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The Book of Love
The Book of Love: A Novel | Kelly Link
12 posts | 8 read | 13 to read
In the long-awaited debut novel from bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle. A dizzying dream ride you will never forget.Leigh Bardugo An astonishing, gorgeous novel.Holly Black An incredible achievement.Cassandra Clare The Book of Love showcases Kelly Link at the height of her powers, channeling potent magic and attuned to all varieties of lovefrom friendship to romance to abiding family tieswith her trademark compassion, wit, and literary derring-do. Readers will find joy (and a little terror) and an affirmation that love goes on, even when we cannot. Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are. With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearanceand what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where theyve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers. But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Lauras sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster. Welcome to Kelly Links incomparable Lovesend, where youll encounter love and loss, laughter and dread, magic and karaoke, and some really good pizza.
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sakeriver
Pickpick

There's a dream-like quality to this book and its prose that was just breathtaking, and also quite unsettling at many points. I think Link is really good, too, at writing young people in a way that feels alive and real. Would love to talk in depth about this book with someone smarter than me.

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sakeriver
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Next

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annamatopoetry
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Pickpick

I took off the dust jacket and now it's in storage ?
Anyway
Overall a really nice long form debut from Link; I wanted to love it a little more than I actually did though, mainly because it was Too Long. I can justify length if you're doing worldbuilding in scifi or fantasy, but this wasn't a 650 page story.
Still overall positive to it, @donut_jefa called it "casually dark", which is very accurate and very typical of Link.

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donut_jefa
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Pickpick

Another lovely book club pick for a quadrennial event with @annamatopoetry .

Kelly Link continues to be a provocative writer, and there are many things to like in this book. I enjoyed the way intimacy of different configurations is presented. I especially loved the distinctive interiority of the characters.

It is not a perfect book, and definitely not my recommended entry to her work. But all in all, a unique and fantastic novel debut.

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Michael_Gee
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@Howardsimmons reading with the newest member of our household, Gracie!

She‘s about ten, ended up at the shelter when her person died. She‘s about as sweet as can be! Not the temperament we expected from a chihuahua. Just wants to cuddle and nap. 💤

LeahBergen Ohhh, she‘s so sweet!! 🥰 2mo
quietjenn She's adorable. 😍 2mo
Bookzombie Aww, so sweet! 2mo
See All 7 Comments
LiteraryinLawrence Congrats on the new family member! 💗 2mo
Reggie Awww, 🥰 2mo
batsy Adorable 🥰 2mo
Chelsea.Poole She‘s adorable! And looks like she‘s enjoying the book ☺️ 2mo
19 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Branwen
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First shamrock shake of the season! 😋💚💚💚

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks good 💚 2mo
Branwen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It was incredible! 😋 2mo
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Branwen
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Happy Valentine's Day, littens! ❤️?❤️?

I wanted to feature this book today not only because it's red and has the word 'love' in the title ? but because my copy just arrived yesterday and I am SO PSYCHED TO READ IT! Listen to this blurb about it by Zen Cho: "pure enchantment - A tale of love, death, magic, and teenagers being teenagers, rich with fairy strangeness and told in sentences like jewels strung on a chain."

WOW! ?? I'M SO EXCITED!

monalyisha Looking forward to your review! I love her short stories. 2mo
Branwen @monalyisha Thanks so much! What's your favorite short story by her? I'd love to try some of her shorter works! 💙 2mo
monalyisha @Branwen Omg I wish I could tell you. 😅 It‘s been forever since I‘ve picked anything up…but this collection was so integral to ensuring my love of reading continued post-graduation, becoming such a central part of my everyday life. 2mo
vivastory I listened to a wonderful interview with her on the B&N podcast last night & am def curious to pick this up. I have only read a couple of her stories, but I loved them. 2mo
Branwen @monalyisha Okay, you've sold me on it! 🥰 I'm going to check out that collection! ❤️ @vivastory Oh wow, that sounds really intriguing! I definitely need to check out some of her shorter fiction too! 2mo
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monalyisha
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#Two4Tuesday

1. We try to avoid Valentine‘s Day proper. Everything gets so busy & chaotic when everyone tries to do the same thing all at once. But I love to be gifted a dining experience. Flowers are always welcome (Valentine‘s Day or not)! And books, of course. If I‘m feeling bold, I might buy myself Kelly Link‘s debut novel, “The Book of Love” (tagged), which comes out on February 13th.

monalyisha 2. Maggie Stiefvater‘s The Raven Boys captures the all-consuming (and particularly teenage) feeling of finding your first, real, solid friend group so well! The exact passage reads, “In that moment, Blue was a little in love with all of them. Their magic. Their quest. Their awfulness and strangeness. Her raven boys.” 🖤 (edited) 3mo
TheSpineView Thanks for playing!❤️📖 3mo
31 likes2 comments
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Lissa00
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I feel like this book will be worth it once I get into it but right now it is SLOW going. I had to turn off the percentage count at the bottom of my kindle because it was going up so slowly. #netgalley

CallMeIshmael Hear me out, it does get bogged down, but so worth it. I absolutely loved it and I also almost quit it 3mo
Lissa00 @CallMeIshmael That‘s good to know! 3mo
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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suvata
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Pickpick

Expected publication Feb 13, 2024 • 640 pages • magical-realism • 3.5 Stars

Three teenagers, Laura, Daniel, and Mo, disappear from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, and are presumed dead. Almost a year later, they find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom. In this “afterlife” the teens find themselves being used as pawns in a supernatural power struggle. ⬇️

suvata
Speaking of struggling, I found this book rather challenging, which is disappointing because Kelly Link is one of my go-to authors. After having read and enjoyed all of her short stories, I expected more from this the long-awaited debut novel.
4mo
44 likes1 comment
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CallMeIshmael
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Pickpick

In crafting a modern-day mythology akin to 'American Gods,' Ms. Link achieves the challenging feat of seamlessly blending a real-world setting with a magical universe. Her work is nothing short of marvelous, capturing my attention and delighting me throughout. While acknowledging that it may not cater to everyone's taste

CallMeIshmael I encourage readers to give it a chance and persevere. The characters are not only diverse but also meticulously developed, contributing to a rich and well-written narrative. 5mo
JoyBlue The Libby audio hold for this is around three years long at this point. I'm sure my library will order more copies, but I'm leaving it on my wish list for now. [Don't want to block a hold spot for nearly that long.] 2mo
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CallMeIshmael
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My local bookstore got an ARC for this one and they gave it to me!!! Loving it so far