LAWLESS SPACES
The girls of Devonairre Street have always been told they’re cursed. Any boy they love is certain to die too soon. But this is Brooklyn in 2008, and the curse is less a terror and more a lifestyle accessory—something funky and quaint that makes the girls from the shortest street in Brooklyn special. They wear their hair long and keys around their necks. People give them a second look and whisper “Devonairre” to their friends. But it’s not real. It won’t affect their futures.
Then Jack—their Jack, the one boy everyone loved—dies suddenly and violently. And now the curse seems not only real, but like the only thing that matters. All their bright futures have suddenly gone dark.
The Careful Undressing of Love is a disturbing and sensual story of the power of youth and the boundless mysteries of love set against the backdrop of Haydu’s brilliantly reimagined New York City.
REVIEWS
* A Romantic Times Top Pick
“Heartbreakingly beautiful and haunting, Haydu holds your heart in her hands as you travel through the pages of this story.”
– Romantic Times
“This is an often lyrical reflection on love, sexuality, death, mourning, and how human beings attempt to rationalize and control tragic events. The elements of magical realism and the beautifully detailed descriptions of an alternate version of New York City make this a standout. VERDICT This complex novel would be a good choice for a book discussion group or for those looking for a substantive, poetic YA read.”
– School Library Journal
“(the) lushly written first-person narrative is sensuous and rich, perfectly capturing the conflicting feelings of joy and fear that often accompany true love and meticulously laying out the peculiar terms of life on Devonairre Street… it’s the subtle yet powerful way that the novel addresses Lorna’s struggle to find herself when others have defined her for so long that will especially appeal to teen readers grappling with their own issues of identity. A carefully layered exploration of the age-old question, “Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?” ”
– Kirkus Reviews
“The Careful Undressing of Love is sad and strange and beautiful. I will be marveling over Corey Ann Haydu’s writing for days to come.”
– Johanna Albrecht, bookseller at Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC