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allisonwonderlandreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Laura holds on tight to the past, be it mementos, memories, or family stories. She captures each and tends to them with love, taking comfort in the familiar. With both of her parents deceased and her father's family estranged, she clings to the lore around a father she can't remember and the many memories and objects connecting her to the mother she lost only two years ago.
Laura has a sparkling level of idealism that seems both delusional and yet somehow endearing. In terms of dating, she hasn't found anything magical, and her friends and family have started to question her high standards as unreasonable. On a trip to the channel island of Jersey to retrace her parent's romantic steps for an article, a suitcase snafu leaves her with a man's belongings. The story the items tell gives her hope that this is fate's intervention, an introduction to her soulmate.
The rom-com stress level is at a 10 for this one. My secondhand embarrassment forced me to pause at several points because I could barely function other than to yell DON'T DO IT. PLEASE, NO. In terms of romance tropes, expect sunshine and grump with a side helping of love triangle. It's a slow buildup but with low burn. It's more about a sweet, emotional connection between the characters.
It is easy to get invested in Laura's family story if not her romantic endeavors. Nothing is as straightforward as she imagined. The book offers a full emotional spectrum. It's
silly and funny with serious undertones that rise to the surface intermittently. You can not only find Laura somewhat manically doing an instagram live in a beekeeper's hat but also confronting uncomfortable truths about her parents, more flesh-and-blood than fairytale characters.
It's a thoughtful story, romantic without being just about a singular love story. Thanks to Putnam for my copy to read and review!
Laura has a sparkling level of idealism that seems both delusional and yet somehow endearing. In terms of dating, she hasn't found anything magical, and her friends and family have started to question her high standards as unreasonable. On a trip to the channel island of Jersey to retrace her parent's romantic steps for an article, a suitcase snafu leaves her with a man's belongings. The story the items tell gives her hope that this is fate's intervention, an introduction to her soulmate.
The rom-com stress level is at a 10 for this one. My secondhand embarrassment forced me to pause at several points because I could barely function other than to yell DON'T DO IT. PLEASE, NO. In terms of romance tropes, expect sunshine and grump with a side helping of love triangle. It's a slow buildup but with low burn. It's more about a sweet, emotional connection between the characters.
It is easy to get invested in Laura's family story if not her romantic endeavors. Nothing is as straightforward as she imagined. The book offers a full emotional spectrum. It's
silly and funny with serious undertones that rise to the surface intermittently. You can not only find Laura somewhat manically doing an instagram live in a beekeeper's hat but also confronting uncomfortable truths about her parents, more flesh-and-blood than fairytale characters.
It's a thoughtful story, romantic without being just about a singular love story. Thanks to Putnam for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Car accident, Dementia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
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