Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack)'s Reviews > A&B

EDIT: guys!! I OFFICIALLY HAVE a blurb on the back of the paperback edition!! so now I have an excuse to buy a copy :') and you all do as well so it's time to make this hilarious book a part of your life bye

This is the best, most underrated f/f contemporary I have ever come across in my life. It's rare to find a book that's happy and hilarious while also being meaningful. A&B is both a fun romance between two very different girls and a story about letting go of your bitterness. When are you all going to stop sleeping on this hilarious, adorable, and meaningful book?

As always, J.C. Lillis nails character work. Over the course of the story, these two characters were developed far more than I expected. Barrie's character, with her bitterness and her contrasting desire to be good, was so relatable. Her character arc was solid as well. It astounds me how much she developed from her beginning.

This story manages to be so meaningful without getting bogged down by pretentious language or depressing conversations. This is a book about letting ourselves be happy. This is a book about not killing ourselves for our art.

Okay, okay, now we get to talk about my favorite part: the romance. That's probably the first time that sentence has EVER popped up in one of my reviews. Barrie and Ava had such amazing banter and such beautiful buildup. Their dynamic is infinitely entertaining and adorable.

Brandon and Abel's side plot was great as well. They were cute and it made me happy. I'd read How To Repair A Mechanical Heart before this one just to understand their side plot, but it's not totally necessary. It'll definitely add to your enjoyment, though.

“It's not what you think! It's not a religious thing– he's an atheist, actually. Former chef at Crux in San Francisco.”
“So it's like Eat Don't Pray Don't Love?”

The humor in this book is so A+. I don't even know how to pick a favorite quote. J.C. Lillis is STILL a master at snappy dialogue, believable yet entertaining.

I have to admit the plot's a little out there and hokey, but I loved this way too much not to give it five stars.

SONGS BARRIE AND AVA SHOULD DUET
a playlist by me, a sad lesbian who really wants to see them duet all the things
Mirrors - PVRIS
Ghost - Ella Henderson
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift
Arms - Christina Perri
The One That Got Away - The Civil Wars
Mine - Taylor Swift

Initial Review

Barrie and Ava are the greatest couple?? This is going on top of my list of “best girl romances”