Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is one of those rare books you stumble upon, so filled with magic, that it manages to change your world forever. I can remember having a small conversation with Rainbow Rowell on Twitter some time last year, but I’d yet to read any of her books. On a trip to the library, I’d came across a copy of Eleanor & Park and added it to my stack. Unfortunately I never got around to reading it, and had to take the book back.

When Audible had a sale on some titles, and this was E & P was one of them, I jumped at the chance to add it to my library. As my readers know, I’m an audio book fool. Especially if there’s a great narrator, and this book had two: Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra.

I feel like I could tell you what this book is about, two outcasts fall in love but are torn apart by family and circumstance. But it doesn’t begin to do it justice. Maybe I’m a softy, and that chocolate gooey center is just a sucker for a great love story. I don’t know. This story was innocent, gripping, filled with first loves, and made me ache for something I haven’t felt in years. It was like stepping into a time portal and getting to experience all of that teenage angst for the first time all over again, this time without the homework.

I did a quick google image search for “Eleanor and Park” and came up with a slew of fan art. I wanted to show some of it off. It’s rare that a book moves people to such things, and when it does, I think it’s worth sharing.  This first one, I believe is from a special release of the book, the others are from fans. Each of them are simply lovely.

It’s after reading a book like this, that I wish I was friends with the author. I want to call Rainbow up right now, and squee into the phone. I want to know where this came from, who the inspiration was, what her thoughts were. I want to know what she’s thought of doing since. Is there a film in the works. Could one ever do it justice by capturing the magic that was clear in the book. Ahhh well. Someday.

Until that day comes, please check out this book. If you’re up for young love done right, this is where you should start.