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Lovesick

3.39 of 5 stars 3.39 · rating details · 1,179 ratings · 117 reviews

Ted’s drunk-driving accident has ruined his life. it cost him his basketball scholarship, ended his plans for college, and forced him into AA. but just when ted has resigned himself to his new life, Michael appears. the wealthy father of a bulimic Manhattan rich girl has a tempting proposition. He has agreed to pay for ted’s college tuition, but there’s one catch. ted has...more

ebook, 240 pages

Published June 14th 2007 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published September 22nd 2005)

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Jan 31, 2009 Bill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Nov 13, 2010 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: just-for-fun

This was an interesting way to look into the worlds of alcoholism and bulemia. For both of these students, college can be a very frightening world. Think of the infinite possibilities for both of these afflictions to go virtually unnoticed if wanted. For Ted, the alcoholic, the college world was seemingly destroyed before he arrived there. His alcoholism lead him to a basketball career ending car accident and loss of his scholarships. Enter Erica's dad, who wants someone to watch over his daught...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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May 29, 2009 Kristen Leong rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Nov 15, 2012 Jasmine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american

So this is a good book, bordering on unbelievable but still quite good. I really like the portrayal of AA. when asked if it works the character basically says he doesn't know but he goes anyway.

one of the cool things is the description of people's responses to the fact he doesn't drink. Now I've had my hard drinking years, but I had quit drinking when I started college and I didn't smoke anything and the fact is people do look at you like you have four heads. Even today, I drink some, I use to...more

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Apr 30, 2009 Kelseysterk rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

LoveSick was a very inspiring book for me. It starts out slow and begins to pick up the pace after the first 3 chapters. A teenage guy named Ted is a basketball player at a local high school, and very very talented on the court. He has everything going for him, and a college scholarship lined up for him to play ball at a decent college. But it all ends one fateful night when Ted gets involved in a drunk driving accident. His life becomes ruined and he loses his basketball scholarship, and ends u...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Lola rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this novel. It has everything a novel needs to keep readers hooked; it has drama, love, and adventure. This novel is about a college girl named Erica, who struggles with bulimia. Her father, Charles, who is a wealthy man who cares about his daughter's wellbeing hires a boy named Ted, who is struggling with his own problems of being an alcoholic, to spy on his daughter and keep him updated on how and what she is doing in college. He does so by offering him a free ride by paying h...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Ashleah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jake Coburn’s Lovesick, is said to be based on a true story. The story is sweet, yet tragic; it’s emotional, yet suspenseful. Coburn’s first book, Prep, was also based on a true story and both books were modeled after his young, teenage life. He writes of the kind of lives that people don’t like to think about even though they know they exist. Drugs, alcohol, lying, cheating, and violence are spread throughout the lives of many of his characters, but love seems to always play a role and win in t...more Jake Coburn’s Lovesick, is said to be based on a true story. The story is sweet, yet tragic; it’s emotional, yet suspenseful. Coburn’s first book, Prep, was also based on a true story and both books were modeled after his young, teenage life. He writes of the kind of lives that people don’t like to think about even though they know they exist. Drugs, alcohol, lying, cheating, and violence are spread throughout the lives of many of his characters, but love seems to always play a role and win in the end. I think Coburn does a great job of bringing awareness to the imperfect world in this realistic fiction ironically titled Lovesick.
Ted York is an alcoholic who, because of a drunk-driving accident, crushes his leg, ruins his dreams of playing basketball, and loses his college scholarship. When all hope is lost, Ted gets a visit from a strange man who claims he works for a wealthy man who is willing to pay for his full college tuition as long as Ted keeps an eye on his daughter, Erica, who happens to be bulimic. Ted takes the offer and the arrangement runs smoothly. That is until an unplanned factor messes everything up. Ted begins to fall for Erica and finds it harder and harder to live with his lies.
I like the suspense and worry that comes along with the tragedy in the characters lives. I also enjoy the love that literally saves the teens lives. I learned more about a life that is much different than mine, and have found a sort of sympathy that comes with my new understanding. Though I greatly enjoyed the book, there were a few things I had issues with. The language, though I understand is part of the lifestyle being represented, was a bit rough and there were a few images that I found to be a little too well described, they were more disturbing than anything else. I liked the relationship between Erica and her therapist. Their conversations were humorous at times with Erica’s sarcasm and Dr. Rudas always putting up with it. He gave her someone to talk to and a sort of support system that was always encouraging. Even though Erica would never admit how much he helped her, she needed him to save herself.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes new experiences. I would put an age limit of 13 and up, though, because of the mature content and language.
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Dec 14, 2010 Katelyn (Tales of Books and Bands) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-stars

Ted's life is forever changed the second he crashed his car. The drunk-driving incident lands him in AA, crushes his leg, ruins his dreams of playing basketball, and ultimately his scholarship is revoked. Ted thinks his life is basically over until one day a strange man makes him an offer he cannot refuse. He can get an excellent college education with just one exception: keep an eye on an extremely wealthy man's bulimic daughter, Erica. Ted thinks he is up for the task until the unexpected happ...more

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Jan 31, 2010 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ted liked to drink, a lot. And, after he gets into an accident due to drunk driving, his scholarship to NYU is taken away. He then realizes that he doesn't want to waste his life away so he stops. This is where Erica comes in, with her being bulminic her father starts to worry about her going of to college without any supervision. So he hires Ted to spy on her for him. It starts to work out as planned but then, Ted starts to fall for Erica and Erica starts to fall for Ted. Ted starts to regret...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Ellen Colton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This quarter I read a novel called Love Sick, by Jake Coburn. This book is about a high school boy who got ca ught for drinking and lost high basketball scholarship and his full ride. Now, Ted, is living with his parents, going to AA meetings and feels stuck, like he will never do anything with his life. I'm about half way through the book, and so far it's really unpredictable. Ted got an offer to get a full ride to a really good school, but the deal was the he has to watch over a girl, Erica. S...more

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Jun 30, 2011 mfay2 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-read, read-2011

I should start by saying that according to the author, this book is based on a true story. And that was a surprise for me because the summary sounds so ficticious;something that can't happen in real live. Obviously it wasn't!

The book is about this guy named Ted York, a high school graduate that had everything going for him. He played basketball and even had a scholarship for college. But he has a problem: he's alcoholic. And during one short trip to pick up a drink, he got into a bad car acciden...more

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Nov 17, 2010 Maria Gallo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Mar 14, 2013 Mayara Cristina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Teenagers and anyone who likes romance.

This book talks about ruined life of Ted, who had a drunk-driving accident, which caused him to lose his basketball scholarship and ended with his plans for the college. Ted starts to go in AA meetings and there he knew a girl, named Erica, then he falls in love for her. The father of this girl helped him at the college; Erica’s father paid his tuition in the college. His daughter was bulimic, they were riches. The characters had realistic problems, which anyone could have. With all that problem...more

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Aug 04, 2009 Michelle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, realistic-problem-novels, non-fiction

Something that caught my eye and caused me to pick this book up is the subject matter and the format. I have never read a book about bulimia, a subject that is not often addressed, but I dare say is something that should be. This is a non-fiction novel meaning it is a novel that is based on a true story; which caught my attention. However, I was severely disappointed. This could quite possibly be one of the worst books I have ever read. There are multiple F-bombs on each page, absolutely no mora...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Kellie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that this book was really hard to get into but once i got there this book was amazing! The girl that the book was written for touched my heart! I know people have eating disorders. My friends could have an eating disorder but you might not know. The main guy in this book is paid to follow this girl around and make sure that she isn't throwing up after meals. The book is written from the view a newspaper journalist. This review sounds a little jumpy and everywhere but i loved this book...more

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May 16, 2013 Brooke rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Honestly..... I didnt like this book at all..... I picked it up at the library thinking it was going to be a very interesting book with just enough drama since they both are struggling with addictions...and it was just dissapointing. It doesnt go into much detail and the relationship between Ted and Erica isnt all that interesting like I was hopping. As someone who has struggled with two addictions I felt like the depth of the addiction wasnt covered very well. The emails in the beggining betwee...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Gabriella rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well composed... a gracious well balanced mix of a young girl's eating disorder and her life that tries to revolve around it. Most books I've read about girl's with Eating Disorder's are strictly about the Eating disorder. I enjoyed the real life trials and drama that is involved along with attempting to hide this brutal disease. A must read for anyone who's dealt with an Eating Disorder first hand. I have never read a book that describes passionate feeling associated with how the food is consum...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, own-finished-copy

While there are things I liked and things I didn't like about this book, one thing's for sure: LoveSick is definitely different - different from anything I've read before, and different from what I'd expected. The first thing that surprised me is that this novel is based on a true story. In the beginning, the author talks about how he'd heard about Erica's and Ted's story actually happening and how he'd decided to turn it inot a novel, which is crazy - the idea for LoveSick is just so unlikely,...more While there are things I liked and things I didn't like about this book, one thing's for sure: LoveSick is definitely different - different from anything I've read before, and different from what I'd expected. The first thing that surprised me is that this novel is based on a true story. In the beginning, the author talks about how he'd heard about Erica's and Ted's story actually happening and how he'd decided to turn it inot a novel, which is crazy - the idea for LoveSick is just so unlikely, something that only happens in books and movies. (Actually, I didn't find that out only once I read the book, mfay2 had already mentioned that in her review, but I'd forgotten and still think it's an interesting fact.)

What makes this book so different is the super-descriptive writing. Everything is described down to the smallest detail, especially Erica's bulimia. The reader gets to know every step of what she does in meticulous detail - choosing a store to buy the food, choosing what food to buy, buying the food, calculating the calories, organizing the food, choosing a toilet, cleaning that toilet, setting a timer, and so on. I know, this sounds so weird, but it's actually really interesting - that's a way of looking at bulimia I'd never thought about before. For some reason, this style works - it's blunt and crude but somehow fascinating. Even the back of the cover is that blunt. On the back of the book there's a picture of - I'm not even kidding - a toilet. I know, it's weird and disgusting... but for some reason, I love it.

I also loved that this book takes place in college. Why are there so few YA books about college students? As a high school senior, reading about college life would be really interesting to me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. So I was really happy to see this book deals with college life.

Another thing that makes this book unique are the e-mails and chatroom discussions in between the different passages. At first, I didn't get the point of those e-mails, and found them kind of boring, but later on, I loved them. I especially liked reading the sessions Erica has with her therapist. The two play chess online for Erica's sessions and talk about, well, everything. There's just something about those conversations - they're so real, and I just loved them.

While I really liked some aspects of LoveSick, there are things I disliked, too. The plot is only okay, in my opinion - it's very predictable, and only at the end did it get really exciting. I found the characters to be somewhat underdeveloped - for the most part, Ted is defined by being alcoholic and Erica by being bulimic, and we don't know that much more about them. Despite reading from both of their perspectives, I didn't feel like I knew them all that well. The fact that they're defined by alcoholism/bulimia and don't have many other characteristics made it hard for me to relate or connect to either one of the characters. And the secondary characters... well, there are no real secondary characters, except for Erica's father and Charles, the ones who 'hire' Ted. I would have liked to know a little more about some of the other college students, and I found it somewhat unrealistic how Ted and Erica almost only spent time with one another and didn't get to know many other people. That being said, I did love Ted and Erica's relationship - the way they talk to and treat each other made me smile.

Despite those negative aspects, I do recommend LoveSick if you're in the mood for something different and unique. While I don't think the descriptive and blunt style will work for everyone, it definitely worked for me!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...(less)

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Jun 05, 2010 Fernando712 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ted is a total differnet person than me. For example if I were Ted I wouldn't dare or bother to drink cuase ive seen someone do it.Also when Ted runs after erika becuase he loves her and wants to make things right.I think that is so romantic. I would do the same if I were in Ted's shoe.

I also want to talk about Erika.Erika seems like a nice girl who always has her way to do things.I mean like in the book she told her dad she wanted nothing to do with him and she took like 1.3 billon dollor's a...more

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May 09, 2009 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-reads

Genre Young Adult, Literary Fiction
Rating A

I read this book in a single day and got super irritated any time that people made me do stupid stuff (like listen to a sermon at church) because it was taking time away from my chance to read. That's a pretty good frame of reference for this book.

So, here's the nitty-gritty. I liked these characters, all of them, a lot. Coburn did such a good job with getting their experiences and their reactions nailed down tight. Loved them. Loved the way he describe...more

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Oct 14, 2009 Celestasaurus rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Okay, I actually enjoyed it this time! Thank you, Jake Coburn, for being a gossip-whore or whatever you called yourself. Love your book. The first 30 pages or so are hard to get into, but once you start understanding the emails and realizing that Coburn likes to write a mega-lot of useless details, then it is a marvelous “fictional expose” (his words, not mine). LoveSick was a true story about two troubled teenagers heading off to college. Ted was accepted to an Ivy League school and offered a v...more

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Dec 10, 2007 Elizabeth Sulock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Coburn's second novel tells the tale of two teenagers, Ted and Erica, whose lives hold common threads. They are both freshmen at the same college, recovering from diseases, and are being manipulated by Erica's wealthy father. Set across the span of their first semester, and divided into four sections by month, Coburn recounts their journeys. At the onset, Ted looses his basketball scholarship due to a drunk driving accident. As a result he must attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and can no lon...more

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Nov 04, 2009 Linda *Rapunzel* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well "Love Sick" is not like the usual love stories. This story is very special between Ted and Erica. Yes it is a true story, which I'm surpised, because that's a werid way to fall in love. Either way it's one of my favorites. A very special love, but never meant to happen. No matter how screwed up your life is or the mistakes you make someone is always there to help you through it. Remember you are not alone and someone cares about you. Thank you Erica and Ted for letting Jake Coburn share you...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lovesick is about a young, recovering alcoholic, Ted, who is bribed by a rich businessman that offers to pay his way through college on one condition--he has to look over the man's bulimic daughter, Erica, without her knowing.
The novel started out a little confusing, but it's very fast-paced. It was actually pretty enjoyable to read. Both of the main characters are extremely different: Ted is quiet, dedicated, and introverted. Erica is blunt, somewhat obnoxious, and complex. However, both chara...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Zomgzily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Feb 15, 2009 BookActivist rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well one word could sum up this book: chaos. Erica is a complete mess. And I felt myself becoming a mess while reading this book. It was mediocer (can't spell it) at best. I did adore them falling in love, but there wasn't enough detail provided into it. Just one day all of a sudden they are both like 'hey i love the other one' it makes no sense. Whatever....

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Jun 09, 2011 Kelly Gordon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The novel Love Sick revolves around the lives of Erica and Ted, two college students who are connected by a secret. Erica has an eating disorder and Ted was an athlete who was in need of money after he lost his basketball scholarship after getting into a car accident while he was drunk. Because of this a deal is made and secrets start to form in a family.

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Jun 03, 2011 Karmen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first, I really didn't like this book. I considered not finishing the book but my pride wouldn't let me. I thought none of the characters were interesting or dimensional enough. The plot was flat. And I realized it is probably because I am used to reading women YA authors so the style was not at all what I was expecting. Once I got through the first few chapters, I actually ended up enjoying the book by the end. It wasn't inspiring or relatable at all to me, but it was different and I appreci...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Sandra Strange rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-recommended, young-adult, chick-books

Yuck. The premise of the book is unbelievable: a millionaire "hires" a young man, who has messed up his life by his alcoholism, to trail his bulimic daughter. The young man, predictably, falls in love with the girl, and chaos results. The explicit sex and prevalent bad language really marred the story for me. Not recommended for anyone.

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About Jake Coburn

Jake Coburn was born in New York City in 1978. He grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and attended several different prep schools. In 2000, he graduated from Brown University magna cum laude with a degree in Modern Culture and Media.

Jake’s first novel, Prep (Dutton, 2003), is based on his teenage years, where he witnessed New York’s privileged offspring form some of the city’s most vicious stre...more Jake Coburn was born in New York City in 1978. He grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and attended several different prep schools. In 2000, he graduated from Brown University magna cum laude with a degree in Modern Culture and Media.

Jake’s first novel, Prep (Dutton, 2003), is based on his teenage years, where he witnessed New York’s privileged offspring form some of the city’s most vicious street gangs. Prep was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a Junior Library Guild selection, and is currently being made into a movie by Paramount-MTV Films and Benderspink.

While Prep has drawn critical comparisons to S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, it is Jake’s unique writing style that has captured reviewers. Booklist writes, “The staccato rhythm of Coburn's prose is the best part of this tale of Manhattan prep-school gangsters . . . Realistic, slang-filled dialogue and short, crisp narrative passages create a minimalist world of frenetic gang warfare, substance abuse, and wild parties that become nightmares.” School Library Journal writes, “Coburn's brief sentences and often-raw gang slang create a cadence and reflect the movement of the novel through four suspenseful days.”

Jake’s second novel, LoveSick (Dutton, Sept. 2005), also named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, is based on his college years and his recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Jake writes, “When I started LoveSick, I wanted to write a love story about two teenagers trying to survive addiction, loneliness, and their freshman year of college.”

Praised as a “classic love story” by Amy Gray (SpyGirl) and a “must read” by Koren Zailckas (Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood), LoveSick impressed reviewers with its unflinching look at self-destructive teens. Publisher’s Weekly writes, “Coburn's wrenching descriptions of Ted and Erica's mindsets in the throes of their addictions make for the book's strongest moments;” Booklist declares, “Coburn’s writing skill is evident in his almost sensual descriptions of Erica’s bingeing rituals;” and The Bulletin states that “[Ted’s] struggle to stay sober in college will make readers long to reach into the pages and befriend this lonely and troubled guy.”

Jake is repped by Elaine Markson at Elaine Markson Literary Agency, Ted Miller at CAA, and Dave Brown at Benderspink.

Jake currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and can be reached at jakecoburnweb@yahoo.com.
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“You know how they say the path to hell is paved with good intentions? Well, maybe the path to heaven is paved with bad ones.” — 15 people liked it

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