Attachments: Rainbow Rowell || Review

"So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow."

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Release Date: April 14th, 2011
Publisher: Plume
Purchase: Amazon// Barnes and Noble// The Book Depository//
"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you..."
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives. Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say . . . ?

I'm going to make this as short as I can because I'd really rather not have to spend more time thinking about this book than the time I sacrificed putting myself through reading it. Everybody else loves this, and it leaves me standing over here feeling incredibly awkward and confused because woooow was this hella problematic, and all sorts of "nope" for me. 

The thing about Attachments is that it perpetuates the harmful idea that so long as a man is attractive, his dubious and frightening actions are okay. Had Lincoln not been some form of Hulk/Bateman style hunk (No joke, that's actually what he's described as), there's absolutely no way Beth would've been okay with him reading about her private life, nor would she have committed her own shocking act of trying to follow him (and his assumed child) home. Lincoln lives with his mom (at almost 30), has never been able to get over his childhood sweetheart (who was literally the worst??), and can't stop himself from reading every single private email of Beth + her friend. Maybe all that sounds endearing to you, but let's be real, if Lincoln was not attractive, what would this story become? 

It wouldn't be a romance book, that's for sure.

And y'know, maybe you're chill with the idea of somebody knowing everything about you, being jealous of your current boyfriend, and having these intense possessive feelings about you even though you've never met. Or maybe you're okay with Beth's actions; the girl who knew nothing about Lincoln except that he was attractive, and then decided to try to follow him home on a whim because... I don't know?? Hormones?? Did I mention she has a boyfriend already at this point in time?

And maybe all of this is okay with you! Maybe I just don't get it. But frankly, everything these characters did was creepy as hell to me, and I'm not okay with it, nor do I condone it. It's disconcerting to me that people think this kind of behavior is healthy and good grounds to start a relationship upon.

*2 out of 5 stars*

★★☆☆☆

It's been a while since I've posted a review that wasn't just me raving about how fantastic a book was, so I hope you enjoyed this change of pace. I think I've finally come to the conclusion that Rainbow Rowell's books just aren't for me?? I'VE TRIED, DARN IT. I just can't do it. ;_;

As always though, if this intrigues you, I wholeheartedly urge you to give it a shot! I'm super picky with my romances, and a lot of people seem to love this one. 



NOW LET'S CHAT. Is there a popular author you can't get into? What relationship tropes are a big "NO" for you?? And if you've read Attachments, tell me what you thought! I'd love to hear what other people thought of the character's actions.