Reviewed by Robin Goodfellow for Readers' Favorite
The LoveLock by Eichin Chang-Lim is a heartbreaking romance about two people, both of whom had deep, horrific connections with death. The book is separated into six parts. Part I introduces Violet, and the struggles she has in coping with her sister’s cancer. However, she meets a boy named Dylan, who has lost his mother to cancer. Part II goes into detail about Violet’s life, and how hard she’s trying to make it as an actress, despite her profession and her past. In Part III, Dylan finally comes back from the Peace Corps to try to find Violet again. It all comes to a head when he gets into a car accident and is nursed back to health by Tess, whom he later marries in an alcohol-fueled night. In Part IV, Violet succumbs to her depression, and almost ends her life... In Part V, Dylan and Violet finally meet, only for Violet to run away and face her past. In Part VI, the reader will discover if Violet and Dylan finally get back together, despite the heartbreak they’ve experienced.
Violet was a character I particularly resonated with. I know what it feels like to have a parent who has depression, and while her dad did try to help cover for her mother, in the end it just wasn’t enough. It’s partially the reason why she came to love Dylan the way she did; he had a similar connection to her. Through pain and loss, they were able to come together. I really enjoyed this book. The characters dealt with their fear of the future, and grief, and how everything was just spiraling out of control. Chang-Lim has written an enchanting story about what it means to be in love with someone throughout your entire life, and the beauty that comes with it. As such, I would recommend it to those who enjoy The Simple Soul of Susan by Noel Branham, and The Shadow and the Rose by Amanda DeWee.