Reviews

Lovely War by Julie Berry

0uterspacebookwyrm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-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

3.0

ssloeffler's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful mash-up of historical fiction and Greek mythology... which is a phrase I've not ever written before!

bookscriticism's review against another edition

2.0

I cant even describe the disappointment I felt reading this.
I heard it was romantic and heart breaking and the general idea (the story being told by gods) sounded great. I love greek gods.
The execution was mediocre to me. The whole set up was silly to me. When I figured out why the gods are telling this story I was so ... confused and also annoyed.
The love stories itself - so insta lovey it hurts. And then the whole WWI drama added into it, it was too much.
The only fun parts (and that is kinda ironic) were when Hades was telling his parts of the story. The rest was really not my cup of tea.

isa_lee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sarahlkelly's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

pejahanako's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Truly a gorgeous book. A World War I era historical romance with the backdrop of a tale told by Greek gods. Although I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, there was something distinct about Julie Barry's writing that kept me invested. Her characters immediately drew me in, with sweet and sincere romances that I couldn't help but smile at. Barry's writing keeps an arms length from the actual characters, so that you both feel you are watching them omnipotently while still feeling their emotions heart wrenchingly. I appreciated the scope of this novel, the way it tackled the racism faced by Black American men serving in the war and also grief of losing one's whole family to brutal destruction. I had not read a novel that dared to capture the horrors in the trenches alongside such beautiful tangents about musical compositions. While not the most reflective or innovative, this novel made me want to fall in love. Tears were shed. 

bookswithbagel's review against another edition

5.0

Tattoo this book on my heart please. I am now reflecting on every other book I’ve given 5 stars and how they don’t even compare to this masterpiece. I will be shoving this book into everyone’s hands. Every friend, family member, and future child of mine will read this and write a 10 page paper on why it’s the most beautiful story ever told. I am breathless. I am giddy. I am heartbroken. I am hopeful. I want a T-shirt that has this entire book on the back so that every person that walks behind me will be able to enter into this story. I hope I get amnesia just so I can read this for the first time again. I would be perfectly contempt with never reading another book. I miss it already.

ellieg2604's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-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? No

4.25

This book was really sweet. It was emotional and moving.

momo1017's review against another edition

3.0

I didn’t really enjoy this one. I’ve realized I’m not a fan of switching timelines in books. Story was ok. I just well this wasn’t really my genre. The romance was cute at the beginning.

mer_dont_care's review against another edition

3.0

was very intrigued by the concept of this book: greek gods telling stories of mortals during ww1. however, the actual plot was mid. I was thinking of giving 2 stars, but bumped up to 3 for the creativity.

thank you to julia for giving me this book during our book swap <3