FIVE STARS: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

SYNOPSIS from goodreads:

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
"I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK 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.

MY THOUGHTS:

I LOVED the characters of both Eleanor and Park. Both are flawed, but beautiful, and to each other they are perfect. Though I had a hard time putting it down, it was not exactly a light read. The home situations in the book were so real and believable and heart breaking. The story was beautiful and sad and awkward and funny all at once. 

I was provided an advance copy by the publisher through NetGalley.