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bringmybooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, & Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Rebecca Serle's books seem to be finding a particularly formulaic groove, but I don't know that I mind it too much - it's predictable in it's way, but it works so well for her that it's not a problem. As in her previous books, I genuinely loved these characters and enjoyed watching the back and forth between them (as well as really enjoying the now and then of the storytelling, and getting to see each of her relationships since the letters started arriving).
There were a couple of quibbles I had with some parts at the end, and that's where it kind of lost me on the enjoyment, plot, and pacing factors - but overall it is definitely recommended (and with a "Bring" rather than "Borrow" because her covers are just too good!)
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, & Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Rebecca Serle's books seem to be finding a particularly formulaic groove, but I don't know that I mind it too much - it's predictable in it's way, but it works so well for her that it's not a problem. As in her previous books, I genuinely loved these characters and enjoyed watching the back and forth between them (as well as really enjoying the now and then of the storytelling, and getting to see each of her relationships since the letters started arriving).
There were a couple of quibbles I had with some parts at the end, and that's where it kind of lost me on the enjoyment, plot, and pacing factors - but overall it is definitely recommended (and with a "Bring" rather than "Borrow" because her covers are just too good!)
Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 3.88
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Infertility, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death
mollywill's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Infertility
cassiealexandra's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
There is so much about this that I truly enjoyed and liked–the magical realism, the ideas about fate and choice, the exploration of illness and how it affects one’s life. The relationships were interesting. I especially liked seeing Daphne with her friends and with her parents. Some very heartfelt moments with her dad toward the end got me teary. I liked seeing Daphne’s past with different men who all had an “expiration date” and how each of those relationships and encounters contributed to her life, most of all Hugo. At first, I wasn’t sure what would happen with Hugo still in her life as her best friend. Over time I started predicting the ending even as Daphne commits more and more to her new love interest, Jake, the infamous note with no end date. There were still a few twists this book had up its sleeve though, and I was surprised a time or two. I thought the ending was well-done and appreciated just a bit of ambiguity there.
I did struggle in a few areas. 1. I wouldn’t call this a dual timeline, but we do get flashbacks into Daphne’s earlier relationships. Most of the time I thought this worked and it didn’t become frustrating the same way this often does for me. However, it was a point of confusion a couple of times and I think it would have benefited from a simple heading at the start of a chapter; this is present in some but not all chapters. 2. The nods to Los Angeles streets, restaurants, and neighborhoods were probably completely accessible to natives. For someone who has spent very little time there it was hard to appreciate it fully. The quantity of references made it feel like LA was an extra character in this book. I sometimes love this (city as character and a real sense of “place”), but here it didn't work well for me. A counterpoint to this is that I did love the way she inserted Jewish culture and references without overexplaining; I can see how someone unfamiliar may have found this just as jarring as my reaction to LA. 3. Don’t get me wrong. This rates above 4 stars for me. But if I wanted to be harsh or judge it only by my complaints my 1 star review would be, “25% of this book is just describing what people are wearing and I stand by that statement.” It’s a good thing that so many quotable and heartfelt moments happen in the final 30% of the novel.
The bottom line: Overall, I greatly enjoyed this. I had a few issues with writing style and structure, but I was able to look past them to see the heart of the book.
— NOTES —
Genres: contemporary fiction, romance
POV: first-person, singular
Content: past death of loved one, illness
Romance: several vague open-door scenes, not descriptive
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 3.5
Gut: 4
Total: 4.25
I did struggle in a few areas. 1. I wouldn’t call this a dual timeline, but we do get flashbacks into Daphne’s earlier relationships. Most of the time I thought this worked and it didn’t become frustrating the same way this often does for me. However, it was a point of confusion a couple of times and I think it would have benefited from a simple heading at the start of a chapter; this is present in some but not all chapters. 2. The nods to Los Angeles streets, restaurants, and neighborhoods were probably completely accessible to natives. For someone who has spent very little time there it was hard to appreciate it fully. The quantity of references made it feel like LA was an extra character in this book. I sometimes love this (city as character and a real sense of “place”), but here it didn't work well for me. A counterpoint to this is that I did love the way she inserted Jewish culture and references without overexplaining; I can see how someone unfamiliar may have found this just as jarring as my reaction to LA. 3. Don’t get me wrong. This rates above 4 stars for me. But if I wanted to be harsh or judge it only by my complaints my 1 star review would be, “25% of this book is just describing what people are wearing and I stand by that statement.” It’s a good thing that so many quotable and heartfelt moments happen in the final 30% of the novel.
The bottom line: Overall, I greatly enjoyed this. I had a few issues with writing style and structure, but I was able to look past them to see the heart of the book.
— NOTES —
Genres: contemporary fiction, romance
POV: first-person, singular
Content: past death of loved one, illness
Romance: several vague open-door scenes, not descriptive
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Craft: 3.5
Gut: 4
Total: 4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Chronic illness
jhansell's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
cait_margaret's review against another edition
I told myself I was done with Rebecca Serle after reading her prior two books and having big issues with both of them, but then this one sounded interesting, and my library had the audiobook, and it was short… Turns out, I should’ve just stuck with my previous conviction. This book falls into all of the same habits that made me weary of Serle’s writing in the first place.
And maybe I would’ve stuck it out and given this 2 or 3 stars, but not after Serle decided that the POV character having a chronic medical condition would be a good midpoint plot twist. It’d be one thing if the twist were the character herself learning about her condition, but it is so, so gross that the twist is merely its (already known) existence finally being told to the reader. Granted, my read on this is absolutely colored by the extremely gross way that Serle previously used a character’s illness in the plot of <i>In Five Years</i>, but it just doesn’t sit right with me.
Additionally, it feels pretty clear already what’s going to happen in the romance plot, so even that leaves nothing to compel me to finish this book. Also, I used to follow Morgan Matson on social media, so I know she and Serle are friends and I know about her dog, Murphy, and it was very weird to see that dog essentially replicated on page here, name and everything. That didn’t stop me from finishing the book at all, but it’s too weird not to mention.
(I looked up a spoiler review and, yes, I was right about the romance plot. And also, yes, the chronic condition is absolutely used in further weird and off putting ways. At least I can feel justified, I guess.)
And maybe I would’ve stuck it out and given this 2 or 3 stars, but not after Serle decided that the POV character having a chronic medical condition would be a good midpoint plot twist. It’d be one thing if the twist were the character herself learning about her condition, but it is so, so gross that the twist is merely its (already known) existence finally being told to the reader. Granted, my read on this is absolutely colored by the extremely gross way that Serle previously used a character’s illness in the plot of <i>In Five Years</i>, but it just doesn’t sit right with me.
Additionally, it feels pretty clear already what’s going to happen in the romance plot, so even that leaves nothing to compel me to finish this book. Also, I used to follow Morgan Matson on social media, so I know she and Serle are friends and I know about her dog, Murphy, and it was very weird to see that dog essentially replicated on page here, name and everything. That didn’t stop me from finishing the book at all, but it’s too weird not to mention.
(I looked up a spoiler review and, yes, I was right about the romance plot. And also, yes, the chronic condition is absolutely used in further weird and off putting ways. At least I can feel justified, I guess.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
mandi_lea's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Sexual content
niquee3317's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Infertility, and Medical content
kerryamchugh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
candiabell's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness
jjoyce's review
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Quick read but didn't really like this at all. I've heard criticism that the main character is unlikeable...I thought she was just relatively flatly written. Even though, especially after the twist, we knew a lot about her, I still didn't feel like I had a good sense of who she was. Or maybe, on further examination, I do have a sense of who she is/what her motivations are, but I just didn't care about her? Generally don't mind a "magical realism" element like the one in this book not being explained, but the juxtaposition of the premise of the book with that premise being turned upside down by one character's actions didn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma