The Words We Lost, by Nicole Deese (BOOK REVIEW)

 

"...but missing someone doesn't always have to be sad, does it? If not, then I'll miss you happy. And I'll miss you laughing. And I'll miss you with every ounce of joy I possess until I'm with you again."

In the months following the death of her best friend and bestselling author Cecilia Campbell, Ingrid is lost in grief and confusion. Due to the trauma she finds that she can no longer read without losing focus. Ingrid is also desperate to find Cecilia's missing manuscript for the final book of her internationally loved series. When she already has enough on her plate Joel Campbell shows up at her job with mysterious envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and Ingrid to set aside their painful past and find a package in their hometown. Honoring Cecilia's last request Ingrid gives in and goes back home with Joel. Through it all, Joel and Ingrid must confront their past and ask themselves why they are having feelings all over again. Is there a possibility for a twice-in-a-lifetime love? 

"Perhaps this was what love did to a person: It slowly turned up the temperature from within so that eventually the outside of a person had no choice but to match the warmth of the inside." 

I'm going to be very straightforward. I absolutely loved every single aspect of this book. The story-line, the characters, the writing and the allegory. I'm still crying on the inside. This book hit a nerve that hasn't ever been touched before. Every time my mind goes to this book I have to smile at how much I loved it but the sad aspect of the book tugs at my heartstrings. Wow. I'm flabbergasted. 

I loved how well I got to know the characters. In this book you get to see the characters backgrounds which was really cool. The character development was amazing and I feel as though they are now my friends. The setting was so amazing and I really like all the details that Deese gives. The grief that the main character, Ingrid, struggled with was so real, relatable and unlike anything I've ever read before. My heart hurt for her, I felt what she was feeling and understood her emotions more than I thought I would. Writing books that deal with romance and grief can be really hard to master and although at some points it was a little cheesy, I appreciated the story as a whole. As you probably know, I don't like romances where they know each other for two days and are already kissing, fluffy or "love" based on chills or looks. So what I really really really appreciated about this book is that they knew each other since they were teenagers. They started out as friends and then fell in love which was just so refreshing! The way that Deese incorporated Christian values, forgiveness and dealing with grief was so amazing. The plot was laid-back but also so engaging, I couldn't stop reading. 

After I read this book, I read the author's note where Deese talks about how she wrote this book about five years after she lost her sister in a car crash. When I read that, the story became even more real, even more touching. Personally, I have experienced the effect of loss and know the feeling. When someone goes through that and then writes a book about grief, they are more than qualified. You can see in her writing how Deese truly knows the disparity of losing a loved one. It hit me in a way I never thought was possible. I'm not one to cry in a book or movie, but this book held my emotions and I was invested in the characters lives. I was very close to crying. What was so cool is that Deese incorporates a visual on how we as Christians deal with loss, how there is hope even in the storm and loneliness. I've talked with my friend a lot about how a book like the Hunger Games would be so much different if they had Jesus. How would that look? How would a peace during the most terrifying reaping or Hunger Games be dealt with when they had Jesus? I loved seeing that in this book. 

I give this book a 10 out of 10 and recommend it for ages 13+

PRESS HERE to purchase this wonderful book.

Happy Reading! -Ariana :)