Scan barcode
jerica_mercado's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
folkofthebook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
She learned to let it out, bit by bit, and that sometimes, it was okay to let a little ugliness into your story. That it would never rob you of all the beauty.
this was a super sweet romance with a lot of laughs and a little angst. january and gus's journey from a (one-sided) rivalry to reacquaintances to friends to lovers felt well-paced and organic. i always love me a total simp mmc and gus definitely fit the bill, even when january was mistaking it for his superiority complex (which was kinda true too lol).
i enjoyed the aspect of them both being writers as well and how fiction and storytelling are used to not only work through our own lives, but to change them. i'm not really sure how i feel about january's dad with the affair, but i think at least as a dad the relationship between him and january was touching.
this wasn't as emotionally devastating as i was expecting it to be, but i felt like it did a good job working a bit through some topics of trauma and grief. there were also a lot of humorous moments, i absolutely loveddd january and gus's dry banter. honestly what made it a 4.5 for me.
i'm excited to read more by emily henry, but this was a solid book to start with!
If you think the story has a sad ending, it’s because it’s not over yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit, Death, Death of parent, and Car accident
mgoodwin's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity
farragok's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse
robin_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Grief
isfantasi'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, and Infidelity
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Vomit
catherine10134u38's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Can't believe this is a popular book.
This is for people who want something sad and loves complicated characters that are "messed up." If you're also okay with characters rationalizing cheating on someone while they have cancer then this is for you. This is complicated and deep I guess but all these characters were just so frustrating to me. The ending was so rushed and I can't comprehend for the life of me why January would want to be with Gus fr. I wouldn't be surprised if Gus cheated on her 10 years later and was like "I told you I was messed up, I'm so sorry you don't have to forgive me." The grief in this story was good but what got me was the rationalizing the cheating for me. The writing DRAGGED ON AND ON.
It was slow with so many LONG and boring beats. Maybe I'm too young (17 almost 18) to be reading about these people's cheating and still being married while fucking someone else. Maybe I could come back to this when I'm 30 and understand what their talking about. IDK. Lowkey feel like I should have DNFd this but it taught me that people are complicated and carry baggage and can still be loved. Doesn't make the writing any less boring, the side characters any less plain/boring or the entire plot any less boring either. Boring boring boring. The whole thing about their individual stories is so ??? LAME. It barely even made a difference as far as I can tell.
For me...it put me in a reading slump. I was bored. Rushed ending. Glad to be done with this. Sorry.
This is for people who want something sad and loves complicated characters that are "messed up." If you're also okay with characters rationalizing cheating on someone while they have cancer then this is for you. This is complicated and deep I guess but all these characters were just so frustrating to me. The ending was so rushed and I can't comprehend for the life of me why January would want to be with Gus fr. I wouldn't be surprised if Gus cheated on her 10 years later and was like "I told you I was messed up, I'm so sorry you don't have to forgive me." The grief in this story was good but what got me was the rationalizing the cheating for me. The writing DRAGGED ON AND ON.
It was slow with so many LONG and boring beats. Maybe I'm too young (17 almost 18) to be reading about these people's cheating and still being married while fucking someone else. Maybe I could come back to this when I'm 30 and understand what their talking about. IDK. Lowkey feel like I should have DNFd this but it taught me that people are complicated and carry baggage and can still be loved. Doesn't make the writing any less boring, the side characters any less plain/boring or the entire plot any less boring either. Boring boring boring. The whole thing about their individual stories is so ??? LAME. It barely even made a difference as far as I can tell.
For me...it put me in a reading slump. I was bored. Rushed ending. Glad to be done with this. Sorry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
mrsmisko's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
readwithsophsx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
lou_loo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
This book is so nice. I think this is what romance books should be like.
This is not a story where he is dark and handsome, she is small and frail and they "fall in love" without having anything that makes them attracted to each other (why him and not another dark and broody man you know) or at least, nothing written on paper, nothing that we are told about.
This is the opposite. They start as neighbours (it's not their first encounter though), create a bet, a challenge, and hang out for the entire summer. The tension is built, and we can see why they're attracted to each other and get closer and happier around each other.
And I loved how the themes of grief, illness and pain were incorporated in the story, making it feel real, with actual fleshed-out characters, anchored in reality, while keeping the lightheartedness of it all. Emily Henry was able to address those themes without making the story dark or sad, she kept it real and very enjoyable.
This is not a story where he is dark and handsome, she is small and frail and they "fall in love" without having anything that makes them attracted to each other (why him and not another dark and broody man you know) or at least, nothing written on paper, nothing that we are told about.
This is the opposite. They start as neighbours (it's not their first encounter though), create a bet, a challenge, and hang out for the entire summer. The tension is built, and we can see why they're attracted to each other and get closer and happier around each other.
And I loved how the themes of grief, illness and pain were incorporated in the story, making it feel real, with actual fleshed-out characters, anchored in reality, while keeping the lightheartedness of it all. Emily Henry was able to address those themes without making the story dark or sad, she kept it real and very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief