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kfmcf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Like this author, WHMS is really important to my journey as an enjoyed of romance. So I was going to go into this really skeptical, there was just no way around that.
Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? No. It was fine. It was interesting to more or less genderbend it, sure, but Ari is so much more insufferable than Harry ever was. And Josh was so grumpy which didn't make any sense if he was supposed to be the Sally? Not really a problem by any means but I wanted more layers to them. I did really enjoy Ari's fluid sexuality and how it was just a part of her and never really made a focus (because bi people just, ya know, exist and are people).
I think the book was good until act three and then it fumbled. I don't believe they would or should get back together (not a spoiler, it's romance) and was kind of rooting for them to not in a lot of ways. They hadn't even TALKED in like a year. It didn't make sense. The amount of time that Harry and Sally don't talk is like...a month.
The thing about WHMS that is my absolute favorite bit about it is Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fischer's characters and development of their relationship. The side characters are vital for driving them forward and also showing them a healthy and vibrant relationship (minus the wagon wheel coffee table). I don't think this was done very successfully here. Some of the side characters are alright (Rad is fine) but her improv guy and her sister were like caricatures. They didn't balance the leads out, they just added more drama.
actual spoiler - why the HELL did his mom send her to DC? it's never explained? Why did she think it was good? And it's all just fine? The DC thing in and of itself was really contrived and unnecessary imo
Lastly, my biggest complaint about this book is that we don't really get much time with them as FRIENDS. They're trying to sleep with each other almost immediately and that's not the point. I wanted to see why they liked each other and tbh I never really felt like I got that. It felt really surface level in their attraction and I wish I could have felt the chemistry more. (Also the rapid inner chapter POV switches could be really jarring)
I want to see the author do something that's not a retelling next. I don't think I'll read another Ephron. ALSO someone earlier posted but some of the author's choices were...interesting (specifically using "Me Too-ed" as a verb...just...yikes). Banter was fun, but there were many moments of being yanked out of the story by word choices.
Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? No. It was fine. It was interesting to more or less genderbend it, sure, but Ari is so much more insufferable than Harry ever was. And Josh was so grumpy which didn't make any sense if he was supposed to be the Sally? Not really a problem by any means but I wanted more layers to them. I did really enjoy Ari's fluid sexuality and how it was just a part of her and never really made a focus (because bi people just, ya know, exist and are people).
I think the book was good until act three and then it fumbled. I don't believe they would or should get back together (not a spoiler, it's romance) and was kind of rooting for them to not in a lot of ways. They hadn't even TALKED in like a year. It didn't make sense. The amount of time that Harry and Sally don't talk is like...a month.
The thing about WHMS that is my absolute favorite bit about it is Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fischer's characters and development of their relationship. The side characters are vital for driving them forward and also showing them a healthy and vibrant relationship (minus the wagon wheel coffee table). I don't think this was done very successfully here. Some of the side characters are alright (Rad is fine) but her improv guy and her sister were like caricatures. They didn't balance the leads out, they just added more drama.
Lastly, my biggest complaint about this book is that we don't really get much time with them as FRIENDS. They're trying to sleep with each other almost immediately and that's not the point. I wanted to see why they liked each other and tbh I never really felt like I got that. It felt really surface level in their attraction and I wish I could have felt the chemistry more. (Also the rapid inner chapter POV switches could be really jarring)
I want to see the author do something that's not a retelling next. I don't think I'll read another Ephron. ALSO someone earlier posted but some of the author's choices were...interesting (specifically using "Me Too-ed" as a verb...just...yikes). Banter was fun, but there were many moments of being yanked out of the story by word choices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Death of parent
jillkaarlela's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Taylor Swift songs: “you are in love (tv)”
-surprisingly this was a Swiftie book! I counted at least 4 Taylor references in the book!
Age rating: 18+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️, but lots of raunchy/sexual humor throughout)
This was a delightfully messy queer, gender-bent “when Harry met Sally”. The FMC is pansexual, and she is more like Harry’s character, since she is a polyamorous relationship-phobe. It also has way more banter and raunchy humor than WHMS. I mean messy as in showing the messy sides of human nature and real life. The characters are so real, with real-world issues, fears, quirks, and insecurities. For example, they met when they found out they were both hooking up with the same girl. Like how funny and messy and real is that? I’ve seen a lot of criticisms of this book saying that the main characters are “unlikable” or “too messy”, but I disagree. Characters, like people, are not perfect, they’re messy, and they show and have the worst parts of ourselves. But I thought it was quite beautiful seeing these two flawed people find love, comfort, and acceptance in each other and growing in their connection to one another. Like the book says, love isn’t just being with the person that makes you happ,y, it’s about choosing a person you would want to be with you at your darkest times. This book really shows that.
All of these added elements really helped to modernize the story! Also, having it as a whole novel allowed for much deeper and further character explanation and development!
It is omniscient third person, and it switches back and forth between focusing on each character quite a bit. It makes it feel more like a movie! I saw the whole thing playing out in my head.
Overall, if you are a WHMS fan, you would LOVE this!
TW: lots of drug and alcohol use, divorce/grief, abandonment trauma, lots of explicit sexual references throughout
-surprisingly this was a Swiftie book! I counted at least 4 Taylor references in the book!
Age rating: 18+ (2 spicy scenes, 1/5🌶️, but lots of raunchy/sexual humor throughout)
This was a delightfully messy queer, gender-bent “when Harry met Sally”. The FMC is pansexual, and she is more like Harry’s character, since she is a polyamorous relationship-phobe. It also has way more banter and raunchy humor than WHMS. I mean messy as in showing the messy sides of human nature and real life. The characters are so real, with real-world issues, fears, quirks, and insecurities. For example, they met when they found out they were both hooking up with the same girl. Like how funny and messy and real is that? I’ve seen a lot of criticisms of this book saying that the main characters are “unlikable” or “too messy”, but I disagree. Characters, like people, are not perfect, they’re messy, and they show and have the worst parts of ourselves. But I thought it was quite beautiful seeing these two flawed people find love, comfort, and acceptance in each other and growing in their connection to one another. Like the book says, love isn’t just being with the person that makes you happ,y, it’s about choosing a person you would want to be with you at your darkest times. This book really shows that.
All of these added elements really helped to modernize the story! Also, having it as a whole novel allowed for much deeper and further character explanation and development!
It is omniscient third person, and it switches back and forth between focusing on each character quite a bit. It makes it feel more like a movie! I saw the whole thing playing out in my head.
Overall, if you are a WHMS fan, you would LOVE this!
TW: lots of drug and alcohol use, divorce/grief, abandonment trauma, lots of explicit sexual references throughout
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
jjha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was so excited about this book. NYC, yes! Autumn romance, yes! Haters to lovers, yes! And yet, it just didn’t work that well for me. When Harry Met Sally is one of my all time favorite movies so going in there was a high bar, so my comparison may not be fair. For me there wasn’t enough backstory to make Ari’s behavior seem warranted. Josh was a bit better, but still a jerk. I wanted more of them actually healing themselves so when they do get together it feels earned. They didn’t have to heal completely as a them accepting each other as who they are (without changing) is key. They are deeply scarred and while they can heal together they also need to own and mend their poor behavioral tendencies.
I really liked a lot of the supporting characters especially Abby and Radhya. Maybe Radhya could have her own book?!
Extra points for all the NYC references.
I really liked a lot of the supporting characters especially Abby and Radhya. Maybe Radhya could have her own book?!
Extra points for all the NYC references.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Death of parent
jessedithgc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
vj_thompson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.75
It’s giving fall vibes, personal growth, and “pick me, choose me, love me.” UGH! I’ve never felt so many emotions while reading a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity and Panic attacks/disorders
kathygotpugs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Death of parent
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“No one should marry the person who makes them happy. Marry the person you want by your side at your lowest point. Marry the person you…you never get sick of. Who you always want more from. Who makes you proud to be theirs.”
I wrote almost 4,900 words on my Notes App book journal about this book. It’s basically an essay on how invested I was in this book.
If you love When Harry Met Sally, HIMYM, Friends, romcom love confessions, friends to lovers, meet disasters, the idea of soulmates, or any combination, YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
This book felt like a love letter to a generation who grew up loving sitcoms, romcoms, DCOMs, or really anything with “com” in the name. It’s one of the most unique romances that I think I’ll ever read. First, the bi representation was really good and refreshing. It’s actually what drew me to the book in the first place, since it led to the basic premise of both Ari and Josh meeting because they’re sleeping with the same girl. I felt so much for Ari throughout the entire book. The girl just couldn’t catch a break! The ONE time she decides to give a relationship a chance, it ends up being with a narcissistic professor who clearly had a history of dumping her partner when she got bored then making the partner seem like they were the problem. Then we get to the complexity of Josh, a grumpy jerk who is also convinced in the idea of true love, destiny, and soulmates. It was both sweet and infuriating to see his reaction to his relationship shift with Ari at the 60% point. Together, they’re like the beginning of a bizarre joke: “a cynical, hopeless romantic and a free spirited commitment-phobe walk into a bar”—or—“an adult toy store”?
My main biggest issue with the book was the third act conflict. While I think it made total sense, I think the wrong half of the couple was blamed for the mess! Yes, both halves admit some fault in the disaster, but one half ends up taking more of the blame, and if anything, the OTHER person deserved the blame for being incapable of listening…
No matter what, these two are the definition of literary soulmates. Like, they just KEPT finding each other again and again (he se the title), even if they were in the most bizarre ways. I’m so excited to see what Kate Goldbeck writes next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dial Press, and Kate Goldbeck for providing me access to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Infidelity, and Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
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