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daniofthewood's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Minor: Stalking and Sexual content
lulusreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As someone who’s getting married next month, this was the perfect read. The relationship dynamics/ drama was so realistic. I pray my marriage never goes through this, I’ve seen relationships like this over & over again. My big take away is COMMUNICATION & THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP. YOU JUST MAKE IT WORK IF YOU LOVE EACHOTHER. Besides that there were some boring/dull moments in this but I didn’t mind since I just switched to the audiobook during those parts. What would of made this book a higher rating would’ve been seeing Ryan’s perfective!!! I’m so interested in the male mind & their attraction to women vs. their need for emotional intimacy. at least we got to read his emails. I loved that part so much. Totally full-filled my inner teenager.
You don’t have to F other ppl to know who you LOVE !!!!! & if you do end up going that far.. that’s between you guys to fix or end. I thank god I don’t end up like Lauren & Ryan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment, Car accident, Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
bottlecapmagnet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Grief
amanda_reads13's review
emotional
sad
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
3.5
Lauren and Ryan's marriage has come to a breaking point. They realize that they have fallen out of love with one another. They decide to take a year apart.
Lauren and Ryan are at their breaking point and cannot stand to be around each other. Every little thing leads to resentment and arguments. They do not communicate with each other at all. So all of these tiny issues lead to a huge blow up. This feels incredibly realistic. So many relationships blow up because of passive aggressive tendencies and lack of communication.
I would have loved to have seen a dual POV in this book and to have more of the book focus on their individual journeys as they make their way back to each other. We don't see much growth in the characrers. A bunch of things happen and they realize they love each other. That's great, but do they actually change? If so, how do they change?
The emails were cute, it was a way for them to keep tabs on each other without actally communicating. BUT I think it would have been better had they cut commutation completely and focused on self-growth rather than worrying and stressing about the other person. Without individual growth how will their relationship be any different this time?
Tropes: marriage in crisis
Lauren and Ryan are at their breaking point and cannot stand to be around each other. Every little thing leads to resentment and arguments. They do not communicate with each other at all. So all of these tiny issues lead to a huge blow up. This feels incredibly realistic. So many relationships blow up because of passive aggressive tendencies and lack of communication.
I would have loved to have seen a dual POV in this book and to have more of the book focus on their individual journeys as they make their way back to each other. We don't see much growth in the characrers. A bunch of things happen and they realize they love each other. That's great, but do they actually change? If so, how do they change?
The emails were cute, it was a way for them to keep tabs on each other without actally communicating. BUT I think it would have been better had they cut commutation completely and focused on self-growth rather than worrying and stressing about the other person. Without individual growth how will their relationship be any different this time?
Tropes: marriage in crisis
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, and Death
laurataylor's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
alisonreadsitall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Honestly, I think this is my favorite TJR read yet. (only book 2 for me lol)
While I didn’t love the idea of “taking a break” from your marriage, I did love all of the emotions this book made me feel. 😭😫🥰🤣🫠🥹 (I cried a lot.) I loved seeing some of the differences and nuances in relationships and how each character approached it. There was also a lot of growth in characters throughout the book, especially Charlie.
Rachel was the real star of the show. ⭐️ She gets a lot of flack because she’s still single. She wants a relationship, but doesn’t see it as a requirement for her happiness, and would rather pursue happiness in other ways. (I relate to her so maybe that’s why she was my favorite 🙃)
The ending was heartbreaking and yet, also fantastic.
While I didn’t love the idea of “taking a break” from your marriage, I did love all of the emotions this book made me feel. 😭😫🥰🤣🫠🥹 (I cried a lot.) I loved seeing some of the differences and nuances in relationships and how each character approached it. There was also a lot of growth in characters throughout the book, especially Charlie.
Rachel was the real star of the show. ⭐️ She gets a lot of flack because she’s still single. She wants a relationship, but doesn’t see it as a requirement for her happiness, and would rather pursue happiness in other ways. (I relate to her so maybe that’s why she was my favorite 🙃)
The ending was heartbreaking and yet, also fantastic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Pregnancy, and Cancer
Minor: Infidelity
saraellenme's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, Death, Grief, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
cdoubet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment, and Cursing
morganperks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
Ya know, I wasn’t feeling it at the beginning, but I trusted that TJR had a plan. She most definitely did and it was better than I could’ve imagined. Man, does she know how to tell a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual content
mauvesoul's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Cancer, and Pregnancy