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jen286's review
1.0
I had heard a lot of talk about Nineteen Letters before I read it, how heartbreaking and wonderful it is, how people cried, all of that. So I was hoping for a really great read...and instead found a meh story. I didn't find it super romantic or anything. I didn't feel like you really got to know the characters or see them fall in love (or re-fall in the case of Jemma). I didn't really see why they were together in the first place. It might have helped to have seen them super in love before the tragedy struck, but instead I was told they were. Really I felt like this story was more tell not show which didn't work for me.
Jemma and Braxton are super in love, but then Jemma is in a car accident and wakes up with amnesia. Which I am sure would be super terrifying, especially at first, to not know anyone that claims they know you. I am sure it is disorienting and all that, but Jemma was a horrible person. After weeks of Braxton and his family trying to help her she is still a super bestest friend to everyone. She treats them all like they are the worst people ever and I hated her. Super hated her. So so much. I know it would be dificult, but I would like to think if I were in her situation I would at least try and be polite to the people who are giving me a place to stay and food to eat and all that while I recover. I may not know them like they claim I do, but after weeks and weeks of them being nothing but kind to you you don't want to try to not be terrible to them? No? I just didn't get it. Like what was her plan - live on the street because she doesn't know anyone? Never connect with anyone ever again because she doesn't remember her life up until the accident? I am sure it would be hard to be around people who remember you, but why not try and get to know them and see if you still like them/want to be friends with them/whatever? That is not what out lovely Jemma does though. She is so cruel for no good reason. Oh, I really hated her and I am sure that didn't help with my meh feelings about the book.
Then Braxton is falling apart (I am told) because he doesn't have his wife anymore, but he is not going to give up. So he starts writing her letters about their lives together up until now, starting from when they met when they were children. Now I expected the letters to be heartfelt and make you all warm and fuzzy and stuff, but they were just...not. I don't know. They were just here are some random things that happened. I expected more from them. If I were trying to get my husband to remember me again I would have written more than well one time we did this and then we did that. Oh well it gets Jemma to suddenly start being nicer so the story was better than it had been. Only the letters also make Jemma obsessed with whatever Braxton talked about in them. Like he mentions a sandwich in one of them and then we were told she only wanted to eat that particular sandwich from then on. Which I found incredibly annoying. Like anything that was said that was her new thing. And sure if you like what he mentions why not? But she was crazy obsessive with it in a way I didn't like.
There were also some drama rama for no good reason thrown in as well. *spoiler alert* At one point Braxton is with Jemma and he gets a call that sounds like it is about a woman that he is seeing and Jemma gets upset and he just shrugs and says how he gets lonely. And the way it was written made no sense because it was about a dog that he adopted so why wouldn't he say anything about the call being about his dog? The way it was written was just off and didn't make sense. Like the conversation read wrong, not like something someone would say or do in this situation. It was drama for no good reason.
So yeah this wasn't the story for me. Oh, one more thing - everyone, and I do mean everyone, ends up with a happily ever after in two seconds at the end. It was so rushed and not-believable that everyone would suddenly be all happy and perfect and everything works out for everyone at the same time. It was the cherry on top of this not so good sundae. I don't really understand why everyone loved this story so much. Jemma was horrible, the letters weren't super romantic, there was drama for no reason, then suddenly everything is sunshine and rainbows for everyone.
Jemma and Braxton are super in love, but then Jemma is in a car accident and wakes up with amnesia. Which I am sure would be super terrifying, especially at first, to not know anyone that claims they know you. I am sure it is disorienting and all that, but Jemma was a horrible person. After weeks of Braxton and his family trying to help her she is still a super bestest friend to everyone. She treats them all like they are the worst people ever and I hated her. Super hated her. So so much. I know it would be dificult, but I would like to think if I were in her situation I would at least try and be polite to the people who are giving me a place to stay and food to eat and all that while I recover. I may not know them like they claim I do, but after weeks and weeks of them being nothing but kind to you you don't want to try to not be terrible to them? No? I just didn't get it. Like what was her plan - live on the street because she doesn't know anyone? Never connect with anyone ever again because she doesn't remember her life up until the accident? I am sure it would be hard to be around people who remember you, but why not try and get to know them and see if you still like them/want to be friends with them/whatever? That is not what out lovely Jemma does though. She is so cruel for no good reason. Oh, I really hated her and I am sure that didn't help with my meh feelings about the book.
Then Braxton is falling apart (I am told) because he doesn't have his wife anymore, but he is not going to give up. So he starts writing her letters about their lives together up until now, starting from when they met when they were children. Now I expected the letters to be heartfelt and make you all warm and fuzzy and stuff, but they were just...not. I don't know. They were just here are some random things that happened. I expected more from them. If I were trying to get my husband to remember me again I would have written more than well one time we did this and then we did that. Oh well it gets Jemma to suddenly start being nicer so the story was better than it had been. Only the letters also make Jemma obsessed with whatever Braxton talked about in them. Like he mentions a sandwich in one of them and then we were told she only wanted to eat that particular sandwich from then on. Which I found incredibly annoying. Like anything that was said that was her new thing. And sure if you like what he mentions why not? But she was crazy obsessive with it in a way I didn't like.
There were also some drama rama for no good reason thrown in as well. *spoiler alert* At one point Braxton is with Jemma and he gets a call that sounds like it is about a woman that he is seeing and Jemma gets upset and he just shrugs and says how he gets lonely. And the way it was written made no sense because it was about a dog that he adopted so why wouldn't he say anything about the call being about his dog? The way it was written was just off and didn't make sense. Like the conversation read wrong, not like something someone would say or do in this situation. It was drama for no good reason.
So yeah this wasn't the story for me. Oh, one more thing - everyone, and I do mean everyone, ends up with a happily ever after in two seconds at the end. It was so rushed and not-believable that everyone would suddenly be all happy and perfect and everything works out for everyone at the same time. It was the cherry on top of this not so good sundae. I don't really understand why everyone loved this story so much. Jemma was horrible, the letters weren't super romantic, there was drama for no reason, then suddenly everything is sunshine and rainbows for everyone.
__livesbtweenpgs__'s review
4.0
Review to also be posted on Book Loving Fairy Blog
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Star Rating: 4 stars
To those that read when they can, where they can, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IN PUBLIC!
You've been warned!
I started this one at work on my breaks and I was left with watery eyes and the sniffles. Everybody thought something was wrong and I just couldn't explain it to them cause they wouldn't understand at all.
This book is beautiful. I got some The Vow vibes from it at first but then it changed and became its own in its own way. I never imagined it would be this way but it is.
Truly a heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming story about finding your way back to someone that you love without a doubt.
There were some eye roll moments for me but it didn't take away from the rest of the story too much, it made it enjoyable in the vest way possible.
I definitely will recommend this book and I already have to a few people who I feel need to read it.
.
.
Star Rating: 4 stars
To those that read when they can, where they can, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IN PUBLIC!
You've been warned!
I started this one at work on my breaks and I was left with watery eyes and the sniffles. Everybody thought something was wrong and I just couldn't explain it to them cause they wouldn't understand at all.
This book is beautiful. I got some The Vow vibes from it at first but then it changed and became its own in its own way. I never imagined it would be this way but it is.
Truly a heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming story about finding your way back to someone that you love without a doubt.
There were some eye roll moments for me but it didn't take away from the rest of the story too much, it made it enjoyable in the vest way possible.
I definitely will recommend this book and I already have to a few people who I feel need to read it.
portybelle's review
5.0
I didn't really know much about this book before I started but, as always, the idea of a book featuring letters attracted me. Well, I just loved it! Nineteen had always been a significant number for Braxton and Jemma. They met when she moved in next door to him on 19th January 1996 and married exactly 19 years later. Many significant events seemed to happen for them on 19th throughout those years. Nineteen days after the wedding, Jemma was involved in horrific car crash. Although seriously injured, she survived but with no memory of her previous life. She couldn't remember anyone she knew: not her parents, her friends and, most devastatingly, not Braxton.
This was such an emotional book to read. It was heartbreaking to see what Braxton went through when this woman he has loved for years could not remember a thing about their life together. It was equally moving to read about how lost Jemma felt with no memories to look back on, no recollection of those who had been closest to her in her life and no idea even of simple things like her favourite foods or her taste in music.
At first, and perhaps understandably, Jemma is reluctant to spend much time with Braxton, who is as good as a stranger to her. Braxton decided to write to her instead. Through the Nineteen Letters of the book title he looks back at their life together, telling her about significant events. To help her, he gives her a charm bracelet, to be a memory bracelet, and includes charms with every letter. The charms all relate to something covered in the letter. Braxton is obviously one of life's good guys. He is so patient and understanding even though he missed his wife and the relationship they had so much. From the earlier stories of their life, they were clearly soul mates. Could the letters help to rekindle that connection? I adored reading the letters which always ended with "What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten." They were so full of love.
Oh my goodness how much did I hope there would be a happy ending! You will, of course, need to read it yourself to see if everything works out for Braxton and Jemma or not. Nineteen Letters is a love story to lose yourself in.
This was such an emotional book to read. It was heartbreaking to see what Braxton went through when this woman he has loved for years could not remember a thing about their life together. It was equally moving to read about how lost Jemma felt with no memories to look back on, no recollection of those who had been closest to her in her life and no idea even of simple things like her favourite foods or her taste in music.
At first, and perhaps understandably, Jemma is reluctant to spend much time with Braxton, who is as good as a stranger to her. Braxton decided to write to her instead. Through the Nineteen Letters of the book title he looks back at their life together, telling her about significant events. To help her, he gives her a charm bracelet, to be a memory bracelet, and includes charms with every letter. The charms all relate to something covered in the letter. Braxton is obviously one of life's good guys. He is so patient and understanding even though he missed his wife and the relationship they had so much. From the earlier stories of their life, they were clearly soul mates. Could the letters help to rekindle that connection? I adored reading the letters which always ended with "What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten." They were so full of love.
Oh my goodness how much did I hope there would be a happy ending! You will, of course, need to read it yourself to see if everything works out for Braxton and Jemma or not. Nineteen Letters is a love story to lose yourself in.
nicandbooks's review
5.0
"I carry enough love for both of us."
This book has been on my radar for years and I'm so glad I got around to reading it. An absolute beautiful and emotional story of a young couple who's life is thrown upside down when Jemma is in an accident and loses all her memories of her life with her husband Braxton. As Braxton tries to fight to get the life he had back, Jemma is trying to discover who everyone in her life even is. So very well written, extremely emotional and worth every moment of your time.
This book has been on my radar for years and I'm so glad I got around to reading it. An absolute beautiful and emotional story of a young couple who's life is thrown upside down when Jemma is in an accident and loses all her memories of her life with her husband Braxton. As Braxton tries to fight to get the life he had back, Jemma is trying to discover who everyone in her life even is. So very well written, extremely emotional and worth every moment of your time.
syndi3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If I ever found myself having amnesia or die, I wish I have my Braxton remembering me like in Nineteen Letters. Maybe not only with 19 letters but thousand even million love letters. That would be lovely!
Nineteen Letters just beautiful. Unlike other romance story, the story can easily relatable in real life. The love letters are just swoony. I even falling in love with Braxton myself. He is such beautiful man. Miss Perry done a great job creating Braxton. I want to cry and laugh at the same time. The only shortcoming is the length of this book is too long. It can be shorten 4 hours at least.
Nineteen Letters just beautiful. Unlike other romance story, the story can easily relatable in real life. The love letters are just swoony. I even falling in love with Braxton myself. He is such beautiful man. Miss Perry done a great job creating Braxton. I want to cry and laugh at the same time. The only shortcoming is the length of this book is too long. It can be shorten 4 hours at least.
ladycivic's review
5.0
Woah. What an epic book. Nineteen Letters just became my favorite book of 2017. Braxton and Jemma seem to have the most perfect life. Just back from their honeymoon, their first day back to work, and they simply lose it all. After Jemma's car accident she can't remember anything. Poor Braxton is completely heartbroken, but determined to do anything to help his wife remember everything. This book had my stomach in a huge knot the entire time I read it. I cried, (oh, did I cry) laughed, and cried some more. I'm going to be nursing my book hangover for quite a while. Thank you for such an absolutely amazing book.
bluebaby17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
3.5
I've find this book inspiring. The characters were fictional, although the writer represented pure love so great. I didn't like the conversations, because it was so scripted. That's why I gave 3.5 from 5 stars.
noveldeelights's review
3.0
Lately I’ve been very much about broadening my horizons where my reading is
concerned. Of course, I love my crime fiction but sometimes it’s quite nice to try something different and cleanse the palette, so to speak. Hence why I gladly accepted the invitation to read Nineteen Letters.
Admittedly, there were a few moments at the beginning where I wondered what I’d gotten myself in to. I’m not really the romantic type, I’m married to an even less romantic guy. Surprise bouquet of pretty flowers, what’s that? And surely when you book a weekend away, that’s just an excuse to bring a suitcase of books?
So when I started this story and realised there was quite a lot of that “sappy stuff” going on that almost made me cringe, I thought I’d made a huge mistake. However, I actually soon found myself completely immersed into the lives of Baxter, Jemma and their families.
Retrograde amnesia sounds positively scary. Imagine waking up and not remembering the person next to you, your parents, the life you’ve led so far or even yourself. Do you like wine or ice cream, for instance? What’s your favourite colour, your favourite song? When was your first kiss? What do you do when the essence of “you” might be gone forever?
This is what happens to Jemma after she’s involved in a car accident. Luckily for her, she has Baxter and he is determined to make sure Jemma will one day remember their lives and the intense love they shared. He does this by writing her letters. Nineteen to be exact, a number that holds special meaning to them. Through those letters, he hopes to rekindle the magic he and Jemma had and we, the reader, get to know both of them as Braxton takes us all down memory lane.
“What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten”
While I found some things a little predictable, I was rooting for the entire cast of characters all the way. Because not only does Baxter have the situation with Jemma to deal with. There is a lot going on in all of their lives. Jemma’s parents have split up but clearly still love each other. Baxter’s father is in a care home and what on earth is going on with Lucas and Rachel?
Nineteen Letters is a moving, sometimes heartbreaking and yet heartwarming story about love, loss, grief and second chances. I smiled. I chuckled, I even had a massive lump in my throat and the overwhelming urge to hug someone tightly. It brings home how short and fragile life is and how quickly things you take for granted can change. There’s a vital lesson here, to take life as it comes and make the best of every day. If you do have that romantic bone in your body, I’m sure you will enjoy meeting Baxter and Jemma.
concerned. Of course, I love my crime fiction but sometimes it’s quite nice to try something different and cleanse the palette, so to speak. Hence why I gladly accepted the invitation to read Nineteen Letters.
Admittedly, there were a few moments at the beginning where I wondered what I’d gotten myself in to. I’m not really the romantic type, I’m married to an even less romantic guy. Surprise bouquet of pretty flowers, what’s that? And surely when you book a weekend away, that’s just an excuse to bring a suitcase of books?
So when I started this story and realised there was quite a lot of that “sappy stuff” going on that almost made me cringe, I thought I’d made a huge mistake. However, I actually soon found myself completely immersed into the lives of Baxter, Jemma and their families.
Retrograde amnesia sounds positively scary. Imagine waking up and not remembering the person next to you, your parents, the life you’ve led so far or even yourself. Do you like wine or ice cream, for instance? What’s your favourite colour, your favourite song? When was your first kiss? What do you do when the essence of “you” might be gone forever?
This is what happens to Jemma after she’s involved in a car accident. Luckily for her, she has Baxter and he is determined to make sure Jemma will one day remember their lives and the intense love they shared. He does this by writing her letters. Nineteen to be exact, a number that holds special meaning to them. Through those letters, he hopes to rekindle the magic he and Jemma had and we, the reader, get to know both of them as Braxton takes us all down memory lane.
“What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten”
While I found some things a little predictable, I was rooting for the entire cast of characters all the way. Because not only does Baxter have the situation with Jemma to deal with. There is a lot going on in all of their lives. Jemma’s parents have split up but clearly still love each other. Baxter’s father is in a care home and what on earth is going on with Lucas and Rachel?
Nineteen Letters is a moving, sometimes heartbreaking and yet heartwarming story about love, loss, grief and second chances. I smiled. I chuckled, I even had a massive lump in my throat and the overwhelming urge to hug someone tightly. It brings home how short and fragile life is and how quickly things you take for granted can change. There’s a vital lesson here, to take life as it comes and make the best of every day. If you do have that romantic bone in your body, I’m sure you will enjoy meeting Baxter and Jemma.
sbauer16's review
5.0
I had a feeling that Nineteen Letters was going to WRECK me. And it did in the BEST way possible.
Braxton and Jem's story was one that I've ALWAYS loved to read. One of those EPIC love stories that spanned DECADES. I only HOPE to find a man as half as AMAZING as Braxton. I was on the edge of my seat about 95% of the time. Just because I just HAD to know what would happen next. I completely DEVOURED the pages. I kept hoping more pages would magically appear so it wouldn't end just yet. Jodi, while writing BEAUTIFULLY, executed the story PERFECTLY.
If you LOVE Nicholas Sparks or a "one of a kind" romance, then you DEFINITELY should read Nineteen Letters.
Warning: While reading you may require SEVERAL boxes of tissues, HEAPS of chocolate, and LOTS of alcohol.