Who Do You Love is the epic romance of Rachel and Andy. I say epic because their love story spans from 1985 to 2015. It is the most gorgeous tale of first love turned forever love that I have ever read. EVER. This book has rocketed to the top of my favorite books of the year. I almost want to pick it up and read it again. That's how good this novel is.
Told in alternating chapters, Rachel and Andy tell their individual stories and over time their stories converge. Rachel, a young girl being raised in an affluent Jewish community in Florida was born with a "broken heart." After almost losing their daughter, their parents become quite cautious with her and she is very sheltered and protected. One night while she was in the hospital searching for a story for her friend Alice (you'll have to read the book to know what I mean by this), she meets Andy. Andy is also 8 like Rachel, has a broken arm and is waiting, in pain, in the emergency room alone, for his mother. Who doesn't show up for hours. Andy and Rachel talk and find comfort in each other. This feeling of comfort never leaves their hearts and is reawakened years later when the two meet again, by total coincidence, while building houses for families in need. Comfort turns to love and their story really takes off.
Andy and Rachel continue to meet, and part, over the course of much of their lives and Who Do You Love provides us with an intimate (at times very intimate) glimpse into their heart breaking love story. I started reading this novel Sunday night. I had to force myself to close the book and go to bed. Yesterday, I took my girls to school, started a load of laundry, and plopped down on the sofa at 9:30 am. Getting up only to put laundry in the dryer and then to fold it and to eat lunch, I read all day. I couldn't stop reading this book and I couldn't stop crying. It wasn't just Andy and Rachel's story that made me cry, I cried for Mr. Stills (hang on--you'll meet him in the book) and for Andy's mom and dad. I cried for Rachel and her young daughters. And I cried for everyone out there whose first love was intense but didn't last because sometimes love just isn't enough.
I also cried out of hope. I am a huge believer that if something is meant to be, it will be. And some things are just meant to be and nothing we do can change that. Rachel and Andy gave me hope that I am right. Somethings are just meant to be. Some relationship are just meant to be.
Read this one. I dare you to not cry. And I dare you to read this novel and to NOT think about the person who first opened your heart to real love. Both were impossible for me.
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
P.S. Jennifer Weiner--if you are out there, PLEASE make a movie of this one. You'll give Nicholas Sparks a run for his money!
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