Ollie and Claire: 12/06/14

Ollie and Claire by Tiffany Strelitz Haber is about two dear friends who have their routine and love each other and the things they do together. Except Claire wants to expand her horizons and go on a trip. She desperately wants to take Ollie along except she's convinced herself that he won't want to go, so she tries to find a traveling companion, to hilarious and charming results.

After my daughter and I read this book together our conversation about the story evolved into a recollection of what it was like in the early days of dating her father. Ultimately this book isn't so much about the dangers of routine as it is the dangers of assuming you know what your nearest and dearest is always thinking.

Interlude whilst I wander down memory lane and get sentimental about mushy stuff. If you don't want to read it, you can stop here and know that I loved the book. Cute story. Cute illustrations.

Before I met the person who would ultimately become my spouse, I had the romantic, albeit naive, notion that whomever I met would be able to read me like a book and just know what I wanted. We would just be on the same page. Oh silly, silly me. People don't work that way.

After a very frustrating walk to the cliffs to watch the sunset my boyfriend of all of about two months — maybe — rightfully snapped, "I can't read minds!" And while that's not exactly what Claire learns in this book, it's close. Her lesson is more like, don't assume Ollie doesn't like to travel just because you've never seen him go anywhere. Or perhaps, ask before you assume.

Five stars

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