Love Is the Drug

The writing in this book was fun and full of interesting insight and metaphors. But the plot was pretty shallow and repetative and boring. I kept waiting for some BIG thing to happen and nothing ever really did. Just small blips then a "big" ending that left me underwhelmed. Good book, worth the read, but don't get your hopes up to high.

I bought this book almost a year ago and had a little trouble getting into it. I picked it up again on my way to the beach thinking it was good fluff for beach reading, but found myself crying my eyes out on my towel. I think a lot of women, and people in general, will relate to being in love with someone who's lukewarm in return so the beginning of the book captured me in that sense. When she returns to her parents' home and describes her relationship with her father, I found it to be complex and not "pat." Her father is an alcoholic and she hates him and loves him, and the writer captured well the complexity of that relationship and her feelings. Her flawed father saved her in a sense and gave her direction (but her own direction...you'll know what I mean when you read the book). His note to her and the armadillo chapters were the parts that had me bawling! I would definitely recommend this book.

I've read this now twice in as many days. I plan to pass it on to anyone who needs a kick in the right direction. I also picked up a few of the CDs mentioned in the book and she has pretty awesome music taste, too! Sarahbeth Purcell is the most important voice for new fiction today. And judging from the author photo on the jacket, she is quite a looker, too. Do I hear MOVIE? This is not the last you've heard from this writer, that's for sure. An instant classic. You must buy it.