Review: The Geography of Me and You

The Geography of Me and You by Jennifer E. Smith

 

Title: The Geography of Me and You

Series: none

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

 

Published: Hachette Australia; 2014

352 pages, kindle edition

 

Source: Netgalley
 

 Description (from Goodreads):

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon mov...more Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

My Thoughts:

 

This book started perfectly. It drew you into the world of the protagonists quickly and easily, it had me captured and on the edge of my seat. It whispered promises, promises of a great romance, cute chemistry, witty conversations, everything and more I had come to love, and expect, of Jennifer E. Smith. However, it lied. It started well, by half way I was captured by the sheer adorableness of Lucy and Owen. I loved how they accepted that spending a single night walking the streets, starring at t...more This book started perfectly. It drew you into the world of the protagonists quickly and easily, it had me captured and on the edge of my seat. It whispered promises, promises of a great romance, cute chemistry, witty conversations, everything and more I had come to love, and expect, of Jennifer E. Smith. However, it lied. It started well, by half way I was captured by the sheer adorableness of Lucy and Owen. I loved how they accepted that spending a single night walking the streets, starring at the stars and talking, didn't mean they really knew each other - and certainly didn't mean that something was meant to happen between them. Finally we have some protagonist with a bit of brains, smart enough to deal with their hormones and seek friendship first, over lust. I could have sung with the joy of the reasonableness of these characters! After this however everything began to go downhill... Everything began to plod along after the firs half, taking no real direction, doing nothing in particular, giving us nothing to go on. I was bored. The characters travelled the world. They complained about stuff. They sent a postcard or an email and then complained some more. Nothing else happened. The writing was also lacking. Normally I love Jennifer E. Smith's work because of her humorous dialogue and witty style but this was a flop. It was tired and dull, lacking her usual bubbliness, her spark, that little something extra that makes me fall in love every time I read about her characters. The passing of time was also written very poorly. Two paragraphs could be spaced six weeks apart - but that wouldn't be indicated until half way through the chapter and by then I was simply confused. Overall while The Geography of You and Me wasn't what I was expecting, it was a cute and light-hearted read. It took me no time to fly through and I am glad to have read it, despite the lack of connection I felt to this couple. I will still eagerly await Jennifer E. Smith's other works but I wouldn't hastily recommend this one. Not one of her best works. Note:a copy was provided courtesy of Jennifer E. Smith and Hachette Australia, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.