Every relationship I’ve been in ends up being an absolute tragedy—and the most recent one wasn’t that long ago. I had just finished reading Love Virtually (and completed my exam on it), when heartbreak struck again. Fittingly, the novel doesn’t deliver a happy ending either. So if you’re looking for a feel-good romance, this isn’t it.
Love Virtually—or Gut gegen Nordwind in the original German—tells the story of two strangers, Emmi and Leo, who form an intense emotional bond through email after an accidental message lands in the wrong inbox. Though they never meet, their correspondence grows increasingly intimate, raising questions about emotional fidelity, fantasy versus reality, and what it means to truly connect in the digital age.
Glattauer’s writing shines in its simplicity and emotional depth. The characters reveal themselves through witty, vulnerable exchanges that blur the line between longing and illusion. Despite the novel’s unusual email format, the emotional weight is powerful and profoundly relatable.
While I hadn’t expected much when I picked it up, I’m glad I did. Love Virtually is a quiet, piercing exploration of love—almost-love, really—and how powerful even unseen connections can be.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨
(For the full Review come to life2books.wordpress.com)
XOXO Life2books
