You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.
It’s been seventy five days. Amy’s sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she’s really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia’s gone, and Amy doesn’t want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.
No one understands what it’s like to know that it’s all your fault.
Amy’s shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets–and that the present deserves a chance. (from Goodreads)
 What I thought
I finally picked up a copy of Love You, Hate You, Miss You last week. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get around to this book as I am something of a fan of Elizabeth Scott. She’s one of the best authors around for realistic love stories. Not to mention the kissing scenes, ah the kissing scenes, they’re the turn your insides squishy kind.
If she just wrote gorgeous romances, I would gobble them up and move on. What makes her one of my favourite authors and makes her books worth re-reading, is the romance and everything else. There’s always so much going on with the main character, beside their falling in love and it’s always so beautifully woven together.
I’ve noticed that her books always seem to have the theme of loss somewhere in them, whether it’s the loss of a parent, the loss of a friend or the loss of an illusion you held.
In Love You Hate You Miss You loss takes center stage. Amy has been left heartbroken, guilt ridden and alone, following the death of her best friend Julia. If that wasn’t enough she’s also dealing with not drinking, when alcohol used to be the thing that made her life easier. Her usually distant parents are taking an interest in her, she’s being shunned at school, and she’s confused by her feelings for a boy she used to know. Then there is the guilt that hits her every time she enjoys something without Julia.
If this novel is about being lost it is also about being found and finding out who you are. Amy had Julia on a pedestal. But while Julia was a wonderful friend in many ways, she wasn’t perfect. She could be selfish and inconsiderate and she enabled Amy’s drinking. Amy has to come to terms with that in order to let Julia go.
I loved all Amy’s relationships in this book, with Julia, with her parents, with Patrick and with Laurie her therapist. They all allowed us to see different aspects of Amy and how she viewed herself. My favourite relationship was her resurrected friendship with Caro or Corn Syrup as Julia had nicknamed her. I felt so sorry for Caro, who is almost as lost as Amy but better at hiding it, and so proud of her at the end of the book. Yay Caro!
As a reader Love You, Hate You, Miss You isn’t a comfortable journey to go on, it’s heartbreaking and emotional. Amy’s grief pours off the page and slams into you. I ached for her. It’s definitely a journey worth taking though. Love you, Hate You, Miss You is Elizabeth Scott at her best.