Reviewed by coollibrarianchick for TeensReadToo.com

I've said this before and I am going to say it again: Elizabeth Scott's writing is chameleon-like. Some of her books are fluffy and light, the perfect poolside read, while some of her other books take on darker undertones. Where does her new book fall on this continuum? It's dark, not disturbingly dark but still dark, because the main character's emotional pain is very apparent.

I believe wholeheartedly that accidents happen and that blame is a waste of time and doesn't fix the problem. I also believe that you can't change the past, only move on with the future. While I may believe that, it doesn't mean that everybody else believes that.

This is especially true for Amy, the main character in LOVE YOU HATE YOU MISS YOU. She is hurting and thinks nobody in the whole world understands how it feels to lose a best friend. Even worse, she blames herself for her friend's death.

Over and over again, Amy is told it was an accident. You could say it to her a million times but it wouldn't matter - she still blames herself. She should never have done what she did. Truth be known, there were a lot of things she shouldn't have done, but who am I to preach to the choir?

Following a stint in rehab, Amy must go on with her life. Dealing was a bit easier in rehab because it was a controlled environment, but out in the real world, among her family and peers, dealing with Julia's death is an emotional roller coaster. Her shrink thinks writing a diary would help her greatly. At first, Amy is against the idea, but then she starts writing letters to Julia, which actually helps her cope.

Some of what Amy writes is funny, some letters are incredibly sad, while other letters are filled with anger. Many things come out in the letters. Through these letters we learn a lot about Amy and Julia's relationship, Amy's insecurities, as well as her home situation. Truths that were buried come to light and Amy learns that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought. And maybe it is the present that she should be focusing on.

I applaud Scott for not writing the pat happily-ever-after types of books. Once again, Elizabeth Scott has written a book that will stay with you long after it is done. How long do I have to wait until her next book comes out? ( )

Amy and her best friend are in a car accident. Amy is in rehab, and her best friend, Julia, is dead. The Story is about Amy coming to terms with her friends death, her guilt about that tragic night, and her problem with alcohol.

Elizabeth Scott has a way with writing teen books that are relevant to what's going on in today's youth. This book has such a strong message. Amy is weighed down with guilt about what happen with her best friend, and you can feel her despair. The emotional distance between Amy's parents, and her is significant, and you really do feel for Amy. As a parent though I can totally relate to her parents. What do you say? What do you do?

I really liked the way you can see Amy slowly starting to come out of that fog she had been in since Julia's death. Amy's progress throughout was realistic, though at times I really wanted to smack her, but maybe that was the parent side of me.

Love You Hate You Miss You is a good book written by a great YA writer. I wouldn't say this is a must read, but if you get your hands on it, definitely read it.

Full review at http://yannabe.com/2009/09/21/review-...

Summary: After a tragic car crash, Amy goes to a rehab facility to get a handle on her drinking. But when she’s released, life just isn’t the same. Her best friend Julia is gone, her parents are faking a happy family routine, and her therapist wants her to start a diary.

Review: This is a heavier story than others I’ve read by Scott with not as much in the way of romance, although it does have a bit in that department.

But as with her other novels, this one didn’t speak to me. Putting on my YAnnabe hat, the internal dialogue was too much for me. I would love to see Scott write a novel in third person because I think that might be more to my taste.

Here’s an example of the internal dialogue I’m talking about. Amy has just told a potential new friend about her time in rehab:

…and then I ended up telling her about Pinewood.

I don’t know why I did. I just felt like it, I guess. I didn’t even feel weird. Well, maybe a little. But she wasn’t—she didn’t react like I thought she would. She didn’t say anything stupid, and she didn’t try to be all positive or sympathetic or anything.

The frequent hesitations in the narration (like “But she wasn’t—she didn’t”) called extra attention to the internal dialogue, and I like that technique better in actual dialogue.

Still, this was an enjoyable and quick read. If you like Scott’s other novels, I think you’ll like this one too. ( )

Amy is in pain. Emotional, physical and mental anguish. Her best friend, Julia, is dead. Amy believes she is responsible for her death.

Amy is leaving rehab and returning to life she no longer knows. Her parents are more involved in her life, she’s in honors classes at school and she’s seeing her therapist weekly. Prior to Julia’s death, Amy drank. She drank to fit in, drank to feel numb and empty, drank to just be. Now, she doesn’t have Julia or a drink to help her cope. She feels all alone, until she meets Patrick.

Actually, Amy met Patrick before, but he has since become a distant memory. Patrick is dealing with his own loss which left him withdrawn and aloof. Both Amy and Patrick are drawn to each other as they continue to move forward with their lives. Each struggles with his/her own loss in a different way.

Amy begins to process the events that occured the night Julia dies. Amy is adamant that she caused Julia’s death. It’s with the help of Patrick and her therapist that she begins to see the truth about that night and her friendship with Julia. The fog that her grief left behind is slowly lifting and Amy is able to finally able to accept what happened that night: the choices she and Julia made.

Love You Hate You Miss You is about the emptiness, loneliness, guilt and regret one feels after someone has died. You wake up one morning to a life that you no longer know, a life that no longer makes sense. Written in Amy’s perspective and her letters to Julia, Love You Hate You Miss You is a compelling read. Ms. Scott writes a touching story bringing together two people who cannot see beyond their hurt and pain. ( )

Title: Love You Hate You Miss You Author: Elizabeth Scott Publisher: Harper Teen Number Of Pages: 278

Summary From Back Of Book: It’s been seventy-five days, and Amy still doesn’t know how she can possibly exist without her best friend, Julia—especially since it’s her fault that Julia’s dead.

When her shrink tells her it would be a good idea to start a diary, Amy starts writing letters to Julia instead. As she writes letter after letter she soon discovers that the past wasn’t as perfect as she thought it was—and the present deserves a chance too.

With sarcastic humor, cutting insight, and beautiful prose, Elizabeth Scott delivers a searing story of a teenage girl struggling to put the pieces of her life back together.

Review: Love You Hate You Miss you totally took my breath away, it was amazing. I really loved it, the writing was amazing. The book is very depressing and sad though. But I managed to not cry until the last four sentences (in my opinion the last four sentences meant the most!) and I found it hard not to cry while reading this amazing novel. It actually turned out to have a touch of romance which surprised me but the romance made the story ten times better. I can’t praise this book enough!!!!!

I recommend this book if you like romance, YA novels, Elizabeth Scott, and tragedy novels. ( )