Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.
BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Goodreads Summary
This is one book that guarantees the reader will have a strong, visceral reaction. The main character, Brie (NOT the cheese), has just endured the heartbreak of a lifetime. Her godly boyfriend has just told her he doesn't love her. It is at that time that Brie dies from a broken heart, literally. When she finds herself in a pizza store being called funny cheese names by a biker hottie, Brie knows she has to figure out what is going on and how to move on.
Patrick, the biker, seems to intuitively know Brie. He acts as her guide in the "spirit world." Together, they drop back down to Earth and Brie learns lesson after lesson and makes quite a few mistakes and sacrifices. Brie discovers that her father may not be as perfect as she believes, that her best friend knows a secret about her boyfriend, that her brother may forget her, etc... The reader views all of this with Brie acting as narrator. The events are action-packed and exciting, the novel is nothing if not unpredictable. Patrick's persistent presence and Brie's refusal to let go of her human life make for an explosive combination that will reveal long-held secrets and unhealed wounds for all of the characters in this novel.
Over all, this book is a great read. The only quality that seemed a little annoying was the constant drama. Yes, Brie died, but what are the odds that all of these little secrets people held from her when she was alive would turn out to be so huge. The ending was amazing, the author ties up the loose ends beautifully. This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.
4 Stars
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Now that you mention it, the drama was a bit overwhelming. Especially for a contemporary. I still enjoyed this book, and I'm glad you did, too!
My review: http://thebookbasement.blogspot.com/2012/01/catastrophic-history-of-you-and-me-by.html