Review: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Release Date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers
Rating: YA 14+
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 375

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

This book was cheesy, and romantic, and oh so cliche at times, but MAN I loved it. Even though, after reading the blurb, every fibre in my body told me I wouldn't. I mean, in some ways, I guess this would be my kind of book (the song references, the cute guy with the past, the afterlife, etc.), but I never thought I would fall so hard for all the cheesy, sappiness that this book is practically exploding with. But I did. I fell madly, irrevocably, head over heels in love with this book. And I'm proud to say so!! :')


Brie is the sweet, funny, spunky heroine who Rothenberg introduces us to right from the very first page. And, no, she's NOT named after the cheese.  Also, no again. Her parents are not huge cheeseaholics. 


You guys, right from the very first sentence out of her mouth, I knew I would love Brie. She's relatable, funny, brave, and sweet. I honestly could not have asked for a better MC for this book. My heart soared, ached, and, yes, broke for her. I was rooting for Brie till the very end! 


Just imagining what it would feel like to have to watch everyone you love go on without you, and just having to see them suffer, without being able to do anything about it made me connect emotionally to Brie and sympathize with her on a really strong and deep level. Rothenberg brought me to tears! 


4 Words. I. DON'T. LOVE. YOU. Those four words, spoken by her (then) boyfriend, Jacob, was all it took for Brie's heart to break. No, not figuratively. Literally. Her heart just split in two! And that was it for sixteen year old Brie's perfect life. Over. Just like that. All the memories, friends, good times, and bad... triumphs and failures... ended. She would never giggle with her best friends ever again. Never again would she sit at the breakfast table with her family and hear her dad crack a ridiculously bad cheese joke. What do you call a piece of cheese that's not yours? Nacho cheese!


Brie's officially D&G (dead and gone), and finds herself the last place she'd expect. A Little Slice Of Heaven... the Pizza place. Welcome, to forever.


That's where she meets Patrick, the infuriatingly mysterious, gorgeous, straight out of the 80's Resident Lost Soul, there to guide her through the five stages of Grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Sadness, and Acceptance. After which, she might be able to move on. 


As Brie was going through those five stages, I honestly felt like I was also going through them alongside her. When she was sad, I was weeping. When, she was angry, I was furious. And, when the time came, and she accepted everything, I was still weeping, but I also had come to terms with it. It was such a roller coaster ride!


And OMG you guys... Patrick is officially the cah-yutest Lost Soul ever! His witty remarks and bad-ass retro style completely won me over. And the fact that he has such a dark and mysterious past??? That made me love him EVEN MORE. Seriously!!! 


This funny, original, sweet debut made me feel all giddy and happy inside after reading it.  The Catastrophic History of You and Me (oh my, what a mouthful!), is a light, frothy read, with surprising depth and seriousness. Jess Rothenberg's writing style is short, sweet, and to the point... not to mention ha-ha-hilarious!! ;) 

❝There's always that one guy who gets a hold on you.

Not like your best friend's brother who gets you in a head-lock kind of hold.


Or the little kid you're babysitting who attaches himself to your leg kind of hold.

I'm talking epic. Life changing.❞

5 Muffins - Positively Enticing!

If you like this, try:

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale 

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Shadowland (The Mediator, #1) by Meg Cabot

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade