Good Day, Bookworms!
You know how exciting it is when one of your favorite authors releases a new book? I discovered Eleanor & Park (review) mostly by accident last year and loved it. Shortly thereafter, I went to BlogHer where I was able to snag an advanced copy of Fangirl
(review), which I also loved. Since there was only one remaining Rainbow Rowell book I hadn’t yet read, I chose Attachments (review) for last September’s Fellowship of the Worms. Needless to say, I’ve been desperate for more Rainbow Rowell since finishing Attachments. I unabashedly emailed a representative from St. Martin’s Press to beg for a copy of Landline
before its release on July 8, 2014. Thankfully, the obliged me, and I’m here to tell you all about it! (Without major spoilers. Because I’m not a monster.)
Georgie is a TV writer in LA working for a moderately successful (though tacky and horrible) television show. She married her college sweetheart Neal and has two little girls. She and Neal love each other, but Georgie’s hours on the show and the pressures of life in LA have taken a toll on their marriage. They seem to have reached a breaking point over Christmas 2013. Georgie is offered a big opportunity writing a new show, and chooses to stay in LA and work while Neal takes the girls to visit his family in Omaha (because Rainbow Rowell loves her some Nebraska, y’all. Midwest love!) After her family leaves for the airport, Georgie realizes that she may just have finally broken everything. Desperate to reconnect and dealing with unanswered cell phone calls, Georgie discovers a bizarre way to communicate with Neal. Only. Well. There’s a magic phone involved. And it kind of, sort of calls Neal’s parents’ landline… In 1998.
Rowell is in fine form as she effortlessly weaves elements of science fiction (Dr. Who style) into an astoundingly realistic story of a marriage in trouble. She also name drops Amy Sherman-Palladino (she wrote Gilmore Girls
!!!) which thrilled me to no end. Rowell has a knack for putting together fabulous casts of quirky side characters I can’t help but adore. I mean, a 4 year old who wants to be a cat? A mother obsessed with breeding pugs and velour track suits? What else can I say to convince you that you need to read Rainbow Rowell?!
The whole premise had me enthralled. How bizarre would it be to speak to your spouse as they were when you first met? The idea of speaking to a 2003 version of my husband both amuses and disturbs me… Of course, it WOULD give me another opportunity to read him Harry Potter over the phone (well, the first 4 books anyway… I wouldn’t want to spoil the end for him before the rest of the books were released.)
What about you, Bookworms? If you had the opportunity to speak with a past version of your spouse/significant other, would you do it?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*
Heather @ Capricious Reader
Yep! Loved it! It was soooooooooooooooooooooo good. I MEAN SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good.
Meow.
Words For Worms
MEOW!
Megan M.
SO. JEALOUS.
Actually I was a little nervous about this one because the early reviews on Amazon seemed mixed. It seemed like in a book about a troubled marriage, you can’t help but choose a side, and then the reviewer either loved or hated the ending based on who seemed to “win.”
I also heard that there’s an update of sorts for one of the couples from her earlier books in this book! I can’t wait to see who it is!
Words For Worms
I liked it because the marriage trouble felt real and not contrived. No Lifetime Original Movie nonsense, just like, life nonsense.
Jancee
I read Fangirl and Eleanor & Park in pretty quick succession as well. I haven’t gotten around to Attachments yet, but I’m in the hold line for Landline at my library. I’m hearing so much great stuff about it, I can’t wait to read it for myself!
Words For Worms
I’ve really enjoyed all the Rowell I’ve read, she is wonderful.
Girl
I started reading this through the preview on amazon…. Then my library copy came in (I was first in line since I requested the order!), so I went to the library then read the whole thing after work. I didn’t get anything else done last night, but by god I finished that book!!! I was ultra excited about the other character updates and was reading so so carefully, but it was my least favorite characters. Which was disappointing only because I was hoping it was from another book, which probably most people haven’t read, so I guess that wouldn’t make sense. Anyway.
But yes, I did really enjoy it! I don’t think I would like talking to a past husband as much. I would feel like Claire in time traveler’s wife, like something is missing. We have had too much growth together, I wouldn’t want to miss out. But I liked the way Rainbow wrote it!
I would for sure talk to a past SELF though. That would be pretty awesome.
Words For Worms
You were hoping to hear from Beth and Lincoln, weren’t you? 🙂 I would have a few choice things to say to my past self, too!
Girl
I WAS! I of course WANTED the other couple the most, but figured there was no way in heck that would happen. But yeah, I just adored Beth and Lincoln, and I would love to hear about them together and happy.
Lori @ Palmer's Page Turners
I pre-ordered this one and received it on Tuesday! Jealous you got an advance copy! Reading it now and LOVING it! Great review 🙂
Words For Worms
LOL, yeah I totally begged for it, I was really excited when they said “yes!”
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
I can’t wait to read it! Especially because I’m digging the idea of reading a Rainbow Rowell book written for the grown-up set. I think I’m gonna adore it.
Words For Worms
Did you read Attachments?! Another Rowell for grownups. Also delightful.
Joules (from Pocketful of Joules)
So, one of my book phobias is that it’s really difficult for me to read about troubled marriages or cheating spouses. Do you think that there is enough awesome in the book to overcome my icky feeling?
Words For Worms
YES! Trust me, its not melodramatic. A little magic, no melodrama.
Alisa Selene
That is a great question! Definitely a no for me because my husband lived in England when we first started dating so a lot of time was spent on the phone with us trying to manage time difference s etc. I wouldn’t trade being in person for anything ling distance stunk! Lol
Words For Worms
Long distance DOES suck!
Jennine G.
Excellent review! I want to read this now and it hasn’t caught my attention before. I would definitely go back to anything in the past 16 years if I could know what I know now! And I would definitely talk to the 1997 version of my husband again – think of all the things you could talk about that you didn’t think of the first time around!
Did you really read whole Harry Potter books to your hubby-then-boyfriend over the phone? That is absolutely awesome!
Words For Worms
LOL, I did indeed read HP over the phone to my eventual husband. We’d run out of things to talk about but not want to hang up, so I started reading to him. Super nerdy, but true story.
Jenny @ Reading the End
Eeeeeee my copy of this is on its way to me and OH HOW I WANT IT. I am very excited.
Words For Worms
Excitement is well founded 🙂
ThatAshGirl
I’m looking forward to this but at the same time, was a tad put off when I first read a description because there was a horror movie a few years ago with the EXACT same premise of talking on the phone to someone in the past and at first it was cool, but it spun off into the ridiculous.
Here’s the movie. It was called The Caller – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1525890/
Words For Worms
Uhhh, that movie sounds awful. This book was good. Take my word for it.
AMB
I’m looking forward to this one! I often don’t mind spoilers, but only when I’m less enthusiastic about the book, and so I’m glad you’re not a monster. 🙂
Words For Worms
LOL, I’m occasionally a monster, though usually unintentionally.
Athira
That is definitely a bizarre concept! I love Rowell too and I think I read her Attachments first, loved it, and enjoyed Eleanor and Park and Fangirl next. I have this on hold at the library so I cannot wait to read it!
Words For Worms
It was everything I love about Rainbow Rowell, plus a little sci/fi. Great fun.
Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader
I simply HAVE to get my hands on a copy of this. It’s stupid that I haven’t yet 🙂
Words For Worms
You must! I insist!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
Oh yay! I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this as much as you had hoped 🙂 I still haven’t gotten to Rainbow Rowell’s books, but I am starting to be convinced by all of the fantastic reviews.
Words For Worms
Oh, Katie, I hope you get a chance to read her soon. I really think you’d love her!
Annabel Smith
This sounds a bit gorgeous in every way!
Words For Worms
It really was!
susan
No. I don’t think I’d like to go back and speak with the past version of my spouse. Hmm. You’d have to start all over again and I don’t have the energy! I’ll get to Rainbow though. Cheers. http://www.thecuecard.com/
Words For Worms
LOL, yes, there’s a lot that goes into the beginning of a relationship that’s rather nice to have out of the way :).
Angie @Angela's Anxious Life
I can’t wait to read this book!! I have been waiting for my turn to get it from the library. Hopefully I get it before I go on vacation so I can read it at the beach. It would be the perfect book for that.