The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me
Written by Jennifer E. Smith
Published in Australia April 8th 2014
352 Pages
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia
Owen lives in the basement. Lucy lives on the 24th floor. But when the power goes out in the midst of a New York heatwave, they find themselves together for the first time: stuck in a lift between the 10th and 11th floors. As they await help, they start talking...

The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland they can't shake the memory of the time they shared. Postcards cross the globe when they themselves can't, as Owen and Lucy experience the joy, and pain, of first love. And as they make their separate journeys in search of home, they discover that sometimes it is a person rather than a place that anchors you most in the world.

The Geography of You and Me is a story for anyone who's ever longed to meet someone special, for anyone who's searched for home and found it where they least expected it.
Lucy is a city girl at heart, that has lived her entire sixteen years in New York. Owen is the son of the building maintenance, who wants to be anywhere but in stifling New York. But when the power goes out in the city, neither realise the significance of what they're both about to experience. Stuck in the elevator together, Lucy is the daughter of a high powered executive, a wealthy couple that like to travel. Her parents are currently in Paris, a city which Lucy herself dreams of exploring one day. With both her brother's off at college, she's incredibly lonely and often takes to the New York streets to find adventure and to simply feel as though she belongs. It's now just Owen and his father, since moving after his mother died. His grief stricken father is struggling to hold down a job, and finances are almost non existent while they wait for the sale of their former family home.

They both enter the elevator as strangers, but with the blackout the night soon becomes a journey of rooftop picnics, melted ice cream and whispered secrets under the starry sky. When the power is finally restored, both teens know that life goes on, and in seemingly different directions. Lucy's father is offered a job in dreary Scotland, while Owen and his father decide on a road trip, now his father's maintenance position is untenable. And although they both move in different circles on different continents, sometimes fate is inevitable, even when you're oceans apart.

My Thoughts


The Geography of You and Me is a heartwarming read with a sense of adventure. It follows both Lucy and Owen, two teens from different worlds who meet simply by chance. The story begins and the two and thrown together immediately, capturing the readers attention and falling in love with the city of New York and both teens. No parents, no interruptions, just an impromptu date that is a result of circumstance. Their night together didn't involve any physical interaction, but through both points of view, you feel a sense that the chance meeting is significant to both of them. But they're both realistic, exchange email addresses and simply go their separate ways.

The two keep in contact through Lucy's emails and Owen sending quirky postcards on his travels. Life moves on and so do both teens, promises were never made, therefor cannot be broken. But still, they both seems to gravitate back towards one another, even from oceans away. I really enjoyed it. It's fun, fluffy and allows the reader to travel from Edinburgh and San Francisco, to Prague, Portland and eventually Paris. It's incredibly charming.

This is my second Jennifer E. Smith novel, after reading and adoring The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Although The Geography of You and Me isn't as engaging, she's quickly become my favorite young adult adventure romance author. It truly is the book for all seasons, a flirty summer read or heartwarming winter romance.

15 comments

  1. I think if you ever want something light, chick-lity, and fluffy, Jennifer E. Smith is great go to :D I've read This is What Happy Looks Like, but I haven't read this one, or The Statistical. I hope I can read them both soon :D

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    1. I've actually got a copy of This is What Happy Looks Like and hope to read it soon. She's incredible at the fluffy heartwarming stories isn't she, but would it kill her to give them shorter titles?

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  2. I've started reading this book but have not picked it up again to continue reading. I know that this is an LDR kind of love, so I am quite reluctant to continue. I'm glad you did enjoy the fluff! *hugs tightly because I know you're cold*
    - Sporadic Reads

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    1. As much as I enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary with substance, it's just too fluffy to be taken seriously.

      It's freezing this morning and the wind is terrible, the electricity is on the verge of shorting out soon, so I'll happily take hugs, bear hugs preferably.

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  3. It was definitely mushy and omg cutie-pie alert...buuuut...I was a little bored. I KNOW. Surprising. I got frustrated that Amy and Owen just seemed to be killing time for 200-pages until they got back together officially.

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    1. I know what you mean, the lack of real substance let it down. I suppose on the other hand, it keeps it really light and fluffy but I'd love to see a balance between the two.

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  4. I put this one off for some reason. ._. Maybe because I tried reading it during my post-signing reading slump... Anyway, I do plan to pick it up again when my cousin returns my copy. I have read This is What Happy Looks like and The Statistical and I did find them both to be cute reads. :)

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    1. If you enjoyed those, you'll like this one. Although it's not nearly as engaging as The Statistical is, but close enough to leave you with the warm and fuzzies.

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  5. I'm glad you liked this one, Kelly! I definitely love Jennifer E. Smith's books. They're really good light and fluffy reads. I think what I really liked about this one was all the travelling they did, and those cute post cards.

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    1. The postcards were adorable! I loved the concept. I couldn't imagine not wanting to have access to an email address or having some sort of smartphone. I can imagine most teens today would have just drifted completely apart and not bothered.

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  6. Awwwwww I know this would be cute but I am still awwing after reading your review. I've only read This is What Happy Looks Like and I really enjoyed it. I know most people still prefer The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight but nothing quite beats a fun fluffy book when you're feeling down or the weather isn't quite so delightful.

    Fantastic review, Kelly! :)

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. And the weather's been so cold and crappy over the weekend here, and this was perfect for that pick me up. I've got This is What Happy Looks Like lined up for a read shortly. I was lucky to have picked up a book pack a few months ago that was super cheap and had both books in there. Have a feeling I'll be reading a lot more fluffies over the cold winter months.

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  7. Great review, Kelly! I've read everything by Jennifer E. Smith except this one, (they were all amazing) and that amazing synopsis just captivates me, and finding out that this book was really good, I'm going to pick it up as soon as I can!

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  8. This sounds like the perfect summer read with it being such a great light & fluffy read. :) Definitely going to give it a try; it sounds absolutely adorable and I'm always for a well-developed romance! Thanks for sharing Kelly, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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  9. I've read both of Jenner E Smith's prevouis reads so I know i need to read this one when I finally make the time! LOL but this one sounds super great from what i'm hearing from you and like something i just need to read this sumer! Great review :)

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