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heather212's review against another edition
5.0
Charming
I blindly picked this book as we were approaching a new year. I absolutely loved it! The twist and turns and missed connections had me screaming at the book!
I blindly picked this book as we were approaching a new year. I absolutely loved it! The twist and turns and missed connections had me screaming at the book!
diana_reads_and_reads's review against another edition
dark
sad
2.0
I hate that this was my first book of 2024. In 2023, I cleaned up my digital library and chose the top 10
books I wanted to get to in my Kindle. This was one. Im sure I downloaded it on one of Amazon’s world reading days when you can get books in translation for free. My main issue with this book is truth in advertising. The cover and title make it look like a lighthearted romcom. Even the blurb makes one think they’re getting a cozy little read. THIS IS NOT THAT. Halfway through (when I was too invested to stop reading), one of the main characters boyfriend commits suicide because he knows he has cancer and he doesn’t want her to go through what his mom went through. Then she falls into a crippling depression. Lighthearted enough for you yet? The other main character is a man who is learning how to be a human being with feelings through the year long guide the female main character intended for her boyfriend.
On top of all that, the male main character’s full name is almost always used—maybe to emphasize that his last name is grief?—and it doesn’t even follow the HEA rule of romance, so I’m not sure what category of book this is supposed to be. Before the female main character falls into her depression, she has a healthy dose of toxic positivity.
Probably this should be one star, but I added one on because maybe this was better in German or there are things about German culture I don’t understand.
books I wanted to get to in my Kindle. This was one. Im sure I downloaded it on one of Amazon’s world reading days when you can get books in translation for free. My main issue with this book is truth in advertising. The cover and title make it look like a lighthearted romcom. Even the blurb makes one think they’re getting a cozy little read. THIS IS NOT THAT. Halfway through (when I was too invested to stop reading), one of the main characters boyfriend commits suicide because he knows he has cancer and he doesn’t want her to go through what his mom went through. Then she falls into a crippling depression. Lighthearted enough for you yet? The other main character is a man who is learning how to be a human being with feelings through the year long guide the female main character intended for her boyfriend.
On top of all that, the male main character’s full name is almost always used—maybe to emphasize that his last name is grief?—and it doesn’t even follow the HEA rule of romance, so I’m not sure what category of book this is supposed to be. Before the female main character falls into her depression, she has a healthy dose of toxic positivity.
Probably this should be one star, but I added one on because maybe this was better in German or there are things about German culture I don’t understand.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Addiction
mschiqui's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I don't really where to start with this one.
Let me just say this was probably one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. I apologize to the author, I'm sure she worked very hard on this book, but it just wasn't it.
For starters, I'll start with the main characters. Oh, man… The main characters…
First, we have Hannah. She's described as a dreamer, a very upbeat, very positive person who always tries to find the good things in any situation. I found her to be extremely annoying, self-centered, out of touch with reality, at times, and overall, just not that likeable! I couldn’t connect with her in any level.And to add to all those lovely characteristics, she tries to impose her thoughts and decisions on other people.
And then we have Jonathan… Oh, boy. Imagine the typical rich, white male who has always lived in his mansion. His daily problems consisted of checking for misspellings in the daily newspaper - which he would always point out with an email to the editor - and complaining for the littlest things to the town hall. Oh, and his prejudice… Is un-freaking-believable. Even towards older ladies. Just read this: "She gave him a cheerful grin. Jonathan was rather shocked to find that this small, shriveled woman's mind was as sharp as honed blade. Amazing! Was she on medication for it? Or did Daphne [Daphne’s her dog] keep her in good mental shape?".
Regarding the plot, it’s too predictable and at the same time is too unbelievable. Every stars align for them to not meet each other in a way where everything would be resolved too fast.
Of course, this is a romance so the idea that destiny always plays its part to brings us some happiness at the right time is beautiful, but this was so overdone that’s it’s just not believe nor entertaining.
I would love to point out good parts of the book, but honestly I can’t even remember anything. My mind is just clouded by all the bad stuff.
Let me just say this was probably one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. I apologize to the author, I'm sure she worked very hard on this book, but it just wasn't it.
For starters, I'll start with the main characters. Oh, man… The main characters…
First, we have Hannah. She's described as a dreamer, a very upbeat, very positive person who always tries to find the good things in any situation. I found her to be extremely annoying, self-centered, out of touch with reality, at times, and overall, just not that likeable! I couldn’t connect with her in any level.
Spoiler
She got mad at her boyfriend when he was able to help her with something because he was bedridden and feeling (and looking) really bad. And of course, she expected him to help her the very next day.And then we have Jonathan… Oh, boy. Imagine the typical rich, white male who has always lived in his mansion. His daily problems consisted of checking for misspellings in the daily newspaper - which he would always point out with an email to the editor - and complaining for the littlest things to the town hall. Oh, and his prejudice… Is un-freaking-believable. Even towards older ladies. Just read this: "She gave him a cheerful grin. Jonathan was rather shocked to find that this small, shriveled woman's mind was as sharp as honed blade. Amazing! Was she on medication for it? Or did Daphne [Daphne’s her dog] keep her in good mental shape?".
Regarding the plot, it’s too predictable and at the same time is too unbelievable. Every stars align for them to not meet each other in a way where everything would be resolved too fast.
Spoiler
For example, he stops going for his morning run - which he had been doing in the same route and for the last few decades or so - in the same day Hannah needed him to pass through there to find out what happened to her boyfriend. And these types of situations happen a lot.Of course, this is a romance so the idea that destiny always plays its part to brings us some happiness at the right time is beautiful, but this was so overdone that’s it’s just not believe nor entertaining.
I would love to point out good parts of the book, but honestly I can’t even remember anything. My mind is just clouded by all the bad stuff.
Spoiler
The only character that I actually liked was Simon… and well… He died so this whole book could happen. Just another reason for me to want him to live.lizleiby's review against another edition
1.0
I don’t even know where to begin.
This book is wildly depressing for at least 60%. One man’s life starts to get better but the other character we follow, her life spirals wildly downwards. A large portion of this book focuses on 3 weeks in January, another large chunk for March and somehow August - December are covered in about 25% of the novel. The pacing was insane.
WAY too many coincidences. Like, obscene amounts. I like a coincidence and I like neat, tidy endings and plot lines but this was like... I mean I was rolling my eyes by the 70% mark because it was ridiculous and then it got worse!!
I’m glad I got it for free cause I think I’d be pissed if I had spent even $1 on this. I want to be kind cause I know how hard it is to write a book but this was just a huge no.
This book is wildly depressing for at least 60%. One man’s life starts to get better but the other character we follow, her life spirals wildly downwards. A large portion of this book focuses on 3 weeks in January, another large chunk for March and somehow August - December are covered in about 25% of the novel. The pacing was insane.
WAY too many coincidences. Like, obscene amounts. I like a coincidence and I like neat, tidy endings and plot lines but this was like... I mean I was rolling my eyes by the 70% mark because it was ridiculous and then it got worse!!
I’m glad I got it for free cause I think I’d be pissed if I had spent even $1 on this. I want to be kind cause I know how hard it is to write a book but this was just a huge no.
jpreston's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mertic2's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mariyana93apt's review
3.0
It's a decent read. I found it a bit predictable at the end and that's why I only gave 3 stars.
ninij's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lauren_werts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.5
This book wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t super special either.
I feel like Hannah is supposed to be more likeable than Jonathan but it seems like he’s the only character who really grew and I found myself more interested in his story than hers. I was honestly more interested in Leopold than Hannah….
I feel like Hannah is supposed to be more likeable than Jonathan but it seems like he’s the only character who really grew and I found myself more interested in his story than hers. I was honestly more interested in Leopold than Hannah….
kakovac's review against another edition
2.0
This was an interesting one for me. In the beginning, I despised both main characters, and thought this would be a traditional rom-com story. Some events in the middle really shook things up and I started to enjoy it much more. That was the case throughout the whole book -- saccharine bits with hints of greatness peeking through. I would maybe have liked it more if I felt the character of Hannah grew or learned more throughout the novel that you can't force people to take on your perspective, and optimism is sometimes not the full and complete solution to things. An interesting book, I'd be interested to try it in the original German to see how things are different.
Also, I found the ending wholly unsatisfying. What did Jonathan say to make things better in the end? I wanted to see that conversation and the problem being fixed, not just a flash forward and "things are fine now".
Also, I found the ending wholly unsatisfying. What did Jonathan say to make things better in the end? I wanted to see that conversation and the problem being fixed, not just a flash forward and "things are fine now".