Review of "The Catastrophic History of You and Me" by Jess Rothenberg

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: ARC tour
Genre: YA fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2012

Book description from Goodreads: 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?

My thoughts: The book begins with Brie's heart literally breaking into two when her boyfriend, Jacob, breaks up with her. After hearing the words "I don't love you" she feels a searing pain and dies.

Life after death is nothing like she imagined it would be. She finds herself on a bus being taken to one of her favorite pizza restaurants. It is filled with teens who also have died and are hanging out and enjoying pizza.

Patrick calls himself "the resident lost soul". He helps Brie seek revenge on Jacob. As she starts to see her family and friends things are not as they should be. Her death had a very negative impact on several people. In the course of revenge she begins to go through the grieving steps and just maybe she can help her friends and family find peace.

I had fun reading this book. I read it in a little over a day. I loved Jess Rothenberg's writing style. There are many puns that I was giggling at. Brie is just a very loveable character and Patrick was the perfect sidekick to help her along. Between the two of them they come up with mischief and mayhem. They are adorable.

My only content warning is moderate profanity. There is also a little sexual innuendo.