I finally read a Rainbow Rowell book! Three of her books have been on my to-be-read list. I decided to start with Attachments, since it’s the first book of hers that I bought.
Attachments is set in the late 1990s, which I thoroughly appreciate. Lincoln, a computer security officer at a local newspaper, works the night shift reading company emails. He manages the newspaper’s WebFence program that analyzes emails between the employees. Questionable emails are flagged and sent to Lincoln, who makes the decision to either delete or report them. During the story, he’s also tasked with making sure the newspaper’s computers survive Y2K. So, that’s hilarious and memorable. 🙂
Two employees’ emails consistently end up in Lincoln’s inbox, Jennifer’s and Beth’s. Everyone in the office knows that emails are monitored, but Jennifer and Beth continue to have personal conversations every day. However, Lincoln does not report them. In fact, he’s falling in love with Beth. Lincoln is in a tough time in his life. He’s moved back home and lives with his mom, most of his friends are starting families, and he hates his job. The longer he stays, the more of a connection he feels with Beth (albeit, via email). So, leaving doesn’t really feel like an option to him, either.
Jennifer and Beth are my favorite characters, because they are hilarious and witty. Their emails are my favorite part of the book. I was literally lol’ing throughout the whole story. I felt sympathetic towards Lincoln. His head and mind are in the right place, and he’s trying to find his place in the world. This story was thoroughly enjoyable, although the pace was a little slow at first. Anyone can appreciate the story of a newly-graduated young adult trying to find his place in the world. We’ve all been there. I can’t wait to read my next Rainbow Rowell book! (probably Eleanor & Park)
Rebecca has been writing about style, beauty, and lifestyle topics since 2011. Thank you so much for reading this post! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. I love hearing from you!
