Love Will Tear Us Apart

Although my daughter tells me I can not write an unbiased review of her book, Love Will Tear Us Apart,a 'generation-X' meets The Big Chill type of novel, I will attempt to do so. The characters are well developed throughout the storyline, of six friends returning home for a typical Irish-Italian wedding of two of the friends. The characters are described through their own personal music playlists as they come to life through past experiences that they each shared. The book is geared to the 25-35 year old age group, but sixty year olds will also be impressed with the way the author describes the 80's, 90's and present day dealings of her generation. It is humorous, sad and very well written. As mentioned, although a biased reviewer, I think you will enjoy the ups and downs of six very different individuals who all share a common thread of dealing with life's challenges.

Heard about this book from a friend and have been thanking him ever since. Great characters, great story, great writing. Rainone does a wonderful job inviting us into the complicated lives of a group of childhood friends by splitting the narrating among four of the main characters. It is witty, smart writing that truly captures the voice of today's mid-20's generation, and truly captures the reader. Couldn't put this book down. A great summer read!

I loved this book. I've always loved stories that take place from multiple perspectives, and Love will tear us Apart tells an engaging story from the perspectives of incredibly vivid characters. I loved the characters, at times; hated them at times; and empathized with them throughout -- and mostly just found the story incredibly entertaining and enjoyable. I also thoroughly enjoyed the trip down memory lane, the at times painful trip back to high school, and the music that weaves it all together. I highly recommend this amazing first novel by Sarah Rainone!

Hilarious and heartbreaking. An absorbing portrait of the ways in which the past forms the present through the eyes of four very different childhood friends reunited at a wedding. Incredibly real, smart, and funny in new and unexpected ways. If you grew up in the `80s and `90s, this is a must-read.

A great read from start to finish, Rainone's Love Will Tear Us Apart is a coming-of-age novel whose great storytelling and pop culture references should set off the nostalgia alarm in anyone who grew up in the 80's, spent hours watching cheesy Saturday morning cartoons or The Neverending Story, or can vividly remember where they were when they heard Biggie, Tupac or Kurt Cobain died. Through a series of flashbacks inspired by a wedding playlist, Love Will Tear Us Apart beautifully, yet honestly, tells the story of a group of friends and their, at sometimes awkward, journey from elementary school to adulthood. I dare anyone between the ages of 18-35 to convince me that they can't see a little piece of themselves in at least one of the main protagonists who, in their early-to-mid-twenties, have still not realized that for the most part they're still immature kids. HIGHLY recommended!