Title: Love & Leftovers
Author: Sarah Tregay
Release date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 448
Source: Publisher

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “vacation” has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you’ve lost it?

Love & Leftovers is one of the best and cutest contemporaries I have read.  Sarah Tregay’s debut novel blew me away.

Love & Leftovers is a story told in verse.  It makes it a lot quicker to read while still managing to get every emotion across.  The verse is very lyrical and the story is one that I think everyone can relate to.  That combination makes Love & Leftovers very hard to put down.

The characters were a great mix and it was hard not to like them all (even when they were doing stupid things.)  Marcie had a lot going on in her life so at times she made some some stupid mistakes.  Her family and best friend, Kate, were always there to help make things better.  The leftovers: Angelo, Ian, Garrett, Linux, Emily, Kate, Carolina, and Marcie were great together.  They were a diverse group of friends and all very fun.  Linus was a sweetheart and I’m pretty sure by the end of this book everyone will have a crush on him.  He’s kind of irresistible that way.  Marcie’s dad and Danny were also fabulous.  They were two of my favorite characters.  It’s hard not to like those two.

Overall, Love & Leftovers is another book I have to recommend.  Everyone will be able to find something to love about it.

Rating: A