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esthersedition's review against another edition
3.0
The author, Cecelia Ahern, honestly writes so well that it’s so easy to read. I became quickly engaged with the book and it’s characters within the first few pages.
The novel is set in Ireland, and follows the life of Jasmine and how she came to know herself and grow as a person in all aspects. Particularly, friendship, family, love and life itself. Though, there is no adventurous plot attached to the story, it instead resembles a ‘Friends’ (the sitcom) sort of story line. We see how the different characters eventually flow into Jasmines life and what part they play in her growth. In short, it follows her ordinary normal life.
It sounds good so why why have I only rated it a 3/5?
Well because it had such a great potential for a enemies-friends- to lovers trope but the author’s chosen love interest for Jasmine in the novel I think was so misaligned in the end. The feelings, the playful banter, the tension between Jasmine and Matt were so beautifully detailed for a great portion of the book, only to be reduced to friendship at the end and nothing more. Instead it was displayed as an unexpected friendship with Matt and her finding love with someone quite random. Who Jasmine did not have even an ounce of chemistry with - however cute some of their moments were.
Also, the ending was a bit too optimistic and happy-go-lucky, and parts of the characters storyline where just rushed and pushed to the side by the end.
In short, this novel had so much potential but it was just not fulfilled at the end. It was basically a big tease the whole way through only for it to just take a completely different and frankly, misaligned spin.
The novel is set in Ireland, and follows the life of Jasmine and how she came to know herself and grow as a person in all aspects. Particularly, friendship, family, love and life itself. Though, there is no adventurous plot attached to the story, it instead resembles a ‘Friends’ (the sitcom) sort of story line. We see how the different characters eventually flow into Jasmines life and what part they play in her growth. In short, it follows her ordinary normal life.
It sounds good so why why have I only rated it a 3/5?
Well because it had such a great potential for a enemies-friends- to lovers trope but the author’s chosen love interest for Jasmine in the novel I think was so misaligned in the end. The feelings, the playful banter, the tension between Jasmine and Matt were so beautifully detailed for a great portion of the book, only to be reduced to friendship at the end and nothing more. Instead it was displayed as an unexpected friendship with Matt and her finding love with someone quite random. Who Jasmine did not have even an ounce of chemistry with - however cute some of their moments were.
Also, the ending was a bit too optimistic and happy-go-lucky, and parts of the characters storyline where just rushed and pushed to the side by the end.
In short, this novel had so much potential but it was just not fulfilled at the end. It was basically a big tease the whole way through only for it to just take a completely different and frankly, misaligned spin.
milliei's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly beautiful, at the same time it’s so very real. No glorification, no over exaggeration, just pure life. I’m amazed of the author’s ability to write such a heart warming and sad book while at the same time the premise is kind of ordinary? Great read.
minnie_atur's review against another edition
4.0
Did things happen quickly here? No!
Some might say nothing happens ... but that's not true in my eyes.
Yes, the plot is slow...but that perfectly fits the overall message of the book.
Sometimes you can only see the path before you, that small patch of trampled grass in the wood, if you slow down your pace ... that seems even more true and insightfull at this time really...
"It makes me think of anone who is trying to grwo where something, even a part of themselves, has died. We all experience that sickness. It is better to move, uproot ourselves and start afresh; then we will flourish."
Some might say nothing happens ... but that's not true in my eyes.
Yes, the plot is slow...but that perfectly fits the overall message of the book.
Sometimes you can only see the path before you, that small patch of trampled grass in the wood, if you slow down your pace ... that seems even more true and insightfull at this time really...
"It makes me think of anone who is trying to grwo where something, even a part of themselves, has died. We all experience that sickness. It is better to move, uproot ourselves and start afresh; then we will flourish."
tamaraepps's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Violence and Cancer
el_reads17's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
"At what exact point was it that we crossed over that line, when one version of us became the next? But it is thanks to the slowness that we remember the journey, we reserve the sense of where we were, where we are going and why. Destination completely unknown, we can value the crossing."
The Year I Met You is a pleasant, relatively light read about two neighbours hitting rock bottom and finding an unlikely friendship. The kind of friendship that calls you out on your bs and forces you to confront things about yourself that you'd rather not. My favourite part was that it didn't end up being a cliched enemies to lovers trope! Yay for platonic male-female relationships!
I'll be checking out more from Cecelia Ahern.
"At what exact point was it that we crossed over that line, when one version of us became the next? But it is thanks to the slowness that we remember the journey, we reserve the sense of where we were, where we are going and why. Destination completely unknown, we can value the crossing."
The Year I Met You is a pleasant, relatively light read about two neighbours hitting rock bottom and finding an unlikely friendship. The kind of friendship that calls you out on your bs and forces you to confront things about yourself that you'd rather not. My favourite part was that it didn't end up being a cliched enemies to lovers trope! Yay for platonic male-female relationships!
I'll be checking out more from Cecelia Ahern.
dani7220's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krystyne88's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0