Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Release Date –  August 21, 2012
Publisher Website - Harper Collins/Harper Teen
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages -   304 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**Received from publisher for review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all. 

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

Everyone's had their heartbroken at some point. What if there was a company who specialized in helping you get over your ex in record time? Over You is a cute, fun, quick read that rivals any romantic comedy out there. It’s a light-hearted look at love, loss and the aftermath.

I loved the entire premise and idea behind Ex, Inc. The company is interesting in theory. It is shown how quickly it could consume someone. I can almost guarantee if something like this existed it would make fortune. Sadly, there is not a sure fire cure for a broken heart, and this is the true message of the novel. Healing happens gradually, and takes time.

Max was, for me, written as older than what she is. I could easily picture her as someone in their early 20’s attending college, rather than 17 and finishing up high school. The freedom she had from her parents, and her characteristics all aged her beyond her years. She is presented as a mature person, and she has dropped out of high school. All this made for a distraction because she felt so much older.

I liked that her insecurities were relatable, and anybody can recall a broken heart of their own. Max’s pain is something that draws you to her character, because we've all been there. Her desire to ease that pain is something we've all wished for. Her character was a balance of self assured while still growing into themselves. She is flawed, and makes mistakes like anyone else.

While Max was presented as much older than her years, the writing skewed a little on the young side. It felt like it was written for the younger end of the YA market, yet the characters were borderline adult. It created a disconnect that prevented me from fully connecting with the story.

Her best friends Zach and Pheobe provide some fun comic relief, and are not afraid to call Max on her hypocrisy. They felt like authentic friends, and I wish they had been developed more.

The secondary characters didn't feel as fleshed out as Max. It made the romance part of the novel harder for me to get invested in. There are some cute moments, but ultimately I wasn't overly rooting for any particular outcome.

A novel that is a good fit with those lazy afternoons of summer spent by the beach or pool. A quick, flirty read that will resonate with anyone who has had their heart broken.