Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can’t seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he’d be sifting through other people’s inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can’t quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can’t help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? “Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you.” After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it’s time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can’t see exactly where it’s leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it’s someone you’ve never met.

Lincoln is an above average type of guy and he’s definitely the one you want to take home to your mother. Not only is he unbelievably polite, charming, intelligent(two masters degrees) and good looking in a solid sort of way but he’s also the perfect man for Beth. So why exactly is it that he’s stuck behind the desk in the IT department of a local newspaper and not dating Beth? Perhaps it has something to do with her boyfriend or even more probable, he only knows her through the emails she sends between her and her friend Jennifer. Could Lincoln ever overcome this obstacle and make contact with Beth or will he continue to be stuck in the past?

Attachments was an incredibly funny, enjoyable and unique read. Though there seem to be quite a few “media inspired” books as of late (those told through emails, texts and chats) Attachments was a bit different. Rainbow Rowell easily blends the quirky story telling of shared emails with the conventional methods of storytelling through the lead character Lincoln. Not only was it unique, but it was effective. The switching between the story going on between Jennifer & Beth to Lincoln’s story made the book very easy to read and was constantly giving you something to look forward to. Although, I would have to say that if I had any problem with the book it would be that it didn’t progress quite fast enough. I was always looking forward to what would happen next, but there were times when I did wonder if I couldn’t just skip ahead to the part I was dying to know about. I didn’t, but it was still enticing.

Poor Lincoln. I really have to address his character, which I adored! Almost 30, still living at home with his mom, has numerous degrees and yet still can’t quite figure out how to move forward from his past. He seemed like such a great guy and without a doubt a keeper. I just wanted him to meet Beth and live happily ever after from the very beginning, but that obviously wouldn’t have made for a very good or long story. It was neat though to see how he changed and came into his own as the story progressed. I do also feel I need to say I rather enjoyed having the story told from a guys point of view, it was refreshing!

As for Jennifer and Beth. I loved their interactions through their emails. It’s funny how easily so many of us communicate in that way, but I would never have thought it could create an entire story thought it absolutely does in this case. Not only that, but you do really get a sense for their characters. There were times when I was completely frustrated with one or both of them and other times when I was terribly sad for them. Amazing character development in a very unexpected way.

This was a wonderful debut from author Rainbow Rowell. I have no doubt that Chick Lit readers will adore this incredibly romantic story and that we’ll definitely be seeing more from Rowell in the future. Attachments is a story about finding love in unusual places and going with it. Told from the perspective of Lincoln, a single guy living with his mom again after college, you will not only love his charm but hope that things will work out for him in the end. I’d absolutely recommend this to Chick Lit fans and can’t wait to read more from Rainbow Rowell!

 

Thank you so much to the publisher, Dutton Books, for providing this book for review as part of TLC Book Tours! Please make sure to stop by tomorrow for a giveaway of Attachments by Rainbow Rowell!

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