Review: 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant

Inspired by the real psychology study popularised by the New York Times and its "Modern Love" column, this contemporary YA is perfect for fans of Eleanor and Park.

Hildy and Paul each have their own reasons for joining the university psychology study that asks the simple question: Can love be engineered?

The study consists of 36 questions, ranging from "What is your most terrible memory?" to "When did you last sing to yourself?" By the time Hildy and Paul have made it to the end of the questionnaire, they've laughed and cried and lied and thrown things and run away and come back and driven each other almost crazy. They've also each discovered the painful secret the other was trying so hard to hide. But have they fallen in love?

Told in the language of modern romance—texting, Q&A, IM—and punctuated by Paul's sketches, this clever high-concept YA is full of humour and heart. As soon as you've finished reading, you'll be searching for your own stranger to ask the 36 questions. Maybe you'll even fall in love.

Shona's review 5 of 5 stars

It seems like forever ago since I first read the blurb for this book and knew I wanted to read it. But other books and life have gotten in the way of me and 36 Questions. Until Today. Today I picked up the book and figured I'd read a couple of chapters before I had to do real life stuff. But this book grabbed me and didn't let go. So I read this in two sittings, in just one day. And now I'm feeling more than a little book hungover.

When Paul and Hildy meet up the conversation is written in back and forth dialogue, like a formal interview, which threw me to begin with. But as you progress through the book you realise its better this way. Like Hildy and Paul, we're focused on how they connect rather than whats going on around them. I like that we had a break from the questions, a chance to know Hildy outside of her conversations with Paul, but I was definitely looking forward when they got together to chat again. 

This book is definitely going to be one of those books I follow up with a paperback purchase. And I'll definitely be looking for other work by Grant to sink my teeth in to.