Published: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Miffin Harcourt
Source: Finished copy from Thomas Allen & Son
Find the author: Goodreads || Website || Twitter: @KatieKacvinsky
Buy: Amazon || B&N || The Book Depository

~ The Blurb ~
From Goodreads

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what’s next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they’re going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry

~ My Thoughts ~

I loved First Comes Love so much, it took my breath away and made me give up a full night’s sleep because I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, put it down. First Comes Love is a remarkably uplifting, fun, and completely out there love story. Gray and Dylan are the best characters that I have perhaps ever read about and to be honest I’m slightly angry with Katie Kacvinsky that this novel isn’t longer because I was not ready to read the last page, not by a long shot!

This book is so full of snark and wit that I was laughing out loud to the point that my husband was becoming concerned for my sanity. I can’t even count the number of times he asked me “what are you smiling about now?” Gray encompassed all of the qualities that I love about contemporary YA male leads. He was a little moody (ok in the beginning a lot moody), completely sarcastic, intelligent, compassionate, and funny as hell. Dylan reminded me of a pixie. She was tiny, flighty, completely off the wall, caring beyond belief and the most optimistic and positive character I have ever read about. I truly believe that the world needs more people like Dylan! Put these two fantastic and crazy characters together and you are sure to have a completely lovable story.

p. 11 “Then a thought enters my mind. Maybe she sat in the shade
long enough for her brain to cool down so she can think rationally
and realize it’s rude – and probably dangerous – to bum rides off
complete strangers.”

I very quickly became addicted to this novel, and as soon as contemporary month is over I will be reading it again, I just can’t get enough. I can honestly say that this novel brought me joy and left me with an incredibly hopeful feeling. I loved the journey that Gray and Dylan took together. I don’t know if I would even call it just a romance (it most certainly was a romance don’t get me wrong) but what they had was so much more than love and that is just one of the reasons why you need to read this novel! I loved that this was a story not just about physical attraction – in fact it wasn’t until Dylan’s personality started to get under Gray’s skin that he took a second look and realized that what he originally took for strangeness was in fact beauty.  

Dylan was the kind of person who wanted to really know you, and she insisted on asking questions that drew out much more than Gray’s favorite colors and bands. Some of the greatest moments in this novel were reading the wacky discussions that she and Gray got into, courtesy of her even wackier questions. Gray also had a few tricks up his sleeves and I loved his “friendship tests.” What Gray and Dylan shared beyond an incredible friendship was an all-encompassing and pure love.

p. 146 “She’s changed my life. And she’s leaving in four days. When
your world’s become one person how to you prepare to let her go?”

Kate Kacvinsky managed to make everything about these characters feel real. From their dialogue (oh the dialogue!!!), to their actions, appearances and trips they took. It all felt authentic. Perhaps this is why I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting. It drew me in and held my attention until the very last word.

I my only pet peeve (other than the fact that it was too short – grrr) is that I wish these characters were a little older. There was something that struck me as a little off when I read that Dylan was only 17, for the kind of girl she was and the things she did I think her character should have been a few years older. I don’t know why this bothered me so much, especially since I found this kind of love at 16 (and I married him  thank you very much! ), but perhaps because I am not reading this novel as a teenager I wanted the characters to be 20ish. Not a huge deal, but something that I noticed.

So what else do you say about a book that had you laughing out loud, swooning and dying for more other than this book is made of win and you must read it! To make it easy for you along with Thomas Allen & Son I am giving away a finished copy of First Comes Love to one lucky winner. Just fill out the rafflecopter below.

I received a finished copy for review of First Comes Love from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 Responses to “First Comes Love by Kate Kacvinsky Review & Giveaway”