in some cheesy, predictable way. That may be why it took me so long to start reading this. However, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Amy dealt with her problems. Amy is a character that I thought was realistic. While the love interest was predictable, I also enjoyed that aspect of the story.

Overall: Read this book, and Elizabeth Scott's others. You will not be sorry.

This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Scott. I can assure you -- It won't be my last. The pain and anguish that Amy feels in this book is palpable. I cried when I read this book. I found myself nodding my head a lot thinking "Yep. I can see that happening!" It's been a long time since I was in school, but the things that went on then -- they still go on today. This book is different from a lot of YA books written today. In most of the books, the parents are either non-existent or there's only one, or some other tragedy has struck the parental units. In this book, Amy's parents are very much there. And they are very much together -- and they not only like each other... they are in love. This adds so much to the storyline, I couldn't imagine this book being any other way. Get a copy and read it, if you haven't already!

A single night and a collection of choices can change a person's life forever. Amy learns this the hard way when her best friend Julia dies and she holds all the fault. Amy and Julia were the best of friends. They told each other everything.or at least they said they did. When Julia dies after a night at a party, Amy can't help but believe it was all her fault. Without Julia around, Amy's life is entirely different. Her parents have unwrapped themselves from one another long enough to pay attention to her and Amy can't escape the stares at school. She says that she killed her best friend and even though her shrink is trying to get her to move on with her life, Amy can't see how that is fair. Murderers don't get to have a happy life, but maybe Amy needs to realize that what happened in the past isn't all her fault and if she can let go and move on, she may still have a happy future.

Elizabeth Scott has once again amazed me with her striking ability to delve into the mind of a teenage girl and do it so genuinely and so realistically that even the most disheartening and sarcastic moments are completely heartfelt. Love You Hate You Miss You has a heavy plot line that isn't meant to be viewed as simply a story about hope and moving on. Amy believes she killed her best friend and feelings like that are not easily dismissed. Amy creates a journal of letters to her dead best friend Julia. Through these letters, her sessions with her shrink, and some interactions with classmates, Amy is able to see another side to both Julia, as well as herself. Scott braves the psyche of such a troubled and guilty young girl and does so with such ease.

The characters in Love You Hate You Miss You are all hurting in some way or another. Amy feels the gamut of emotions because of Julia's death and her part in it. Her classmates Caro and Patrick are also going through difficult times in their life. Their interactions are, at times, amusing, but so sad in other ways. These are just kids. They're all so young and they have all had to deal with so much pain. Caro probably has it the easiest, but her storyline is just as affecting as Amy's and Patrick's. Life can be hard. Bad things do happen, but human beings have the incredible ability to persevere and I think that is the message that Elizabeth Scott wants to convey.

Opening line: "Dear Julia, Get this I'm supposed to be starting a journal about 'my journey.' Please. ~ pg. 1

Favorite line: "Now I could talk and they would listen. Now they wanted to. Now. It made something twist hard inside me because I always wanted them to really talk to me, really listen to me, but if I'd known what would make it happen - God, if I'd only known." ~pg. 136

Amy's best friend Julia is gone. She has been now for seventy-five days and Amy is still not sure how to survive. Everyday she wakes up thinking about how it is her fault that Julia is gone and there is nothing she can do to bring her back.

When Amy's shrink suggests that she keep a diary, she guffaws at the idea, but she soon finds herself writing letters to Julia. She writes about the past and the present and discusses all of her feelings throughout her letters. What she realizes though is that the past wasn't all that perfect nor was Julia, like Amy thought she was. She also finds that there might be some great opportunities in the present as well and who knows what the future will hold?

As Amy writes her letters she also starts a healing process and discovers a lot about herself that she never knew about. She also learns how to make friends again and to become her own person, which just happens to be the most important journey of all.

Elizabeth Scott is a phenomenal author. I have loved each book she has written, but for me this one just wasn't as good. Yes, it was an emotional powerhouse, but well that's about it to be honest. The characters got on my nerves a bit and I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was just something lacking.

The plot really went into the mind of someone dealing with death, grief and finding new friends, which I found interesting. I do have to commend the author though on creating very real characters. The teens didn't feel to old or young and I could actually picture them being real, which added to the authenticity of the story.

As for the characters, I really think they were the downfall. I understand that Amy was griefstricken, but she honestly got really whiny and on my nerves. About halfway through the book I was ready for her to get over her problems and just be thankful she was alive. The parents were also annoying as they were so distant and uninvolved in their daughter's life that it was hard to believe they couldn't see the pain she was in.

Overall I liked this book. Ms. Scott's writing was impeccable, even though the magic it usually has wasn't present. I did appreciate though the very thorough and realistic look at grief that was portrayed. I definitely cannot wait for more from Elizabeth Scott.

It seems that with every two or three books that Elizabeth releases a year there is always one or two cute stories that are all about love. Then there's the serious one that grips you to the story from page one and doesn't let you go until the last one. This year Something, Maybe was the crowd pleaser while Love You Hate You Miss You was the serious one, though while not being as serious or heartbreaking as Living Dead Girl. To be completely honest, I love both types about the same, though with Love You Hate You Miss You, Elizabeth Scott defiantly went the extra mile to obtain a spectacular story.


Basically this was amazing, heartfelt, and sarcastic which made it a wonderful novel. The plot was interesting and fast paced while still being detailed. Also, I loved how Love You Hate You Miss You switched between the past and present. Since, it gave you a basic understanding of how great Amy and Julia's friendship was while still focusing on the future.

The characters were awesome ,too, because each was well developed, funny, and extremely real, especially Amy. Since, she felt everything that I would think someone who has just lost her best friend would feel: regret, sorrow, guilt; while still being a sarcastic and funny character. Also, the dialogue and situations between each of them flowed smoothly.

Another thing I loved about this was Elizabeth Scott's writing. She definitely has talent and Love You Hate You Miss You proves how easily she can make the words flow and develop an interesting plot from one that has been used over and over again. It seems, at times, that Elizabeth is one that you can ALWAYS except a great and true story from.

Overall, Love You Hate You Miss You was a fantastic read that lived up to it's amazing cover and title. I absolutely suggest to fans of Scott's previous novels and to people who love Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, and Susane Colasanti.

Grade: A+