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Our Year in Love and Parties: A Poignant Young Adult Romance
Four nights of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Three seconds to get lost in a good party. Two friends with the potential to be something more. One year that will change everything. Tucker knows that relationships take work. Some are easier than others though. With his best friend, Bobby, and his mom, everything is simple and consistent. His dad, on the other hand, who is sick, still treats him like a nine-year-old. Then Erika Green comes back into his life, stirring up old feelings. A small part of him knows he shouldn’t get too attached during senior year. But a bigger part doesn’t want her to disappear again.
Erika from before the video liked to shock people with her words and bright- pink hair. Lately, she’s been holing herself up in small, liberal college life and hoping that the past will stay where it belongs—in a dumpster fire. But then she reconnected with Tucker Campanelli. With him, she doesn’t have to pretend to be okay. And she can’t deny the unexplainable connection between them. And though it’s complicated, she really wants to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible.
Erika from before the video liked to shock people with her words and bright- pink hair. Lately, she’s been holing herself up in small, liberal college life and hoping that the past will stay where it belongs—in a dumpster fire. But then she reconnected with Tucker Campanelli. With him, she doesn’t have to pretend to be okay. And she can’t deny the unexplainable connection between them. And though it’s complicated, she really wants to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2019
25 people are currently reading
2831 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 11, 2020
3.5 stars.
This was such a fun and cute little story. Not too unrealistic and light but very enjoyable at the same time.
This was such a fun and cute little story. Not too unrealistic and light but very enjoyable at the same time.
July 6, 2021
„Wszystkie nasze chwile” to książka, która wywołała we mnie wiele mieszanych uczuć i nawet teraz, z biegiem czasu, nadal nie wiem co o niej myśleć. Muszę przyznać, że miałam chyba zbyt wygórowane oczekiwania i koniec końców ogromnie się zawiodłam. Jest to niewątpliwie historia bardzo oryginalnie skonstruowana, ponieważ poznajemy bohaterów jedynie przez pryzmat czterech imprez. I chociaż sam pomysł był bardzo dobry, to jednak ja przez całą książkę miałam poczucie wielkiego chaosu i zdystansowania do losów bohaterów. Patrząc na wycinki ich życia, nie byłam w stanie zbliżyć się do nich, poczuć tego, co czują oni. Relacja, którą próbowała nakreślić autorka, w wielu momentach była dla mnie bardzo nierealna oraz pozbawiona emocji. Owszem poruszyła tutaj wiele istotnych, a zarazem trudnych tematów, takich jak molestowanie czy udostępnianie bez zgody filmów w internecie, jednak dla mnie nie było to autentyczne. Warto jednak wspomnieć, że dzięki tym problemom sama historia jest bardzo aktualna. Wielokrotnie nie mogłam odnaleźć się w tej historii, przez co losy bohaterów absolutnie mnie nie przejęły i miałam wrażenie, że akcja po prostu przechodzi mi przez palce, nie zostawiajac po sobie śladu. „Wszystkie nasze chwile” to niewątpliwie jedno z największych rozczarowań w tym roku, bo zamiast angażującej i szczerej historii, dostałam zupełne przeciwieństwo.
2,5/5
2,5/5
September 20, 2019
"Fine," she said, with the biggest eye roll she could manage. "Bring on the star-crossed bullshit."I wasn't expecting to be so enamored by Our Year in Love and Parties, but here we are. This is a beautiful story filled with nostalgia, hope, and pain and I couldn't put it down. I honestly don't think I can write a coherent review because it would just be me stating and restating everything I liked over and over, but I'll try.
I loved the format of the story. We see snapshots of Erika and Tucker's lives through these 4 parties. We see how much their lives change and how much they grow throughout the year. The parties are really the perfect setting to both get them out of their comfort zones and foster a closer relationship.
There is such a strong foundation for Erika and Tucker's relationship. I completely buy their history and why they are initially attracted to one another. Their cute inside jokes, genuine care, and intense love of Harry Potter made it so easy for me to cheer for them.
There's just this perfect bittersweet quality to this story that makes the story all the more personal. It's not a happy ever after, but it's not a tragedy either. The ending - and the story overall - just feel so real and personal that I couldn't put this down.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 29, 2019
WOW! This novel is so GOOD!
And bonus: One of the things that I love about it is that Erika, one of the MCs, is in college. We need more books with older YA!
It's written in dual perspective, alternating between Tucker and Erika. To watch how their friendship and connection grows over the course of four different parties over a year is so cool. They both bring baggage to the relationship. I was impressed with how Karen dealt with the issue of slut shaming. There is a shocking dad scene that illuminates why Tucker has struggled with self-esteem issues, and Erika's response and what begins to transpire afterward is heartwarming. I love the themes of betrayal, trust & giving friendship/love a chance. I got swept away.
Highly recommend, especially for older YA looking to read a book that has a MC in college. I have no doubt they will either see themselves or people they know and will be able to relate to Tucker and Erika.
And bonus: One of the things that I love about it is that Erika, one of the MCs, is in college. We need more books with older YA!
It's written in dual perspective, alternating between Tucker and Erika. To watch how their friendship and connection grows over the course of four different parties over a year is so cool. They both bring baggage to the relationship. I was impressed with how Karen dealt with the issue of slut shaming. There is a shocking dad scene that illuminates why Tucker has struggled with self-esteem issues, and Erika's response and what begins to transpire afterward is heartwarming. I love the themes of betrayal, trust & giving friendship/love a chance. I got swept away.
Highly recommend, especially for older YA looking to read a book that has a MC in college. I have no doubt they will either see themselves or people they know and will be able to relate to Tucker and Erika.
April 15, 2019
This book should not have wrecked me. With a cover like this, with a title like this, I should not have been gasping for air to keep from crying at the 3/4 mark. But I’ll be damned if I wasn’t saying, “oh god oh god my heart oh god no I can’t,” while reading the third of the four(ish) parties portrayed in this phenomenally affecting YA novel. I’ll be honest: was expecting NOTHING from this. And yet the emotional and psychological arcs that Tucker and Erika take in this book - both apart from one another and together - are extraordinary. I was IN IT with these two. From Erika’s understandable wariness and distrust of men (boys) based off her terrible high school experience with a video that went viral, to Tucker’s surety, thanks to a brutally cold father, that the worst thing he could possibly do would be to be honest with people about his emotional state, I was sucker punched by how much I loved their journeys.
It reminded me, in a way that seems almost uncanny, of the friendship/love between Marianne and Connell in NORMAL PEOPLE. But while that book was almost all surface (to the benefit of the characters - I don’t want to pretend like I didn’t ADORE that book), this one is about miscommunication. About being young and afraid to admit who you are, even when you find that one person who you know understands you.
Hell. Went in planning to give this a four star ranking. After typing all this out? I just rounded this up to 5.
It reminded me, in a way that seems almost uncanny, of the friendship/love between Marianne and Connell in NORMAL PEOPLE. But while that book was almost all surface (to the benefit of the characters - I don’t want to pretend like I didn’t ADORE that book), this one is about miscommunication. About being young and afraid to admit who you are, even when you find that one person who you know understands you.
Hell. Went in planning to give this a four star ranking. After typing all this out? I just rounded this up to 5.
April 30, 2019
Wow, what an absolutely beautiful book. I love a story that feels genuine and goes deep emotionally, and OUR YEAR IN LOVE AND PARTIES delivers in spades. It's sweet without ever being cloying, which is hard to accomplish. Karen's writing is phenomenal. Her language is evocative and intricate, and she has a true gift for dialogue that feels consistently authentic. As I read, I could visualize each party, and the interactions between Tucker and Erika. With themes of rebuilding trust, finding yourself, and believing in a bit of magic, this book is an emotional ride you won't want to miss.
Read
December 14, 2019Life is it's own special sort of party.
After working together at The Cave, Tucker began crushing on Erika. Even after the summer work season ended, they never forgot each other. But when The Cave closes, they unexpectedly find each other once more. As they go about their lives throughout the next year, they can't seem to stop running into each other. Just what will this mean for their hearts?
A story of two young souls trying to make sense of the world. A tale of foraging your own path rather than following the one everyone already thinks you're on.
Trigger warnings for slut shaming, underage drinking, toxic masculinity, rape culture, parental illness, and death.
Sweet and sensitive, Tucker stole my heart. unfortunately, the high school senior fought a constant battle within himself, thanks to enduring his father's ideas of toxic masculinity. From caring for his family to being there for the people who needed him, his heart was soft and golden. As he struggled to gain self acceptance, Tucker's vulnerability was a gorgeous show of strength. He was such a genuine, down-to-earth guy, that deserved the best.
Jaded yet gentle, Erika was not the girl she used to be. But as the college sophomore slowly recovered from being a social pariah, she learned to be okay with that. The strength she had to despite the atrocity of her past, was awe-inspiring. However, the way her compassionate heart shown in a situation all too similar to her own, was remarkable. It was impossible not to admire this young woman.
Sometimes love burst into flame in an instant. Sometimes it takes time to coax that flame through the "will they, won't they winds", and even then you're never completely sure the flame will combust into a full-fledged fire. Regardless of the adorable romance, the bond between Tucker and Erika was undeniable. A shared love of nerdy things, inside jokes, and similar personality traits, the two young adults just got each other. Although they both carried heavy emotional baggage, the push and pull was fantastically done. Every time they met once again, and restoked those feelings, I rooted for them all the more.
The last party I went to was in my freshman year of high school, so slipping into a year of parties with Tucker and Erica was enjoyable. Vividly depicted, unforgettable, I got to experience the highs and lows of their lives. Even more gorgeous than the atmosphere of the book, was the quiet strength these characters showed as they delved into the emotionally vulnerable sides. The happiness of normality tinged with the uncertainty of the future made their journeys realistically hard-hitting. Karen Hattrup penned so much more than a love story as she respectfully explored feelings, trust, family, and finding yourself. As she helped shut down assumptions about rape culture and toxic masculinity, I found myself applauding. Between beautiful little flashbacks, four parties, and present-day scenarios, this novel flew by. So much more than I was expecting, I wasn't ever ready to leave the emotional party of Tucker and Erica's lives.
Now that you've got the invite, read Our Year in Love and Parties.
After working together at The Cave, Tucker began crushing on Erika. Even after the summer work season ended, they never forgot each other. But when The Cave closes, they unexpectedly find each other once more. As they go about their lives throughout the next year, they can't seem to stop running into each other. Just what will this mean for their hearts?
A story of two young souls trying to make sense of the world. A tale of foraging your own path rather than following the one everyone already thinks you're on.
Trigger warnings for slut shaming, underage drinking, toxic masculinity, rape culture, parental illness, and death.
Sweet and sensitive, Tucker stole my heart. unfortunately, the high school senior fought a constant battle within himself, thanks to enduring his father's ideas of toxic masculinity. From caring for his family to being there for the people who needed him, his heart was soft and golden. As he struggled to gain self acceptance, Tucker's vulnerability was a gorgeous show of strength. He was such a genuine, down-to-earth guy, that deserved the best.
Jaded yet gentle, Erika was not the girl she used to be. But as the college sophomore slowly recovered from being a social pariah, she learned to be okay with that. The strength she had to despite the atrocity of her past, was awe-inspiring. However, the way her compassionate heart shown in a situation all too similar to her own, was remarkable. It was impossible not to admire this young woman.
Sometimes love burst into flame in an instant. Sometimes it takes time to coax that flame through the "will they, won't they winds", and even then you're never completely sure the flame will combust into a full-fledged fire. Regardless of the adorable romance, the bond between Tucker and Erika was undeniable. A shared love of nerdy things, inside jokes, and similar personality traits, the two young adults just got each other. Although they both carried heavy emotional baggage, the push and pull was fantastically done. Every time they met once again, and restoked those feelings, I rooted for them all the more.
The last party I went to was in my freshman year of high school, so slipping into a year of parties with Tucker and Erica was enjoyable. Vividly depicted, unforgettable, I got to experience the highs and lows of their lives. Even more gorgeous than the atmosphere of the book, was the quiet strength these characters showed as they delved into the emotionally vulnerable sides. The happiness of normality tinged with the uncertainty of the future made their journeys realistically hard-hitting. Karen Hattrup penned so much more than a love story as she respectfully explored feelings, trust, family, and finding yourself. As she helped shut down assumptions about rape culture and toxic masculinity, I found myself applauding. Between beautiful little flashbacks, four parties, and present-day scenarios, this novel flew by. So much more than I was expecting, I wasn't ever ready to leave the emotional party of Tucker and Erica's lives.
Now that you've got the invite, read Our Year in Love and Parties.
April 9, 2020
4.5 stars for the realest YA novel i've read in a long time—maybe ever. i'm so impressed with this novel's pacing, its capturing of my feelings about love AND parties, its wittiness, its timeliness, and above all, its socially just treatment of characters and themes. just flipped the last e-book page, and i'm grinning like an idiot!
December 15, 2019
I really enjoyed the personalities of the main characters, which made for a fun read.
December 31, 2019
DNF-ing this at 45%. I genuinely tried to finish the novel, but it just took too much time and energy. I'm already at 45% and I still feel like there's not much going on.
September 1, 2021
3.5/5 ⭐️
April 16, 2020
Definitely not as cool as it could’ve been. It started out great, but by the time the Christmas party finished up, I was pretty much tuned out on these characters. Tucker was way too sensitive for a guy... for my liking anyway. He was just always blurting out TMI about his feelings and it was just— STOP. Erika was too far the other way. She never wanted to have feelings except being defensive and salty. These 2 never gonna make it.
From the jump I want to say the concept of this book is very cool. I love that we as readers get to go along with a High School Senior & a College Sophomore to parties throughout one school year.
I think a Pros and Cons list is applicable for this book:
Pros:
▪️There were some really cool party ideas in here. I loved the over-the-top Christmas house party. It had it all.... and then some. There was a Harry Potter Great Hall room!! Then in the Spring, they went to a party in townhomes where each home was a different decade! I loved that!! I went to a club once where each level played music from a different decade, and it's by far one of the best times I've ever had at a club!
▪️Tucker started out so interesting. I liked that he was sensitive and unsure. As the book begins, he's having a "friends with benefits" relationship with a girl and it was interesting seeing how that sputtered out and how he dealt with it.
▪️I think the family problems are going to be super-relatable for a lot of teens. I thought Tucker's relationship with his father explained SO much of why he was the way he was. Erika's family dynamic was also a bit complicated and it showed another side of what she was all about.
▪️Bobby. Tucker's best friend, Bobby, is just cool. I loved that we got to see his growth and journey throughout the year. And I loved how Tucker cared about Bobby and maintaining their friendship.
Cons:
▪️Well..... I didn't love Tucker or Erika all that much. I was totally TEAM TUCKER in the beginning, but he developed in a way that made me feel very blah about him in the end.
▪️I think the author wanted to write a guy that had feelings and shared them even if he was scared to do so. I totally admire that-- but I think this author went too far. Tucker ended up feeling so weak to me. He was all about the word vomit-- blurting out things that were SUPER embarrassing about himself-- and it made me feel the type of secondhand embarrassment that I dread.
▪️Erika.... I didn't feel like I got to know her very well. I get that she was hard-edges on the outside, but I didn't feel like I got to know who she really was beyond slightly damaged and untrusting.
▪️I think I would've like this book a whole lot better if the meetings between Tucker and Erika kept happening by chance. By midway through the book, they start texting and the rest of the book is all stuff they plan to do together-- which kind of brought the level of "will they/won't they-- fate" tensions down.
I think the bottom line is that if I loved these characters, I would've loved this book because it was fun and unique-- and full of stuff that I usually 100% go for (teenage drama, parties, prom-ish, college, issues galore).
OVERALL: Good effort, but I didn't love the 2 main characters. I would totally recommend it though because it really does have so many elements I love in a book (parties, teen drama, issues, friendships)-- but I would definitely not put it with my all-time faves because of the characters.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
From the jump I want to say the concept of this book is very cool. I love that we as readers get to go along with a High School Senior & a College Sophomore to parties throughout one school year.
I think a Pros and Cons list is applicable for this book:
Pros:
▪️There were some really cool party ideas in here. I loved the over-the-top Christmas house party. It had it all.... and then some. There was a Harry Potter Great Hall room!! Then in the Spring, they went to a party in townhomes where each home was a different decade! I loved that!! I went to a club once where each level played music from a different decade, and it's by far one of the best times I've ever had at a club!
▪️Tucker started out so interesting. I liked that he was sensitive and unsure. As the book begins, he's having a "friends with benefits" relationship with a girl and it was interesting seeing how that sputtered out and how he dealt with it.
▪️I think the family problems are going to be super-relatable for a lot of teens. I thought Tucker's relationship with his father explained SO much of why he was the way he was. Erika's family dynamic was also a bit complicated and it showed another side of what she was all about.
▪️Bobby. Tucker's best friend, Bobby, is just cool. I loved that we got to see his growth and journey throughout the year. And I loved how Tucker cared about Bobby and maintaining their friendship.
Cons:
▪️Well..... I didn't love Tucker or Erika all that much. I was totally TEAM TUCKER in the beginning, but he developed in a way that made me feel very blah about him in the end.
▪️I think the author wanted to write a guy that had feelings and shared them even if he was scared to do so. I totally admire that-- but I think this author went too far. Tucker ended up feeling so weak to me. He was all about the word vomit-- blurting out things that were SUPER embarrassing about himself-- and it made me feel the type of secondhand embarrassment that I dread.
▪️Erika.... I didn't feel like I got to know her very well. I get that she was hard-edges on the outside, but I didn't feel like I got to know who she really was beyond slightly damaged and untrusting.
▪️I think I would've like this book a whole lot better if the meetings between Tucker and Erika kept happening by chance. By midway through the book, they start texting and the rest of the book is all stuff they plan to do together-- which kind of brought the level of "will they/won't they-- fate" tensions down.
I think the bottom line is that if I loved these characters, I would've loved this book because it was fun and unique-- and full of stuff that I usually 100% go for (teenage drama, parties, prom-ish, college, issues galore).
OVERALL: Good effort, but I didn't love the 2 main characters. I would totally recommend it though because it really does have so many elements I love in a book (parties, teen drama, issues, friendships)-- but I would definitely not put it with my all-time faves because of the characters.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
July 16, 2021
I almost liked it. The beginning was promising but both characters became annoying.
They obviously like each other but it's so hard for them to happen. They both felt flat and I just didn't even care about reading all the words in this book.
There's more depth to Tucker than Erika's part. It's almost realistic but also, not really. There's some parts where it's almost missing another another story.
Meh.
They obviously like each other but it's so hard for them to happen. They both felt flat and I just didn't even care about reading all the words in this book.
There's more depth to Tucker than Erika's part. It's almost realistic but also, not really. There's some parts where it's almost missing another another story.
Meh.
April 4, 2023
ależ czytanie tej książki mnie wymęczyło... zaczne od plusów bo jest tylko jeden: w miarę krótkie rozdziały. minusów było sporo, ale przytoczę tylko kilka:
- przeskoki czasowe, bardzo niezrozumiałe
- wiele rzeczy brało się z niczego
- nie wiem kim jest większość bohaterów
- nie poczułam więzi z bohaterami i nie wczułam się w historię
- nie wiadomo kiedy relacja głównych bohaterów się rozwijała przez skoki czasowe
jak narazie jest to najgorsza książka tego roku.
- przeskoki czasowe, bardzo niezrozumiałe
- wiele rzeczy brało się z niczego
- nie wiem kim jest większość bohaterów
- nie poczułam więzi z bohaterami i nie wczułam się w historię
- nie wiadomo kiedy relacja głównych bohaterów się rozwijała przez skoki czasowe
jak narazie jest to najgorsza książka tego roku.
October 10, 2019
Our Year in Love and Parties is a wonderful, poignant coming-of-age, shaped by the messiness of life's complexities. Eloquently written, with strong and well-developed characters - the story touches many important topics from toxic masculinity to slut shaming.
All, I can say is Tucker and Erika captured my heart.
All, I can say is Tucker and Erika captured my heart.
November 26, 2019
Told in alternating perspectives, we see two people falling for each other over a year, culminating around 4 parties. This book was character driven and checked every box for realistic fiction. I didn't go into this book thinking it would become a favorite this year but here we are. Wow, what a stunning story. I absolutely could not put this book down.
October 5, 2019
Rating: 4.5 stars
Tucker had been crushing on Erika the summer they worked together at the Cave, and found that there was still a spark after their separation. They were reunited at a Farewell Cave party, and I had the pleasure of seeing their relationship morph and change over the course of one year and four parties, and I loved every second of it.
I am actually shedding tears of joy as I write this review, because I ADORED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! It was just so beautiful. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, and I really wanted to hug it multiple times as I compulsively perused Erika and Tucker's story.
I really enjoyed the format of this book. It took place over a year - Tucker's senior year of high school and Erika's sophomore year of college. I didn't spend every day of that year with them, but rather, I was treated to "snapshots", where the important bits of their lives were fed to me, while they attend various parties. You would think it would leave me with holes, but Hattrup deftly filled in all the important details that occurred outside of the day in question, while keeping me wholly in the moment.
The storytelling was fantastic, but it was the characters, who really stood out in this story. I was such a fan of both Erika and Tucker, and could not help rooting for them both apart and together. When Erika met Tucker, she was a social pariah, and although time had passed, she was still dealing with those residual feelings of shame, disappointment, and mistrust. She had isolated herself during her first year of college, and knew she wanted more from this new year and for herself. I loved the arc Hattrup gave her, and cheered for with every step she took in the right direction. She had to make peace with what happened to her in high school in order for her to be able to move forward, and those baby steps helped her to trust again and to forgive herself for what happened.
I liked Erika very much, but oh, I loved Tucker. If only I was 17, I would be hoping to meet a wonderful soft boy just like him. He had the biggest and most beautiful heart, and it showed through so many of the things he did, but he was constantly at odds with this side of himself, because his father did not approve. He mocked his sensitive son, who was a bit nerdy, but I loved him, and liked the subtle approach Hattrup took while dealing with the issues of toxic masculinity and rape culture. Tucker's path to self acceptance was not an easy one, but I believed his relationship with Erika played a huge role in him getting there.
Can we talk about these two together. The banter, the tension, the push and pull -- I loved it all, even if the will-they-won't-they drove me batty. In the end, they shared a friendship for the ages, that though, far from perfect, was nonetheless, perfection. They experienced their ups and downs, but they always cared for each other, and this bond transcended the typical romance, venturing into them being each other's "person" territory. One thing I would consider a gift, though, would be an epilogue or a novella followup to this book, because the ending, though full of hope, was a bit too open for me.
So many things were perfection for me in this book. There was family, friendship, and fun galore. I mean, this book was so good, that I was able to overlook all the Harry Potter references. Those who know me will realize what a big deal that was, and it was because Erika and Tucker's story stole my heart. Every party I attended with them was a gift, and I am so elated I got to share this year with them.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Tucker had been crushing on Erika the summer they worked together at the Cave, and found that there was still a spark after their separation. They were reunited at a Farewell Cave party, and I had the pleasure of seeing their relationship morph and change over the course of one year and four parties, and I loved every second of it.
I am actually shedding tears of joy as I write this review, because I ADORED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! It was just so beautiful. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, and I really wanted to hug it multiple times as I compulsively perused Erika and Tucker's story.
I really enjoyed the format of this book. It took place over a year - Tucker's senior year of high school and Erika's sophomore year of college. I didn't spend every day of that year with them, but rather, I was treated to "snapshots", where the important bits of their lives were fed to me, while they attend various parties. You would think it would leave me with holes, but Hattrup deftly filled in all the important details that occurred outside of the day in question, while keeping me wholly in the moment.
The storytelling was fantastic, but it was the characters, who really stood out in this story. I was such a fan of both Erika and Tucker, and could not help rooting for them both apart and together. When Erika met Tucker, she was a social pariah, and although time had passed, she was still dealing with those residual feelings of shame, disappointment, and mistrust. She had isolated herself during her first year of college, and knew she wanted more from this new year and for herself. I loved the arc Hattrup gave her, and cheered for with every step she took in the right direction. She had to make peace with what happened to her in high school in order for her to be able to move forward, and those baby steps helped her to trust again and to forgive herself for what happened.
I liked Erika very much, but oh, I loved Tucker. If only I was 17, I would be hoping to meet a wonderful soft boy just like him. He had the biggest and most beautiful heart, and it showed through so many of the things he did, but he was constantly at odds with this side of himself, because his father did not approve. He mocked his sensitive son, who was a bit nerdy, but I loved him, and liked the subtle approach Hattrup took while dealing with the issues of toxic masculinity and rape culture. Tucker's path to self acceptance was not an easy one, but I believed his relationship with Erika played a huge role in him getting there.
Can we talk about these two together. The banter, the tension, the push and pull -- I loved it all, even if the will-they-won't-they drove me batty. In the end, they shared a friendship for the ages, that though, far from perfect, was nonetheless, perfection. They experienced their ups and downs, but they always cared for each other, and this bond transcended the typical romance, venturing into them being each other's "person" territory. One thing I would consider a gift, though, would be an epilogue or a novella followup to this book, because the ending, though full of hope, was a bit too open for me.
So many things were perfection for me in this book. There was family, friendship, and fun galore. I mean, this book was so good, that I was able to overlook all the Harry Potter references. Those who know me will realize what a big deal that was, and it was because Erika and Tucker's story stole my heart. Every party I attended with them was a gift, and I am so elated I got to share this year with them.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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January 8, 2023
3.5 maybe? There was a lot I appreciated about this, but it ultimately fell flat because it veered off course in the second half and tried to do too many things at once. The good stuff I appreciated: The concept of an entire relationship told “through a year of parties”. That Erika was older than Tucker. The fact one protagonist was in college while one was still in high school and the perspective/reality that brought to the story. The well done (as opposed to horribly cheesy and forced) Taylor Swift references. The final bar scene. The things that held me up a bit: The concept was so good IMO, but it veered too much *outside* of the parties. By the end it had way too many side characters and stories (that I wasn’t interested in) going. The second half in general got hazy and overcrowded, so I ultimately liked Rowell’s short story “Midnights” (that had a similar concept) better.
December 18, 2019
The characters sucked me in. There is a clear will they/won't they connection between them from the start, but each has their own story that is engaging on its own. The succession of parties anchor this at a specific time in life that straddles the line between adolescence and adulthood, and the conversations between the two main characters beautifully show the range of what is important in a relationship at that time. The story is well crafted to be set across a series of interesting events that create an entertaining backdrop, but ultimately it is driven by the characters as we watch them develop independently and together over time. It is funny, sad, intense, and whimsical, and for me it was tough to put down.
November 6, 2019
Clear-eyed portrait of that time between late high school and early college, when "adult" conversations and problems can be overtaken in an instant by a video game battle, a Harry Potter debate, or a fake fire alarm. The dialogue shines and reflects the tension between uncertainty and excitement as the characters navigate the transition from one stage of life to the next. While we care most about Tucker & Erika, the secondary characters feel like old friends when they appear. If you've been through this already, this book feels like a photo album of your favorite memories.
October 25, 2019
I loved this book. I loved being back in high school for a few days. Hattrup really manufactured some very real and engaging characters and put them in a genuinely interesting world. I felt like I was immersed in that world too - amidst the urgency and minutiae and cataclysms and drama and fun and fear and listlessness and fun again of high school. And high school parties. And the relationships that happen therein. I really didn't want this to end.
July 11, 2021
Scena z niebieską dłonią tak strasznie mnie wkurzyła, że nie miałam ochoty czytać dalej.
July 14, 2021
Cute little story - idealna na wakacje :)
March 12, 2023
Fajne slowburn , troche dziwny styl pisania , relacja glownych bochaterow cudowna i bardzo w sumie szkoda zakonczenia
January 31, 2024
This book was very realistic. The way Trucker and Erika dealt with their experiences was spot on, some of their decisions and reactions did make me a bit mad though. I loved the diversity of the characters too!
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July 23, 2021
3,5/5
Definitywnie nie jest typowym romansem. Widzimy tylko drobny urywek historii naszych bohaterów i nie wiem, czy to dobrze? Może, ale mam wrażenie ze jakoś nie do końca? Ogromny plus za to jak szybko się przez nią płynie i za ciągle nawiązania do Harry’ego Pottera
Definitywnie nie jest typowym romansem. Widzimy tylko drobny urywek historii naszych bohaterów i nie wiem, czy to dobrze? Może, ale mam wrażenie ze jakoś nie do końca? Ogromny plus za to jak szybko się przez nią płynie i za ciągle nawiązania do Harry’ego Pottera
August 28, 2019
(I received a free eARC from Edelweiss for a voluntary and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own)
Book review: Our year in love and parties by Karen Hattrup (2 stars)
Our year in love and parties by Karen Hattrup
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 2/5 stars
(Synopsis from Goodreads)
Tucker knows that some relationships take work. With his best friend, Bobby, and his mom, everything is simple, steady. His dad, on the other hand, seems to only show up when he wants to bring Tucker down. Then there’s Erika Green, who comes back into his life, stirring up old feelings. A small part of him knows he shouldn’t get too attached during senior year. But a bigger part doesn’t want her to disappear again.
Erika from before the video loved to shock people. Now, she just wants to hole up in her quiet college life and leave the past where it belongs—in a dumpster fire. But then she reconnects with Tucker Campanelli. Erika can’t explain what it is about him. There’s just this undeniable connection between them, and she really doesn’t want to lose that feeling. Not yet.
(Review)
(DISCLAIMER: All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
It felt mysterious and I felt like there were too many details omitted because of the time jump via parties and we don’t get a chance to really get to know the characters.
It wasn’t a bad book, but I did not connect to characters or the story. I feel that the time bounces are too far apart, it's good that we see serious aspects and growth, but overall, I wasn’t impressed with this story.
Book review: Our year in love and parties by Karen Hattrup (2 stars)
Our year in love and parties by Karen Hattrup
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 2/5 stars
(Synopsis from Goodreads)
Tucker knows that some relationships take work. With his best friend, Bobby, and his mom, everything is simple, steady. His dad, on the other hand, seems to only show up when he wants to bring Tucker down. Then there’s Erika Green, who comes back into his life, stirring up old feelings. A small part of him knows he shouldn’t get too attached during senior year. But a bigger part doesn’t want her to disappear again.
Erika from before the video loved to shock people. Now, she just wants to hole up in her quiet college life and leave the past where it belongs—in a dumpster fire. But then she reconnects with Tucker Campanelli. Erika can’t explain what it is about him. There’s just this undeniable connection between them, and she really doesn’t want to lose that feeling. Not yet.
(Review)
(DISCLAIMER: All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
It felt mysterious and I felt like there were too many details omitted because of the time jump via parties and we don’t get a chance to really get to know the characters.
It wasn’t a bad book, but I did not connect to characters or the story. I feel that the time bounces are too far apart, it's good that we see serious aspects and growth, but overall, I wasn’t impressed with this story.
November 7, 2019
Well darn, I’m so upset that I didn’t end up enjoying this. I read a short preview and immediately purchased it because I loved the concept. I thought I loved the concept.
It follows Tucker and Erika, former coworkers, through four glimpses of time—four(ish) parties—which define the turning points in their relationship.
Unfortunately ... With the jumps in time, the story felt messy. I couldn’t connect to a single character. Tucker has a rocky relationship with his sick father. Erika is still dealing with the emotional trauma after a video was leaked. But having these serious conversations with major jumps in time made it impossible to care. There’s also a situation added involving Erika as a witness to a sexual assault case that seemed misplaced in the story.
I wasn’t on-board with the romance. And Tucker seemed really young, like a preteen within a teen setting of parties. I’m not sure if it was the contrast to Erika being 20 and in college, but it felt strange to continuously remind myself that he’s only two years younger than her.
It follows Tucker and Erika, former coworkers, through four glimpses of time—four(ish) parties—which define the turning points in their relationship.
Unfortunately ... With the jumps in time, the story felt messy. I couldn’t connect to a single character. Tucker has a rocky relationship with his sick father. Erika is still dealing with the emotional trauma after a video was leaked. But having these serious conversations with major jumps in time made it impossible to care. There’s also a situation added involving Erika as a witness to a sexual assault case that seemed misplaced in the story.
I wasn’t on-board with the romance. And Tucker seemed really young, like a preteen within a teen setting of parties. I’m not sure if it was the contrast to Erika being 20 and in college, but it felt strange to continuously remind myself that he’s only two years younger than her.
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