The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith – Review

I just have to say, that I absolutely LOVED this book! The Geography of You and Me follows the story of Lucy and Owen, living completely different and separate lives, except for the common sharing of a short amount of time where they were alone in an elevator in New York City during a power outage. From there, they roamed around the darkened city finding ice cream and water bottles and marveling in each other’s company. However, shortly after their encounter they begin once again, living a life very separate from each other. Their method of communication is postcards which they send to each other when they visit a new place.

There’s a high level of uncertainty within this book in regards to Lucy and Owen’s relationship. They don’t really know when their next encounter will be, but for the most part they live in the moment and love each other’s company while they have it. What I love so much about this book, is that Lucy and Owen don’t let time or distance, or the differences in their lifestyles become a barrier to their communication and their feelings. I found it so amazing that just after a short period of time in New York City, in the elevator and on the roof of their building, looking at the stars, they developed such a unique and interesting relationship, that months later, half a globe away, their thoughts still wonder to the other person.

What I also absolutely adored about this book, is surprisingly the lack of technology used for their communication, and their originality and what one might perceive as “old fashioned” behaviour. The majority of their communication is through the mail – by postcards. I love this idea, I feel like it’s so much more heartfelt than just sending someone a quick text message that requires next to no effort. A postcard is so much more thoughtful, and especially fitting to their circumstances and I thought this aspect of the novel was just so sweet. I’m a huge supporter of traditional and “old fashioned” relationships, and that’s why I think I really enjoyed this book. Many modern relationships don’t include the sending of postcards or mail, or just casually laying on a building roof looking up at the stars. Though their relationship isn’t without obstacles, I still found myself thoroughly admiring it.

This is one of my favourite novels that I have read so far this summer, and it’s such a fast-paced and easy read that I found myself flying through each of the pages! It only took me just over one day to complete this novel, and at the end, I was actually smiling because it was just so cute!

If you haven’t read The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith, I highly recommend that you do, if you’re into contemporary romances that include traditional and “old fashioned” elements! 🙂 I also have read her other novel, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and was very impressed with that one as well!

I give this novel 5/5 for being the cutest and sweetest book that I have read so far this summer. I loved how they didn’t let the seemingly most detrimental circumstances ruin their connection and relationship! 🙂 This book also made me want to travel the world, because the descriptions of the cities and places that each of the characters went, were beautiful. I especially loved when Lucy went to Paris because that is one place that I’ve always dreamed of going! 🙂

Some of my Favourite Quotes from the Novel: 

“The most basic sort of love: to be worried about the one who was worrying about you.”

“How long could a single night really be expected to last? How far could you stretch such a small collection of minutes? He was just a boy on a roof. She was just a girl in an elevator.”

“Not everything can last. Not everything is supposed to mean something.”

“He was like one of her novels, still unfinished and best understood in the right place and at the right time.”

“Being on her own had never been a burden. Instead of weighing her down, it buoyed her up; when she was alone, she was lighter. When she was by herself, she felt untethered and free.”