The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

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 was on my list of books I wanted to read in 2012-- if you missed the list, you can find it HERE. I don't recall how I first heard about this book, but it sounded so different than anything I've read in a while. And, it was. It was like a breath of fresh air. Very sad, make-you-think-about-love-and-life kind of fresh air.

This was a heartbreaking book in so many ways, but it was also a great story about forgiveness and acceptance and dealing with grief. I liked Brie-- she was such a real character. I felt for her. I felt for her when she went (in spirit) to her own funeral, when she saw her family crumbling, as she discovered the secrets of the people she loved most, as she worked her way through the stages of grief. I've never really thought about it before-- a dead person going through stages of grief, but I guess it makes sense. I think if I had died of a broken heart right before my sixteenth birthday, I'd probably have gone through denial and anger and sadness and all that. If we're being really honest, I'd be really upset about it, much like Brie was. I'd probably have the same "Are you freaking kidding me???" moment she does too. 

While some of this book was very predictable, other parts of it were not, and either way, it didn't take away from the overall story. I enjoyed this book quite a bit more that I expected, and I'm happy it's one that I purchased. Word of warning: If you decide to read this, just make sure you have a box of tissues handy!

Happy Reading!