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meghananne's review against another edition
2.0
Reading this book was an interesting experience for me, it took me a long time to get into it. I think I was only seriously invested in the story by part two and I got through part one because I wanted to know what happened to them.
The writing style was difficult for me, I didn't truly connect with any of the characters and many of them annoyed me in some way. In the actual writing it was extremely hard to see whose perspective a new section was being written from until later in the scene and sometimes you couldn't be certain you were right. The other issue I had is that I found the timeline a bit difficult to follow.
The writing style was difficult for me, I didn't truly connect with any of the characters and many of them annoyed me in some way. In the actual writing it was extremely hard to see whose perspective a new section was being written from until later in the scene and sometimes you couldn't be certain you were right. The other issue I had is that I found the timeline a bit difficult to follow.
_rebeccareads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book and loved all of the characters.
chelsea_jack's review against another edition
5.0
This book was easily one of my favourites this year. Full of angst, jealousy, love and fear, it was easy for me to sympathize with these characters. The drama of the university years, the kind that can really only develop when people live together, kept me glued to the pages. I gave up sleep to finish reading this book, because I had to know how it turned out for everyone.
There's so much packed into every chapter, up until the very end, I was always (very pleasantly!) surprised by how much there was left to read. I wouldn't call it a comfortable read - I wanted to intercede on Harriet's behalf more than a few times - but it's a rewarding one, I think. There's lessons here about revisiting the past, about seeing things through someone else's eyes, and about patience. This would make an excellent book club read!
To see my complete review, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
There's so much packed into every chapter, up until the very end, I was always (very pleasantly!) surprised by how much there was left to read. I wouldn't call it a comfortable read - I wanted to intercede on Harriet's behalf more than a few times - but it's a rewarding one, I think. There's lessons here about revisiting the past, about seeing things through someone else's eyes, and about patience. This would make an excellent book club read!
To see my complete review, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
joanavarandas's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn’t sure if I should give it a 2 or 3 stars. This book took me forever to read as I couldn’t connect to any of the characters or the plot itself.
It presented as such a nice idea for a plot but unfortunately I didn’t feel like it was well executed so it didn’t meet my expectations.
Not my favorite but it wasn’t the worst I’ve read.
2.5⭐️
It presented as such a nice idea for a plot but unfortunately I didn’t feel like it was well executed so it didn’t meet my expectations.
Not my favorite but it wasn’t the worst I’ve read.
2.5⭐️
leah_reads's review against another edition
5.0
New favourite author alert! :)
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Harper Impulse!*
Ohhhhh this book! I have SO MANY FEELS. I wasn't prepared for what this book did to me, I really wasn't. I'm not a big Contemporary reader but there was something about this book that grabbed onto me. I had to get myself a copy and I am so glad that I did (thank you, Amy!) The Best Thing I Never Had was made all the better by the fact that I haven't long graduated university. All of the events and behaviours which unfold are all so, so familiar and I found myself feeling incredibly nostalgic. I felt like I could related to every single one of the characters in different ways - there are not many books which are capable of doing that! Usually there's a character that you can easily distance yourself from, but this was definitely not the case with this one.
“Johnny appeared out of nowhere to save the day, reaching clumsily over Harriet’s head to punch the correct answer on the touch screen with just milliseconds to spare. Sukie exhaled in relief; she took her quiz machine investments very seriously; after all, £2 could be a small fortune to a student the wrong side of Reading Week.”
This book is packed to the brim with emotion and such real friendships. The ups and downs are portrayed beautifully, as are the after effects of falling in love with someone that you really shouldn't have. I felt so supportive of Harriet and constantly annoyed by Leigha. The seven characters are easy to picture; it's likely that we all have similar friends to those that are in this book. This just made the novel even better. It's hard to believe that this book is a debut! The events are so realistic and the portrayal of student life is perfect. The mess of emotions, the stress, the friendships that you think will last forever. Everything is so completely spot on. Harriet and Adam are English students, my kind of people! What was so nice was that you could imagine yourself fitting in with this group of friends; this mash of personalities that just work together. The silly routines that they kept were so familiar and so completely serious. It definitely drags up a lot of nostalgia.
“Yeah, but – its board game night, ‘The Game of Life’…” Harriet said, stupid with her share of the two jugs of Snakebite they’d imbibed already.
“Fuck ‘The Game of Life’,” Adam replied, with great delight, refilling their pint glasses with a clumsy slosh from the pitcher. “I always get the shit jobs anyway.”
The thing I loved was that this book projects so many moral questions. Would you go for someone that your best friend has crushed on for the longest time? If it happened to you, would you be able to then support your friend in that relationship? The way that the friendship transforms over a few revelations is shocking. It shows how brittle things can be. It's amazing how people that love each other so much can then project so much hatred at that person. The Best Thing I Never Had is so, so relatable. Everything that unfolds is something that we will have all been through at some point in our lives. I really cannot recommend this book enough. If you're not a big Contemporary reader, get your paws on this! It's definitely changed my mind.
If anyone can recommend me books similar to this one, I'm all ears! A fantastic, relatable, realistic and gripping read; I've definitely found myself a new favourite author!
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Harper Impulse!*
Ohhhhh this book! I have SO MANY FEELS. I wasn't prepared for what this book did to me, I really wasn't. I'm not a big Contemporary reader but there was something about this book that grabbed onto me. I had to get myself a copy and I am so glad that I did (thank you, Amy!) The Best Thing I Never Had was made all the better by the fact that I haven't long graduated university. All of the events and behaviours which unfold are all so, so familiar and I found myself feeling incredibly nostalgic. I felt like I could related to every single one of the characters in different ways - there are not many books which are capable of doing that! Usually there's a character that you can easily distance yourself from, but this was definitely not the case with this one.
“Johnny appeared out of nowhere to save the day, reaching clumsily over Harriet’s head to punch the correct answer on the touch screen with just milliseconds to spare. Sukie exhaled in relief; she took her quiz machine investments very seriously; after all, £2 could be a small fortune to a student the wrong side of Reading Week.”
This book is packed to the brim with emotion and such real friendships. The ups and downs are portrayed beautifully, as are the after effects of falling in love with someone that you really shouldn't have. I felt so supportive of Harriet and constantly annoyed by Leigha. The seven characters are easy to picture; it's likely that we all have similar friends to those that are in this book. This just made the novel even better. It's hard to believe that this book is a debut! The events are so realistic and the portrayal of student life is perfect. The mess of emotions, the stress, the friendships that you think will last forever. Everything is so completely spot on. Harriet and Adam are English students, my kind of people! What was so nice was that you could imagine yourself fitting in with this group of friends; this mash of personalities that just work together. The silly routines that they kept were so familiar and so completely serious. It definitely drags up a lot of nostalgia.
“Yeah, but – its board game night, ‘The Game of Life’…” Harriet said, stupid with her share of the two jugs of Snakebite they’d imbibed already.
“Fuck ‘The Game of Life’,” Adam replied, with great delight, refilling their pint glasses with a clumsy slosh from the pitcher. “I always get the shit jobs anyway.”
The thing I loved was that this book projects so many moral questions. Would you go for someone that your best friend has crushed on for the longest time? If it happened to you, would you be able to then support your friend in that relationship? The way that the friendship transforms over a few revelations is shocking. It shows how brittle things can be. It's amazing how people that love each other so much can then project so much hatred at that person. The Best Thing I Never Had is so, so relatable. Everything that unfolds is something that we will have all been through at some point in our lives. I really cannot recommend this book enough. If you're not a big Contemporary reader, get your paws on this! It's definitely changed my mind.
If anyone can recommend me books similar to this one, I'm all ears! A fantastic, relatable, realistic and gripping read; I've definitely found myself a new favourite author!
cowmingo's review against another edition
2.0
Received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
First, let me warn you that there is a lot of British slang in here so if you a) aren't British or b) aren't comfortable not knowing what things mean, you may want to skip this one. That being said, this book was just okay for me. The story starts out in present day with two of the seven friends getting engaged. It then goes back in time to when all of them meet in college and takes you through a series of events that changes the dynamic of the group forever and then goes back to present day. I had a problem with how much the "offending" friend was villianized by her roommates but then again I had a problem with how she treated her male friend as well so there you go. I will say that I got angry with the characters a lot which speaks to the author's writing quite well because usually if I get mad, it means the characters are getting to me in one way or the other. I can't say anything more without spoilers and I don't like to give spoilers so you'll have to see what you think for yourself. Okay, just writing this review has made me mad at all of them again.
First, let me warn you that there is a lot of British slang in here so if you a) aren't British or b) aren't comfortable not knowing what things mean, you may want to skip this one. That being said, this book was just okay for me. The story starts out in present day with two of the seven friends getting engaged. It then goes back in time to when all of them meet in college and takes you through a series of events that changes the dynamic of the group forever and then goes back to present day. I had a problem with how much the "offending" friend was villianized by her roommates but then again I had a problem with how she treated her male friend as well so there you go. I will say that I got angry with the characters a lot which speaks to the author's writing quite well because usually if I get mad, it means the characters are getting to me in one way or the other. I can't say anything more without spoilers and I don't like to give spoilers so you'll have to see what you think for yourself. Okay, just writing this review has made me mad at all of them again.
brewtifulfiction's review against another edition
2.0
I was expecting good things from this book and I have to say I was left disappointed. It seemed to be quite long and in the end nothing really happened, there was no real twist or big reveal, it all ended up seeming pointless?
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
3.0
My fifth book of my holiday reads.
This a book mainly based on the main character and her friends whilst at uni. It's very much a story of friendships and relationships.
I have to admit none of the female characters really grabbed me. I found them ok but at times they grated on me. I really liked Adam and to be honest if anything it's the males in the book that get the harder side of the brush which was a change but as a female, I'm not to sure I like the tables being turned.
Whilst not blowing me away, this is still a decent read that grows on you the further into it you get.
This a book mainly based on the main character and her friends whilst at uni. It's very much a story of friendships and relationships.
I have to admit none of the female characters really grabbed me. I found them ok but at times they grated on me. I really liked Adam and to be honest if anything it's the males in the book that get the harder side of the brush which was a change but as a female, I'm not to sure I like the tables being turned.
Whilst not blowing me away, this is still a decent read that grows on you the further into it you get.
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