Book Review: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Min Green and Ed Slaterton have broken up and Min is returning a box of Ed’s things along with this letter about why they broke up.

This book was exactly what I needed to get out of my reading funk (I’ve been having trouble getting into books lately and I haven’t been able to enjoy reading), it’s lighthearted and easy to read. I did notice that Daniel Handler did that thing where he carries on his sentence for paragraphs and that was slightly exasperating, because I found myself not really paying attention to those sections. It only really happens when Min starts talking about movies etc. it’s not so bad.

I actually liked Min. Usually I don’t like female protagonists especially when they’re in love but Min is “different”, in a good way. However, I guess she’s also just like every other 16 year old in love; naive and gullible which made my heart break for her at the end. All I could think is you poor girl. Honestly, there wasn’t a character I disliked in the book.

The way that the book is “set out” sort of reminded me of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (if you’ve read it you might know what I mean). Min talks about specific items from the box just like Hannah Baker talks about certain tapes etc.

I really wish we could have found out what Ed thought of the letter and box. I always find that if I like a book I always want to know more, like what happened to the other characters and what did they think.

I loved the end of the book where other great authors for example Neil Gaiman, Brian Selznick, Holly Black etc. added a little snippet about when they broke up with someone when they were younger. Definitely worth reading that part, some of them are really hilarious especially Brian Selznick’s.

I’m going to rate it 4.5 stars. This is a great book to read if you like books by Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Han and John Green.