I Heart You, You Haunt Me
4/5
()
About this ebook
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...
...sort of.
Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.
Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds.
Editor's Note
Swift but powerful…
Written in verse, “I Heart You, You Haunt Me” moves swiftly but powerfully through the stages of grief caused by the loss of a loved one. The twist to the ghost aspect of the story is surprisingly sweet and original.
Lisa Schroeder
Lisa Schroeder is the author of the teen verse novels The Day Before; I Heart You, You Haunt Me and its companion novel, Chasing Brooklyn; Far from You; and the teen prose novel Falling for You. She is also the author of the middle grade prose novels It’s Raining Cupcakes, Sprinkles and Secrets, and Frosting and Friendship. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon. Find out more about Lisa and her books at LisaSchroederBooks.com or on Twitter at @Lisa_Schroeder.
Read more from Lisa Schroeder
Chasing Brooklyn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Raining Cupcakes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sprinkles and Secrets Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Frosting and Friendship Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Far from You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Day Before Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Falling for You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for I Heart You, You Haunt Me
260 ratings42 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It was an okay book, but it could have had a bit of a better story line and the book could have bee
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/53.5 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.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/52.5 starsOnce 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.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Maybe 3.5 stars. Accessible & lovely; important & concise. Sure to be a big hit with teen girls.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5awesome book
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5its writtten in poemic style which was what caught my attention in the first place...though dont't ecpect it to rhyme.
As I read it, my mind wander to the efforts and creativity behind.
And yes being different can also mean good.
I give the writing style and the creativity a good and solid 4 though the story I can only give it 31/2 cause I don't remember what it was about now-and I just finished it less than one hours ago-otherwise that POEM WRITING that pop up in my mind everytime I opened another book with the same concepts, which is Genius..1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5i just love this book, im the kind of person that don't read much,but this book made me wanna read more
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Heart You, You Haunt Me was a light, easy, and enjoyable read. It was the first verse story I've ever read and I absolutely love that style. It's so interesting!
The story itself was good. It grabbed the reader right away, played on an interesting concept, and developed into a nice read. I wasn't that happy with the ending since I really did like Lyric a lot. I felt that it could have gone a little farther in the end, showed the main character with a new guy. However, I still enjoyed the story.
So, a short review for a short book. I enjoyed it and I'm sure many will continue to. I'd definitely recommend this for an easy summer read.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love how simple, yet perfect the book was. Voice and emotions were tied into a book in an excellent way! I recommend this book to anyone, really!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5loved this book. A book you can read when ever and never get tired of.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/515-year-old Ava is consumed with grief following the death of her love, Jackson. Jackson took a dare from Ava and plunged to his death in Heaven's Hideaway...an idyllic place with cascading waterfalls and deadly rocks. She is beyond inconsolable and won't let her friends or family help her. When ghostly Jackson starts showing up at her house, she is happy at first, but eventually realizes that it isn't a normal relationship. His 'presence' is stopping her from living life and is feeding fuel to the flame of guilt and blame. Everyone is worried for her, yet it is only Ava herself who can find the strength and courage to move on while never forgetting the intense love they shared. I Heart You, You Haunt Me is one of the those melodramatic teen novels that tug at your heart, leave you a little teary, but make you realize what teen years are all about. A quick read, it is written in verse, so you can at least move onto something a little more cheerful in a hurry.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was breathtakingly beautiful. Had to read it for sophomore summer reading last year and it brought me to tears.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This novel in verse is a story of loss and how to recover from it. Ava feels responsible for her boyfriend Jackson's death, and her coping with that and learning to live again was poignant and beautiful. The novel in verse format reads as a stream of consciousness, putting the reader into Ava's head so that they take this journey with her.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Okay, so I really went out on a limb buying a novel that is written in verse rather than prose. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that I loved it. The story is so sad but also touching. I think it has a unique yet accurate (aside from the ghost aspect) depiction of grief and loss. I was not really one for poetry before this novel, but for years I had it sitting on the shelf of my side table next to "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book meant that much to me. I haven't yet read Schroeder's other books, but I certainly plan on it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book was so good! and here is why. First, the author did a great job of creating a continuous story that had all the best parts of verse literature. The flow of each poem and stanza was so smooth, it felt no different from a prose story. Next, the story it self had a great plot that maintained smooth levels between actions. My one gripe about the story was the lack of any rhyming or structured poems. It was all free verse. I love free verse, but I am such a sucker for when things rhyme. I really enjoyed the book, it gave me chills, and I am very content with the ending.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ava's boyfriend Jackson is dead, and she knows it's her fault. So when she starts seeing and hearing him around her, at first she's comforted--it's good to know he's still around. But gradually his presence becomes a burden, and Ava wonders whether it's worth giving up on her own life just because Jackson is gone.A novel in verse, read to kick off National Poetry Month. It's complex enough to avoid the pitfalls of straight-up horror novels (possessive boyfriend from beyond the grave) or grief fiction (girl hallucinates dead boyfriend in order to cope). It seems to move very quickly, which is a side-effect of verse novels, but the conclusion is both satisfying and realistic. My only pet peeve is that the "handwritten" font for the poem titles makes every capital D look like a W.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5this gives you a mistory but to understand it you have to read all of it
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5quick read.. didn't like the poem layout at all.. It would of been so much better if the story was more spread out instead of to the point. Loved how the ending played out.. just wish there was more to the story...
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5“In that moment,I realizea circle of loveis ten times betterthan a processionof sorrys.”—Quote taken from page 11.What I love about Schroeder’s work is that she is able to convey so much in so few words. “I Heart You, You Haunt Me” is no exception.The story begins at a funeral. Ava’s boyfriend Jackson died, and it’s clear that she blames herself for his death. We don’t know how he died in the beginning as it’s something Ava doesn’t care to remember, but as the story goes along and pieces are slowly revealed – we begin to understand just why she feels as though she is responsible for Jackson’s death.But even in death, Jackson doesn’t leave her – just like he promised. Instead, he stays with her, visiting her in her dreams, and whenever her parents aren’t around. At first, Ava lives for his visits, but after a trip with her family, where she meets a boy named Lyric, she begins to question what she wants. And whether or not it’s time to let go.“I Heart You, You Haunt Me” is a beautiful story about love and death. I’d undoubtedly recommend this one.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5After reading The Day Before, my first thought was I need to read more Lisa Schroeder so I went with I Heart You, You Haunt Me. While I wasn't absolutely in love with the book like I was with The Day Before, I still really liked it. I don't read verse very often. This was the second verse book I had ever read. But Lisa Schroeder definitely does verse right. She is a brilliant writer and I can't wait to read the rest of her books.At first Ava came across as kind of annoying to me. I couldn't really relate to her very much she just generally bothered me. As we heard more and more of Ava's story and what her involvement was with Jackson's death, she became easier to relate to. Though I think I did like how we didn't really hear the whole story right away. It was frustrating at times but after awhile i was glad we had to wait to find out some of the things about Jackson's death and Ava's story.This book was fantastic, I love Lisa Schroeder's writing, and I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone. I plan to read the rest of her books soon.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The author had the original idea to turn her novel into verse form. Personally I felt it took the flow out of the story, so I changed the poems into full sentences and paragraphs (easy to do with my ebook). Then I could really enjoy the story. It read like a train and I finished it after an hour or so. It ended too soon though, I wanted more and maybe a different ending (not possible maybe, but still...).
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In an easy to read and follow free-verse style, the poetry behind the story of Ava and Jackson adds nicely to the tone of what's going on. Considering that Ava is haunted, both literally and emotionally, by her boyfriend Jackson, the poetry adds to the haunting affect that is already established by her deep sense of grief. What Schroeder captures in the story and poetry is sweet, tender, and deep.Having experienced bone-jarring grief in my life, I readily related to the thoughts and feelings that Ava expressed. Her confusion over what she should and shouldn't be feeling, at what point, and with whom was very real and poignant. Adolescence is tough enough without adding the loss of someone you love to that volatile mix. In short, Schroeder's story did it brilliantly. Outside of exploring grief though, this is a nicely paced story that has a beginning and an end, with plenty in between to keep the reader going. I have readily recommended it to all of my students and will continue to recommend this short little book. If you're at all hesitant about poetry, let this little story ease you and fool you with its narrative style.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I didn't want to finish this book......it was too good!!! The verses and the love between Ava and Jackson touched me deeply :-)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A great book if you're looking for a quick read. Written in verse, so it's different but overall it's a very cute book. 4 Stars: I liked it, but it's not something I could read over again, once you've read it, it's pretty much done. This book took me 3 days to read, but that's only because I only read it during commercial breaks while watching TV, or breaks at work, I think if I would have sat and read it, it would have probably taken about 2 hours, maybe a little longer, but it's a very quick read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Similar in many ways of death grief a hint of haunting a journey of healing. I'm enjoying the novel in verse enjoying Lisa Schroeder but are all three books similar in ways of death grief a hint of haunting a journey of healing? We shall see when I read her third Far From You
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I finished this book in one night. Well, being a novel in verse helped I guess, but I really enjoyed the story. It tells of a girl who feels guilty over her boyfriend's death, as she believes it's her fault(in my eyes it was, but whatever). They say that when someone dies with things left unresolved, they can't "move on" until they are resolved. Jackson cannot move on. Whether it be he can't or chooses not to, I'd think the latter. He visits Ava, almost haunts her, when she's alone, sad, but most commonly in her dreams, where they can touch and feel and speak. But soon Ava realizes that a relationship with a ghost might not work out...This book was fantastic. And that's coming from me, Miss I-Hate-Novel-In-Verses-Because-Of-One-Bad-Expirience. It inspired me to read more novel in verse, particularily by this author. I was so glad I read this. You have to!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5[edit] reviewI though this books was not all that great. I hated the little verses that the book was written in. I started reading it and got about 3/4 of the wa...moreI though this books was not all that great. I hated the little verses that the book was written in. I started reading it and got about 3/4 of the way through it and put it down for good. The main character Ava's boyfriend dies which I will say is a very sad thing. However I just couldn't feel sorry for her. I found her character kind of pathetic. I'm so glad I borrowed this book and didn't buy it. Its not really a book more like a large poem.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The novel,I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder encompasses the theme, "Nothing is ever really gone." I chose this theme because even though Ava's boyfriend had past away, she still feels him around her and in her dreams. In the beginning, Ava and Jackson was just a normal teenage couple until Jackson accepts a dare. Throughout the middle she perseveres through dealing with Jackson's death and then having him around her as a spirit. Ava only saw him in her dreams and glimpses in the mirror, she cannot see him, but Ava knows that Jackson is back. By the end she has learned that Jackson is back because she needed to let go of him and live her life and so she did. (240/240)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cute and adorable. Although I could have done less with the cupboard slammings and music tuning. This was a 45 minute read on the train and it is absolutely the most adorable piece of writing I have read The story line isn't depressing even though it deals with death and the main character also isn't obsessive, sad and alone. She tries and that is what makes this book count!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book was so random, and sorta boring. I didn't quite get it and the ending was honestly really, really stupid. But I liked the format, and the fact that it was a fast read. I took so long to read it because I lost the book for a while. It's about this girl, Ava who's boyfriend dies. Then he comes back to "haunt" her, and at first she thought it was because he loved her so much he can't leave. But in the end it turns tout to be because he didn't want Ava to feel guilty for causing his death.
Book preview
I Heart You, You Haunt Me - Lisa Schroeder
A Way of Black
I’ve never
been to a funeral
until today.
I see
dazzling arrangements of
red, yellow, and purple flowers
with long, green stems.
I see
a stained-glass window with
a white dove,
a yellow sun,
a blue sky.
I see
a gold cross,
standing tall,
shiny,
brilliant.
And I see
black.
Black dresses.
Black pants.
Black shoes.
Black bibles.
Black is my favorite color.
Jackson asked me about it one time.
"Ava, why don’t you like pink?
Or yellow?
Or blue?"
I love black,
I said.
It suits me.
I suit you,
he said.
And then he kissed me.
I’m not so sure
I love black
anymore.
Colorless
And then,
beyond the flowers,
beneath the stained-glass window,
beside the cross,
I see
the white casket.
I see
red, burning love
disappear
forever.
Broken Promises
My mom reaches over
and pulls my hand
from my mouth
where I chew on
the little flap of skin
along the side of my thumb
since I have no more nails
left to chew on.
An ugly habit.
One I promised Jackson
I would break.
I wonder,
do you have to keep a promise
to a dead person?
Mom holds my hand
in hers as the
music starts to play.
Jackson’s
smiling face
appears on the screen
as we hear Eric Clapton’s
haunting song
Tears in Heaven.
It’s not long
before tears in heaven
make their way
to my eyes,
so I close them
for a second.
From out of nowhere,
I’m in his car, by his side.
Music playing.
Windows rolled down.
I kick off my shoes,
put my bare feet on the dashboard
and put my hand in his.
Never leave me, okay?
I say to him.
Okay,
he tells me.
He squeezes my hand,
like that seals the deal.
My gaze
returns to the
beautiful boy
on the screen
while
my thumb
returns
to my mouth.
He broke his promise.
I can break mine.
I Will Always Remember
The minister speaks.
"It is hard when a young life is tragically cut short.
"But we must celebrate the life that was Jackson’s.
"Look around at the friends and the family
who loved Jackson Montgomery.
You will keep the memory of him alive.
There is one memory
that floods my brain
every five minutes.
It reminds me
over
and over
and over again,
I’m the reason
my boyfriend
is gone.
Memories might keep him alive.
But they might
kill
me.
No Words
After the service,
people get in line
to tell the family,
I’m sorry,
He was so young,
and
Let me know if I can do anything.
I’m one of the
first people
in line
because
I want to get it over with.
His mom is there
and I try to say
I’m sorry
like I’m supposed to,
but the words
won’t come
from my brain
to my mouth
like they’re supposed to.
She looks at me
and I feel her eyes
piercing my heart,
making it hurt
even more.
She probably blames me
like I blame myself.
I can’t blame her
for that.
She tries to smile.
She asks politely,
with no feeling,
because she has to say
something,
Are you okay, Ava?
I nod,
but inside
my heart is screaming
and kicking
and stomping,
throwing a tantrum
like a two-year-old
because
I am definitely
not okay.
She hugs me.
A quick hug.
A fake hug.
An I’m-only-hugging-you-because-I-don’t-know-what-else-to-do hug.
Next,
I hug
the people
Jackson loved
most
in the whole,
wide
world.
His sister,
then his brother.
I tell myself
to be strong.
I should be strong
for them.
But I’m not.
I sob
into Daniel’s
black jacket.
Shhhhhhhhh,
he whispers.
You’re going to get through this.
Just like his brother,
thinking about me,
not himself.
After that,
I stand alone
and wait for my mom
so we can
leave.
There is no line of people coming up to me
to say I’m sorry
or He was so young
or Let me know if I can do anything.
It feels like everyone
is looking at me.
What are they thinking?
Do I even want to know?
And then,
like an unexpected rain shower
on a day that’s so dry
you can’t breathe,
there is Cali
squeezing me tight
and Jessa
holding my hand
and Zoe
rubbing my back.
In that moment,
I realize
a circle of love
is ten times better
than a procession
of sorrys.
The Boy
Another procession.
This time,
a line of cars
driving
to the cemetery.
Mom calls Dad
on her cell.
He’s on a business trip in Paris.
He offered to come home.
I told him it’d be okay.
I have Mom, and besides,
what could he do?
I hear Mom say,
Beautiful service ...
She’s hanging in there....
Wish you could be here....
Wanna talk to Ava?
I shake my head
and wave my hand
to tell her no.
There’s nothing to say
that she hasn’t said already.
I guess she’s tired right now....
I make myself
drift back
to a happier time.
Jackson came to our school
in the fall
from a different school
in a different town.
He was the boy