Title: Landline
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: July 8, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Women
Rec. Age Level: Adult
Pages: 320
More by this author: Eleanor & Park, Attachments, Fangirl
Goodreads / Buy It
Television writer Georgie McCool finally gets the big break she's been waiting for since college: a network wants to run the show she's written with her writing partner and best friend, Seth. The problem? She's about to head to Omaha with her husband, Neal, and two young daughters for the holidays, but the unwritten script for the first few episodes has to be in by December 27th. When Georgie announces the deal and explains the time crunch to Neal, he doesn't take the news well. Instead of sticking around California with Georgie, he packs up the girls and heads to Omaha and his mother's house as planned, leaving Georgie behind. Georgie worries that this final choice, to stay behind and work, might be the final straw for Neal.
Though Georgie and Neal have a comfortable life, two perfect daughters, and they still love one another, things have been difficult. Georgie knows that Neal has sacrificed for their life together and she feels that she's always testing him and takes him for granted. Worried and avoiding her silent house, Georgie begins staying with her mother, her husband, and her half-sister. With a dead cell phone and determined to talk to Neal, Georgie digs out her old rotary phone and taps into her mother's landline, only to discover that it's no ordinary phone... the Neal that answers isn't frustrated, world-weary Neal, but the Neal of 1998. Somehow, Georgie's phone call has reached back in time.
Desperate to figure out where things went wrong and whether she can salvage her marriage, Georgie embarks on an emotional journey through her past, leaving her contemplating both the highs and lows of her relationship with Neal... and their future. Is Georgie brave enough to say the things that need to be said? Can love, battered and bruised, ever be enough?
Charming, magical, and thoroughly relatable, Landline is another must-read from author Rainbow Rowell. Technically adult fiction, teen readers will still identify with Georgie's struggles with her relationship and the power of love, particularly during her flashbacks to the tender but tumultuous early days of her relationship with Neal. There is honesty inherent to Rowell's writing, Landline included, that will satisfy fans and surely win her many more.
I was so excited to read this book, I've had big expectations because everything Rainbow Rowell writes is amazing and at the end, I wasn't disappointed at all!
ReplyDeleteThe concept of the story, Georgie reflecting on her past with Neal is very simple, but how Rainbow Rowell wrote it and described it made all the charm of the story. The yellow phone is totally a good twist, not too "fantastic", just perfect.
Even if this is an adult book, it totally made sense for every one of every ages because we all think about "what would happen if...".
Amazing book, I can't wait (already!) to read more of her stories.
P.S.: Did you notice the "Easter Egg"? She's amazing.
Have you ever watched the movie 13 Going on 30? This reminded me of that... in a good way! And I totally agree that it would be great for mature teen readers too because of all the flashbacks and the whole "what if" scenario.
ReplyDeleteEaster egg? Ugh, it's been too long since I've read it now. Maybe a reread is in order?
Yes I've watched "13 going on 30" and I agree with you, there's something similar between Landline and this movie.
ReplyDeleteHints: Cameo & Omaha.
Rainbow tweet about it yesterday. I didn't notice during my reading, but I re-read that part and it's very subtle.
I feel like I am seriously hiding under a rock as I have yet to read any of Rowell's books. I definitely need to change that, seeing as you (and everyone else) seems to love them so much. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI just read Attachments and loved it SO much! Definitely making time for this one soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to track down her tweet to figure it out!
ReplyDeleteIt took me until Fangirl to read one! I still haven't read Eleanor & Park, but I'm hoping to get to it this summer.
ReplyDeleteI think you're going to love this one even more. I mean, it's about marriage... and you're married. Okay, that's really the extent of why I think you'll like it, BUT STILL. haha
ReplyDeleteI really liked Landline. I'm actually not too sure that teens would enjoy this one a lot, as opposed to Attachments, but definitely adult fans of Rowell will like this,
ReplyDeleteI really need to read something by Rainbow Rowell asap. I'll have to read this one sometime soon since I've heard only positive things! Great review! :D
ReplyDeleteomg i can't believe i found the easter egg and omg awh i love Rainbow for giving us the update i'm so happy
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