Page 112 of Only Lovers in the Building

Ben: He’s portrayed as the evil ex-boyfriend. Only, I can’t help but think my guy was in a tough spot. Madelyn was his first, in all respects. She was the first girl he ever asked out on a date. She was the only girl he’d ever kissed, the only lover he’d ever had. When he tells her that he wants to explore and see what’s out there, that’s not a small request. It’s a cry from the heart.

Lily: I reject your argument.

Ben: Of course you do.

Lily: From time immemorial, women have been required to save themselves for that one true love, to keep the so-called body count as close to one—or zero—as possible, should that one true love fail to materialize.

Ben: This book isn’t set in biblical times, Lily. It’s set in New Orleans circa yesterday.

Lily: Feel bad for Henry all you want but take a minute to consider Madelyn’s point of view. Henry was all she knew. He was her world. Imagine pouring all your love, time, and devotion into one man, and for that man to be Henry. What a waste!

Ben: So we agree. The breakup was for the best.

Lily: Absolutely. It was terrible to see Madelyn so crushed over it. I felt her pain at a visceral level. I don’t wish that on anyone.

Ben: Imagine going through life without ever knowing that exquisite pain. What kind of monster would you turn out to be?

Lily: Exquisite pain. You are a poet. When was the first time you felt that pain?

Ben: My college girlfriend, freshman year. She broke up with me, hopped out of my car at a traffic light, and slammed the door behind her.

Lily: Did she? Good for her.

Ben: How about you? Who was the first to break your heart?

Lily: A guy named Jackson.

Ben: I’m assuming you’ve changed the name to protect the innocent.

Lily: Of course. His real name is Asher.

Ben: Back to Jackson. What went wrong?

Lily: The classic. It’s not you, it’s me.

Ben: Ouch.

Lily: Then he just walked away. It was as boring a breakup as you can imagine. I would’ve preferred the slamming of a door, accusations, and tears, anything but that.

Ben: Tonight, I’ll come by to get my books and slam the door on my way out.

Lily: Would you, please?

Ben: Anything for you.

Lily: We should say a few smart things about the book before our time runs out.

Ben: I have a feeling they’ll take back my Genius Grant if I don’t offer some critical analysis.

Lily: We can’t have that. We’ve been coasting on that award all summer. Go on! Wow us!

Ben: Crushed Hearts explores heartache with grace. The takeaway is universal. The heart is resilient.

Lily: Well said! We recommend this heart-wrenching romance. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comment section. We love to hear from you. All the links are below.

Comments:

@Rosie_is_reading: Hey Ben! I’m engaged but say the word and I’ll ditch that ring in the Miami River!