Review: The Love that Split the World by Emily Henry

*I received this book from the published in exchange for an honest review.*

Title: The Love That Split the World

Author: Emily Henry

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: January 26, 2016

ISBN: 9781595148506

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start…until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right. That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

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LOVE! I enjoyed this book so much. It’s one of those ones that once the story captivates you, you can’t put it down. That was me from the moment I read page one. My butt was glued to the couch for hours. Natalie sees things that are “wrong.” She sometimes suddenly finds her self in a world that’s like hers but isn’t quite right, but she always returns to her own world. She has always confided in the woman she calls Grandmother, a woman who tells her stories of the world and of life. These stories are the key to helping Natalie find her way. When she meets Beau, Natalie is swept away with a romantic connection so intense and so right, it changes her perspective on her life.

This novel has so many complexities, so many twists and turns, and I’m so excited by intricacy of it all. It’s hard to explain without going into too much detail, and I certainly don’t want to ruin the plot for you, but this story is about exploring one’s heritage and connecting with one’s ancestry. Natalie is adopted and when as she learns more about her mother and her history, she is able to connect more with her heritage. The stories told her her by Grandmother connect her to an oral story telling tradition that spans centuries. She begins to understand herself better as a young woman, as a family member, as a friend, and as person trying to find her place in the world.

This is an incredible story of friendship, family, romance, and connection.  As teenagers in their final summer before college, Natalie, Beau, and their friends are trying to enjoy those last few weeks together, but they face setbacks and struggles that put everything in jeopardy. This story perfectly encapsulates what it means to grow up, especially when faced with incredible trials. The characters are faced with tough decisions, difficult feelings, and brand new experiences.

Enjoy!