Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening. Flirtation—online—ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.
And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends who are a mere click away.
Madeline and Elliot’s relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other, and, of course, with their best friends and dubious confidants (Emily and David). The result is a brand-new kind of modern romantic comedy, in format, in content, and even in creation—the authors exchanged e-mails in real time, blind to each other’s side conversations. You will nod in appreciation and roll your eyes in recognition; you’ll learn a thing or two about how the other half approaches a new relationship . . . and you will cheer for an unexpected ending that just might restore your faith in falling in love, twenty-first-century style.
Read Bottom Up is a love story for the internet age. Told strictly through emails and text messages, it’s a cute and sometimes sad love story for today’s world. Although I haven’t been single in many, many years, I could easily relate to the struggles on both sides of the conversation. Honestly, I could even relate to the best friends and how they sat, patiently listening to their best buddies be absolute idiots. It doesn’t end like I expected it to, however, I think that it’s a very fitting finish to this novel.
I’ve only read one other novel written in this manner – Holly’s Inbox – and loved that book so much that I couldn’t resist picking this one up as well. I’m thankful I did!
5/5