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emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As always with Emily Henry, I read this within a day. Best summer vibes, loved this tiny island and all its weird characters. I also think she should explore more genres in the future because the Margaret Ives story was brilliant! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this.
My only issue would probably be that the stories together felt too tight. I'd rather have had one or the other expanded on, but this way was a bit squashed together, especially the last third.
I liked Alice and Hayden (more Hayden) and loved some of the romantic moments, but the main connection felt underdeveloped, which is not what I'm used to with Emily Henry.(Also, while I'm here, why did they wait so long to have sex? Especially after doing all the other stuff that was basically sex? I'm baffled.)
That said, falling in love within two weeks is very Ives of Hayden, I rate.
My only issue would probably be that the stories together felt too tight. I'd rather have had one or the other expanded on, but this way was a bit squashed together, especially the last third.
I liked Alice and Hayden (more Hayden) and loved some of the romantic moments, but the main connection felt underdeveloped, which is not what I'm used to with Emily Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Grief, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy
Here’s the deal. I loved this book, but, and it’s a big one, I kind of had to tell myself that I was not reading an Emily Henry title. Why? The banter was just not bantering right away. I didn’t feel the chemistry right away. The story within the story was so different from her other books right away. However, when I detached myself a bit from my expectations based on past experience, I was able to dive in and appreciate it.
I actually found myself more invested in the story of Margaret Ives and her family than in Alice and Hayden. I liked the bit of mystery and intrigue surrounding Margaret’s past, but the twists and turns didn’t take me by surprise.
As far as romance goes, Alice and Hayden develop a friendship and catch feelings over time, but the attraction is immediate. The book spans only a month or two, so it’s still pretty instantaneous. And again, the romance is there, but it almost feels like a subplot.
I think that the way this book was marketed as a rom-com and a mystery was poor. I don’t know what Reese’s book club should have said instead, but I think those labels will set the audience up with false expectations.
All of this makes it sound like I should be giving this a “meh,” mid-level, three-star review, but this one actually is in my top 3 of EmHen’s adult novels.
Emily Henry has a way of writing about grief and loss that connects for me. Alice’s relationship with her parents was complicated and beautiful. And there was a scene that just broke me; the words, “it’s not too late” had me sobbing thinking about my own life and family.
This one also sparked some creativity, bravery, and confidence in me with Hayden’s encouragement to Alice to write what needs to be written even if no one else reads it or likes it. The work is worth it on its own. A message I needed.
Overall, after I jumped my expectation-hurdles, I still laughed and cried and felt as involved as every other book by Emily Henry, if not more so.
I actually found myself more invested in the story of Margaret Ives and her family than in Alice and Hayden. I liked the bit of mystery and intrigue surrounding Margaret’s past, but the twists and turns didn’t take me by surprise.
As far as romance goes, Alice and Hayden develop a friendship and catch feelings over time, but the attraction is immediate. The book spans only a month or two, so it’s still pretty instantaneous. And again, the romance is there, but it almost feels like a subplot.
I think that the way this book was marketed as a rom-com and a mystery was poor. I don’t know what Reese’s book club should have said instead, but I think those labels will set the audience up with false expectations.
All of this makes it sound like I should be giving this a “meh,” mid-level, three-star review, but this one actually is in my top 3 of EmHen’s adult novels.
Emily Henry has a way of writing about grief and loss that connects for me. Alice’s relationship with her parents was complicated and beautiful. And there was a scene that just broke me; the words, “it’s not too late” had me sobbing thinking about my own life and family.
This one also sparked some creativity, bravery, and confidence in me with Hayden’s encouragement to Alice to write what needs to be written even if no one else reads it or likes it. The work is worth it on its own. A message I needed.
Overall, after I jumped my expectation-hurdles, I still laughed and cried and felt as involved as every other book by Emily Henry, if not more so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Came for a Romcom, Stayed for what is essentially a love letter to journalism.
Above and Beyond all, this is a story about love -in all it's forms- from familial, platonic, romantic to all the complexities and nuances that comes with loving.
Grief is a central theme, handled with the thoughtfulness that is associated with Emily Henry's writing; someone who has always captured at it's most raw tender form.
The Cast is delightful, you can't help but empathize and care for and with all the flawed humanity of the characters, no one is perfect and this book serves as a remind that it's ok not to be, not when the people who love you will do in spite of everything.
Don't get it twisted though, the romance is off the charts, Alice and Hayden may have invented a new level to being down bad for each other, the chemistry and tension is truly off the charts.
Alice Scott might be my new favorite emhen FMC, a juxtaposition of hopeful whimsiness that isn't born out of naivety but rather having seen the worst and still choosing love not despite bur rather because of it.
The main question that haunts this book is that about agency and heritage, how much of our identity and what we go through is defined or impacted by those who came before us; pondering the validity of the concept of free will.
If nothing else, trust that this is a book that will heal you, leaving you with teary eyed with a fluttery heart.
The Cast is delightful, you can't help but empathize and care for and with all the flawed humanity of the characters, no one is perfect and this book serves as a remind that it's ok not to be, not when the people who love you will do in spite of everything.
Don't get it twisted though, the romance is off the charts, Alice and Hayden may have invented a new level to being down bad for each other, the chemistry and tension is truly off the charts.
Alice Scott might be my new favorite emhen FMC, a juxtaposition of hopeful whimsiness that isn't born out of naivety but rather having seen the worst and still choosing love not despite bur rather because of it.
The main question that haunts this book is that about agency and heritage, how much of our identity and what we go through is defined or impacted by those who came before us; pondering the validity of the concept of free will.
If nothing else, trust that this is a book that will heal you, leaving you with teary eyed with a fluttery heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
funny
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
If you’re expecting a typical Emily Henry romance, you will likely be disappointed. This book leans heavily toward women’s fiction. I was prepared for this thanks to other reviews, which certainly helped my mindset going in.
Speaking of the romance, though, I am surprised many seem to consider it a slow-burn. It felt very insta love to me, especially because of the dual plots and timelines. The risk with this story structure is that both storylines end up feeling rushed and underdeveloped, which I felt was the case here.
What saved this book for me, though, was Emily Henry’s writing. The stories were entertaining and I was able to get through the book quickly. I also really enjoyed how the story ended.
Speaking of the romance, though, I am surprised many seem to consider it a slow-burn. It felt very insta love to me, especially because of the dual plots and timelines. The risk with this story structure is that both storylines end up feeling rushed and underdeveloped, which I felt was the case here.
What saved this book for me, though, was Emily Henry’s writing. The stories were entertaining and I was able to get through the book quickly. I also really enjoyed how the story ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
Upon picking this one up, and being about 10% into it, it really had me think of "the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo". It was similar in some ways, but also entirely different! It did take me a bit to finish it, as I had a harder time getting into it than I usually do with Emily Henry books. However, it was all worth it! It really felt like I was reading 3 books at once, with all the different side stories woven into the main one.
The romance in this book is cute, the side stories are super interesting and written in a way that can be relatable/ realistic(?)Obviously not all of them. I kept wanting to find out what would come up next between Alice and Margaret’s sessions and what all of that would lead to! Kept thinking there were loads of things "missing" in those sessions, and they felt kinda "tense". HOWEVER, in the last 20% of this book, EVERYTHING came together! I gasped loudly a few times, and at some moments had to put down the book to stare into the void. Safe to say that the plot twists were WILD, some of them more obvious than others.
I kinda had a suspicion something was going on about Hayden from the start. It just seemed to "odd" that Margaret would just reach out to him without any context? Especially since Alice was the one to reach out to her originally?
Also did call it from the start that there was something "odd" about Jodi!! Never could've guessed the outcome though!
To conclude, this was not my favourite book from Emily Henry, but also definitely not my least favourite! I am not sure whether I would classify this book as a romance-book alone, as it had so much more going on.
The romance in this book is cute, the side stories are super interesting and written in a way that can be relatable/ realistic(?)
To conclude, this was not my favourite book from Emily Henry, but also definitely not my least favourite! I am not sure whether I would classify this book as a romance-book alone, as it had so much more going on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
hayden is half black in my head, fight with a wall
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Dementia, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Murder
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would have loved to read this in dual perspective! But I LOVED this book! Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors, she creates beautifully crafters stories with an intriguing plot. The style of book was slightly different from her usual writing, but it kept me guessing, and trying to put all the pieces together. The ending was unexpected, but tied it all together. It was fantastic! 10/10 recommend
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment