Endless Love

ENDLESS LOVE
by Scott Spencer

Nomination: National Book 1980

Date Read: July 7, 2020

Endless Love is a novel about what happens when passionate young love meets a boundary-less family and no constraints are put on their teenage love. Poor decisions, one after another, spiral out of control and lead to permanent and irretrievable loss. 

David, an entitled and self-involved brat, falls in love with Jade Butterfield. After he essentially moves into the Butterfield house does the family attempt to place some boundaries on their relationship, banning them from seeing each other for a month. Love is a drug and the sudden absence of a hit can lead to painful withdrawal, as it does in the case of David.

What I found so striking here is how the Butterfield family, particularly Jade and her mother, Ann, have absolutely no boundaries with each other, yet they section off and hide the most important parts of themselves. This family seems to lack true connection with one another.

After David and Jade are reunited, David once again cannot resist demanding Jade's heart and body. He offers little sympathy for the loss of Jade's father and instead his need for her is first in his mind. Jade, unsurprisingly, submits, leading to one of the most messy and vivid sex scenes I've ever read. Two blood-drenched lovers, eschewing much needed sleep, wrestle with their rekindled desire for each other. I don't know if I was aroused, disgusted or both.

While David's life becomes singularly focused on his relationship, Jade is out in the world - learning, making friends and living an actual life. David simply clings to her like a parasite, feeding off of her efforts. Yet as his immersion in her becomes complete, the reader knows the bubble he has created for himself will inevitably burst. His past looms over him like a guillotine waiting to drop.

A love like theirs is not only rare, but unsustainable. Although they eventually have to move on, this experience is completely life changing, not only for those around them but in their inner lives and perceptions of relationships. I cannot help but think that any relationship they have afterwards will pale by comparison. Perhaps this is a byproduct of having loved so deeply, so very young.

Looking Forward: A Ship Made Of Paper

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