Review: LIKE NO OTHER by Una LaMarche

Is it the worst ever if I say that LIKE NO OTHER by Una LaMarche is like no other? I loved this book in an ELEANOR AND PARK kind of way. The authentic voice(s), the real relationships, and the beautiful prose all came together for an unbelievably good read.

Razorbill, July 2014.

LIKE NO OTHER follows two teens who never should have met. Jaxon is a black boy of Caribbean descent from Brooklyn. And while Devorah is from the same neighborhood, she would never in a million years think of venturing to Jaxon’s side of the street. She’s a Hasidic Jew, and it’s forbidden for her to speak to strange men. Even if they are stuck in an elevator during a blackout.

Except, she does speak. And he’s wonderful. And, little by little, these two teens find themselves going against everything that they know is practical and right to see each other. They sneak around, defy their parents (which neither of them EVER do), and even ignore the advice of friends because they have never felt a feeling like this.

I’d hate to give away any of the good stuff — and there is so much good stuff — but this is a book in which the tension runs high. How could it not? Between Devorah’s controlling brother-in-law and Jaxon’s mischief-making pals, there’s no way to completely avoid trouble. The thing is, when you’re in love, trouble doesn’t really matter that much, does it?

Una LaMarche is a genius, and if you need the proof, it’s right here in LIKE NO OTHER. Deftly navigating cultural boundaries, this is a book that not only highlights a pocket of the US population we might never see (or choose to overlook), without drawing boundaries or passing judgement. Plus, if your heart aches for a sweet romance that has the high stakes of Simone Elkeles but the sweetness of Stephanie Perkins, this is a book you absolutely must read.