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iisa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Sexual content
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The writing style was mediocre. Did make me cry a couple times bc it made me reflect. But, I found it lacking the action and character build up in side characters. It fell flat. The ending also seemed too easy for me. Was giving Jess and Paul from New Girl and that didn’t seem good to me lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer and Medical trauma
abbiemreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
meghancraft's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
simplexdreams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Medical trauma
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
This was phenomenal. I was honestly hesitant to pick it up because it seemed so heavy, and I tend to prefer lighthearted books. I really was only swayed to actually read it because Julia Whelan narrates and she’s my favorite! I’m so glad I took the chance. It was amazing. Definitely the main character situation I would LEAST want to be in because it’s an actual nightmare, but it was amazing exploring the horrifying scenario, if that makes sense. It was so well written and narrated and I truly didn’t know where it would go. I enjoyed every minute and definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
shellsshel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I'm actually really irritated with myself for returning the ebook to the library before writing my review, because I had some excellent quotes highlighted in it, and naturally, I remember none of them now. Super unfortunate, that.
Oh well, moving on. This book was fantastic! But did I expect anything less from TJR? Not in the slightest. I can absolutely put her as one of my favorite authors of all time. I've never actually been disappointed by one of her books and I was really looking forward to making my way through her backlist, starting with One True Loves. Unsurprisingly, it was just as satisfying to read as her newer novels.
I didn't even make it 20% of the way through the book before turning to my husband and telling him how it was going to wreck me. Turns out, I was right. I cried multiple times while I was reading this book. It really tugs at your heartstrings and makes you want everything to work out.
Unlike TJR's newer books, there weren't any particularly giant plot twists or shocks along the way, since the "big reveal" happens early on in the book and isn't even a secret - it's in the synopsis, for goodness sake. So I did find the story to be somewhat predictable after a certain point. However, that didn't make it any less enjoyable to read, and I found myself reaching for my Kindle as often as possible to continue pouring over the story.
I really can't say there was anything I didn't like about the book. It's emotional, poignant, inspiring, and hopeful. I'm definitely looking forward to sobbing my way through the movie when it comes out.
Oh well, moving on. This book was fantastic! But did I expect anything less from TJR? Not in the slightest. I can absolutely put her as one of my favorite authors of all time. I've never actually been disappointed by one of her books and I was really looking forward to making my way through her backlist, starting with One True Loves. Unsurprisingly, it was just as satisfying to read as her newer novels.
I didn't even make it 20% of the way through the book before turning to my husband and telling him how it was going to wreck me. Turns out, I was right. I cried multiple times while I was reading this book. It really tugs at your heartstrings and makes you want everything to work out.
Unlike TJR's newer books, there weren't any particularly giant plot twists or shocks along the way, since the "big reveal" happens early on in the book and isn't even a secret - it's in the synopsis, for goodness sake. So I did find the story to be somewhat predictable after a certain point. However, that didn't make it any less enjoyable to read, and I found myself reaching for my Kindle as often as possible to continue pouring over the story.
I really can't say there was anything I didn't like about the book. It's emotional, poignant, inspiring, and hopeful. I'm definitely looking forward to sobbing my way through the movie when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
lasafica_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
bookishcoffeedrinker's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- 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
I have only read one TJR book before this one and DnF'd another.
With all authors there are hit and misses and this one was somewhere in between as a cute contemporary romance to start of the new year.
(For reference I've read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and absolutely adored it. I DNF'd Daisy Jones and the Six. It wasn't quite my style.)
This book centres around Emma Blair who's husband goes missing on their one year anniversary from being married. She grieves, moves on and a few years later she is engaged to an old friend Sam who worked with her at her parents bookshop while in high school. Plot twist her husband is alive and comes home, now she has to choose between her fiancée and recently now not presumed dead husband Jesse (who was her high school sweetheart).
The formatting of the book jumped back to flashbacks to explain the way the mc's met and how they all came together. The dry humour and witty banter from the teenage years was fun and relatable and it didn't bore me. Into the early adult years Emma and Jesse's relationship felt glossed over and abruptly he was gone and boom we've set up a love triangle.
Skip over to the end because I'm too lazy to write a really long review the things that irked me the most were the fact that Emma was able to make her decision in just three days, Jesse accepted her decision in one conversation and the fact that Jesse's return felt unrealistic as he was on a deserted island for 3 years and showed no sign of PTSD apart from saying he didn't "feel right."
I'll come back and write a better review eventually. I am just spouting a summary at this point.
Overall this book was enjoyable. It's not something I'd jump to recommend to people at first look at my bookshelf but if you want a cutesy fast paced romance read this would be appropriate. It wasn't a TJR tear-jerker but I am willing to read more of her books because I am a sucker for contemporary romance.
With all authors there are hit and misses and this one was somewhere in between as a cute contemporary romance to start of the new year.
(For reference I've read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and absolutely adored it. I DNF'd Daisy Jones and the Six. It wasn't quite my style.)
This book centres around Emma Blair who's husband goes missing on their one year anniversary from being married. She grieves, moves on and a few years later she is engaged to an old friend Sam who worked with her at her parents bookshop while in high school. Plot twist her husband is alive and comes home, now she has to choose between her fiancée and recently now not presumed dead husband Jesse (who was her high school sweetheart).
The formatting of the book jumped back to flashbacks to explain the way the mc's met and how they all came together. The dry humour and witty banter from the teenage years was fun and relatable and it didn't bore me. Into the early adult years Emma and Jesse's relationship felt glossed over and abruptly he was gone and boom we've set up a love triangle.
Skip over to the end because I'm too lazy to write a really long review the things that irked me the most were the fact that Emma was able to make her decision in just three days, Jesse accepted her decision in one conversation and the fact that Jesse's return felt unrealistic as he was on a deserted island for 3 years and showed no sign of PTSD apart from saying he didn't "feel right."
I'll come back and write a better review eventually. I am just spouting a summary at this point.
Overall this book was enjoyable. It's not something I'd jump to recommend to people at first look at my bookshelf but if you want a cutesy fast paced romance read this would be appropriate. It wasn't a TJR tear-jerker but I am willing to read more of her books because I am a sucker for contemporary romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy, Self harm, and Medical content