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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my second Emily Henry book. The last one I read (Beach Read.. I think?) I thought was fine. I remember parts of it, but I didn't love it the way so many people seem to. I was excited about the premise for this one, and even when early reviews started coming in and people who usually love her work didn't like this one, I continued to be optimistic because I thought maybe what didn't work for them would make it work for me. I really like the story and the characters. I like Hayden and Alice as characters, and I liked their romantic dynamic as well. I liked the mystery in the plot, and I love the idea of exploring the past of someone in tandem with other character's present. What really fell flat for me was the pacing and the ending. I think the pacing of the plot points needed more work. Most of the book had a slow burn, but then when a specific mysterious element was added, it felt like it was rushed to be explained, which killed some of the buildup. Along with that, while I could have accepted the ending (although that itself also felt a tad rushed) the epilogue is what really through me off. We jump around in the future, with so much changing for these characters so quickly, but because it's the ending and we're jumping through time, it didn't feel like we really got to feel these changes happening for them.
I liked this more than I liked the other Emily Henry I read, and I would pick her work up again if a book sticks out to me, but I don't feel a strong feeling about needing to pick up another of her work.
*Edit: Apparently I gave Beach Read 4 stars ... that is wild to me. I do not think it would be a 4 star for me now, and at this point in time I do think this is a better book, but it's also a lower rated book compared to books I really enjoy.
I liked this more than I liked the other Emily Henry I read, and I would pick her work up again if a book sticks out to me, but I don't feel a strong feeling about needing to pick up another of her work.
*Edit: Apparently I gave Beach Read 4 stars ... that is wild to me. I do not think it would be a 4 star for me now, and at this point in time I do think this is a better book, but it's also a lower rated book compared to books I really enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Dementia
Minor: Terminal illness
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I feel like I just reread The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Terminal illness, Dementia, Pregnancy, Classism
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
No
This book has everything: beach setting, career driven woman, hot grumpy man, mommy issues, career driven woman NOT giving up her life for a man AND a plot twist that actually surprised me.
Slow start but becomes a fantastic whirlwind in the second half.
Minus .25 because personally I hatea pregnancy epilogue.
Slow start but becomes a fantastic whirlwind in the second half.
Minus .25 because personally I hate
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Dementia, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
Animal death is extremely minor
funny
hopeful
slow-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
Great character work; we love when people talk about why the feel what they feel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia, Grief
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Great start, slow in the middle, super fast ending. Idk how to feel about that pace
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was my first Emily Henry read, and I really enjoyed it. It was beautiful - soft in some parts, emotional in others. There’s a quiet little mystery threaded through it (not crime-related, don’t worry), and it kept me turning the pages, wanting to know more about Margaret and her past.
The deeper I got into the story, the more I loved the characters. I was expecting a twist - and while it wasn’t entirely unpredictable, it still landed in a way that surprised me. Honestly, I’m someone who usually struggles with light or “cute” reads because I can find them a bit dull... but this one? I really liked it.
I loved Alice. She’s this bubbly, light-hearted character - and usually I’d be rolling my eyes at that type, but not her. She had substance. She was joyful, but not naive. She knew life could be tough and still chose to look for the good. She actually reminded me a lot of my Nana - always striving to see the sunshine, even when there were storms and trying to undertsand that there is more to everyone you meet. She felt like a true sunflower personality, and I really appreciated that.
And Hayden — he wasn’t your typical grumpy love interest. He wasn’t cold or cruel, just direct. And while he had that broody energy, he wasn’t an arsehole about it. Lately, a lot of male characters feel like boys with bad attitudes and dirty mouths (which can be great, but sometimes can be very repetitive and same character energy) - but Hayden was kind, thoughtful, and fully himself, even when he was moody.
The banter and sarcasm between Alice and Hayden was such a highlight. They just got each other. Alice understood that Hayden’s bluntness wasn’t rudeness — he was just honest. And Hayden helped Alice realise that being happy didn’t make her shallow — it made her resilient. He saw her for who she really was and celebrated that.
She was the rainbow to his rain clouds 🤍
What I loved most is that this story was layered — not just a romance, but a reflection on family, fame, and grief.
And the story-within-a-story element? Really well done.
The deeper I got into the story, the more I loved the characters. I was expecting a twist - and while it wasn’t entirely unpredictable, it still landed in a way that surprised me. Honestly, I’m someone who usually struggles with light or “cute” reads because I can find them a bit dull... but this one? I really liked it.
I loved Alice. She’s this bubbly, light-hearted character - and usually I’d be rolling my eyes at that type, but not her. She had substance. She was joyful, but not naive. She knew life could be tough and still chose to look for the good. She actually reminded me a lot of my Nana - always striving to see the sunshine, even when there were storms and trying to undertsand that there is more to everyone you meet. She felt like a true sunflower personality, and I really appreciated that.
And Hayden — he wasn’t your typical grumpy love interest. He wasn’t cold or cruel, just direct. And while he had that broody energy, he wasn’t an arsehole about it. Lately, a lot of male characters feel like boys with bad attitudes and dirty mouths (which can be great, but sometimes can be very repetitive and same character energy) - but Hayden was kind, thoughtful, and fully himself, even when he was moody.
The banter and sarcasm between Alice and Hayden was such a highlight. They just got each other. Alice understood that Hayden’s bluntness wasn’t rudeness — he was just honest. And Hayden helped Alice realise that being happy didn’t make her shallow — it made her resilient. He saw her for who she really was and celebrated that.
She was the rainbow to his rain clouds 🤍
What I loved most is that this story was layered — not just a romance, but a reflection on family, fame, and grief.
And the story-within-a-story element? Really well done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent
Minor: Car accident