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karlakvann's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
coolbeancat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Animal death, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Drug use
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
- 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
(4.5⭐️) The ultimate friends to lovers. This book contains so much romance, drama, while still being amazingly authentic to real life. It made me laugh out loud and almost cry from joy. The book is told in current/present summer with flashbacks to past summers throughout their friendship, which is brilliant. It allows you to be acquainted with the characters, but then slowly know more about why they are the way they are. I really fell in love with the characters and the writing style. This whole book just made my heart so full. It’s one of those romances that leaves you so happy.
Alex is so obviously written by a woman and I love it. I love the shy, goofy, “lovable grandpa” demeanor, and just the way he and poppy are such good friends and he’s such a big sweetheart. You can’t not love Alex, am I right? He’s just literally such a compelling character.
Age rating: 16+, there are a few brief steamy scenes
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
laurendenton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: May 11 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Heartfelt • Underwhelming • Adventurous
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Meet best friends, Alex & Poppy, complete opposites who have been tethered to one another since a fateful ride share in college. Poppy is a travel journalist living in New York. Alex is a high school teacher living in their hometown, but every summer they travel somewhere new together. That is until one summer, something happens, and now they haven't spoken for nearly two years. When Poppy thinks of the last time she was truly happy, it's that fateful trip that changed everything. And so she wants a chance to make everything right.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This book definitely felt like a getaway/escape filled with adventure and wanderlust. I enjoyed reading about Alex & Poppy's various vacations and it inspired my desire to be transported to one of the beautiful settings. As a side note, I was equally intrigued by Poppy's career as a travel journalist, this sounds absolutely amazing! Both of the main characters are real and flawed, while their banter and humour was fun, and I particularly appreciated the central focus of friendship.
As for the story itself, I definitely had an unpopular opinion. While I enjoy a good friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, this one didn't fit the bill for me. I cannot say whether it's the popularity of contemporary romance right now, but there just felt like way too much foreshadowing in relation to the 'big incident', and when it was finally I was left underwhelmed. Another issue I had was with the structure, there was too much focus on the past and not enough of the now, which made it even more anti-climatic. In my opinion, the author should have stuck to either alternating timelines or alternating POVs, and not tried to do both, as it felt confusing and disjointed at times.
While I wanted to love this one, I just couldn't. It's still a decent read and some many others have absolutely adored it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like a slow burn romance
• rom-com fans (especially if you liked When Harry Met Sally)
• anyone looking to escape
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wish I could bottle this moment and wear it as perfume. It would always be with me. Everywhere I went, he'd be there too, and so I'd always feel like myself."
"Maybe things can always get better between people who want to do a good job loving each other. Maybe that's all it takes."
"You can't outrun yourself. Not your history, not your fears, not the parts of yourself you're worried are wrong."
Graphic: Death of parent and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Drug use
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
We can't all love all the same books and there were parts of this own thay I loved and parts that were so well done even if it isn't my new favorite read.
So a lot of you are going to hate me - but here are my honest thoughts after reading this from my Libby app.
What was done well:
1. Therapy!!! At least four different characters in this book talked to a professional for help with different life issues. This destigmatizing of therapy is huge!!!
2. College guy/girl friendship. This was possibly done TOO well. I have lots of feelings...no we are NOT going there...
3. Travel. I loved the travel in this book. I loved the compromise, the fun adventures, the crazy parts, and everything in-between. I've definitely been in some of those situations myself and hope to be again someday.
What disappointed me: There was way too much deceit in this book for me. Sometimes I don't mind but it wasn't redeemed well enough for me personally this time.
What was hard for me to enjoy: This book jumps around a lot. I always struggle with that.
What I loved: The friendship between Alex and Poppy was really good. Their struggles were good too. I guess I didn't buy all of it as much as I was supposed to, but the initial friendship (their first road trip!) and the end were lovely
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Drug use
becsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Sexual content and Cursing