Scan barcode
a_ab's review against another edition
4.0
This was a pleasant surprise. Based on the cover I expected light inoffensive fluff, and while it's not entirely light, it is uplifting, and I didn't find anything offensive in it, but it most certainly didn't feel like fluff.
It turned out to be quite a rare find in contemporary literature: This novel is well written, well paced, well thought out, and doesn't resort to sex and violence for impact and high stakes! I am impressed.
I did not love the 2 main characters whose stories we are told in the alternating chapters. But they were real, relatable, consistent and human. With believable development and understandable choices, at least most choices. They were people I could thoroughly believe in.
It's not a perfect book: there are some sloppy plot points and scenes or descriptions which overstay their welcome, but the flaws are minor enough to be overlooked in light of the overall impression.
It turned out to be quite a rare find in contemporary literature: This novel is well written, well paced, well thought out, and doesn't resort to sex and violence for impact and high stakes! I am impressed.
Spoiler
The book tackles emotional baggage, grief, dealing with a terminal illness, homelessness and suicide, and it manages to do it both intimately, but in a non-invasive way, with great tact and insight.I did not love the 2 main characters whose stories we are told in the alternating chapters. But they were real, relatable, consistent and human. With believable development and understandable choices, at least most choices. They were people I could thoroughly believe in.
Spoiler
However, I still think that both of them deserved someone different in their lives as a partner, not better - just different. But since they both could use a short relationship different from what they had known before, I didn't mind the hastily thrown together "happy ending".It's not a perfect book: there are some sloppy plot points and scenes or descriptions which overstay their welcome, but the flaws are minor enough to be overlooked in light of the overall impression.
nukie19's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cute book. I liked how awkward the main characters were without causing me to feel annoyed by them (which I find can be the danger of these “quirky” characters). Things didn’t play out quite as expected and I appreciated the twists in the story. Definitely a fun, quick read.
dmwhipp's review against another edition
2.0
Publisher Jonathon Grief is dealing with a recent divorce, father in decline, and business difficulties when he finds a leather day planner that will change his life. Meanwhile Hannah has recently left her job for her dream of running her own business – a daycare center – while anxiously awaiting a proposal from her boyfriend. This is a dual timeline story going back and forth between Jonathan and Hannah and I’m assuming the two will eventually meet, fall in love, yada yada yada. I didn’t connect with or care for either character so I didn’t read that far. Giving this 2 stars instead of 1 in case this was bad due to poor translation or on the off-chance it gets better in the second half, but I’m hanging it up at almost 50%.
haileykorinne's review against another edition
5.0
Jonathan N. Grief is one of my new favorite characters ever
ecahilly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Dementia, Car accident, and Death of parent
creatively_corn's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
omg_carrie's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a slow start but gets better and I felt more invested around the halfway point. Overall it’s a cute story and was a great read for the beginning of the year.
meringues's review
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
3.0
marcellemml's review
2.0
2,5 because of Jonathan and the thmes, the good parts fo the book.
Took me almost 3 weeks to finish, and I finished because I wanted to read the next one... I liked the themes, such as alcoholism, parenting abuse, health problems and suicide, but it wasn't well delivered. I didn't like the split chapters. Jonathan's side was the one that I liked, so I stopped after his chapters because Hannah's attitude game me the nerves. I don't buy this whole see the positive stuff, forget the bad. This won't stop bad things from happening. Of course that we don't have to be pessimists It's the end of the world as we know it, but we can't ignore bad things. Happiness needs sadness, because otherwise, how can we know what happiness is?
Regarding the story, the begin is too slow, then, a lot of things happen very fast, including the romance. I think it would be better if the friend and Jonathan got together. Hannah needed to grow up a little bit before her happy ending, and Lisa was ready, but her character was just a Jiminy Cricket. I think it's worth reading if you really like chick-lit, maybe you'll enjoy more than I did (and I really like chick-lit, you can see by the books I read).
Took me almost 3 weeks to finish, and I finished because I wanted to read the next one... I liked the themes, such as alcoholism, parenting abuse, health problems and suicide, but it wasn't well delivered. I didn't like the split chapters. Jonathan's side was the one that I liked, so I stopped after his chapters because Hannah's attitude game me the nerves. I don't buy this whole see the positive stuff, forget the bad. This won't stop bad things from happening. Of course that we don't have to be pessimists It's the end of the world as we know it, but we can't ignore bad things. Happiness needs sadness, because otherwise, how can we know what happiness is?
Regarding the story, the begin is too slow, then, a lot of things happen very fast, including the romance. I think it would be better if the friend and Jonathan got together. Hannah needed to grow up a little bit before her happy ending, and Lisa was ready, but her character was just a Jiminy Cricket. I think it's worth reading if you really like chick-lit, maybe you'll enjoy more than I did (and I really like chick-lit, you can see by the books I read).