Book Review: Eleanor & Park

Some possible spoilers!
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Hardcover Edition-Borrowed from Library
Didn't Finish
2 Stars!
328 Pages

This book disappointed me. I heard so much hype and good things about this book from YouTube and Goodreads. Everyone talked about how much they loved this book. I am one of the few people, that didn't love this book. Why? Let me tell you why.  Read on if you wish.
 
The Plot:( Inside flap of book)

Two misfits. One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park...He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Eleanor & Park is a story that takes place in 1986. The story starts with kids on a bus in the morning going to school. There is a new girl that comes on the bus. Eleanor. No one knows who she is. She is new to the school. Everyone on the bus has a seat, and no one else can sit in their spots. When Eleanor first goes on the bus, there are no seats available. All the kids told her she can't sit in any of the seats. It's not just because they have their own seats. It's not just because Eleanor is new. It's because she is different. She has red frizzy hair, smells weird, and wears strange boy clothes. People tease her and she tries to find a seat. Everyone says no. But then one boy lets her sit with him. His name is Park. Every morning he listens to music on the bus. They sit together every day, but don't talk. Soon Park lets her listen to his music and they share comic books. They eventually get along and become friends. And then romance blossoms. They come from different worlds. Park has a good family and his parent's have lots of money. Eleanor moves in with her mom and her stepfather. Her home life isn't good though, because Richie is mean. He abuses her mom. Also, her family is poor. Her siblings don't have much clothes and Eleanor doesn't even have a toothbrush. Who knew two different people could come together.

My Thoughts:

Okay, from reading the plot I'm sure you think the book sounds good right? Nope. I thought the book sounded amazing and I was so excited to read it! My expectations were too high. This book isn't told from first person and first person is my favorite. It's in their point of views a little but third person. The beginning of the book was really good, when Eleanor first got on the bus. I started getting bored and put the book down. This book took me so long to read and put me in a reading slump. I liked how the book takes place in the 80's before modern technology was invented. I liked Eleanor and Park. The book was fine, until they started having feelings for each other. You may be wondering why that is a problem. I usually love romances. But the romance was so rushed and too fast! I wasn't even half way through the book and put it down. It started off with them not talking to each other at all, then a week later they start to talk. After that they sort of become friends. And then all a sudden they love each other! That bothered me so much! It was too fast. They barely talked to each other and all a sudden they love each other! The romance made me put down the book. I honestly didn't believe in their love. It was so fast! Seriously, they were so obsessed with each other, after only talking for like a week! They said they love each other, and said "I live for you, and can't live without you". That made me so mad! I'm sorry, but I have instant love. After that I couldn't finish the book. I got bored and I wasn't even halfway. Also, I could care less about what happens to the characters. I hate to give this book a bad review. Especially because everyone else loved it, but it's my opinion! Maybe I will read it again in the future, I'm not sure. Don't let this bad review stop you from reading the book. I'm sure lots of people will love. I guess it wasn't for me.
Wow, this review is a lot longer than I'd thought it would be. Anyway, I didn't enjoy Eleanor & Park but I'm sure lots of people will like it. I recommend borrowing this book first like I did. Even though I didn't like this book, I will be reading other books from Rainbow Rowell especially, Fangirl.
That's my review and stay tuned for more, bye!:)