“Favorite word?” he whispers. I don’t even hesitate: “You.”
Welcome to my look at Love and Other Words, a fan-favorite second-chance romance that has touched many readers’ hearts. Published in 2018 by writing duo Christina Lauren, this standalone romance takes readers through the ups and downs of love lost and found.
The book moves between past and present, creating a reading experience that feels both warm and sad.
At its heart, this is a story about Macy and Elliot, who meet as teens, fall in love, break apart, and then bump into each other years later as adults. Their story shows how first love can leave marks that last forever.
In this blog, I’ll walk through the complete story summary, meet the main characters, examine the book’s themes, and share what readers and critics think about it.
If you’re trying to decide if this book is right for you or just want to understand what makes it so popular, you’ll find your answers here.
Plot Summary of Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words
“I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.”
― Christina Lauren, Love and Other Words
I want to tell you about a story that will touch your heart. Love and Other Words follows Macy Sorensen and Elliot Petropoulos across two timelines.
In the “then” chapters, we see 11-year-old Macy meeting 13-year-old Elliot when her dad buys a weekend home next to his family’s house.
After losing her mom, books became Macy’s safe place. She and Elliot bond over words and stories. As they grow up, their friendship turns into a deep first love.
In the “now” chapters, Macy is 28 and works as a pediatrician. She’s engaged to Sean but runs into Elliot by chance after 11 years apart. This meeting shakes up her carefully planned life.
The big turning point? Something happened 11 years ago that tore them apart. We learn bits of this secret throughout the book until the full truth comes out.
Characters and Character Arc
- Macy Sorensen starts as a shy, hurt girl who loses her mom. She builds walls to protect herself. As an adult, she lives a safe but not fully happy life. By the end, she learns to open her heart again.
- Elliot Petropoulos is a word-loving, smart boy who grows into a thoughtful English teacher. He never stopped loving Macy. His path is about patience and forgiveness.
- Macy’s dad – supportive and loving
- Sean – Macy’s fiancé, who offers stability
- Sabrina – Macy’s best friend, who gives honest advice
Themes and Plotline
- Grief – How loss shapes us
- First love – The power of young connections
- Second chances – Is it possible to try again?
- Words – How they connect and heal us
- Growth – Moving from past pain to new hope
The way Christina Lauren weaves these ideas through both timelines makes the story feel real. When Macy struggles to forgive, you’ll feel her pain. When she and Elliot share small moments over books, you’ll smile.
Many readers say they cry while reading this book. The emotional ups and downs hit close to home because first love leaves marks on all of us.
The back-and-forth between past and present keeps you turning pages, wanting to know what broke these two apart and if they can find their way back.
What Genre Is Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words?
“I like your kind of quiet. Your heart isn’t quiet.”
― Christina Lauren, Love and Other Words
About the Genre
I would call this book a contemporary romance with emotional depth. While many romance stories focus mainly on the love story, this one digs deeper into feelings and personal growth.
The writing style has a thoughtful, serious tone that sets it apart from lighter rom-coms. You’ll find more focus on the characters’ inner thoughts and how past events shaped who they became.
Love and Other Words feels like a mix between romance and women’s fiction. It has a love story at its core, but with layers that make you think about your own life choices.
About the Tropes
This book uses two classic romance story patterns that readers love:
- Second-chance romance – Macy and Elliot get another shot at love after years apart
- Childhood friends to lovers – Their bond forms when they’re young and grows into something more
Why do these work so well here? Because the history between Macy and Elliot gives their adult feelings real weight. You believe their connection because you’ve seen it grow from the start.
The childhood backstory makes their reunion feel earned, not rushed. Their shared past creates both the pull that brings them together and the pain that keeps them apart.
What to Expect?
When you pick up this book, get ready for an emotional ride.
- The highs: Sweet moments of young love and rediscovery that will make you smile.
- The lows: Heartbreak and misunderstandings that might make you cry.
Unlike some lighter romances, this story doesn’t shy away from tough feelings. The characters face real hurt and make mistakes.
But don’t worry – I promise the story ends in a way that feels right. The path to get there isn’t always easy, but that’s what makes the ending matter.
What makes this book stay with readers is how it feels both personal to these specific characters, but also touches on universal feelings about first love and second chances. You’ll likely see parts of your own life experiences reflected in these pages.
Ratings and Reviews of Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
I checked the latest numbers on Goodreads, and Love and Other Words holds a strong 4.2 out of 5 stars average rating. That’s based on more than 115,000 ratings and 13,000 written reviews.
The overall feeling from readers is quite positive. Many say they couldn’t put the book down once they started. Some mention crying while reading certain parts.
Goodreads
- This book broke my heart into tiny pieces and then put it back together. The writing pulled me in from the first page, and I felt everything Macy and Elliot went through. Their story feels so real.
- I loved the back-and-forth timeline and how we slowly learn what happened between them. My only wish was for a bit more development of the side characters, but the main love story is perfect.
- The final revelation about why they split up felt a bit rushed to me, but the way Christina Lauren writes about young love is so spot-on that I forgive this small issue.
Amazon
- I’m not usually a crier, but this book had me in tears twice. The way the authors capture that feeling of meeting your first love again after years apart is so honest. You feel both the comfort of old connection and the pain of lost time.
- The childhood scenes were my favorite parts. The way Macy and Elliot share words and books felt special without being fake. Their young friendship is the strong base that makes their adult love story work.
- This isn’t just a love story – it’s about how we heal from loss and learn to trust again. The writing style pulls you into both timelines so well that you feel like you’re growing up with these characters. I finished it in one weekend and immediately wanted to start over.
I find that most readers connect with the emotional honesty of this book, even when they point out small things they’d change. The dual timeline structure gets lots of praise for how it builds both suspense and depth.
What about you? If you’ve read it, did your thoughts match up with these reviews?
Who Should Read This Book?
I think this book is best for readers 18 and older. While teens might enjoy the young love story, some emotional and intimate scenes are meant for a more mature audience.
You should know about certain topics that might be hard to read:
- Loss of a parent – Macy’s grief over her mother’s death is a key part of the story
- Broken relationships – Both family and romantic
- Emotional pain – The book deals with deep hurt and betrayal
The book contains some romantic scenes between the main characters. These moments aren’t overly detailed, but they do show physical intimacy as part of the relationship.
This book will speak to you if you enjoy stories about:
- Getting second chances at love
- Growing up and finding yourself
- Healing from past hurts
- The power of words and communication
I’ve found that people who like thoughtful romances with real emotional stakes tend to connect most with this book. It’s perfect for readers who want a love story that goes beyond just “will they get together?” to find deeper questions about timing, forgiveness, and growth.
If you prefer light, happy stories without much sadness, this might not be the right pick. The book balances joy with real pain, which is what makes it feel true to life.
Similar Books if You Liked Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
If you finished Love and Other Words and want more stories that give you similar feelings, I’ve got some great options for you.
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
- The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
- One True Love by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
- Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
I find that what these books share with Love and Other Words is their focus on how the past shapes us, the power of connection over time, and characters who feel like real people making tough choices about love.
What type of story element did you most enjoy from Love and Other Words? The childhood connection? The second chance? The emotional depth? Knowing that might help narrow down which of these would be your best next read.
Conclusion
Love and Other Words finds its way into readers’ hearts because it feels honest about both the beauty and pain of deep connections. The story of Macy and Elliot shows how the people we love as teenagers can shape who we become as adults.
If you enjoy books that make you feel something real – that mix happy memories with sad ones, that show how people can grow and heal – this story might be perfect for you.
The way Christina Lauren writes about first love feels both specific to these characters and familiar to anyone who’s experienced it.
I hope this summary helps you decide if this book belongs on your reading list. Have you read it already? I’d love to hear what you thought about Macy and Elliot’s story.
Did any quotes or moments stand out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author Christina Lauren
Christina and Lauren are not just one person. They are two best friends who write books together. Christina lives in California with her family. She loves to bake cookies on rainy days.
Her favorite place to write is under a big oak tree in her backyard. Lauren calls Texas home. She has two dogs that sleep at her feet while she works. Sometimes she writes all night when a good idea keeps her awake.
They met online in a writing group. What started as friendly feedback turned into a powerful team. Their first book was written across state lines.
They sent chapters back and forth for months. Neither expected it would become a bestseller. Together, they have written over fifteen novels. Their books mix humor, romance, and real-life problems.
When not writing, they FaceTime daily. They finish each other’s sentences even through screens. Lauren handles the dialogue. Christina crafts the descriptions. Their different strengths make their stories better.
Readers often ask how they work together so well. Their answer is simple: friendship comes first, books second. They travel to meet fans at book events around the world. But their favorite part of author life is still the first moment when they share new ideas with each other.
