THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME

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?


I'm the author of THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME, out from Dial/Penguin in February 2012! I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, graduated from Vassar College, and spent most of my twenties editing books for teens and middle grade readers. I live in Brooklyn, New York, where I write full-time, dance interpretively, and dream of one day owning a sheepdog named Leo.
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I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of TCHoY&M and unfortunately it only last a day. Wow! Never have 400 pages gone by so fast! When I first started it I knew I was in for a treat, when Brie ends up in a Pizza parlor while waiting to move on.  I had a few Beatlejuice moments when she was was handed the D&G (Dead and Gone) handbook  but this book is so totally unique that they were only flashes.  I was constantly grabbing a tissue to blow my nose and wipe my eyes when only moments before I was laughing out loud. It was amazing at the range of emotions that Rothenberg took me through, much like the 5 stages of grief that Brie had to go through.
The main characters, Brie and Patrick, were so very real and so likeable and one of my favorite things about the book was the music titles for each chapter. They really set the mood for each chapter and kind of gave you a hint of what was upcoming. And even though I don’t listen to music while reading or writing, if I was to reread this book, I’d likely set up the playlist in the background.
It's a sad romantic story that will make you think about your life,  family, friends, and loves. It’s a story that as a 14 year old I’d have stayed up all night reading and swore I was too sick to go to school the next day- “see mom, my eyes are so red and swollen”- just so I could finish it.  As an adult, I simply stayed up all night and napped the next day. I look forward to reading more by this awesome author. Good job!