Book Review: Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo

Love and Other Perishable Items 

By Laura Buzo

Release Date: December 11, 2012

Source: Publisher

Summary: Love is awkward, Amelia should know.

From the moment she sets eyes on Chris, she is a goner. Lost. Sunk. Head over heels infatuated with him. It's problematic, since Chris, 21, is a sophisticated university student, while Amelia, is 15.

Amelia isn't stupid. She knows it's not gonna happen. So she plays it cool around Chris—at least, as cool as she can. Working checkout together at the local supermarket, they strike up a friendship: swapping life stories, bantering about everything from classic books to B movies, and cataloging the many injustices of growing up. As time goes on, Amelia's crush doesn't seem so one-sided anymore. But if Chris likes her back, what then? Can two people in such different places in life really be together?

Through a year of befuddling firsts—first love, first job, first party, and first hangover—debut author Laura Buzo shows how the things that break your heart can still crack you up.

Review: I love any kind of fun, quirky contemporary and Love and Other Perishable Items is definitely one of those books. Taking place in Australia (not nearly enough books are written from there that I read), you're taken to the life of a fifteen year old who will just steal your heart. 

Amelia's life isn't anything special; she goes to school, goes to work at a grocery store, and then comes home and helps take care of her little sister Jess (great name, ins't it?). With frizzy hair and an awkward personality, Amelia is someone every single girl can relate to, especially when it comes to her completely undying crush on Chris, a 21-year-old uni student who works at the same store as Amelia. Bonding over their love for literature and their horrendously boring lives, Amelia can't help but fall madly in love with Chris. Too bad he's 6 years older and completely heart broken over a girl who left him and the country over a year ago. But could there be the slightest chance Chris may like her back? Through a series of mishaps with many firsts, Amelia experiences the life of a true teenager, one full of sloppy kisses, fuzzy nights better left forgotten, and first loves you'll never forget. 

The style of Amelia's story was just so refreshing and I loved the realistic, raw sense you get from her. Amelia isn't afraid to tell you how it is and I absolutely adore the fact that she gets so caught up in the literature she reads for school. I love it, too, when the narration switches from Amelia to Chris's personal diary. It's really cool to see his point of view on things and change to his sarcastic, dry outlook on life. Every single character is charming in their own way and the story is one that every teenager should be able to relate to. 

I'm so amazed that this is Laura Buzo's debut novel because this was a book that I just could not put down. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next in Amelia's quirky Australian life. This book definitely reminded me of Stephanie Perkins and Sarra Manning's books because they all have unique, vibrant protagonists that you just can't help but fall in love with. For a fun contemporary YA novel, you definitely have to check this one out! You'll be in for a refreshing story that you won't want to stop reading until the very last page.