Synopses & Reviews
A charming novel about falling in love (or like) in the digital age—the never-before-seen full story.
Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening. Flirtation—online—ensues. A romance, potentially eternal, possibly doomed, begins.
And, like most things in life today, their early exchanges are available to be scrutinized and interpreted by well-intentioned friends who are a mere click away.
Madeline and Elliot's relationship unfolds through a series of thrilling, confounding, and funny exchanges with each other, and, of course, with their best friends and dubious confidants (Emily and David). The result is a brand-new kind of modern romantic comedy, in format, in content, and even in creation—the authors exchanged e-mails in real time, blind to each other's side conversations. You will nod in appreciation and roll your eyes in recognition; you'll learn a thing or two about how the other half approaches a new relationship . . . and you will cheer for an unexpected ending that just might restore your faith in falling in love, twenty-first-century style.
Review
“Its rare to pick up a book that perfectly captures love in the digital age, but thats exactly what Neel Shah and Skye Chathams all-too-realistic novel succeeds in doing. . . . Anyone who has dated with technology will recognize themselves, or someone theyve dated, in these pages.” < i=""> TIME <>
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“Shah and Chatham pen a witty, inventive novel about a new couples romance--told entirely through their emails and texts.” < i=""> Us Weekly <>
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“A fun and surprisingly poignant way to tell a love story in this era of instant digital communication. . . . All too familiar for anyone who has dated in the last 10 years.” < i=""> New York Daily News <>
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“Shah and Chathams story of an attraction between New Yorkers Madeline and Elliotand the smartphone-facilitated ways it plays outis smart, happy, and dead-on.” < i=""> Glamour.com <>
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“Charming. . . . Shed(s) light on our digital dating habits and how they affect our happily-ever-afters.” < i=""> Cosmopolitan <>
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“A new novel that consists entirely of e-mails and texts through which the couple gets to know each other. . . . Shah a former Post reporter and Chatham deliver a fun, breezy take on dating in Internet age.” < i=""> New York Post <>
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“A romance told via a couples emails and texts to each other (and to their best friends), this insightful novel appeals to fans of (500) Days of Summer and How I Met Your Mother.” --A < i=""> In Touch <>
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“One of the coolest rom-com books weve ever read. . . . Straight up, Shah and Chatham have brilliantly optimized the era of electronic intimacy to tell a story thats sweet, hopeful, heartbreaking, deeply relatable, and ultimately uplifting. Do yourself a ginormous favor and pick up a copy.” Hello Giggles
Review
“It would be hard to imagine a more modern, accurate and funny story detailing the vicissitudes of modern love. Actually, it wouldnt just be hard - it would be impossible. Never has the dysfunction of my generations quest for love been so accurately reproduced as fiction.” Allison Williams, actress, < i=""> GIRLS <>
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“Read Bottom Up is an honest look at dating in the iPhone age, and a charming story of the various ways that love finds us. Youll laugh, and you may even recognize your inbox.” Cecelia Ahern, author of < i=""> PS I Love You <>
Review
“You will smile and laugh at the romantic follies of Read Bottom Up - until you realize you are not reading this book, it is reading you - at which point you will speed dial your therapist.” Michael H. Weber, co-screenwriter of < i=""> (500) Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now, <> and < i=""> The Fault In Our Stars <>
Review
“Read Bottom Up is witty, inventive, and (sometimes wickedly) fun -- an addictive novel readers will devour in one go.” Julie Schumacher, author of < i=""> Dear Committee Members <>
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“An enchanting, witty, and surprisingly realistic romp through romance in the digital age, with the grit of Girls, but the idealism of Sex and the City.” Susan Shapiro, author of < i=""> Five Men Who Broke My Heart <> and < i=""> Speed Shrinking <>
Review
“Charming.” popsugar.com, 26 New Spring Romance Books You Need to Read This Month
About the Author
Neel Shah is a screenwriter in Los Angeles. He used to be a reporter at the
New York Post and his work has appeared in
Glamour,
GQ, and
New York magazine.
Skye Chatham is a writer living in New York. Her work has appeared in various pub-lications, including GQ and Maxim.