I cannot recommend this book enough. Probably my favourite book of the year, and my favourite Rainbow Rowell book.

Attachments is a story about Lincoln, an IT worker for a large company, who doesn't know what he's doing with his life. As part of his job, he has to monitor emails sent by employees. In 1999, email is still relatively new, and friends Beth and Jennifer take advantage of the new technology to send messages to each other. Messages that Lincoln reads. And reads. And reads.

This is a heart warming story with unique and engaging characters. The story is alternately told through Lincoln and the emails sent between the friends. Rowell has yet again created characters that you just want to be friends with. They are so real and have relatable flaws.

This book will have you hooked until the last page, and will leave you just wanting to read it all over again. Rainbow Rowell: why are you so perfect?

My mind has trouble comprehending how much I love this book. I think it was love at first sight. I saw the name Rainbow Rowell, I read the first chapter,
and then I fell hard.

Attachments is a third person narrative set in 1999 during the Y2K scare. It focuses on Lincoln O'Neill, a guy who lives with his mum, doesn't really have a plan in life and who applies to work at a company monitoring emails, which barely passes as an occupation. Through this, he comes across the emails of Beth and Jennifer, two hilariously witty and at times inappropriate woman who work there, whose conversations are subsequently frequently flagged. And instead of reporting them, he can't help but become addicted to their stories and captivated by these faceless personalities.

Personally, I don't blame him. After reading the first chapter, which is the first time he reads their flagged email thread, the only thing stopping me from hunting down Beth and Jen myself and slapping them both with friendship bracelets was that they're unfortunately works of fiction. However, Rainbow Rowell is in fact a person who I can fan-girl over if I ever visit America (just a heads up). These emails were hilarious, and to me, they were a celebration of women's fiction. Rowell captured the female bond perfectly, Beth and Jen are "girlfriends" in the most likeable and entertaining sense.

Their banter is so addictive, and reflect the wittiness that we all think we have online since we can type and delete and ponder, and yet also the carefree spontaneity of speech when it's with a close friend, where you can just write whatever pops into your mind, which introduces a unique type of intimacy. It was really interesting how Lincoln got to "know" Beth and Jen through their emails, and yet he only saw the emails that got flagged, giving Lincoln a slightly biased insight into their lives. So needless to say, when he starts trying to catch glimpses of Beth in the office, he doesn't really know what to expect. Rainbow Rowell has this almost surreal ability to create these genuine, endearing, relatable and lovable characters who are also flawed and completely unique. I like to call her, female John Green.

The romance itself, however voyeuristic, between Lincoln and Beth had me screaming ADORBS. It is my favourite contemporary adult romance novel that I've read because besides the overwhelming cuteness of it, it has relevant themes. The guilt of eavesdropping or yearning after a person you shouldn't is universal, and Rainbow Rowell executes this story flawlessly. It also focuses on (in particular) Lincoln's personal journey, and the progress he makes in finding himself and getting his life together. In true Rainbow Rowell style, the characters follow a very realistic progression of emotions throughout this oddly perfect plot. It isn't just, hello my life goal is solely to find and boink a hot chick (sorry, that was a bit crass) or hi, I'll forgive you for everything because you're hot.

Attachments: Plot, check. Personal discovery, check. Romance, check. Morals, check. Wit, humour, insight, check check check. I could not stop reading! I was shipping Lincoln and Beth so desperately that I experienced an unprecedented euphoria whenever they even nearly met.

This is definitely a favourite for me, it's one that I'll be rereading over and over again...