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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Loved the story and how the plot wasn’t contingent on characters withholding key conversations. The big conversations happened and the characters and stories grew as a result. Also appreciated the relatable first generation storyline.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
God, did Helen beat the "I'm so complicated and not worthy of love from the popular boy from high school" thing to death. What is so fucking complicated about Helen?
How is Grant Sheppard's hitting a girl with his car killing her, making her suicide attempt successful not more complicated?
I think the story is original. I think it's a good idea, maybe not exactly executed well. I think the book would have also flowed and worked out better if it would have been written in first person. The dual POV was weird with the story being in third person.
Not to mention there's a place in the book where the author writes "Grant wants you to know". Eww.
I think we should've seen more of Grants pov. And the book should have shown more than one minor blip of a panic attack from him. Everything is so rushed for a 11hr book. Somehow that is possible.
There's no real meat to the characters.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Explaining the premise of How to End a Love Story to friends made me realize how unlikely it seems, but somehow, Yulin Kuang made it work beautifully. The way the story shifts between Helen and Grant’s perspectives is done so smoothly, never pulling the reader out of the moment. Instead, it deepened the connection to both characters and their complex history. This novel was a layered, emotional novel about grief, love, and forgiveness that feels both intimate and universal. It’s not just a love story, it’s about continuous healing, accountability, and learning how to move forward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was fine. The pacing felt off to me and I didn’t believe Helen and Grant’s connection at first. I wish it had delved more into their feelings and relationships to grief and Michelle’s suicide, both with the MCs and Helen’s parents.
The spice felt awkward and unnecessary (and I generally love a 🌶️ spicy 🌶️ read) and it seemed to kind of come out of nowhere at first.
The writing was also just okay. She definitely overused “tattoo” with regard to hearts beating and also, wow, hi italics.
I did appreciate the look into being the responsible, capable eldest child in a Chinese family with a wild child younger sister. That very much hit home, though my sister’s suicide attempts were not successful, thankfully.
Anyway, this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
The spice felt awkward and unnecessary (and I generally love a 🌶️ spicy 🌶️ read) and it seemed to kind of come out of nowhere at first.
The writing was also just okay. She definitely overused “tattoo” with regard to hearts beating and also, wow, hi italics.
I did appreciate the look into being the responsible, capable eldest child in a Chinese family with a wild child younger sister. That very much hit home, though my sister’s suicide attempts were not successful, thankfully.
Anyway, this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
I was not expecting much when I started this book, but it was a perfect story. I loved Helen and Grant’s journeys. I loved the processing of grief. I really enjoyed reading about Helen’s relationship with her parents. It’s a part of the story I relate to. This was a very good, very fast read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Vomit
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense