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mpierson's review against another edition
2.0
Just couldn't finish. The book is well-written, but I stop caring about the main characters.
leleroulant's review
1.0
I found myself laughing at the characters conversations...I don't think I was supposed to.
asegurasmith's review
3.0
Plot most of us would consider for a fantasy-- spending time in a romantic spot with a first love. This version not do much.
rmardel's review
2.0
At the very beginning of this book I thought I would love this book, I got wrapped up in the characters in the opening pages and was looking forward to reading it. But the best of each character and the conceit was at the beginning. Nothing changed, nothing grew, the conversations were flat. Nothing.
mcurry1010's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the plot (2 former lovers meet up 40 years after their dramatic break-up). At times found the characters to be tedious and was disappointed in the depiction of Rome.
amyschlott's review against another edition
3.0
I considered giving this one 4 stars. I think I liked it so much in part because it conjured up memories of my first love and thinking about how much changes with time. The idea of book reminded me in some ways of the Before Sunrise movies in that the great majority of the book is simply two people, walking and talking. I found it engaging, but could see how it wouldn't be for everyone.
apocalypse_musings's review against another edition
1.0
I can only repeat what other reviewers have written before me: the characters are supposed to be likable but aren't; and I only kept reading to find out why they broke up, but the break up isn't that interesting. The chapter subtitles are lines from the characters' pedantic and boring conversations, but the lines aren't particularly noteworthy or insightful. The Love of My Youth is a painful read that doesn't get better.
harrietnbrown's review against another edition
3.0
I usually love Gordon's work, but this one is tough to love. I keep hoping something will click and I'll fall for it, but I'm halfway through and seriously considering not finishing it.
***
Now, having finished it, I can say I'm glad I read it, that the last third or so had much more narrative urgency than the first two-thirds. I wonder if this should have been a novella rather than a full-length book, if everything it needed is actually contained in the last 60 pages or so. The characters of Miranda and Adam, who have been rather unlikable for much of the book, become suddenly three-dimensional, complex, and much more interesting. I think some pruning and reshaping would have made this book much better.
But Gordon is at her best a wonderful writer, and in the last 60 pages or so, she demonstrates once more why she's a renowned fiction writer.
***
Now, having finished it, I can say I'm glad I read it, that the last third or so had much more narrative urgency than the first two-thirds. I wonder if this should have been a novella rather than a full-length book, if everything it needed is actually contained in the last 60 pages or so. The characters of Miranda and Adam, who have been rather unlikable for much of the book, become suddenly three-dimensional, complex, and much more interesting. I think some pruning and reshaping would have made this book much better.
But Gordon is at her best a wonderful writer, and in the last 60 pages or so, she demonstrates once more why she's a renowned fiction writer.
cmclarabee's review against another edition
2.0
Some of the worst dialogue I have ever read, but I slogged through this somehow, and didn't entirely regret it.
cbpeirce's review against another edition
1.0
Didn't finish. Too many books, too little time. Promising premise but it read like a writing exercise.