Plot: When Nick’s ex-girlfriend walks in with a new guy, he does the only thing he can think of: he asks the girl sitting next to him to be his girlfriend for five minutes. What follows is a crazy Manhattan night full of music, adventure and heartache.
Cohn and Levithan are a great team: they know how to write and entertaining, engaging romance in believable teen voices. I’ve already enjoyed Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares and Naomi and Eli’s No Kiss List (and I’m glad I waited to find the non-movie cover for this one, it’s a very effective, simple design; the kind I love). Like these less-known books, each chapter is told from the PoV of either Nick or Norah. Both are very likable with a fondness for music (punk in particular) and a quirky sense of humour. I really enjoyed discovering their personalities and quirks along with them.
I don’t like love at first sight or whirlwind romances usually. I don’t buy them. But that isn’t what Cohn and Levithan give us exactly. These are two people who fall in love in a night, or something like it. But on the way they learn about themselves, get over past unhealthy loves and discover each other’s flaws and strengths. Very efficient and yet somehow believable. I don’t know if they’ll last but it was an amazing night.
And music fans with love the many references. I know it made me want to discover some bands I’d never known or never given a chance too.
I haven’t watched the movie yet but the trailer seems only tangentially related to what I read. I’ll give it a chance, it is certainly a story that could be enhanced by a soundtrack..
2014 (#3)
A Rogue Librarian's Reading List 