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mercury11's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
brittanica_bold's review
3.0
Rating: 2.5 stars
Trigger Warnings: Death, Suicide
Review:
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. While the book was technically well-written, it did not resonate with me in either an emotional or romantic way.
HOWEVER, if you were a fan of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, you will probably love this book!
What I liked about the book:
1. Our main character, Isla, provides a good representation of living with anxiety and depression, showing some of the little things that us people inflicted with these tend to do and think that would never cross others’ minds. I appreciated this.
I also appreciated the moments of growth we did see, though they were too far into the story for my taste. I’m basically a child. I need bits of payoff throughout, even if they’re really small, not just a payoff at the end after I’ve lost interest.
2. I enjoyed Ewan’s humor. It was sarcastic, but in a gentle way, if that makes sense. I also enjoyed his constant highlighting to Isla that she wouldn’t think the things she thinks about herself about a friend, so she needed to be kinder to herself. That hit home for me.
3. I enjoyed seeing a couple of random chapters from "current" Ewan's POV. I wish there were more of these.
What could have been better:
1. While I liked the representation of someone struggling with anxiety and depression, I felt like too much of the book, especially in the first half, was focused on this in an unsatisfactory way. Reading emotions and tough subject matter is not a problem for me, if the execution is there. Instead of feeling emotionally drained and like soul sisters with our MC, I unfortunately left feeling exhausted and unsatisfied, which only further adds to my own emotional baggage. That’s not what I’m looking for when I try to escape within a book.
2. The weak relationship on the pages couldn’t bring me out of the funk the book placed me in. While I enjoyed our MCs well enough, I didn’t really enjoy them together. I didn’t see how the love grew there, nor did I like what the author did to Ewan. The author seesawed with my patience and the book irrevocable crashed down for me.
3. I just felt something was missing throughout the whole book. I felt pivotal parts of what could have been a heart wrenching story were not traversed, and, as a result, left me wanting.
Ultimately, what caused me to rate a 2.5 versus a 3 was that the book was marked solely with the genre "romance", but there was a lack of romantic connection for me. I definitely did not see that as the main theme, nor did I feel it hit the points I would hope a romance would.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Melissa Baron for the opportunity to read this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Trigger Warnings: Death, Suicide
Review:
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. While the book was technically well-written, it did not resonate with me in either an emotional or romantic way.
HOWEVER, if you were a fan of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, you will probably love this book!
What I liked about the book:
1. Our main character, Isla, provides a good representation of living with anxiety and depression, showing some of the little things that us people inflicted with these tend to do and think that would never cross others’ minds. I appreciated this.
I also appreciated the moments of growth we did see, though they were too far into the story for my taste. I’m basically a child. I need bits of payoff throughout, even if they’re really small, not just a payoff at the end after I’ve lost interest.
2. I enjoyed Ewan’s humor. It was sarcastic, but in a gentle way, if that makes sense. I also enjoyed his constant highlighting to Isla that she wouldn’t think the things she thinks about herself about a friend, so she needed to be kinder to herself. That hit home for me.
3. I enjoyed seeing a couple of random chapters from "current" Ewan's POV. I wish there were more of these.
What could have been better:
1. While I liked the representation of someone struggling with anxiety and depression, I felt like too much of the book, especially in the first half, was focused on this in an unsatisfactory way. Reading emotions and tough subject matter is not a problem for me, if the execution is there. Instead of feeling emotionally drained and like soul sisters with our MC, I unfortunately left feeling exhausted and unsatisfied, which only further adds to my own emotional baggage. That’s not what I’m looking for when I try to escape within a book.
2. The weak relationship on the pages couldn’t bring me out of the funk the book placed me in. While I enjoyed our MCs well enough, I didn’t really enjoy them together. I didn’t see how the love grew there, nor did I like what the author did to Ewan. The author seesawed with my patience and the book irrevocable crashed down for me.
3. I just felt something was missing throughout the whole book. I felt pivotal parts of what could have been a heart wrenching story were not traversed, and, as a result, left me wanting.
Ultimately, what caused me to rate a 2.5 versus a 3 was that the book was marked solely with the genre "romance", but there was a lack of romantic connection for me. I definitely did not see that as the main theme, nor did I feel it hit the points I would hope a romance would.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Melissa Baron for the opportunity to read this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
aclopez6's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely take a look at the content warnings before diving in--they are a significant part of the plot.
I loved the general storyline, which reminded me of some aspects of The Midnight Library and The Time Travelers Wife, but I wish Ewan's character was further developed earlier on. I would read this again, and I would be interested in watching an adaptation if one became available.
I loved the general storyline, which reminded me of some aspects of The Midnight Library and The Time Travelers Wife, but I wish Ewan's character was further developed earlier on. I would read this again, and I would be interested in watching an adaptation if one became available.
gapruzzese's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rmizerek's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
brendaliz08757's review
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
katethepodtherapyartist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
5.0
This book destroyed me (in a good way). A sweet romance primarily about Isla, a woman who has anxiety and depression, learning slowly but surely to have confidence and to reach out in moments she’s not strong enough to love and care for herself. Self-love and self-care are the kinds of love that saves the day and what an important and nuanced way the author goes about it. She doesn’t need to love herself to love others, but she needs to love herself enough to take care of herself and ultimately choose if that loves extends to Ewan and make a terrible, life-altering decision that will impact them both.
I read this for a book club, and I’m so happy this was the choice for our May read. I’m not sure I would have picked this up on my own.
If you are sensitive to triggers, take the trigger warning at the beginning seriously. I myself suffer from anxiety and while I was okay reading it, I was in a good head space when I did so, have good supports, and have worked on getting to a decent spot mentally for years. If you aren’t in a good space, don’t have supports, etc, this book can wait.
I read this for a book club, and I’m so happy this was the choice for our May read. I’m not sure I would have picked this up on my own.
If you are sensitive to triggers, take the trigger warning at the beginning seriously. I myself suffer from anxiety and while I was okay reading it, I was in a good head space when I did so, have good supports, and have worked on getting to a decent spot mentally for years. If you aren’t in a good space, don’t have supports, etc, this book can wait.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, Death, and Death of parent
allisonwonderlandreads's review
emotional
reflective
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
Isla's depression and anxiety went into overdrive juggling her mom's failing health and an all-consuming job. After her mom's death, Isla needed a change of scenery to reorient herself. Freshly situated outside St Louis, Isla's still working on building up her confidence when she gets a strange text from a man claiming to be her husband... in the future. While at first she has no reason to believe him, it's ultimately a boon for our awkward, socially anxious protagonist to skip past the getting to know you phase and talk to someone who already knows and loves her. But it's not all rainbows and sunshine. Ewan's trying to prevent a nebulous disaster in Isla's future, one that left him grief-stricken and desperate for these text conversations with Isla of the past. They're as much to soothe him as to help Isla avoid her own destruction.
As is common with stories that spotlight mental health topics, things get quite heavy and could be triggering for some readers. The timey wimey aspects only elevate it. Isla struggles a lot with negative self talk, which can be hard to read. It helps somewhat that she's aware her self esteem is low, and it's an area of immense growth as the plot develops. We also see Isla have on page panic attacks, bouts of social anxiety, and all-too-relatable depressive episodes where nothing can bring her joy and all is hopeless. But we also see her do hard things, things that only with time can she acknowledge as brave-- take herself to therapy, put herself in stressful social situations to build important relationships, go on adventures even if they're overwhelming at first, and stick up for herself to loved ones though it could mean confrontation. We also see Isla pick up a paintbrush and acknowledge the artist she is. Through this strange opportunity to speak to a future loved one, Isla finds a needed avenue to confront herself and build the future she wants.
On the romantic front, I found both phases (the twice in a lifetime) equally compelling in different ways. It's an interesting concept to see a romance between the same two people play out twice in the same book without being quite a second chance trope. The book takes up thoughtful opposition to the romantic assumption that love is a cure-all for life's many ills. Isla and Ewan can support each other through life's toughest moments, but only Isla can do the work to love herself and make space for her hopes and dreams. Despite that, the power of love in its many forms is never in question throughout, even bending time itself to its will. There are moments both cute and devastating woven together beautifully. I feared the story's tragic elements throughout and admit to a fair bit of ugly crying before all was said and done. But I didn't appreciate the sweeter elements any less, and in fact, the happily ever after was that much more cathartic for it.
This book succeeds on many levels. By messing with time, it plays with concepts of destiny and free will. The author gives us two fully fleshed out protagonists in Isla and Ewan. From their work and hobbies to their family and friends, the complexities allow you to see right to the heart of them. It makes the romance more impactful because it doesn't detract from the many other meaningful parts of living. Cheers to a book that destroyed me but was kind enough to put me back together again! Thanks to Alcove Press for my copy to read and review.
As is common with stories that spotlight mental health topics, things get quite heavy and could be triggering for some readers. The timey wimey aspects only elevate it. Isla struggles a lot with negative self talk, which can be hard to read. It helps somewhat that she's aware her self esteem is low, and it's an area of immense growth as the plot develops. We also see Isla have on page panic attacks, bouts of social anxiety, and all-too-relatable depressive episodes where nothing can bring her joy and all is hopeless. But we also see her do hard things, things that only with time can she acknowledge as brave-- take herself to therapy, put herself in stressful social situations to build important relationships, go on adventures even if they're overwhelming at first, and stick up for herself to loved ones though it could mean confrontation. We also see Isla pick up a paintbrush and acknowledge the artist she is. Through this strange opportunity to speak to a future loved one, Isla finds a needed avenue to confront herself and build the future she wants.
On the romantic front, I found both phases (the twice in a lifetime) equally compelling in different ways. It's an interesting concept to see a romance between the same two people play out twice in the same book without being quite a second chance trope. The book takes up thoughtful opposition to the romantic assumption that love is a cure-all for life's many ills. Isla and Ewan can support each other through life's toughest moments, but only Isla can do the work to love herself and make space for her hopes and dreams. Despite that, the power of love in its many forms is never in question throughout, even bending time itself to its will. There are moments both cute and devastating woven together beautifully. I feared the story's tragic elements throughout and admit to a fair bit of ugly crying before all was said and done. But I didn't appreciate the sweeter elements any less, and in fact, the happily ever after was that much more cathartic for it.
This book succeeds on many levels. By messing with time, it plays with concepts of destiny and free will. The author gives us two fully fleshed out protagonists in Isla and Ewan. From their work and hobbies to their family and friends, the complexities allow you to see right to the heart of them. It makes the romance more impactful because it doesn't detract from the many other meaningful parts of living. Cheers to a book that destroyed me but was kind enough to put me back together again! Thanks to Alcove Press for my copy to read and review.
booksadoodle's review against another edition
5.0
Wow...where to start. This is not your typical romance love story. It's so much more. It's messy, emotional, complex, heartfelt, triggering (for those who might be triggered by mental illness, anxiety, and suicidal ideation), thought provoking, tear producing, and funny at times. I wasn't sure what to expect, and by the initial description, I felt like it might be more like a cross between The Time Traveler's Wife and Groundhog Day. Aside from the romance aspect, the subject matter in this story isn't one that I would intentionally gravitate towards, however, I loved everything about it. The characters are human, flawed, real, emotional, and you cannot help from routing for and encouraging them on, every step of the way. The narrator for the audiobook did such a fabulous job with bringing all their complexity to life. I kept glued to this one to see what would happen next and how it would end. I definitely recommend. Thanks so much to Melissa Baron, the publisher, Dreamscape Media, & NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC audiobook.
orsoshesaid's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5