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sestout's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Abandonment
strawb3rrysugar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I don't typically like books only described by loosely-strung tropes and insert-template-here characters. However, beneath a story described as an enemies-to-lovers romance about a cold-hearted literary agent is an earnest, humorous, and emotional story about how grief and fear shapes a person, and learning to accept change and challenges as they come.
The characters of the book were the highlight for me. They felt fleshed out, real, and I could resonate with their desires and understand their actions. I actually liked Charlie! Usually, "dark and brooding" translates into most books as "abusive, boring jerk with no personality," but Charlie is a genuinely solid character with wishes and conflicts of his own, and god I appreciated that. I'm also very biased towards emotional storylines about sisterhood, and Nora and Libby's arc throughout the book made me laugh and pulled a few heartstrings.
My only cons are as follows:
1) I do not understand the trope of signing someone up for a dating app and setting them up on a date without their prior knowledge. It will always be an ick of mine, as it just kind of seems irresponsible and rude. (I guess it's the modern equivalent of a blind date? Maybe.)
2), there's a subplot of Nora having to read one of her client's books that's basically based off her, and she describes it like her client has written Infinite Jest. I found those passages to be very uninteresting and bland, but they were thankfully brief.
And 2.5) because it wasn't that big of an issue, but seriously Nora? Getting hot and heavy with a coworker in an office? That felt like such a "right in my salad?" moment, but that's very much a nitpick.
Do I think Emily Henry is reinventing the wheel of romantic literature? Not really. Is it cheesy and kind of corny sometimes? Very much so. But it's well written, with characters I could root for, and it's not afraid to just be a romance novel. It goes by quickly for almost 400 pages. If you're a big fan of romance novels, this would be a nice addition.
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Vomit
There's a brief scene where Nora throws up during a run after a night of drinking.transcendent's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
no but fr following Nora and Libby to Sunshine Falls to sort out their own sibling relationship (amongst other things), coincidentally finding Nora's editorial rival
I do however wish the last chapter (not epilogue) was expanded on with one more inbetween chapter just for the sake of the pacing.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Medical trauma
rat_girly's review against another edition
- 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
Didn’t expect to like this book so much given its “Hallmark Christmas movie” type plot, but I loved the characters, their backstories, the familial and romantic love, and the ending
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Drug use
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for this book. It screams summer romance novel, so maybe I would've enjoyed it more if I had read it at another time.
Instead, I was mostly annoyed by the characters and their inability to communicate until the very end. Henry's style of writing is flowery and often felt over the top for me- like a Hallmark movie. Almost nothing about the plot felt believable and everyone's emotions were dialed up to 11 even when it made no sense for things to be so dramatic. And I understand why so many people would love that! I guess I was hoping for something more realistic.
It felt like the book dragged out at a slow pace. They also did not fill the enemies to lovers trope, in my opinion. Nora had some relatable traits, but in general I could not connect with her. I liked how intense and a tad grumpy Charlie was, but that wasn't enough to hold my interest.
Overall, I might try another novel of hers next summer when I'm looking for easy, brain candy type books. It just wasn't what I was in the mood for, I suppose!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Medical content
lifeasmrssmith's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Death of parent
allisonlantagne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Medical content
laheath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content, Cursing, Alcohol, and Drug use
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
tsodeur's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Another lovely escapist novel by Emily Henry. I’ll never not read her stories. The laughs, the tears, the witty and flirty banter between characters. It is everything I want and need from novels.
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Grief