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greatestheights's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
A lovely exploration of grief, family, and self-care. So sweet, but so real. The relationships and different kinds of love highlighted throughout this story are ones you don't often read about — a grandmother and granddaughter's bond, elderly friendship and loneliness, elderly dating and romance, grieving as a family, and more. I loved this little gem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. I feel fiercely protective of almost every character (except Tod of course but we saw that coming...) and I want to run away to a small English town!!
While this book definitely deals with some very heavy topics, there were some fantastic moments that made me laugh out loud to go along with the ones that made me tear up!
I also loved that this explored sonmany different kinds of relationships - grandmother/mother/daughter, community, friendships, romantic relationships. So many stories focus on the romance but this one, the community, familial, and friend relationships were even more integral and important and I really loved that.
While this book definitely deals with some very heavy topics, there were some fantastic moments that made me laugh out loud to go along with the ones that made me tear up!
I also loved that this explored sonmany different kinds of relationships - grandmother/mother/daughter, community, friendships, romantic relationships. So many stories focus on the romance but this one, the community, familial, and friend relationships were even more integral and important and I really loved that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
phoevincent's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
cait13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
freydawreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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: Cancer
Moderate: Terminal illness, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content
goodvibesgoodbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Cute, little bit of a slow burn. I wish it would have been a bit longer so we could truly watch the characters grow AFTER their realizations and acknowledgment. We watch grandmother and granddaughter heal after loss. We got to know the mom on the way. But after everyone came into their own, it ended. Which yes it was a book about grief and love, second chances and take life by the horns and making the life you want for yourself a reality. But I wish we could have seen the growth after the.. growth. Left you feeling as though there might be a sequel without being deep enough to know you’ll get one. It was a super cute story full of sassy grandmas ready to freaking shine in the big city and a young woman mourning, learning, and realizing the small town life change isn’t bad. But could help shed a light on what’s important and what she wanted for herself and her future. I really liked it. Solid 3.5-4 stars. I’ll be rushing to add all of beth's other books to my wishlist or to tbr.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Infidelity
awpatton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Dementia, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
amandasharabooks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer and Panic attacks/disorders
rosienotjen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
therobinjoyce's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Wow...I am so sad. I'm completely underwhelmed at this book. I'd heard so many raving reviews about it but it really disappointed me in all aspects.
Eileene's character was supposed to be lovable and quirky but they just came off as ditzy and impulsive. Leena was supposed to be the young MC heroine we follow and root for but when her attitude and imbecility force her to be such a vanilla, boring character, it's hard to feel drawn to her and invested
The plotline with Eileen's looking for love was so wierd and, while mildly tolerable for the most part, almost utterly boring. The way she seamlessly integrates into city life and everyone (even the mean-spirited, reclusive neighbours) just jumps to her aid and side when she needs it is both unrealistic and idealistic. That leads to almost all aspects of her interaction and narrative throughout the book feeling bland and boring...because it would never happen in real life.
The relationship between Leena and her mother, too, was so boring and felt extremely forced. It felt as if it were a plot device used to try and show Leena's growth over her sadness and vulnerability but instead showed her as a spoiled, obnoxious, weak character and I hated it.
Next we come to Leena and her romantic relationships.
<Spoiler> First, her romantic and interactions with Jackson. For a man who has been hurt before, and now pining for his daughter she sure gives him a rough time. I mean, from page 1 I could tell that Ethan was a bad character and saw all the red flags in both his and her actions and words but it takes until over page 300 for her to believe anyone and figure this out. The moment he had made those ageist comments at the neighbourhood watch meeting that would have been a big red flag. Let alone the fact that he never saw her, only wanted sex, and when he couldn't get his way he lied and bombed his way out of there.
The whole fact that Leena was with him me I could SEE this going on soiled this whole book because any woman with any self respect and self worth would have recognised this. Some may argue that this is character development and it fitted within the plot and character arc but personally, if I can tell someone is sketchy and the MC is still with them then the whole book is ruined because here we have a floppy, weakling of an MC. Imho, Jackson deserved so much better and when she rejected him at may day (if I was him) I would have told her straight that her bf was sketchy and not gone running to London after her when she finally dumped him. I mean, that whole fact, that Jackson knew he was sketchy, said nothing, was strung out for ages while Leena was with Ethan, but then ran after her like a puppy dog when she returned to London just
made me lose all respect for him...
That ending was also, too anticlimactic.
All in all, I would not recommend this book. The synopsis made it sound like a beautiful, modern day, light version of The Holiday but instead it supremely underwhelmed my expectations and I felt cheated of my time and energy for devoting 3 evenings to reading this book.
Eileene's character was supposed to be lovable and quirky but they just came off as ditzy and impulsive. Leena was supposed to be the young MC heroine we follow and root for but when her attitude and imbecility force her to be such a vanilla, boring character, it's hard to feel drawn to her and invested
The plotline with Eileen's looking for love was so wierd and, while mildly tolerable for the most part, almost utterly boring. The way she seamlessly integrates into city life and everyone (even the mean-spirited, reclusive neighbours) just jumps to her aid and side when she needs it is both unrealistic and idealistic. That leads to almost all aspects of her interaction and narrative throughout the book feeling bland and boring...because it would never happen in real life.
The relationship between Leena and her mother, too, was so boring and felt extremely forced. It felt as if it were a plot device used to try and show Leena's growth over her sadness and vulnerability but instead showed her as a spoiled, obnoxious, weak character and I hated it.
Next we come to Leena and her romantic relationships.
<Spoiler> First, her romantic and interactions with Jackson. For a man who has been hurt before, and now pining for his daughter she sure gives him a rough time. I mean, from page 1 I could tell that Ethan was a bad character and saw all the red flags in both his and her actions and words but it takes until over page 300 for her to believe anyone and figure this out. The moment he had made those ageist comments at the neighbourhood watch meeting that would have been a big red flag. Let alone the fact that he never saw her, only wanted sex, and when he couldn't get his way he lied and bombed his way out of there.
The whole fact that Leena was with him me I could SEE this going on soiled this whole book because any woman with any self respect and self worth would have recognised this. Some may argue that this is character development and it fitted within the plot and character arc but personally, if I can tell someone is sketchy and the MC is still with them then the whole book is ruined because here we have a floppy, weakling of an MC. Imho, Jackson deserved so much better and when she rejected him at may day (if I was him) I would have told her straight that her bf was sketchy and not gone running to London after her when she finally dumped him. I mean, that whole fact, that Jackson knew he was sketchy, said nothing, was strung out for ages while Leena was with Ethan, but then ran after her like a puppy dog when she returned to London just
made me lose all respect for him...
That ending was also, too anticlimactic.
All in all, I would not recommend this book. The synopsis made it sound like a beautiful, modern day, light version of The Holiday but instead it supremely underwhelmed my expectations and I felt cheated of my time and energy for devoting 3 evenings to reading this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse