Why We Broke Up

A great letter to your Ex

Why We Broke Up is the letter that everyone who's every had there heart good and truly broken dreams of writing to their ex. I had heard this in other reviews, but then experienced for myself just how wrong for each other Min and Ed really are. There is no chemistry, nothing in common... I had a hard time understanding why either of them wanted to be with the other. I absolutely loved Daniel Handler's writing, his soft and highly intelligent voice of Min. Each character had a unique way of speaking that really showed their individual characters. The art was cute, with simple lines and easy colors, but wouldn't have worked any other way. So while the actual relationship between Min and Ed was horribly boring and didn't make a lot of sense, this book was still quite entertaining.

15 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Great tale about teenage love and heartbreak

Why we broke up is more than just a letter to your ex. It's a girl's heartfelt and funny story about your first love, balancing love and friendship, crazy adventures, and heartbreak. This book is not just funny and relatable, it's a book that tells the truth of love,life, and frienfship. A must for both teens and adults.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Maybe the only negative review you'll see for this one.

So Daniel Handler's alter ego is Lemony Snicket which, believe it or not, explains a lot. The writing in this novel, Min's letter to Ed explaining why they broke up (I know, a total shock based on the title . . . I kid), has a lilting, lyrical quality readers will recognize from the Series of Unfortunate Events books. Unfortunately, as it did in those books, the tone does more to distance readers than draw them in. The Baudelaires never felt like authentic children and Min doesn't feel like an authentic teen.

Numerous times while going through this novel I had to stop and confirm it was in fact a YA novel because the writing, the tone, even the whole premise of the story felt decidedly adult. The object-as-explanation device is similar to the box of tapes Hannah Baker leaves after her suicide in 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Still, even with the addition of lovely illustrations by Maira Kalman, the idea never quite works here.

Min is not very likable. Ed is very, very unlikable (I mean, Min did break up with him after all) and never feels like a character in the plot, acting more as a inanimate object in Min's story than a real part of it. And then there's Al--an innocent bystander to this relationship train wreck. (To be fair, I also couldn't get past the big-book-length-breakup production for a relationship that didn't even last two months--I mean, really?)

Novels written as letters are hard. Love, Stargirl is one that worked well drawing readers into the story and the characters. On the other hand, with her sendoff to Ed, Min pushes everyone away.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Diislike Option

Tons of pointless babbling over a adolescent breakup. Extremely boring.

3 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

:)

Loved it!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

She's you, only published

My first Nook read & definately not disappointed. If there was one word to explain Min in this book is "different" but different from who? .... not I for i felt every moment & thought every thought that made her "me" :) ....

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Wolf

Unsheathed his sword and stabs cole in the head

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Glad I read.

This book helped me come to terms with whats going on in my life and relationship even as an adult reading about a high school relationship. This is a heart warming tale of first love and first heartbreak. You really should read this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good book!

There are two sides to every heart break. Whether it is right, wrong, or just not meant to be, the story told of Ed and Min's relationship is a complicated one. I liked being in Min's shoes and seeing why they broke up.

Things are always complicated in a relationship and it's good to see the whole side. Granted with what Min went through, I enjoyed her story of heart break. From the beginning of the relationship till the end, Min was nothing but honest in what she wanted. I liked that she didn't pretend who she was but was herself. She stood tall when others said she was crazy and knew exactly who she loved.

Now, I don't know all of Ed's story but I would love to read his point of view as well. I think both characters took from some knowledgeable experience from this relationship. Both did stupid things, but hey, as a teen you make those kinds of mistakes.

But you know what I really loved about this book? How Min is so much more wiser in the end. Yes, she left a box of things for Ed, but as a characters she grew so much before my eyes. As I read her story and felt her heart ache she suffered, she learned the most valuable lesson of all, life goes on. And with that, Min can better herself.

This is a good book of heart break that everyone has gone through. What you thought you love, who you thought you knew, isn't all what it seems.

*cursing/drinking/sex*

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Molly E. for Readers Favorite I'm not a big fan of

Reviewed by Molly E. for Readers Favorite

I'm not a big fan of books on CD's because I find that it takes longer than simply sitting down to read them. However, seeing this book's blurb and realizing that it might actually be worth the extra time to sit and listen to it, I dived in. I took it with me to carpool while waiting for my kiddos to get out of school or to the grocery store or doctor's office. While I was listening to this I found that the narrator really did a fantastic job at changing her voice pitch to allow the listener to know the difference between the characters she was referring to. That in itself is a great thing for an audio book. Now, on to the story. The idea of a man writing a book based on a female's break up point of view really caught my eye. I find it interesting that a man can endeavor to take that task on but it is not all that great. However, with this book, it was quite an accomplished task. I found myself sympathizing more often than not with Ed. Poor Ed really got the bum end of the deal, all in the form of a box, a simple box filled with so many items and one excruciatingly painful letter from Min. Wow, to be in Ed's shoes ... well, I would not wish that on any one!

Listening to this story really had me laughing throughout. A typical teenage break up with many things woven in to really keep the reader hooked. I loved the characters and the complexity of a teenage relationship. A first love gone sour, and told through the eyes of a scorned girlfriend.

I can definitely recommend this with a 4 star review, and tell you that this is a catching book. From the first chapter to the last, you are hooked and taken on a journey of teenage love. Wonderful job, Daniel Handler and Kristine Hvam.

Banana

Happens to be there so wolf trips and falls

Nessa

Youre being stoopid.

John

Shoots all attackers and saves delilah.

Cale

*Slashes up the vine, whips out his chain, flicks his chain so it wraps around Delilahs arms, pinning them to her sides, and drags her back to scarlet letter*

Lightningstar

No u cant there is so much to live for and a broken heart and being ignored shouldnt affect anything.

Delilah

Is dragged out screaming at the top of her lungs

JustAnotherReader

I thought it was a pretty good book but Min is kind of dull. Also, i didnt understand a lot of it.

Funny, Honest, Raw

After finishing this book I was reminded of how passionate first love can be. There is no real reason for Min and Ed to be together and that’s the point. They both have something the other needs/wants.

I’m a big fan of Maira Kalman and the illustrations make a wonderful companion to the text.

Min’s letter to Ed is the one you always wanted to write to your ex after he/she ripped your heart out, but you just didn’t have the guts, sanity, or strength to pull it off. Part of me kept hoping that Min and Ed would work out and I had to keep reminding myself of the book’s title that it wasn’t ever meant to be. This book isn’t for everyone, but if you can handle a big dollop of brutal honesty, this book is for you. -BUT- if you’d rather not go there, read something else.

Whimsical and Heart-wrenching

I really like this book and that it didnt go in chronological order.
Over all it was a lovely book with a fantastic range of emothion.
Surely a great read for any of you who like heart-wrenching endings.

Hghg

Dopy and giid