Hello (from Here)

This take on a modern romance was a very enjoyable read. Switching between perspectives of Max and Jonah is a fun way to keep the reader invested, as first we see their interactions through Max’s eyes, and then we switch over on the next chapter to see Jonah’s take. Personally, I usually don’t read books that are told in the first person perspective, so I was prepared to not enjoy this, but once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! It’s a very compelling story, and the narrators are charming and relatable. The premise of falling in love during the lockdown at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic keeps the story current, and calls to mind relatable fears that everyone experienced last year, so that we are rooting for the characters to succeed where we all wish we could. The tale of a man who falls for his personal shopper is one that is so specific to modern times that it made me laugh out loud! I will definitely be picking this book up.

Hello (from here) almost feels like historical fiction because the beginning of the pandemic seems so long ago. This book is like a time capsule. The authors were right alongside the characters processing the pandemic, fearful and uncertain about what would happen. I'm not sure that they envisioned that we would still be in the middle of it at publication time. Hello (from here) tells the story of two young people, Max and Jonah, who meet at the beginning of the pandemic in a grocery store, fighting over toilet paper. Each has their own very different and serious struggles that could derail a relationship even under normal circumstances. Their lack of communication regarding these issues leads to further problems. The characters are relatable and there is a lot of great, witty banter. I also loved the side characters, especially Olivia and Max's friends. There is humor and hope in this novel but also a lot of heaviness, because, well, COVID. Hello (from here) is an enjoyable, emotional, and thought-provoking read, but there is a lot to unpack. Be aware of triggers: death, loss of parent, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, isolation, AIDs, COVID, poverty.