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iambetterthenyou's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
Its a cute, lighthearted romance with a twist of finding yourself and reflecting on things that you thought you couldn't. Just want a quick, sweet read, I would totally recommend.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse
ellahoward_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Chapter 33 ðŸ˜
This book is cheesy and cliche, yet sweet and heartwarming at the same time. It felt like someone holding your heart, trying not to let it break but when it does, still stays to help you through the grief till you feel hopeful again!
This book is cheesy and cliche, yet sweet and heartwarming at the same time. It felt like someone holding your heart, trying not to let it break but when it does, still stays to help you through the grief till you feel hopeful again!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying
death, narcissistic abuse, abusive relationship, gaslighting, bullying, traumanevs_library12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Infidelity, and Murder
breedawnwriter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so endearing and fleshed out, and the plot was simple but executed very well. My only complaint is that it had a few sexy scenes that I felt were too explicit, but I also skipped the audiobook forward during these parts to try and avoid them.
Content Warning: Death of a parent, grief, cursing, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, sexual content (one sexual fantasy and one sex scene), multiple LGBT characters (M/M relationship that's prominent in the story, one character identifies as they/them, and a few comments about two females flirting with each other), bullying, and alcohol.
Content Warning: Death of a parent, grief, cursing, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, sexual content (one sexual fantasy and one sex scene), multiple LGBT characters (M/M relationship that's prominent in the story, one character identifies as they/them, and a few comments about two females flirting with each other), bullying, and alcohol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
A very sweet and—despite being about ghosts—realistic look at loss, love, and life events. This isn’t strictly a romance, but the romance found within the pages is tender and charming and at times, a little sad and a little bleak. But that’s what makes it feel so real. The writing reminded me of Beth O’Leary meets Sally Thorne.
In a word, this story was unexpected. I was expecting more of a cute paranormal romance, but that’s not really what it was. I was expecting it to go in many different directions than it did. In the end, I really loved where it went.
I would also say this book is like (the family drama of) The Haunting of Hill House mixed with a touch of Sixth Sense meets Ghosts (UK version all the way) with a little Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Just Like Heaven and Six Feet Under. If that gives you any idea at all of the genres this novel encompasses. In other words, a great book for the season that isn’t scary!
AND great LGBTQ+ rep in this one!!
In a word, this story was unexpected. I was expecting more of a cute paranormal romance, but that’s not really what it was. I was expecting it to go in many different directions than it did. In the end, I really loved where it went.
I would also say this book is like (the family drama of) The Haunting of Hill House mixed with a touch of Sixth Sense meets Ghosts (UK version all the way) with a little Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Just Like Heaven and Six Feet Under. If that gives you any idea at all of the genres this novel encompasses. In other words, a great book for the season that isn’t scary!
AND great LGBTQ+ rep in this one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Car accident, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Cancer, Alcohol, Drug use, Gore, Bullying, and Domestic abuse
kels_18's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse
threeundertwopnw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
I wept, I screamed. An impossible romance that is unexpectedly profound. A beautiful story that helped me with issues around death and grief. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
kfmcf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a solid read overall. It was quick and enjoyable. I liked the premise, I liked the characters, it was a good time.
I really liked the town of this story. I understood the people, it felt like a real town but with a little extra magic. Florence's family was also fun and the dynamics were enjoyable her never seeing her dad as a ghost was the correct choice. It would have been really hard to pull off well so I think her seeing the ghost of him in what he left behind was far more effective </spoiler >
I was frustrated by a few things:
1) the twist. this twist was not hard to see and that's fine, it doesn't need to be mind blowing. But obviously Ben was in a coma. I wish Florence had known and was working with him to wake up instead. It could have still worked without Ben knowing he wasn't dead. The twist about her being a literal ghostwriter tho was fun.
2) Ben was unbelievable as a real guy. He felt very much like a geeky girl's dream. I wanted a bit more depth from him. I like The Princess Bride as much as the next but oy the quote. I also found it hard to believe that her book, that sold extremely poorly, changed his whole outlook on novels (romance in particular). Especially if his grandmother was so prolific.
3) the NAME dropping my gosh. We get it you read. This book made so many references to other authors and books and every time it just completely yoinked me out of the story.
I also want to say, that when the MC is supposed to decompress by writing smut - you expect the spice to be great. And it really wasn't. It was very late and felt super tacked on. I think the chemistry between the two leads not being the best might have contributed.
These complaints are more nitpicky than they seem - I did still really enjoy the book and will pick up what the author writes next.
I really liked the town of this story. I understood the people, it felt like a real town but with a little extra magic. Florence's family was also fun and the dynamics were enjoyable
I was frustrated by a few things:
1) the twist.
2) Ben was unbelievable as a real guy. He felt very much like a geeky girl's dream. I wanted a bit more depth from him. I like The Princess Bride as much as the next but oy the quote.
3) the NAME dropping my gosh. We get it you read. This book made so many references to other authors and books and every time it just completely yoinked me out of the story.
I also want to say, that when the MC is supposed to decompress by writing smut - you expect the spice to be great. And it really wasn't. It was very late and felt super tacked on. I think the chemistry between the two leads not being the best might have contributed.
These complaints are more nitpicky than they seem - I did still really enjoy the book and will pick up what the author writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Car accident
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Blood, and Medical trauma
piratenami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to love this, since I enjoyed some of the author's previous YA novels. But there were things I really liked, and things I really didn't. The book itself was very quick and readable and written well enough. I liked the main storyline of Florence and her family and returning home to the hometown she ran away from and her dealing with her grief over her father's death .
Her family, who run a funeral home in their small hometown, sounded a little bit Addams family, which was fun, and I liked all of them. The quirky small town was a little too quirky at times (did you know they have a golden retriever for a mayor? If you didn't, she'll remind you at least once a chapter) but the emotional core of Florence's family story was solid and moving.
Unfortunately, it felt like the romance storyline was crammed in to an already full story. Because there was only the POV of Florence, it felt like the love interest, Ben, had very little personality or character beyond "he's hot" and "he's a workaholic". I didn't entirely buy the romance, and I thought the ending fell very flat. Some weird choices in the story left me feeling cold also.Primarily the alleyway make out scene in the beginning of the book between Florence and Ben, before the main family plot kicks off. She's feeling rattled by seeing her ex-boyfriend, Lee, and just grabs Ben and starts kissing him. Like, lack of consent much? And speaking of Lee, I would have liked Florence to get a little more closure with him. He basically stole the stories she told him about her life as fodder for his ~artsy literary novel~. While she does punch him in the face at the end of the book, I would've like to see her stand up to him a little more.
Overall, the good moments and occasionally clever writing weren't quite enough to raise this above "just OK" for me.
Her family, who run a funeral home in their small hometown, sounded a little bit Addams family, which was fun, and I liked all of them. The quirky small town was a little too quirky at times (did you know they have a golden retriever for a mayor? If you didn't, she'll remind you at least once a chapter) but the emotional core of Florence's family story was solid and moving.
Unfortunately, it felt like the romance storyline was crammed in to an already full story. Because there was only the POV of Florence, it felt like the love interest, Ben, had very little personality or character beyond "he's hot" and "he's a workaholic". I didn't entirely buy the romance, and I thought the ending fell very flat. Some weird choices in the story left me feeling cold also.
Overall, the good moments and occasionally clever writing weren't quite enough to raise this above "just OK" for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident