Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Today I am going to share my review for Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. This book was a new release this year in February, and it is a YA contemporary. I was really excited about this one because it had tons of great reviews on goodreads and I herd a lot of great things about it. I really enjoyed this book a lot and there were a lot of things I really liked about it. I'm going to post the summary of this book down below and then get started with my review. I'm going to do this review in a list form of what I liked and disliked because I think that it will be easiest and will fit this book the best.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

“Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review

So this book alternates points of views between the two main characters, Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is the new girl at parks school. She doesn't exactly fit in, and she's really different from anyone else. She had bright read hair, wears weird obnoxious clothing, and isn't skinny like all of the popular girls who make fun of her. Park has lived here his whole life, and is in the 'in crowd' at school but he's a lot different from all of the popular kids as well. Him and Eleanor meet on this bus, and Park lets her sit by him because she doesn't have anywhere else to sit. They don't talk to each other for a while, but they become friends because Park notices Eleanor is silently reading his comic books with him that he brings on the bus everyday. Eventually they form a relationship and start dating. It's hard on both of them because Eleanor is really self conscious about herself and doesn't understand why Park likes her. Park doesn't really understand this himself either, he just knows that he needs Eleanor in his life.

What I liked about this book:
-This book is very cute. The story line is cute. And the cover is so freaking adorable that I'm just in love with it. I also love how simple the title is.
-I really liked Park and he was a great character to read from. He really learns a lot of self discovery in this book. He learns about what matters and what doesn't. And he learns not to care about what other people think, which is great.
- I really like his parents as well. I love how his mom is from Korea, and the way she talks. His dad was pretty cool too. I usually don't like parents in books very much.
-I really love much Park cares about Eleanor. He accepts her for who she is as a person.
-I really just LOVE the name Eleanor. Ha.
-I love how Eleanor and Park listen to music together and share comic books.
-I like how awkward they are together. That sounds weird but their awkwardness is too perfect for this book. And they are pretty much comfortable in their awkwardness.
-I really like Eleanor's character too. She also has a lot of self discovery in this book. I was constantly feeling bad for her though. She has a really hard life at home and at school also. She gets teased a lot at school and she is always feeling self conscious and hurt.

What I didn't like about this book:
-I really hated Eleanor's family. Her mom and step dad are complete idiots. And I also really hate it how she doesn't do anything about it. I'm not sure that she was able to, but still.
-I wish we got to know Eleanor more on a personal level. We know she has a hard life at home and she shares a little bit of information on it, but I would have liked a little more elaboration on it. I think that would have helped us understand her better, and we would have connected with her more.
-I wish Eleanor and Park's relationship would have progressed a little more. We knew they cared for each other, but I also felt it was a little lacking. I wished for a little more mature relationship with them. Sometimes I felt like they hardly knew each other.
-The ending was a little bittersweet and the last page kind of left me with questions.

Over all I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute and easy read and I finished it in almost one sitting. I gave this one a 4/5 stars on goodreads because of the few issues I had with it.

I hope you all enjoyed this short book review and thank you all for reading!