Daniel Handler

Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.

Why We Broke Up

Why we broke up

Bria

** spoiler alert **
           Ed kinda sucks

Daniel Handler's ability to perfectly capture how it feels to be a teenage girl always amazes me. While this isn't The Basic Eight (one of my all-time favourite novels) , it still explores the absurdity and the gravity of being sixteen in a way that feels so simple and raw. none of the characters are particularly likeable, even Joanie, but they feel like real teenagers, real people. 

Avarni B

karalea

I remember picking up this book in the school library a couple years ago just because I thought it had a pretty spine. And a pretty cover and pretty pictures inside. I started reading it and never finished because I was weird like that. 

Anyway, a couple days ago I decided to read it properly (which meant starting again even though I remembered most of what I read previously).

I can say that I definitely don't regret my decision. I like how the book is literally just a very long post-break-up letter about the things in the box being returned. Normally, I would think that writing that long of a letter is an exaggeration but considering what happened to her I think it's kind of appropriate.

One of the things I like is how Min, the main character, keeps referring to a large variety of films to compare with the current situation. I sort of wish those movies were real. 

When I finally got to the end of the book and found out the main reason why they broke up - took me long enough - it was somewhat heart-breaking for me too because I was secretly rooting for Min and Ed to stay together, y'know? Too bad they broke up anyway.

The last thing I'd like to say is that Ed Slaterton is a fucking dick.

Ali Angco

Alexa M

"It's December now, and the sky is bright, and it's clear to me. I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened. And the truth is that I goddamn loved you so much." 

Okayyyyy. Hi. First of all, this is my favorite goddamn book of all time. Second of all, Goodreads says this is only my 3rd read but I read this for the first time in high school and read it maaany a times in the past 10 years (jesus), I'd say this is at LEAST my 10th reread. Anyways.

This is my favorite goddamn book of all time. Is it the best book of all time, nope and I'm not scared to admit it. But it is MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME. Best book I've ever read. BEST BOOK. Because I am Min. If you want to know who I am as a person, read this fucking book. If you've ever wanted to read my diary- this book. 

I feel so incredibly seen. Like Daniel Handler looked straight fucking through me and shined a light on the very heart of me. It's terrifying to think that a  man  can know me that well. I truly feel visceral about this book and I don't think I can even scratch the surface here. 

As for an actual review, this is truly one of the most uniquely told stories I've ever read, even to this day. Daniel Handler's writing is UNMATCHED. Truly incredible. The way the story is told is so captivating and timely. Min is such a relatable (obviously) and real character and you can't help but feel for her. This book was doing things nobody else could touch back in 2011, in my opinion! 

To me, this book obviously stands the test of time. It's crazy to think how attached I got even at the age of 15 when I had had little to no life experience and now, at 25, can relate even harder. To a 16 year old girl that's not scary or anything LOL. I've read many books, many I've loved, many favorites, but this will always hold that top slot. And each time I reread, I am reminded of why. 

If anybody read this review, love ya! Totally just ranted but like I said, VISCERAL feelings. KBYE 

 First Review 12/8/2018:  Always 5 stars. Finally listened to this on audio and was quoting some parts along with the narrator. My favorite book of all TIME

Emily Chernisky

I loved this book with all my heart and it is so different than most books I find myself reading. The whole book is written as a letter to Ed, the ex, from Min. Each item in the box plays a role in their relationship, whether it be the first date or the last time they meet up. Each time the author moves onto a new item in the box, a photo is shown of the next item. The detail that went into the storyline and the photos is absolutely brilliant. I loved how Min was not your classic nerd and how even she forgot her homework. I loved how Ed was the star basketball co-captain, but also really good at math. These characters reach beyond their stereotypes and I love that, though some cliches are present. This book was beautifully written and I hope that y'all would take the time to read it and appreciate it.

Shareca

this is a book i keep so close to my heart-- it's made me laugh, cry and smile all in one read and those are the books you got to keep close.

Jeannette Ordas

Oooh, what a big disappointment. Lovely drawings, but the writing and the story left me cold.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton have broken up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. A movie ticket from their first date, a comb from the motel room they shared and every other memento collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped. Why We Broke Up is a sincere and moving portrait of first love, first heartbreak and all the firsts in between. Min’s smart, sharp, devastatingly honest voice is one of the most memorable in contemporary young adult literature.

"I’m not a romantic, I’m a half-wit. Only stupid people would think I’m smart. I’m not something anyone should know. I’m a lunatic wandering around for scraps, I’m like every single miserable moron I’ve scorned and pretended I didn’t recognize. I’m all of them, every last ugly thing in a bad last-minute costume. I’m not different, not at all, not different from any other speck of a thing. I’m a blemished blemish, a ruined ruin, a stained wreck so failed I can’t see what I used to be."

So this morning, I browsed through the ignored books and found this. I started sometime around 8:oo AM and I couldnt put it down, until I finished it around 11:3o AM. One of my fastest reads ever. I also found out that Daniel Handler wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events, one of my favorites as a kid, under the pen name Lemony Snicket. (yes, I actually read the About the Author and Acknowledgements parts)

The story was good, but the girl was totally stupid. She was a nobody who fell in love with the famous athlete, and through the entire book, she had these false illusions about the guy who was obviously just trying to hook up with her. The whole memories-in-a-box was mainstream too, but she's a normal teenage girl after all, so we cant really blame her. Im just glad she woke up at the end, and it was sad, but life is sad too. There are no happy endings.

Callie Anna

I enjoyed reading this. The writing style was engaging and the characters ones that I recognized. The illustrations were lovely, but the story could've done without much cursing and promiscuity.

Ley Stanton

This book tore me apart. It reminded what it was like to be in love and be destroyed by it. That was a more accurate portrayal of love than most books can even allude to. That was what love feels like when it's been ripped away from you. It was spectacularly written, I am in awe.

Victoria P

i’ve read this book multiples times and everytime i enjoy it so much! i love how its written like a memory, it’s my favorite kind of narrative!! honestly ed was kinda an asshole the whole book but i think we all get why min wanted to be with him hahah i really liked the book overall!

Kwan Ann Tan

wow.... it took me so damn long to finish this book but i didn't really enjoy it and got bored halfway through- only the sheer panic of being behind in my goodreads challenge made me pick it up again and force myself to finish it because it was the book i'd read most of out of the 'currently reading' section

Cassidy C

I honestly enjoyed this; I thought it was well written and it felt so real. I felt like I could put myself into some of the scenes in the story. The main character Min is fantastic! I love her personality! She's funny, witty, and really down to the earth! I also really liked the concept of the book. Although it did start a little slow it was great was you got deeper into the book!

Juliette

** spoiler alert **
           This book was alright. That's it alright. It got better towards the end, once I accepted that there's really no plot tying this book together, as it's literally just her explaining why random moments were important to her in her newly ended relationship, so naturally there was a bit of a disconnect.

Margarita Caraballo

Absolutely stunning piece of art. Not only is the writing gorgeous, but the art paired with it is stunning. The book reads like a long-form letter from a girl to her ex-boyfriend. She's writing him a letter about their relationship and items in a box she is going to leave on his doorstep. Through out the letter, she tells the story of their relationship and how it fell apart, by connecting a important memory to each item in the box. As we go through the box with Min, we see the relationship begin and eventually, end. It was incredible and such a moving work.

Lucía RG

I'm giving it 3 stars just because of the ending. Ed was such a bad boyfriend and such a bad person. I hated him throughout the whole book, could not wait until they broke up. Also, every single time they called Min arty or different I wanted to scream!!
I had such high expectations because of Lemony Snicket but I did not really like this book much. The general idea was very interesting, and it was well writen, but the characters were just so stupid. I did not like Min until the very end (literally the last 30 pages or so)
I wrote a full review of it in my blog so feel free to check it out: https://thereadermoon.wordpress.com/2...

"I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened." Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. A new edition of this stunning, internationally acclaimed YA novel. 'A poignant tale of adolescent heartbreak' Telegraph

Olivera Mitić

I wanted to love you, book, I really did, avas you disappointed. 

Instead of writing a normal review, I thought of naming things that, if they had been changed, would have made this such an amazing and affecting read. The whole idea behind it was brilliant and I feel so frustrated because it wasn't done properly!!!

1.  Insta love. Dammit. No. You can't write a book with a premise like this with friggin' insta love. No. They were together for a week or so and already said how much they loved each other and it just went on my nerves SO BAD. Throwing stuff like that around just lessens its meaning. The lenght of the whole relationship should have been longer, with at least 3 months of them dating for the love to seem at least a tiny bit believable. 

2. The relationship on its own.  What drew these chartacters together? Why did they feel the way? Had this been flushed out a bit better I would have loved it. Instead we got a few cute scenes and a bunch of others where neither Min nor Ed understood each other. 

3. The 'you're not like other girls' trope. Thrown around like a frisby dammit. Stop. She may be 'arty' and 'different' to what Ed's used to, but it felt unnecessary to point it out all the time and make it be such a great and unique thing. 

4. The dialogue. Really unbelievable at times. Especially the parts where Min introduced herself and kept going on about her name. Like, girl, it's fine. You don't need to. You can stop now. No one really cares. You seem weird. 

5. The rambly monologues. The metaphors got out of control in a few parts and I don't get why the editor didn't change that (or if he did I don't want to know how much more ranty and metaphor filled it could have been). 

6. The references to made up movies. There's a limit of how many times you can do that so it's still enjoyable to the reader. That limit was blown up into little pieces without any regret apparently. 

I'll stop here because I think I covered everything. 
If people you are still interested in this book after reading this just be warned to:

Jade Flynn

I feel like I've just been through a breakup

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened. Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Kath Lau

The title says clearly what the book is all about. The reasons why Min broke up with Ed was written (as a letter) together with the items (which are also related to both of them of course) inside the box. Min drop it in front of Ed’s house.

This book (paperback) was on my wishlist last Christmas but unfortunately it’s not available. Well, I still got the other books so it’s okay. I admit that at first I got a bit bored specially when Min talks about the movies that she likes. I love watching movies but not those kinds. I also (somehow) don’t have any idea or clue on how they will break up then I’ve realized at the end that it’s very obvious. (I’m so lame. Haha) The plot is still interesting although sometimes it’s a bit slow. I’m always excited to see the next picture (every chapter starts with an illustration) so I read a bit fast. I think those were my favorite parts. I love books with pictures :) I can say that maybe I cannot really relate myself to the story since my highschool “love-life” is not really colorful and I still have my virginity that time. But I’m still recommending this book!

Brianna Best

This is more of a 4.5 instead of 4, but the half a point comes from the fact that....I don't own it maybe? I don't know. I just. Wow. This book left me completely dazed (ie. I'm still dazed) by the pure, raw feeling of it. I think any parent or adult who wants to look down on teenage relationships needs to read this. It's so full of emotion, and hope, and despair and heartbreak. And I also secretly want Min and Joan to be best friends because I could feel Joan's conflict throughout the whole thing. Maybe I'll actually make this a good review later, but I'm just so blown away by this book.

Ana Ignat

oh my gosh i kinda feel like i just went through a break up. the writing was amazing. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is such an amazing book. ALL OF THE FEELS. The illustrations compliment the story perfectly and make it easier to visualize the events in the story. At first I shipped Min and Ed but as the story went on I realized that they didn't really make the greatest couple. I really liked Min, she was very real and straight up in her letters to Ed. I did like Ed through 98% percent of the book and then at the end I really didn't like him because of a certain something.

Near the end, when we found out the big reason why they broke up I was like


WHAT THE HELL
NO
NO
NOPE
OH MY GOD
NO
PLS
NOOOOOOO


But seriously, this book is definitely one of my new favourite contemporaries. Daniel Handler did an amazing job showing the ups and downs of a relationship and first loves. I would recommend it to everyone, especially if you are looking for a unique contemporary that doesn't fluff up high school relationships.

Shoutout to Daniel Handler for creating such a beautiful, heartbreaking story and PUTTING MY HEART THROUGH HELL.

Also s/o to Maira Kalman for the kick ass illustrations, YOU DA REAL MVP

Why We Broke Up

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