Latest Read: Attachments

Here are the basics ...
Book: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Site: http://rainbowrowell.com/blog/
Category: Fiction

Summary: Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But they still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers and baring their personal lives. When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes. He's supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart - even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him. (Adapted goodreads.com) 

My thoughts…

The good: I don't know about you but not a day goes by without me talking to a friend or a coworker on gchat while at work.  Conversations that include complaining about the job, relationships, family, friends, books, TV, music, everything. And every once in a while I wonder - is someone monitoring what I say? Do they know how often I check email, Blogger and Facebook? Attachments takes that worry of mine and turns it into something real and (so!) funny.  The chapters alternate between Lincoln's point-of-view (the Internet security officer whose job is to read people's email) and the email exchanges between Beth and Jennifer.  It was such a great way to get to know the characters and move the story along.

Both Beth and Jennifer are these two strong, witty but flawed women.  Beth is in a relationship that she feels is going nowhere and Jennifer is plagued by the fear of becoming a mother.  They share everything via email and I think anyone reading their exchanges would relate or be reminded of someone they know. Then there's Lincoln who meant to only "monitor" their emails but quickly gets engrossed in their writing and starts looking forward to reading them. (I don't blame the guy, I felt the same way!) Things get a little trickier when he starts falling for Beth, even though he has no idea what she looks like.  And okay, I know what he's doing is a total invasion of privacy but there is something romantic about him falling in love with her words. Because she does bare so much of herself through them.  Along the way, we get to learn more about Lincoln. His past relationships, his friends, and his family (there was this one exchange with his mom that I completely related to!).  Of course this one-sided love affair can't last forever and he eventually does make a move.  What ensues was something out of a romantic comedy. Yes you may know where this is all headed, but you definitely enjoy every minute of it.

(Potential) reservations:  The end is a little bit on the overly sweet (and a tad unrealistic) side but as a reader, you just want to believe so badly that this could happen in real life.  It makes you willing to overlook it. At least I was!

Do I recommend?:  Yes! As much as I love YA, it was nice to read something different.  About people a little closer to my age and that would make me laugh.  I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!

“I'm just trying to figure out what's wrong with me.”

“Well, stop,” she said. “I told you, figure out what's right with you.”
[one of my favorite quotes!]

Happy reading!