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Apr 02, 2019_Mirelda_ rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I know I'm late to the party on this one, but I finally got around to reading this book, and I couldn't love it more. So many feelings! Nostalgia for my teen years (and shuddering at my teen years), happiness, heartbreak, and hope for these wonderful characters. I love Eleanor and Park, both. I hadn't read much about the book before reading it, and I was surprised by how dark Eleanor's home life is. Despite the young love angle, this is in many ways a sad and difficult book. Eleanor is dealing with an abusive stepfather and terrible conditions at home. The storyline and character of the abusive man were so well-written that it triggered all kinds of bad memories for me--that subtle-from-the-outside but iron-tight control, confusing moments of kindness against the foil of cruelty, and the fine line that will someday be crossed. Despite the darkness, it's a really beautiful book. And that upturn at the end...oh, thank goodness for that.