High school senior Olivia Winging gave up her love of photography when she gave up her boyfriend, Trevor Youngblood, a year and a half ago. She broke things off with Trevor because her mom married his dad, and dating your step-brother? Creepy.
Livvy hasn’t been on good terms with her mother since, and one of her stipulations for staying at the Youngblood’s every other weekend is that Trevor can’t be there. When she gets nominated for the Junior Photography in Excellence award, Trevor insists she enter. She agrees—only if every photo in the portfolio can be of him. Knowing that Livvy can capture a person’s deepest secrets through her lens, Trevor hesitates before accepting the deal.
As Livvy gets behind the lens of her camera again, her love of photography is rekindled. Unfortunately, the time she spends with Trevor also re-ignites the old flame for him she’s kept smothered for so long.
In order for Livvy to finish her portfolio, she’ll have to face her feelings for Trevor as well as deal with the animosity between her and her mother. Livvy’s always been able to capture a person’s soul from behind the camera—but she’s not sure she likes it when the lens is suddenly focused on her. If she can’t find a way to forgive her mother and admit how she feels about Trevor, Livvy may end up losing more than just the photography contest. She could lose her heart.
3-time USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson writes adult contemporary beach romance. She is the author of over 130 books across two names, and there's nothing better than sun, sand, and swoon-worthy kisses! Unless it's a sweet-and-sexy cowboy - read those under her pen name of Liz Isaacson. Or an emotional, heartfelt women's fiction novel - read those under her pen name of Jessie Newton.
Something About Love is something I never would have expected. Firstly, I didn't realize that this book was written in "second-verse" format. If I were to be honest, it threw me off a bit. As much as I love poetry, I don't really associate it with novels or anything. However, as I read the book, it captured me senseless and brought so much more complex emotions than what I had expected. This book was poetic, beautiful, and unique. I found myself crawling through the pages as though I was desperate to find my feelings carved into words, for I couldn't write them myself. Not only was this book about finding yourself, but also finding forgiveness to others. The romance was a wonderful element too, letting us feel more in sync to the progress of the story. The characters, despite the book written in restricted way (since it's poetry), had been wonderful to get to know. The photography element in this book was something that I had enjoyed and found myself relating to.
Anyway, Something About Love had made me tear up into pieces and it was wonderful all around. Even if second verse novels are not often my forte, I found myself opening up to that genre, thanks to this book.
Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
"But I'll never get those words out of my head. I've seen them, and I can't unsee them Just like I've kissed Trevor, and I can't unkiss him, Can't unwant him, Can't unlove him."
All in all, I love poetry. I know that I say this in every review of a YA book that is written through the format of poetic works, but it's the truth. I always take the chance of reading poetry whenever I can, but Elana Johnson really does master it every time.
After reading Elana's other YA books, I jump at the chance of reading any other book written by her. She knocks me out of my socks every time and I'm either left (a) bawling /or/ (b) smiling from head to toe. She just gets my feels going out of control 24/7.
Something About Love was a novel truly about finding yourself. Livvy, the main character and protagonist, was buried through most of the novel. Sure, she was annoying and dumb at times, through most of the book. But really, this book was about her developing to the state she became to by the end of the book. She really didn't become herself until the end of the book, and that's where she really began to shine, no doubt about it.
Elana's characters always have a weak beginning and strong building to the end. She also always makes their stories believable. Both Trevor and Livvy both had tough lives and family problems—especially Livvy, who went through so much that she ended up getting homeschooled.
Livvy loved Trevor. But she really didn't understand what being in love meant. Before, she gave up everything that she loved—and that included Trevor and her love of photography. Now, everything may be going for the worse but then other things can go positively. When an opportunity to be part of a photography contest comes up, Trevor urges her to sign up and she does. Things may be going for the worse but there's always a bright side...
"Humans need oxygen; Fish need water; Harris needs me, and I need Trevor."
Overall, the plot was very well-defined and well-written. Elana's and Livvy's story got to the point quickly and was very enjoyable. Livvy's story was real and I believed it. Many people are going through the same things that she was going through and I loved the concept. Photography? That's so hipster and gorgeous.
The romance was cute, but it wasn't all eye-popping. There wasn't enough bizazz.
This book wasn't everything I was looking for, but I still actually enjoyed it quite a lot and I'd recommend it to lovers of anything by Carol Lynch Williams. Grief, forbidden romance, and strong emotions, Something About Love is a book that's sure to satisfy others.
So I came across 'Something About Love' under my recommendations and thought it looked interesting. I downloaded it on Friday night and read it in one sitting. It was definitely interesting, but more than anything, it's just a quick read.
Something About Love is written in verse, which I've never experienced before. I really enjoyed how breezy and poetic it was! I may have to pick up a few more books that are written this way because I actually really like this writing style!
I think the writing style is what I enjoyed most about this book. I liked our main character, Olivia, and her unique style and her creativity. I also liked her friend Jaycee and her crush Trevor. When I first started reading this, I thought it was going to be a lot deeper and heavier than it was. I feel like the author could have made the connection between Olivia and Trevor much stronger than just a couple of little jokes and some hand holding. Perhaps this was geared towards a younger audience but it just kind of skimmed the surface for me.
I originally gave this 4 stars because I was so swept away with the writing style and the ease of it but after a couple of days I realized I could barely remember the main character's name.
I would for sure pick up another book by Elana Johnson and give it a try, and I will DEFINITELY be seeking out more books written in verse. But when it comes down to it, Something About Love will not stick with me for very long. It was a cute read and it opened my eyes to a new writing style but it was a little bit forgettable in content and plot.
I absolutely loved this book. Something About Love is an exceptional read. It made me cry a little too. I captured feelings and dynamics of a teenage life so beautifully. I loved the plot, characters and the way it is written. Livvy is miserable after her mother left them and consequently she left her boyfriend. She thinks she did the right thing but did she really? Then things get even worse when she broke up with her current boyfriend who did not take things well. She had to be home schooled from then on. Nothing was right in her life but she had to confront her feelings head on in order to get over her past.
It was a very touching story. I have to say it's been a while since I read something this heartfelt. I recommend it to everyone and hope that you enjoy it just as much as I did.
I love verse novels, the intensity, the simplicity, the complexity. Each scene, so beautifully told, poetic, emotional. That’s what you will find within the pages of Something About Love. I wasn’t disappointed in Elana’s second verse novel.
I especially enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and Trevor. My favorite parts were watching her point of view change as she sees Trevor in a new light through the lens of her camera. Of course, this is more than a sweet love story. Olivia deals with family and school issues too. Still, Trevor was my favorite.
If you enjoy verse novels then you’ll like Something About Love.
An interesting short story about self discovery. I wasn't used to the writing style as it was something I never read before but after a bit I got used to it and enjoyed it. The story flowed well and the short chapters made it easy to keep reading. I'm not sure how I feel about the relationship part of it but in general I enjoyed the story.
Such a quick read but so jam-packed with feels! I seriously adore that the main character is a photographer because I was able to identify with her. And ahhh, Trevor Youngblood is the sweetest. Hooray for another fantastic YA contemporary verse novel from Elana Johnson! Full review to come.
I really enjoyed reading Olivia and Trevor's love story. Even though Olivia was struggling to make sense of her life, she manages to learn to live life again and opening her heart and letting Trevor in even though she is terrified. This issue a great read!
This was very different for me, a book told all in prose/poetry form. As it got going, there were more moments where the way it read didn't feel like a poem, just looked like it was one with the way sentences were broken up, but there were times in it too that did read more like poetry. It was an interesting teenage love story, dealing with high school, divorce, friendships, falling in love, bullying, etc. It was really intriguing. The author has another book written in the same style, so I'd like to try reading that one too!
OUABC 40 Books in 2022 Reading Challenge Tag: A Book Written in Prose
Something About Love is Elana Johnson’s second “in-verse” book. I reviewed the first, Elevated, here. These are the only two in-verse novels I’ve read, I’ve never been interested in this type of writing, and I’ve never appreciated poetry. I'm so glad I didn't let this stop me from reading either of these books.
Other than having to ignore my punctuation editor’s inner voice (cuz really, what’s right and what's wrong, not for me to say!) I loved Something About Love. A lot of it resonated with me, also being the child of a split marriage, like the main character Olivia. I think watching parents' divorce gives a child a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to love and relationships.
Just like I'm so glad I gave Elana’s books a chance, her main character learns to let love happen and enjoy the powerful emotions of the “right” relationship.
Here are some of my favorite lines, which perfectly sum up the character’s journey:
(near the beginning) I wonder if falling out hurts more than falling in, Or if it’s like Slipping through the cracks When no one is looking.
(near the end) “Falling hurts,” I say, “and What if he doesn’t fall with me?” … At least I understand Why people use the word falling To describe love.
Falling is wild, and Uncontrollagle, and Utterly breathtaking
i was drawn to this book because it was free and the main character is passionate about photography and so am i so that piqued my interest right away. unfortunately she has pretty much stopped taking pics because her life was suddenly turned upside down and it affected everything she cared about. the only thing i thought that was weird and a little distracting until about halfway through the book was that it was written in verse because it was more conversational so it didnt really seem like it should be poetry but otherwise it was a cute little love story, quick easy read. although i got this book for free, but it is worth the dollar or minor cost that it is on amazon for right now.
4.5 to 5 stars since I had a slight issue with the book. This was a light and cute read, for sure!
KILIG is the word for this book!! It was a short read, and I actually wished for it to be longer. Olivia, Trevor, Rose, Gramma, Jacey, and Olivia's parents... all of these characters are well-written and I have grown to love them in the small amount of time that I read the book. I love love love Trevor!!! Although to me, his name didn't fit his personality, I still adore him. He was patient with Olivia, he was close to Rose, he was also close to Olivia's dad. I love that Trevor waited for Olivia, that he knew everything about her, that he was so so so sweet and swoon-worthy, and that he has dark hair and blue eyes (my type of book boyfriend). To be honest, the book was cliche but I really needed a cliche read that is exceptionally written. Jacey is such a supportive friend. Olivia's dad was also understanding. Olivia's mom was imperfect, but she loved her daughters. I love the book because LOVE was radiating in each page!! One problem with this book is I never got to know how Olivia's mom and Darren Youngblood felt about Trevor and Olivia going out??
This made me tear up in places and it made me smile and it was all around amazing. Elana Johnson is one of my absolute favorite authors and while novels in verse aren't my thing, she just has a way of making me read it and love it. Olivia is a great main character, and while my circumstances were much different, I could still relate to how she was feeling about her situation. I loved that she recognized her flaws and eventually learned to accept herself and work on them.
Trevor was great. I loved that he didn't push her, and he was just there for her when she needed him, even when she pushed him away. The ending... I had tears in my eyes.
What I love about this book, and Elana's previous book ELEVATED, is that the "in verse" part strips away everything but the story. While setting is important, we don't need every detail of it described to us to tell an amazing and heartfelt story. This novel proved it. You won't be sorry if you pick up this book.
Something About Love by Elana Johnson was a cute little love story written in prose. I've never read a complete story in this style, so I found it new and different. I was a little unsure vefore I started reading, but I didn't find it distracting at all. I think Livvy had a good sense of who she was when she was younger(or she was at least well on her way), but then something happened to turn her World on end, Especially around her outlook on love. As a result, she lost herself and some of the people in her life. Some by her doing and some not. So, within Something to Love, Livvy was finding herself again, and her story was told beautifully.
Something About Love by Elana Johnson was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
The thing I love best about stories by Elana Johnson is their "deep hearts". With a story by Elana, you're sure to skip past all the mundane stuff of the world and get right to what matters--matters of the heart. In Something About Love, Elana's second novel-in-verse, we follow Livy as she strives to see the truth in the world around her--a world that was blown up by her mother's infidelity and her parents' subsequent divorce.
Looking through the lens of her camera, Livy is able to see more clearly, and what she discovers is sometimes a surprise, a revelation.
As a child of divorce myself, I really appreciated the legitimacy Elana brought to the way a teenage girl feels in this situation. She dealt with the topic with a compassion and sincerity that was really beautiful.
Olivia is a high school student who’s a budding photographer. She’s entering a photography competition and the pictures are going to have the same subject. All the photos in her portfolio will be of the handsome Trevor Youngblood, her stepbrother/ex-boyfriend.
She’s going to have to deal with feelings for Trevor as well as work through any hostilities she has towards her mother, who married Trevor’s father. I loved the romance and emotions in this novel. It’s a fast read, but the author doesn’t skimp on plot or characterization. This novel-in-verse is highly enjoyable. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Short and sweet YA. Olivia is angry at her mother for leaving. She met and fell in love with another man—the father of Olivia's boyfriend.
The book is written in a stylistic manner of book in verse, somewhat like author Sonya Sones' What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know. I like this format. When done right, the story rolls forth, energetically and also poetically. The author did a nice job bringing us through Olivia's emotions as she heals, learns to forgive, and tries to understand what love is.
Livvy does not want photography nor Trevor back in her life again. At least since she has Harris and her mom remarried...well, Trevor's dad. But Trevor's persistence convinced her to join the Junior Photography Excellence Award which made Livvy bargain to photograph Trevor if she enters. Livvy has a separate eye with her camera. She sees things people usually don't--hidden emotions, walls, hurt. Though this time, she doesn't seem to see herself as she claims to see others.
Reading books in verse is so different. They are so packed full of feeling that you feel drunk on emotions when you are finished reading them. This book is like a roller coaster ride leaving you breathless and emotionally exhausted at the end. So much pain to work through in such a short time and so much longing and in the end an expectation of joy to come. simply amazing!
There is just something about this book that touched my heart in a big way. At first, the style of the formatting was distracting, as it is written like a poem instead of prose, but after a short while I was sucked into the story so much it didn't matter. This story was touching, poignant, beautiful. I strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult stories.
Elana Johnson has a gift with verse novels. This book was absolutely beautiful. The main character is a photographer, and I loved how much of the story that colored--- especially in the way she saw beyond the surface of other people and, ultimately, herself. I highly recommend it.
I loved this sweet book about a girl getting back to discovering who she is and what she wants and the boy that makes her a better person. I saw want to go into photography now:) This is a quick read.
This is the second free-verse style book I have read of Elana's and I have to say, she is a master at this. I was instantly taken in to the story. She was able to keep my interest by laying subtle hints here and there. Great story!
I read this book as part of the Daring Hearts boxed set.
The formatting of this book was weird and the style was a little too specific. It wasn't a bad book by any means but not really up my alley. That being said it was still a nice little story and would definitely appeal to a lot of people.
4.5 stars. I've decided I really like novels in verse -- they always tell a compelling story and in so few words. I loved the photography element of this story too!