I Loved this book it was really amazing. I was sad it was so short. ( )

3.5 Stars. I liked the format and the simplicity of the writing, maybe in part because I’ve read a couple thick books lately so there’s something refreshing about a narrative that isn’t throwing more at me than I need, the focus is narrowed to the emotion of the moment rather than mired in histories or description (not that I dislike an epic scope, I just kind of needed a breather from it).

Fifteen year old Ava’s boyfriend has passed away, but Jackson hasn’t left her, he’s a ghost in her home. While at first his presence is a comfort, Ava gradually questions whether having his spirit hovering around her hurts more than it helps.

This novel is told entirely in verse, there is the occasional pretty passage, though for the most part the author keeps it understated and clear, it isn’t the sort of poetry where you’ll have to decipher the meaning behind it.

As a skeptical sort of person, I sometimes struggle with coincidences in books, so I didn’t love that Ava and one of her best friends are both drawn towards the same boy, not that it’s impossible for that to have happened, it just felt unlikely under the circumstances, and it also seemed unnecessary to add potentially more drama to this girl’s grief.

Now I know I said that it was refreshing to read something sparse, something shorter, and I stand by that, I very much appreciated the quick pace, that it didn’t waste a lot of time on possibly irrelevant information, however, I did crave maybe five or ten more pages on the very relevant matter of Ava and Jackson’s relationship. Whether through a session with the therapist, an interaction with the ghost, or mining Ava’s memories, I wanted a touch more insight into their relationship. I know that they have this game of dares, I know that he seemed at times to be possessive, I wanted to dig into those two intriguing aspects of their romance since both of those things lean towards unhealthy, and how or if that may have played into Ava’s mental state after his death.

Where I thought this book most succeeded was in the emotion, and it’s all the more admirably achieved given the simplicity I mentioned in the writing, there’s nothing all that flowery in the way she describes the grief, the guilt, the decision to try to heal, to seek help, it’s just presented in relatable terms, where the everyday average reader could go, yeah, I get that, if I’m in Ava’s shoes, I’d feel torn up and just plain torn, too. ( )

Like I said when I reviewedChasing Brooklyn; I have fallen in love with Lisa Shroeder and am now reading all of her books. I realized since the last review that what I was calling prose writing is actually her writing in verse, though I guess they could be the same thing:)
I like that Lisa is writing about death and how teens deal with it. And also how most of them are haunted in the beginning of her books, but soon realize that they can't go on living like they were. Of course in both of her books that I have read, the ghosts are only sticking around to help the person. In I Heart You, You Haunt Me. We meet Ava, at almost 16 she is the perfect girl. She has best friends and the perfect boyfriend. She attends a "School's Out" party with her friends and boyfriend; Jackson. When Jackson is dared by Ava to jump from a cliff into the water, he of course does it.... Only no one expected to be attending his funeral....
The book starts off with Ava at the funeral and moves on from their. She has the usual haunting experiences, cold areas, items moved, radios turning on... And she just knows that it is Jackson as soon she feels him. Ava believes that Jackson is sticking around because she needs him, and so she slowly pulls away from everyone; afraid to leave the house because she knows that Jackson can't go with her. She is in a sense still dating Jackson in her mind and she almost refuses to give up and let go.
We meet Ava's ex-boyfriend Nick, who is trying to help her, but with still being in love with her, she only see's it as him trying to get back with her. Ava's parents finally just pack her off to the beach for the 4th of July, where she meets Lyric ( love the name!!), he's older than Ava; but she feels alive with him, normal in a way that she hasn't since Jackson passed. Of course, being Ava; she freaks out and runs, only to meet up with him again at a party. Turns out that Cali, Ava's friend is crushing on Lyric; though Lyric isn't really interested in Cali. He wants Ava, and after seeing her at the party, he realizes exactly who Ava is.
Without giving away the ending, let's just say that Ava realizes she must let go of Jackson, so that she can live again. I loved the book and it is one that will be added to my collection so that I can re-read it from time to time. ( )

2.5 stars

Once again Lisa Schroeder has written another quick read about love, grief and moving forward. It reminded me a little of the movie "Ghost" with Jackson being there for Ava despite his death in a tragic accident. However, unlike "Ghost" I didn't really like the female character nor the spirit of her dead boyfriend. I found him quite creepy, especially when he started throwing temper tantrums when Ava didn't give him the attention he wanted.

My biggest concern with this book was Ava's emotional response to her boyfriend. She was quite obsessed with him and her life revolved around him so deeply, that I was worried about her mental state. I honestly don't know if a fifteen-year-old girl would react the way she did, which made her unbelievable.

In "Chasing Brooklyn", written by the same author, the grief was palpable on every page, but Ava's grief didn't move me the same way. However, I still think "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" will appeal to reluctant readers in their early teens. ( )

Maybe 3.5 stars. Accessible & lovely; important & concise. Sure to be a big hit with teen girls. ( )