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jenn_reads's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fast read I tore through all in one day but I'm still not sure whether I actually liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
jaynovara's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Body horror, Cancer, Death of parent, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Body shaming, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
penguin_20's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Moderate: Cursing, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Cancer
Minor: Grief, Alcohol, Violence, and Pregnancy
jen1804's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Damn I loved this book, there is so much I want to say so I will do my best to try and get all my thoughts down as words that make sense. Warning: some spoilers ahead.
I cannot express how much I loved the concept; living your own lives and meeting on the same day once a year for 5 years before you allow yourselves to fall in love? Ugh stop it, it’s so freaking cute. I also really loved the fact that we get absolutely no narrative in between each November 9th! I love that we get to skip over all the mundane life stuff each year and jump straight back into the interaction between our two MCs. AND having said that, despite only getting a window into the lives of these two characters on one day a year, they in no way feel under developed because of the richness of their inner monologues, is CoHo a genius or what?
I have seen some hate towards Ben from other readers but I personally adore his character. Does Ben come with his flaws? Absolutely - I especially cringed during the first November when he tells Fallon what he wants her to wear to dinner because “he’s paying”, but they’re both very young at this point. And does Ben show character development and growth over the years as he matures? Yes, yes he does. But any boy who takes homework to read 5 romance novels that the girl has recommended is absolutely swoon worthy in my eyes. Add onto that that he’s a writer and is literally writing a novel about their love story - RIP me.
I disliked the Jordyn storyline but not because it was necessarily unrealistic, I can absolutely see how in that situation, two grieving people who already share a house and are now raising a child together could gravitate towards one another whilst subconsciously knowing it wasn’t what either of them ultimately want. It was just so sad and I felt my heart breaking for both Fallon and Ben in that moment!
I adored the body positivity messages woven throughout this book and how Fallon learned to love her scars. I feel like the fact that it was Ben who helped shape her confidence here is so freaking important.
The scene in the closet at the night club? Omg how can something so marginal be so hot? I loved that scene so much and I think it’ll live rent free in my head forever. And the scenes that followed too, “yes” to Ben’s nonchalance towards Theo and an even bigger “yes” to Ben, Glenn and Amber defending Fallon’s honour when Theo insults her.
I really did not like the sub plot of mother Kessler committing suicide, to me this was too unrealistic. I just can’t see how she, someone who loved her children as much as the book claims, would ever do that and allow her 16 year old son to find her dead with her brains blown out. It’s for this reason that I cannot give it a 5. I did however really like the description in Ben’s novel of the events that followed said mother’s death and gave good insight into the grief and trauma that Ben was experiencing, especially before reading his mother’s note.
Overall this was a really beautiful and complex coming of age story about love, forgiveness, family and self acceptance. Would highly recommend to YA contemporary romance readers.
I cannot express how much I loved the concept; living your own lives and meeting on the same day once a year for 5 years before you allow yourselves to fall in love? Ugh stop it, it’s so freaking cute. I also really loved the fact that we get absolutely no narrative in between each November 9th! I love that we get to skip over all the mundane life stuff each year and jump straight back into the interaction between our two MCs. AND having said that, despite only getting a window into the lives of these two characters on one day a year, they in no way feel under developed because of the richness of their inner monologues, is CoHo a genius or what?
I have seen some hate towards Ben from other readers but I personally adore his character. Does Ben come with his flaws? Absolutely - I especially cringed during the first November when he tells Fallon what he wants her to wear to dinner because “he’s paying”, but they’re both very young at this point. And does Ben show character development and growth over the years as he matures? Yes, yes he does. But any boy who takes homework to read 5 romance novels that the girl has recommended is absolutely swoon worthy in my eyes. Add onto that that he’s a writer and is literally writing a novel about their love story - RIP me.
I disliked the Jordyn storyline but not because it was necessarily unrealistic, I can absolutely see how in that situation, two grieving people who already share a house and are now raising a child together could gravitate towards one another whilst subconsciously knowing it wasn’t what either of them ultimately want. It was just so sad and I felt my heart breaking for both Fallon and Ben in that moment!
I adored the body positivity messages woven throughout this book and how Fallon learned to love her scars. I feel like the fact that it was Ben who helped shape her confidence here is so freaking important.
The scene in the closet at the night club? Omg how can something so marginal be so hot? I loved that scene so much and I think it’ll live rent free in my head forever. And the scenes that followed too, “yes” to Ben’s nonchalance towards Theo and an even bigger “yes” to Ben, Glenn and Amber defending Fallon’s honour when Theo insults her.
I really did not like the sub plot of mother Kessler committing suicide, to me this was too unrealistic. I just can’t see how she, someone who loved her children as much as the book claims, would ever do that and allow her 16 year old son to find her dead with her brains blown out. It’s for this reason that I cannot give it a 5. I did however really like the description in Ben’s novel of the events that followed said mother’s death and gave good insight into the grief and trauma that Ben was experiencing, especially before reading his mother’s note.
Overall this was a really beautiful and complex coming of age story about love, forgiveness, family and self acceptance. Would highly recommend to YA contemporary romance readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cancer
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
ninahuynh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Finally read a CoHo book. I can see the hype- and even though this isn't the (most) hyped book of hers, I enjoyed it for the most part. There were a handful of grammar mistakes that caught my attention. I didn't like the "but he's your father" guilt-trip-like comments. Did like how it shows how we can be more understanding of each other and our situations. Though not the best way, it was definitely A WAY of illustrating empathy and forgiveness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicide, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, and Pregnancy
anewton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved the first half of the book, whilst the second half really frustrated me. The idea and trope were super cute and pretty believable however the plot twist and sequence of events following weren’t. Major trauma was seemingly dealt with and forgiven within only a day, with the premise of ‘love conquers all’ driving the story line. Honestly, didn’t buy it, didn’t believe it, didn’t feel real or relatable. Only scoring decently because of how intensely beautiful the love story was at the start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol
eimmi's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Cancer, Alcohol, and Grief
jamiejanae_6's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Grief, and Gore
milenasbooknook's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
I can’t decide how to rate this book.
Originally I was going to give it a pretty low rating. I’m not a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book leaned into that way more than I expected. Also the relationship between the two main characters made me a little uncomfortable more than once and a skipped through a few parts (the insta-love really did not help here).
I will say, however, that the last hundred or so pages partially redeemed the book for me. The plot twist was so unexpected, and I was sucked in once I got to the sixth November (iykyk). I won’t spoil the book, so I will just say that I found the ending really gripping and thought-provoking.
Overall, I am still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I do think, though, that Colleen Hoover books just might not be my thing :)
Originally I was going to give it a pretty low rating. I’m not a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book leaned into that way more than I expected. Also the relationship between the two main characters made me a little uncomfortable more than once and a skipped through a few parts (the insta-love really did not help here).
I will say, however, that the last hundred or so pages partially redeemed the book for me. The plot twist was so unexpected, and I was sucked in once I got to the sixth November (iykyk). I won’t spoil the book, so I will just say that I found the ending really gripping and thought-provoking.
Overall, I am still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I do think, though, that Colleen Hoover books just might not be my thing :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer and Alcohol
this_is_lee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was just such a fun book. I really enjoy reading Colleen Hoover books. While yes of course the writing is overall a little on the childish side, I think she is a good storyteller that makes books full of depth easy reads.
I loved this book.
I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicide, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Death