Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

An absolutely stunning book for young adults from Daniel Handler, the man who created Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

This is the box, Ed. Inside is everything: two bottle caps, a movie ticket from Greta in the Wild, a note from you, a box of matches, your protractor, Joan’s book, the stolen sugar, a toy truck, those ugly earrings, a comb from the motel, and the rest of it. This is it, Ed. The whole story of why we broke up.

In Why We Broke Up Daniel Handler has created a bittersweet book for young adults with wit and heart and warmth.

After hearing so much about this book, when I got the opportunity to review it I jumped at the chance. Right from the beginning this really sounded interesting, I loved the fact there were illustrations throughout indicating things that had been collected in the relationship.

To be honest I really found it difficult to get into this book, I could not warm to the characters and I really did not enjoy the writing style. Everything was in the first person and I found it a little immature at times. The narrator - Min got repetitive and annoying. I really disliked her as a character, no matter how hard I tried to like her I just couldn't.

Almost every chapter ended with 'that's why we broke up'. This got a little tedious after the first few chapters. I also found it was a little boring and long winded.

I know I am probably completely unlike most people who have read this book, who seem to have given it great reviews but this was not for me. The only thing I really liked was the illustrations, which broke the story up. I really don't like writing negative reviews about books, but I feel it is important to give my honest review and unfortunately this was not for me.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.