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melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, I didn't have many expectations about this book but it completely won me over in the first few pages.
It's not an uncommon plot, Boy and Girl are best friends, Girl loves Boy but Boy is interested in another girl - drama ensues, but the story is told with such genuine soul and character. The underlying themes are death, unrequited love and the grieving that comes along with both.
I am completely in love with the idea of a letter library, it makes me want to go to any secondhand bookstore around and try and find little pieces of people.
The writing was beautiful, expressive and rich. I loved that even 'minor' characters had such depth and backstory (like Fredrick's backstory with his wife and the elusive Walcott). A book with so many book references and recommendations can't be bad! The conversations had through letters, especially between George and Pytheas were lovely, but hurt my heart (I guessed who it was early on).
I would have given it 5 stars but I found the last 30 or so pages akin to the end of a rom-com film. It was nicely wrapped but it didn't sit that well for me. Henry also did some stupid shit that annoyed me, but I suppose it was authentic to him.
Overall, I will be raving about this for a while.
It's not an uncommon plot, Boy and Girl are best friends, Girl loves Boy but Boy is interested in another girl - drama ensues, but the story is told with such genuine soul and character. The underlying themes are death, unrequited love and the grieving that comes along with both.
I am completely in love with the idea of a letter library, it makes me want to go to any secondhand bookstore around and try and find little pieces of people.
The writing was beautiful, expressive and rich. I loved that even 'minor' characters had such depth and backstory (like Fredrick's backstory with his wife and the elusive Walcott). A book with so many book references and recommendations can't be bad! The conversations had through letters, especially between George and Pytheas were lovely, but hurt my heart (I guessed who it was early on).
I would have given it 5 stars but I found the last 30 or so pages akin to the end of a rom-com film. It was nicely wrapped but it didn't sit that well for me. Henry also did some stupid shit that annoyed me, but I suppose it was authentic to him.
Overall, I will be raving about this for a while.
forgedopulence's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5⭐️
Getting it out of the way now: Henry is awful and it didn't get better. Of all of the characters that had a focus in this book, he's the only one who didn't experience any real growth despite being given multiple opportunities.
I genuinely think that this book was incredibly profound compared to what I was expecting from a teen-targeted book. I think that death was handled particularly well throughout the entire storyline, especially once the letters were introduced. We got to see Cal interact with so many people even though he was gone. The whole subplot was heart breaking and heart warming all in one.
I could feel the love pouring out of the fictional letter library, both through the literary references and through all of the little notes that we got to see.
I loved (almost) everything about this book, and I really can't find enough good things to say about it. Fantastic experience
Getting it out of the way now: Henry is awful and it didn't get better. Of all of the characters that had a focus in this book, he's the only one who didn't experience any real growth despite being given multiple opportunities.
I genuinely think that this book was incredibly profound compared to what I was expecting from a teen-targeted book. I think that death was handled particularly well throughout the entire storyline, especially once the letters were introduced. We got to see Cal interact with so many people even though he was gone. The whole subplot was heart breaking and heart warming all in one.
I could feel the love pouring out of the fictional letter library, both through the literary references and through all of the little notes that we got to see.
I loved (almost) everything about this book, and I really can't find enough good things to say about it. Fantastic experience
sdhoover427's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
kells_'s review against another edition
5.0
I just loved this book so much. I was sad when I finished it just because I liked it so much. It was one of the best books I've ever read, I swear. It just felt like a warm hug after I finished it, there were obviously some not so happy parts and it wasn't 100% sunshine and daisies, but still it was sweet. It was sweet and I can only dream of experiencing a love like this between Rachel and Henry. I've long loved the idea of writing letters and I myself have written letters to my friends, so the concept of the secret letters/notes in this book was something that really appealed to me. In addition, the setting mostly takes place in a bookstore! I love all the references to books and I love the idea of falling in love in a bookstore... I've already said this but this book was sweet and I need a relationship like Rachel and Henry's <3 Friends to lovers trope done right.
DON'T EVEN WAIT JUST READ THIS.
DON'T EVEN WAIT JUST READ THIS.
luziiie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
emorymcc's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
marion's review against another edition
4.0
j'ai vraiment trop aimé les sujets abordés, ça m'a vraiment super touché.
rachel<3 ma puce j'espère qu'elle est heureuse et qu'elle a pu faire son deuil.
on the contrary, henry était trop relou à ne parler que de amy tout le temps !!!!!! j'en pouvais plus.
overall j'ai quand même vraiment apprécié ma lecture et j'espère que george et rachel sont heureuses mes chéries.
rachel<3 ma puce j'espère qu'elle est heureuse et qu'elle a pu faire son deuil.
on the contrary, henry était trop relou à ne parler que de amy tout le temps !!!!!! j'en pouvais plus.
Spoiler
je pense d'ailleurs qu'il mérite trop pas rachel .overall j'ai quand même vraiment apprécié ma lecture et j'espère que george et rachel sont heureuses mes chéries.
bluebell4's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.75