Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Eleanor & Park

by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads Author)

4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 · rating details · 10,097 ratings · 2,596 reviews

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, EL...more

Hardcover, 325 pages

Published February 26th 2013 by St. Martin's Press (first published February 26th 2012)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

2013 Contemporary YA

15th out of 230 books — 839 voters

2013 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

40th out of 199 books — 685 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 27, 2012 Emily May rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, romance, arc, 2012

Three stars is not a wholly negative rating but I have to admit that I'm rather disappointed in this one. I'm not sure why, but I felt this would be the rule-breaker for my "no contemporary young adult romance" stance. Apparently not. This has enjoyable parts but the only real difference I can see between this and Pushing the Limits is that the characters in the latter are meant to be hot. Which could have been interesting because I've always preferred reading about the so-called freaks and lose...more Three stars is not a wholly negative rating but I have to admit that I'm rather disappointed in this one. I'm not sure why, but I felt this would be the rule-breaker for my "no contemporary young adult romance" stance. Apparently not. This has enjoyable parts but the only real difference I can see between this and Pushing the Limits is that the characters in the latter are meant to be hot. Which could have been interesting because I've always preferred reading about the so-called freaks and losers - the outsiders, in other words - than I have the hot people, but these two books follow the same generic pattern of teen love stories with a whole ton of behind-the-scenes angsty issues. Though this one was, in my opinion, less entertaining.

It's 1986. Eleanor is the new girl and she is not only genetically made to look like a victim but she does herself no favours by pairing her looks with a bizarre fashion sense. Having nowhere to sit on the school bus, she takes a seat next to the clearly reluctant Park. Park is half-Korean in an extremely white school, but he is given enough respect by the popular kids to help him get by. His home life, unlike Eleanor's, is pretty much perfect apart from a bit of badgering by his dad. Slowly over time, these two individuals develop a relationship that is formed around stuff like reading comics together and exchanging mix tapes. And other totally cool nerd things like Star Wars and Shakespeare - which I could easily relate to. I think one of the major problems I had with this book is that I failed to get a sense of the attraction between them, their relationship to me seemed more suited to friendship than love. The progression from reluctant bus partners to friendship was natural in the story, but I then felt that the jump from that to boyfriend/girlfriend feelings was too immediate and unbelievable.

Not only that, but where I felt the start of their relationship avoided the usual cliches and did something a bit different (like the way their relationship begins without them speaking to one another), I felt that once they were "together" or whatever you want to call it, it quickly dissolved into the usual sweet nothings and thoughts like "I'll die if I never see him again" after knowing each other for a few weeks. This isn't insta-love, but it's silliness. Or perhaps I really am just a cold-hearted, unromantic person?

I did like the well-rounded feel of both characters, though. The author gave them many different levels, making them experience a range of emotions in a realistic way. I also thought the darker element of this novel was mostly handled well, Eleanor's home life is told gradually in a frightening way that is suitable for such situations. But it does just heighten my ability to make comparisons between this and Pushing the Limits, and I don't like serious issues such as domestic violence being used to fuel the love angst and create a Romeo and Juliet kind of forbidden love scenario. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

This book will be great (hopefully) for fans of quirky, nerdy romance stories with an underlying dark angsty side, and for those who love typical nerdy references. If you don't usually like young adult romance and were eying this up as possibly being the book to change all that... you'll probably be disappointed. It has good parts, but it's not that different from anything else out there.

Emily is disappointed =((less)

65 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

See more reviews like this at Reading Books Like a Boss

If I could use one word to describe this story, it would be "adorable". Eleanor and Park fell in love on the bus listening to '80's music and reading comic books. Can it get any cuter than that? I submit that it cannot! Told in alternating points-of-view, this story will grab onto you and not let you go until the ending.

Eleanor is the new girl in school. She describes herself as chubby and plain. After her mother's abusive husband kicked El...more

22 likes · like · see review

Apr 30, 2013 Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, young-adult, historical, romance, realistic-fiction, coming-of-age, characters-of-color, drama

Initial reaction: I think this book was as good as it was in terms of my reading experience because of the audiobook. I liked that part of it, but I'm a little torn on my experience of the story. Parts of it I really liked and I thought it was well written, but...there are some issues that bugged me through the read. Might be an even 3 stars overall.

Full review:

Eleanor and Park was a young adult realistic romance with its heart in the right place, I have to admit. As long as I'm singing praises...more Initial reaction: I think this book was as good as it was in terms of my reading experience because of the audiobook. I liked that part of it, but I'm a little torn on my experience of the story. Parts of it I really liked and I thought it was well written, but...there are some issues that bugged me through the read. Might be an even 3 stars overall.

Full review:

Eleanor and Park was a young adult realistic romance with its heart in the right place, I have to admit. As long as I'm singing praises to it, it drew me into the story of two very different young adults, and taking place in the heart of 1986. The audiobook narration by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra was stellar throughout, and probably a good part of what I loved about the reading experience. I think the emotions throughout the story were very palpable. I'll admit even as the narrative moved through the different trials the teens faced, I felt for them. I felt for Park's struggles to define himself and I felt for Eleanor's suffering under the hands of an abusive, drunk stepfather and low-level living within a large family.

Yet, I'll admit there were parts of this narrative that felt inconsistent and a bit overwrought. I appreciated the insight to some racial attitudes prevalent at the time, but I don't think they were handled well. Some of it was on behalf of repetition (I got very irritated with how many times I had to hear "That stupid Asian kid" and even how typified black characters were portrayed - both got under my skin as I read through). Other parts of it were the insinuated attitudes towards body image and even gendertyping - I've seen it developed much, much better in other narratives within a realistic coat, and I was surprised that for the attention given to these issues in this work, they really weren't given a balanced focus. It felt either too overstated or just in a tone that, even for showing the contrast of the time period with present attitudes, it just wasn't handled well. When transitioning to the actual love story in this work - I'll admit it was difficult to follow for a time, but there were certainly parts of it I liked. I liked getting to know Park not only with respect to his familial interactions, but also noting how socially awkward he was and trying to find his footing with his relationship with Eleanor. I did feel for Eleanor's home situation and the way that kids bullied her at school - she couldn't seem to catch a break either way. It made sense why her internalization wasn't always positive. I wish it could've been a little less overwrought, but I understood where it came from.

The pop culture dropping wasn't necessarily as intimate as I would've liked it to be. The story didn't set the time/place as well as it could have, and other people have pointed out inconsistencies with respect to the timeline that I got only in passing from listening to the narrative, but are no less relevant to how this story may come across to others with higher expectations. The narrative had me going up until the end, and I wish that the conclusion had been tighter. Was it sweet? In a way, but it left me with an incomplete feeling that made me want to ask more questions as to what threads were left untied.

This is a difficult book for me to rate because there were aspects about it I really liked, but others that I strongly think could've been presented better. I think with the audiobook reading, I'm likely giving this a higher rating than otherwise. It's a good work to read, I liked it for what it offered, but I wouldn't have too high of expectations given its respective issues.

Overall score: 3/5(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, young-adult-fiction, arc, netgalley-arc, 2013-reads, 2013-reviews, reviewed, drama-drama-drama, le-sigh

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

2.5 out of 5

Eleanor and Park really is quite a cute story at times, though it isn't afraid to try and tackle heavier topics during its exploration of first and real love. However, despite its and the authors best attempts, the romance is the focal point of this short-ish novel about two misfits in the 80s. A book seemingly made for easy reading on a lazy day, Rainbow Rowell's second novel is quiet, charming, if sometimes a bit too sweet, but still a...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

2.5 out of 5

Eleanor and Park really is quite a cute story at times, though it isn't afraid to try and tackle heavier topics during its exploration of first and real love. However, despite its and the authors best attempts, the romance is the focal point of this short-ish novel about two misfits in the 80s. A book seemingly made for easy reading on a lazy day, Rainbow Rowell's second novel is quiet, charming, if sometimes a bit too sweet, but still a novel that is worth reading. It's cute, occasionally both funny and saccharine. Eleanor and Park is filled to the brim with: 80's nostalgia, sad circumstances, fluff. All in all, I found this to be a fast, if not completely realistic read.

Eleanor and Park are two misfits who find each other in an unlikely, though pretty creative way. I have to admit Rowell's use of the meet-cute was new and fresh how she used it here. These two main characters bond over a love of comic books and good music from their time, and it feels normal and authentic. They grow closer and closer fairly quickly, and their attraction is solidly built on more than just pheromones and looks. I did hope that the plot would have more direction than just a love story, and while I didn't get that, I did get a believable love story between two distinct characters.

I did somewhat like this, I had fun reading it and spending time in each narrator's head, but Eleanor and Park wasn't all it could have been. Like I said earlier, there are some heavy topics and issues at play for such a romance-centric novel. Not all of it really works, sadly. And some subplots feel short-changed and heavy-handed when all is said and done. The problems between each character and their respective parents - Park with his Dad, Eleanor with her mom and her stepdad - really never feel fully realized or resolved by the end of the book. They add complications and complexity to the lives of the two teenagers, but are never really explored for a deeper impact. It's all too neatly fixed or ignored by the end of the book, and I was disappointed with the quick fix.

Though not a perfect novel, Eleanor and Park is a quick and mostly enjoyable read. It's not as deep or meaningful as it could have been, but what is good about it - Eleanor, Park, their relationship - is good enough to carry the dead weight. Frustrating at times though it may be, this is a good example of teenage romance done well and right - I would read more novels from Rowell, and hope that her execution continues to grow and allow her to explore her deeper plots without shortchanging the fun. If you liked her first, or if you're looking for a sweet love story, this is the one to pick up. Also: that cover is absolutely lovely and fitting. Well done, there.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2013 Pamela (slytherpuff) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone! Right now right now right now!

Shelves: 2013-sbc, audiobook, cried-like-a-baby, favorite-authors, favorites, laughed-out-loud, library-book, pimp-out, poetry-in-motion, puppy-love, wishlist, young-adult

See more of my reviews at Bettering Me Up.

Update May 13, 2013
You know those annoying people who are all ZOMG!!1! THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVA! and who insist on telling everyone they meet that they simply MUST read this book right now right now right now?

I am that person.

And this is that book.

I have just finished listening to Eleanor & Park for the second time in as many weeks. I took my time and listened to certain parts twice. I paced myself so I would end each evening on a swoon. I WANTED TO...more

18 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, for-review, cant-put-these-down, favourites

Eleanor couldn't blend in the background no matter how hard she tries. Her defiant, fiery red hair and her mismatch of Goodwill clothes was like a red flag to a bull in the streets of Pamplona. So on her first day back from eviction, the kids in the school bus wouldn't even offer her a seat...except for the kid who defies all social dictates.

Park couldn't help giving up the empty seat to the girl dressed like a junk drawer. Growing up in a home of affectionate parents, he was raised to be kinder...more Eleanor couldn't blend in the background no matter how hard she tries. Her defiant, fiery red hair and her mismatch of Goodwill clothes was like a red flag to a bull in the streets of Pamplona. So on her first day back from eviction, the kids in the school bus wouldn't even offer her a seat...except for the kid who defies all social dictates.

Park couldn't help giving up the empty seat to the girl dressed like a junk drawer. Growing up in a home of affectionate parents, he was raised to be kinder than most kids. So when the girl with the bright red hair and even brighter clothes starts becoming a permanent fixture on his commute to school, he went from grudging interest, to honest-to-goodness curiosity.

Comic books and music would be the bridge that brings these kids together.
Friendship, then love would keep them bonded.
But like any other love stories, theirs was not perfect.
Did they walk into the sunset hand-in-hand?
You'll have to read the book to find out.

I cannot wait until this book comes out. I just want to keep rereading it until I get my fill. I only had an epub so I had to suffer reading it off my computer. Let me tell you, despite the heartbreaking week I've had, Eleanor and Park was the only thing that helped me forget. I'm not saying the story is all about roses; it had moments of angst but not enough to add on to the real life angst I'm going through right now.

I've always been a fan of music in books. It's interesting to see how a certain song or a genre helps cultivate a character. This one has a doosie: eighties music, man. That's the bees' knees. It had me unearthing all of The Cure's albums from my time capsule. It's also the culture of the era that I'm fond of revisiting. And while Eleanor was not a trendsetter of the times, she has the je ne sais quoi attitude that tells everyone she couldn't care less.

Eleanor's and Park's upbringings couldn't be any different. Park's family life was stable; he's loved by both his parents and his brother. Eleanor was poor and living in a house with a violent stepfather and sharing a broom closet with her three other siblings. The only ray of light in her life was the half-Korean, half-Scottish boy who for some reason, actually liked her.

This book tackled a lot of issues pertinent to the times (and the present, as well). But in the end the story is still about the sweet, poignant romance between Eleanor and Park. Witty, charming and lovely.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, read-in-2012

3 1/2 stars

This was my blackout read and it served its purpose incredibly well. I was utterly absorbed by this story – much more than I ever expected to be. This book reminded me that I am a closet romantic and I really do enjoy romance when it’s done well. Even when prickly Eleanor and quiet Park were saying some pretty cheesy things to each other, my cringe level stayed surprisingly low. But then, Rowell does such a wonderful job of bucking the typical YA romance roles. Eleanor is overweight,...more

21 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Maggie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, notable-asian-character

Timing, as they say, is everything. I read most of Eleanor & Park while sitting by the pool and listening to Call Me Maybe... on repeat. This book though couldn't be further from a Carly Rae Jepsen song and I wondered if I would've enjoyed it more had I read it at a different time.

It's 1986. Eleanor is the new girl in school. She lives on the wrong side of the tracks, wears unstylish secondhand clothes on her larger than average body, and has flaming red hair. Basically, she is a walking tar...more

27 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 willaful rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, heroine-is-chubby-zaftig-or-amazon, multiracial-multiethnic, star-crossed-or-forbidden-luv, books-i-will-love-forever-and-ever, made-me-cry, made-me-laugh, made-me-shiver, romance-makes-me-swoon

Anyone who knows me online known that I love, love, love ebooks. But reading this, I had a feeling I rarely get -- that this was a book I needed to own, and needed to own in paper. I think it's because it evoked my growing up years so acutely -- not just because it's a word perfect depiction of that era, but because reading it gave me a feeling that I used to get when I was a teenager and read books like I Capture the Castle, that feeling that this was a special, special book that would always b...more

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Caren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: feb-13, galley, book-boyfriend, swoonalicious, favorites, rec-to-all-the-people-i-know, all-my-feels

This book was everything I've been searching for since Anna and the French Kiss. It gave me that melty, clenchy feeling in my chest, the warm fuzzies in my stomach. I was basically a mess throughout the entire thing. These two characters had my emotions going up and down like someone was beating on them with one of those sledgehammers at a carnival, trying to get them to climb to the top of that lit up pole again and again. And every time I thought they couldn't go any higher, Park would do or s...more This book was everything I've been searching for since Anna and the French Kiss. It gave me that melty, clenchy feeling in my chest, the warm fuzzies in my stomach. I was basically a mess throughout the entire thing. These two characters had my emotions going up and down like someone was beating on them with one of those sledgehammers at a carnival, trying to get them to climb to the top of that lit up pole again and again. And every time I thought they couldn't go any higher, Park would do or say something else that sent me flying up, up, up...

In this book, it's 1986 and Eleanor's life isn't easy. She's one of five children to a mother who's married to a grade-A jerkface, and a father who just doesn't seem to care at all. After being kicked out of her mom's house once, she's back home now, crammed into a tiny bedroom with her four siblings, and stuck using a bathroom that doesn't even have a door. Her family doesn't have a lot of money. She doesn't even have shampoo. But she's tough, because she's learned how to be. She doesn't really have any other choice.

On her first day of school, it's Park who--somewhat grudgingly--shares his seat on the bus with her. Which is just the beginning of what becomes an incredible story of first love. After sitting on the bus together day after day, they bond over comic books and mix tapes and kicks to the face and even makeup. He says things like this to her:

He set his forehead against hers. She didn’t know what to do with her eyes or her hands. “Nothing before you counts,” he said. “And I can’t even imagine an after.”

AND THIS:

“You can be Han Solo,” he said, kissing her throat. “And I’ll be Boba Fett. I’ll cross the sky for you.”

GAH. I cannot with him. Can. Not. He's definitely top-five-book-boy material. I don't think I've ever flailed so hard over a simple hand holding scene, but damnit, I did. Again with the sledgehammers.

Sadly, as Park and Eleanor learn the hard way, sometimes not all first loves are meant to be forever loves... or are they? ;)

(view spoiler)(less)

27 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Amy (Foxy) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Amy (Foxy) by: Bren

Shelves: 2013-books-i-ve-read, april-2013, counting-by-5-s, spring-2013-5-stars

First off I need to thank, Bren, for introducing this book to me. Otherwise I would have never even known it existed. Great find, Bren!

description

Not your typical highschool romance novel.
Eleanor doesn't fit the Barbie doll type. She has crazy red hair, dresses funky and isn't skinny.

Park is half Korean (the only Asian kid in the state of Nebraska). He's loves comic books and alternative music.

They are both sophomores in highschool trying to survive the 80's. Eleanor is new and needs to find a seat on the...more

11 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2013 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fiction, romance, young-adult, reviewed

Oh, man. This book made me feel ALL THE EMOTIONS! I ugly-cried at least five times while reading it. And, I can't lie, I didn't actually want to read it at all. It was one of those books I kept hearing buzz about, and words like "gritty" and "romance" and "abuse" and it just didn't sound like my kind of book at all. I also was a little annoyed that it was set in the 80's--what teen today is really interested in reading books about the 80's? But somehow it all came together for me. I loved Eleano...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 24, 2013 Belén Vieparoles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-soulmates

*3,5*
Reseña completa será publicada mañana. O pasado. En fin *link a insertar*

Ame encontrar un libro ambientado en una época que adoro con locura, con personajes que escuchan varias de las bandas que amo (y me introduje a uno o dos artistas) y que leen los comics que leo. No puedo describir la emoción que sentía con todas esas menciones a watchmen, hulk, batman (esa frase al comisionado me mato), spidey, los malditos x-men ♥ (Magneto, Storm, Psylocke, Jean -grita-) hasta me encontraba teniendo c...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Jen Ryland added it · review of another edition

If you love realistic YA fiction, you've got to put Eleanor and Park on your to-read list. It's really something special. It's a love story, it's a gritty family drama, it's a story about bullying and outcasts -- all woven together with a magic and subtlety that astonished me. Usually books like this -- books about kids that don't fit in, kids who have tough home lives, kids who are picked on -- are written with a fair amount of hand-wringing and fist-shaking. Which is okay with me, because thes...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Kajol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, teen, romance, realistic-fiction, favorites

Rating: 4.3 stars!

An advance copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

“Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.”
- James Joyce

Ever since I began planning this review and reflecting on everything that I experienced during the read for the purpose of putting it all into words, this quote kept zinging 'round and 'round in my mind, going wheeeee.. so I just had to mention it because it explains the feel of this book, or how I felt while re...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 24, 2013 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I meant to write a book review last week of Eleanor & Park but that flu bug that hit me got in the way. So I'll say here that oooh I loved this book. I couldn't put it down! I also couldn't find a better way to sum it up than Goodreads did, so here's how they describe this music-infused love story: Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When E...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2013 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5/5, I might change it to 5/5 later because that's how much I adored it.

I just have all these feelings. Like it feels as if my chest has swelled up and I'm both happy and sad and just so..... yeah. It's hard to explain.

You know what is the best thing about this book? I mean, the thing that's just ridiculously refreshing and caught me off guard. It's this:

The book is about Eleanor. And Park. And their relationship and nothing greater than that (well, immediate family excluded). There is no gra...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2013 Steph rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is so very good, and so worth your time.

I don't want to give too much away, but let me just say that it's not often you come across characters like Eleanor and Park. I love them both for their imperfections and insecurities. Don't read this if you want to read about undisputedly beautiful people, you won't find them here, and that is what makes the story all the more wonderful.

It's funny and sad and heartwarming and gut-wrenching. (Yes, I know, I know, I could have just said it has ALL TH...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books

Eleanor & Park took me by surprise, I was expecting an enjoyable read, and it snuck in and took up residence in my heart and head ~ I just keep thinking about it and how utterly perfect it was.

It's set in 1986 and is the story of Eleanor and Park and how the the school bus, watchman comics, and mix tapes bring them together, after a rather rocky start. I smiled, I sighed, my stomach swooped, I clenched my fists in anxiety, and at one point I even squealed. I fondly remembered the pure magic...more Eleanor & Park took me by surprise, I was expecting an enjoyable read, and it snuck in and took up residence in my heart and head ~ I just keep thinking about it and how utterly perfect it was.

It's set in 1986 and is the story of Eleanor and Park and how the the school bus, watchman comics, and mix tapes bring them together, after a rather rocky start. I smiled, I sighed, my stomach swooped, I clenched my fists in anxiety, and at one point I even squealed. I fondly remembered the pure magic of receiving and making a mix tapes.

There are so many small moments in this book that are made huge and powerful by the brilliance of Rainbow Rowell's writing. She has a beautifully evocative style that pulls you into the story, so you are right there, falling in love with Eleanor and Park.

I can't remember the last time a love story seemed so incredibly real in a book. Everything is there; the hesitant first moves, the joy of discovering something new, the intense interest, the passion, the misunderstandings, the challenges of loving someone, the all consuming nature of first love. It's told from a duel perpective and I loved seeing Eleanor and Park's reactions to the same event. The real beauty of the story though, is that Rainbow Rowell shows how falling in love with someone, and having them love you back, ignites you. In finding each other Eleanor and Park find themselves, and the courage to be that self.

During the novel Park tells Eleanor she isn't sweet, she isn't, and this is not a sweet love story. It's a real one, set in the real world, where bad things happen. About two thirds of the way through I knew something horrible was going to happen, and I actually had to put the book down and take a break because I was worried on behalf of characters I loved. Eleanor & Park is a portrayal of love and life, with all the light and dark that goes with it, so even though I know I am focusing on the love aspect there is a lot more to this book.

It's also a story about family, friendship, the binds of community and belonging. I loved the portrayal of family, especially Park's family, and how you can feel like an outsider, even among people you have blood ties with. Anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in will recognise and relate to something in this novel.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2013 Joie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazeballs, beautiful-artistic-covers, beautiful-romance, all-time-favorites

Eleanor and Park is one of those books that took the blogging world by storm and it seemed that no matter where I went, someone was raving about how wonderful the story was. Once I read this book, I understood why.

Eleanor is the new girl. Fiery red hair. Overweight. Mismatched second-hand clothes. She's impossible for the kids on her bus to ignore, and I don't mean that in a good way. That first day on the bus, everyone else looked at her with scorn and no one would offer her a seat. Except Park...more

13 likes · like · see review

Apr 19, 2013 Terri rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had just read a starred review for "Eleanor and Park" when the manager of our local bookstore handed me the ARC for the book, which will be released in March of 2013. I am so thankful for the wonderful gift that I was given. "Eleanor and Park" is difficult to characterize. Words like "pure" and "sweet" and "quirky" and "tension filled" and "heartbreaking" don't do it justice. However, I will try...

Set in 1986 in Omaho, Nebraska, the story begins on the school bus as Park notices a new student...more I had just read a starred review for "Eleanor and Park" when the manager of our local bookstore handed me the ARC for the book, which will be released in March of 2013. I am so thankful for the wonderful gift that I was given. "Eleanor and Park" is difficult to characterize. Words like "pure" and "sweet" and "quirky" and "tension filled" and "heartbreaking" don't do it justice. However, I will try...

Set in 1986 in Omaho, Nebraska, the story begins on the school bus as Park notices a new student get on the bus. She is immediately pegged as "weird" because of her flaming red hair, strange clothing, and large size. When no one will share his/her seat with her, embarrassed for her, Park says, "Sit down...Jesus-fuck...just sit down." Thus begins a quirky, sweet romance between Eleanor, who comes from a dysfunctional and violent home, and Park, a half-Korean teen, who comes from a "Leave It to Beaver" home. The relationship develops slowly on the bus from sharing a seat in silence, to sharing comic books, to sharing music, to holding hands. Eleanor eventually risks everything when she lies to her mother and step-father and tells them that she is going to her friend, Tina's, house every day after school when she is really going to Park's house, whose family eventually warmly accepts her and includes Eleanor in their lives. When her step-father eventually discovers the truth, everything between Park and Eleanor must change.

The story is told in third person alternately by Eleanor and Park. Their families and classmates play lesser roles but provide much of the conflict that keeps the story moving. There is an underlying tension throughout as the reader waits for the day that Eleanor's step-father blows. It is this tension that propels the plot forward. The reader will fall in love with Eleanor and Park. They are nuanced, multi-layered characters filled with angst and questions and innocence and purity. I cheered for them as their relationship developed, wept for them at the story's end, and thought about them long after I finished reading the book, just as I did after I finished reading novels like "Okay for Now" and "Wonder." As a result, "Eleanor and Park" will go on my "all time favorites" list!

There is much here to think deeply about. The whole idea of trying to look below the surface to see what creates the veneer of those individuals with whom we interact every day was paramount to me as I read "Eleanor and Park." The reasons that Eleanor looks the way she does - having to quick bathe in a bathroom with no door before her father gets home, not having a toothbrush or shampoo or soap with which to bathe, being large boned despite that fact that she is starving, having to scrounge at Goodwill for clothing on those rare occasions when her mother could find money - are secrets that Eleanor guards closely. Park also has a healthy sense of otherness because of his mixed race heritage. There is always a story behind the face that people present to us. Sometimes, if we get to know the story, we can see the individual in an entirely new light.

The whole idea of first love was so beautifully portrayed here. The heartbreak that can accompany first love brought those feelings right back to me. Again, the importance of teens having present adults in their lives was also so utterly clear to me - as well as the number of teens who DON'T have that and the consequences were again reinforced here.

This is a beautiful, beautiful book that will appeal to both male and female teens - especially those with their own sense of otherness, and those who are not afraid of sensitive, emotional stories. Highly, highly recommended!(less)

9 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2013 Michelle (tinyturtle88) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-group-challenge

I was completely enamored by this book. Once I got about 50 pages in, I was hooked. What a sweet, sweet story of first love. Did I mention that this is so sweet?

Eleanor is a 'healthy, curvy' big bosom teenager, whose covered in freckles, has an eclectic (to say the least) wardrobe and a head full of wild bright red hair.

Park is half Irish, half Korean. (is there such a thing as 1/2?) Loves comic books, music, and keeps mainly to himself. He is more petite than his brother, who took on more of th...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 26, 2013 Claudia Gray rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the single most charming, convincing, three-dimensional YA romance I've read in a while. Both of the main characters come across as both specific individuals and yet completely relatable to absolutely anyone who's ever been young and falling in love for the first time. Their adoration of each other unfolds so slowly, so gradually, that we can't help but feel like this is far more than infatuation. One of the tensions underlying the book is whether or not first love is ever real love, fin...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 12, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adorbs, geekery, lovely, young-adult

Oh my God, this book is wonderful. All of my friends to whom I proselytized about Nick and Norah... get ready to hear it from me about this one. LOVE IT. Gives a whole new meaning to "realistic" - these characters are so real I am now convinced I went to high school with them.

Also, the characters mention my favorite U2 song by name as their favorite off of Boy. Which gives me a little of the "YES!" feeling for them that they are described as having for each other when they agree on many things...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2013 Ian rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone!!

Shelves: a-favorites

When Eleanor starts sitting next to Park on the bus to and from school, their journey is at first silent. Over time they begin communicating with each other in small ways, at first about music and comics and then about themselves. As the year progresses the awkward disaster that Park saw on the first day of school turns into a beautiful young woman he loves.

But coming from a home with an abusive and violent step-father, Eleanor's life is a long way from simple, and Park might have to give up the...more

16 likes · like · see review

May 30, 2013 Cinda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: diverse, ya

I've often said that nobody should write for teens who doesn't remember what it was like to be one. Rainbow Rowell remembers, and has captured it beautifully in this book.

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 09, 2013 Luan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, favorite

I need to thank first Jee for sharing a copy of Eleanor & Park. Otherwise I’m probably dead waiting before the book comes out. Thank you! Thank you Jee (I bet she’s tired hearing this)

It was John Green article about “Eleanor & Park” in the New York Times was what first got me interested in reading Rainbow Rowell’s first young adult novel. John Green quote “Eleanor & Park” reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and...more I need to thank first Jee for sharing a copy of Eleanor & Park. Otherwise I’m probably dead waiting before the book comes out. Thank you! Thank you Jee (I bet she’s tired hearing this)

It was John Green article about “Eleanor & Park” in the New York Times was what first got me interested in reading Rainbow Rowell’s first young adult novel. John Green quote “Eleanor & Park” reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book. And that’s it! my undying curiosity kicked in!

Set in 1986, Eleanor & Park will take you back to the past and make you aware of how different life was then. The music, mix tapes, video games and comics it was a whole different type of story I've never read before. You don't have to be child of 80's to enjoy this novel.

Eleanor "Big Red" as what kids call her. She is new at school, and being a big girl with frizzy red hair and crappy clothes, she is a wonderful target for other teens. She's probably the best example of what a normal teenager could be with all the insecurities and so much life drama you can really relate to her life.Park is the only half-Korean kid anywhere that he knows of, and while he has some friends - he mostly just likes to remain unnoticed until Park lend his sit to Eleanor...

The story is view through dual perspective between the two main characters, but still remain interesting while apart. I like how Eleanor & Park relationship grow from awkward silence, stealing glance and then they became friends by sharing their common interest in music & comics. And eventually the holding hands moment THAT WAS THE MOST ENDEARING KIND OF HOLDING HANDS EVER I SWEAR.And I'm not gonna spill other sweet stuff here it only kills me.

Eleanor and Park are lifelike, relatable, realistic which make their relationship believable like all teenage love stories.The only difficult part is reading the emotional aftermath of their story which left me hanging. I was devastated after I finish reading this it has been quite some time since a book has left me feeling this way.

I still want to know the three words on a postcard delivered on the last page of the novel though *sigh*(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Bren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, be-tissue-ready, on-my-nook, sweet-as-the-notebook

This book took me back to the days of walk-mans and stone-washed jeans. I was only a little girl, but I can remember admiring my older cousins. Thinking they were so cool with their music and perms. Wanting to be just like them when I grew up. Eleanor is 16 and has just moved across town and has started a new school. Life has been cruel to her, her dad abandoned her, her step-dad is an asshole, her mom refuses to leave, and she has to share her room with her five siblings. She is freckled with...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 17, 2013 Basuhi *misses Jonah and Taylor* added it · review of another edition

Shelves: cutesy-cover, haven-t-finished-but-plan-to-later, hanging-midway, will-read-later

This is a good book. Howsoever strange that sounds, I'd say I can feel it.
So, I'm just pausing this now and moving it to my Will Read Later shelf because that's what I intend to do.
I'm not in the mood for this kind of stuff and and it'd be hardly fair if I give it low ratings because of that.
I'll pick this up soon and complete it :)

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-tour, march-2013

This ARC Review will be published on my blog, The Flyleaf Review closer to publication.

If Gayle Forman's cover blurb hadn't convinced me to read this book:

"This sexy, smart, tender romance thrums with punk rock and true love. Readers will swoon for Eleanor & Park."

then just the short line at the bottom of the synopsis would have:

"Set in 1986, the story of two star-crossed misfits ."

Guys, I am all about some 80s (and 90s) nostalgia. In 1986 I was a freshman in high school (yep, just totally d...more

14 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
German reading ci...: [Part 1] Kapitel 1-14	6	17	3 minutes ago
Nothing but Readi...: * Rowell, Rainbow; Eleanor & Park - Buddy Read (Start Date: June 16th, 2013)	53	122	3 hours, 11 min ago
YA Buddy Readers'...: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell → Starts June 17	7	16	5 hours, 50 min ago
German reading ci...: [Part 2] Kapitel 15-28	3	13	Jun 17, 2013 12:41am
Young Adult Book ...: Final Thoughts	22	117	Jun 13, 2013 07:12pm
German reading ci...: [Part 4] Kapitel 44-58	5	13	Jun 12, 2013 01:44pm

combine
Other Editions (13)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Book Trailer #1)

Add a comment

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Book Trailer #4)

Add a comment

Genres

Young Adult

695 users

Romance

355 users

Contemporary

182 users

Realistic Fiction

113 users

Young Adult > Teen

89 users

Historical Fiction

47 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

38 users

Young Adult > High School

32 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Contemporary

31 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

29 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Being Henry David
by Cal Armistead
If You Find Me
by Emily Murdoch
Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt
The Beginning of Everything
by Robyn Schneider
When You Were Here
by Daisy Whitney

About Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell is the author of ATTACHMENTS. She has two novels coming out in 2013 -- ELEANOR & PARK in February and FANGIRL in the fall.

Rainbow lives with her husband and two sons in Omaha, Nebraska. Right at this moment, she is probably arguing with someone about something that doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things -- or trying to figure out how Sherlock faked his death.

Blog and...more

More about Rainbow Rowell...

Books by Rainbow Rowell

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Eleanor & Park

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Eleanor & Park

“Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” — 158 people liked it

“I want everyone to meet you. You're my favorite person of all time.” — 114 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Eleanor & Park
avg rating	preview: Eleanor & Park Goodreads rating: 4.22 (10097 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341952742l/15745753.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell[/url]

Eleanor & Park

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website