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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
i really enjoyed this. a quick easy read with the cutest romance plot. this is the kind of rom com i would like to see!!
3.5/5. It was cute. The book interrogates some important issues, such as memory and fate, in a very realistic way. The whole montage thing seemed somewhat half-baked though - it is there in the middle half of the book, but it fades away and becomes less important toward the end (for a somewhat good reason, ), which makes is use as the narrative glue earlier on seem over the top. So it feels kind of gimmicky.
I liked Ruby better as a character than Saoirse, but maybe that's just because we weren't sitting in her head. She just seems steader. But that's being somewhat unfair to Saoirse, who has a lot going on in her life.
I like the realistic ending -.
Spoiler
because both characters realize they (the montages) are unrealistic in their own wayI liked Ruby better as a character than Saoirse, but maybe that's just because we weren't sitting in her head. She just seems steader. But that's being somewhat unfair to Saoirse, who has a lot going on in her life.
I like the realistic ending -
Spoiler
Ruby and Saoirse don't end up together, they're not some insta-love fated to be together couple, they are just there for each other at important points in their lives
YA story of summer-after-high-school love. Gave it an extra star bc the main characters are lesbians
and that fact is not the drama of the story.
and that fact is not the drama of the story.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The falling in love montage does multiple things very well:
1. It makes an effort to give lesbians and other sapphic women the rom-com they deserve.
2. Early onset dementia is a topic I've never seen explored in a YA novel before, and I found the portrayal to be very empathetic and compelling.
3. It has extremely cute moments, which is the primary thing I expect from a romance.
Additional positive point:
Unfortunately, although I liked this book, I didn't love it enough for five stars. The arcs with Hannah and Izzy ended a bit too abruptly, and Saoirse's father's characterization didn't seem fully realized, either. I wish there'd been more catharsis and understanding between the two of them at the end. Her family arc was a bit half-baked.
Also, the style could have benefitted from some more editing, because going back and forth from compelling-honesty-and-snarkiness and oh-god-this-is-so-artificial-and-weird was exhausting to read at times. It was a bit all over the place.
Overall it's a cute rom-com with bright moments, but not life-changing in any way.
1. It makes an effort to give lesbians and other sapphic women the rom-com they deserve.
2. Early onset dementia is a topic I've never seen explored in a YA novel before, and I found the portrayal to be very empathetic and compelling.
3. It has extremely cute moments, which is the primary thing I expect from a romance.
Additional positive point:
Spoiler
I loved that the main characters weren't together in the end but parted ways on good terms which not only feels appropriately sapphic, but also makes for a compelling ending of Saoirse's character arc: it wasn't really all about love for her, more about finding joy in the now, learning to let go and appreciating things even if they don't last forever.Unfortunately, although I liked this book, I didn't love it enough for five stars. The arcs with Hannah and Izzy ended a bit too abruptly, and Saoirse's father's characterization didn't seem fully realized, either. I wish there'd been more catharsis and understanding between the two of them at the end. Her family arc was a bit half-baked.
Also, the style could have benefitted from some more editing, because going back and forth from compelling-honesty-and-snarkiness and oh-god-this-is-so-artificial-and-weird was exhausting to read at times. It was a bit all over the place.
Overall it's a cute rom-com with bright moments, but not life-changing in any way.
Read it in English
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
I enjoyed this one more than I was expecting to!! It even made me almost tear up at parts between Saoirse and her mother, especially as I've been spending time with my grandma who has dementia.
I would heavily recommend this for people who enjoyed We Are Okay by Nina Lacour and vice versa. We Are Okay is one of my favorite YA novels and The Falling In Love Montage is like a slightly more lighthearted, rom-com version.
Ultimately, though, it only gets a three star because I've been drifting further and further from YA. I never tend to like the writing and always end up wishing they went deeper and more in depth. But that's definitely more of a me problem
I would heavily recommend this for people who enjoyed We Are Okay by Nina Lacour and vice versa. We Are Okay is one of my favorite YA novels and The Falling In Love Montage is like a slightly more lighthearted, rom-com version.
Ultimately, though, it only gets a three star because I've been drifting further and further from YA. I never tend to like the writing and always end up wishing they went deeper and more in depth. But that's definitely more of a me problem
'Woe is me' teenager and much more upbeat teenager meet at a party and have a summer romance filled with romantic movie clichés.
Pretty solid YA romance.
The dementia storyline was heartbreaking throughout
Pretty solid YA romance.
The dementia storyline was heartbreaking throughout
This was super cute. Good read and a good audiobook. May have made me cry.