Who Would Like This Book:
This is a feel-good, light-hearted romance that stands out for its quirky premise - a sweet, awkward IT guy, Lincoln, falls for a witty woman just by reading her office emails to her best friend. The combination of 90s nostalgia, smart banter, adorable friendships, and a relatable coming-of-age vibe makes this book especially fun for anyone who loves romcoms, clever dialogue, and charmingly flawed characters. If you enjoy stories told through unconventional formats (like emails), are a fan of Rainbow Rowell's other work, or simply crave a book that makes you smile and root for its underdogs, you’ll likely adore this one.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the premise a bit too creepy - falling in love by reading someone else’s private emails can definitely feel voyeuristic or stalkerish to certain sensibilities. A few wished for more direct interaction between the main characters, and some felt the slow pace dragged, especially through Lincoln’s ongoing personal struggles and lack of initiative. If you prefer your romance with fast-moving plots, deep physical chemistry, or a less unconventional setup, this might not hit the sweet spot for you.
About:
"Attachments" by Rainbow Rowell is set in the early 90s in a newsroom where an employee is hired to monitor emails, leading to a romance subplot. The main character, Lincoln, struggles to move on from a past relationship while reading the email exchanges of two friends, Beth and Jennifer. The story unfolds through a mix of email dialogues and third-person narrative, showcasing Rowell's unique storytelling style that balances humor and emotional depth. The setting just before Y2K adds a nostalgic touch, capturing the essence of the characters' lives and relationships as they navigate love, friendship, and personal growth.
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Has Romance?
The romance is central to the plot, with a strong focus on the budding relationship between the main characters.
From The Publisher:
From the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wayward Son, Fangirl, Carry On, and Landline comes a hilarious and heartfelt novel about an office romance that blossoms one email at a time….
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now-reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers-not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. He can't help being entertained, and captivated, by their stories. But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he even say…?
Ratings (92)
Incredible (12) | |
Loved It (35) | |
Liked It (26) | |
It Was OK (15) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (213):
Read It (100) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (64) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (46) |
6 comment(s)
Ridiculous. Charming! But ridiculous. A perfectly enjoyable, fairly easy read. I really liked Lincoln as a character, he felt true to life, and his struggles with getting over his ex pickled at my heartstrings.
The first maybe 2/3 of the book was entertaining, Beth and Jennifer’s wit really started to win me over, but the last third felt entirely implausible.
Also knocked off a few stars for the whole stalking issue. The whole IT-reading-emails thing was a cute premise at the start, but it devolved pretty far from there. I can’t tell who was the worse offender of the two MCs. Yikes, kind of off-putting (for fluffy slow-burn standards, that is).
I enjoyed this book but found it a little predictable. I found parts of it creepy but then changed my mind and loved Lincolns character, so good easy read!
Loved loved loved this book! I devoured it in about a day. The story is partly told through a series of chatty emails between two friends - Jennifer and Beth- at work (if only my work emails were so entertaining!). The rest is told from the perspective of Lincoln, the IT guy hired to read people's emails to make sure they are work appropriate.
Lincoln is lost - living at home, socially awkward, still nursing a long ago heartbreak - and he begins to develop feelings for one of the women.
It sounds a little creepy in theory, but for some reason it works. And it was heartwarming to see Lincoln's growth throughout the story - and the ending ... wow!
3.5 It was cute, but weird at the same time. Like, it was too creepy to consider romantic.
This was my first book by Rainbow Rowell and I adore her writing style. She made the characters so believable; even through simulated emails. Although the ending came out a bit cheesy (IMHO; it was the outcome that you knew was going to happen. I especially enjoyed some of the pop culture references found throughout the story and keeping in the time of the story.
I wish I had more to say on this but I am still learning how to write a good review.
A hilarious, light-hearted romance with just enough edge to make it more than another frothy "chick lit" throwaway.
Attachments alternates between Lincoln's POV and emails between Jennifer and Beth, two employees at the newspaper where Lincoln is employed to read flagged emails and send warnings to those who are using it against company policy. Jennifer and Beth definitely fall into that category, but Lincoln can't make himself turn them in; their emails are funny, heartwarming, and sweet, and he soon finds himself falling for Beth even though he's never even seen her.
Attachments doesn't have the emotional resonance of
Eleanor and Park, but it is still well worth a read. It goes beyond just a love story and examines depression, familial relationships, and knowing when to let go of a boyfriend who is just freaking ridiculous.
What can you read after
Attachments?
About the Author:
Rainbow Rowell writes books. Sometimes she writes about adults (Attachments and Landline). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (Eleanor & Park and Fangirl). But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they're screwing up. And people who fall in love. When she's not…
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