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kennedyevermore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? No
3.5
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book, but there were also a lot of things that really bothered me. All in all, I don't regret reading it and I still liked it, but my reaction when I was done reading it was "oh...that's it?"
Let's start off with the good:
The narration. The narration is amazing, unique, and my favorite part of this book. I love that greek Gods and Goddesses narrate and play a role in the story. My favorite parts of the book were when they were interrupting the story to interact with each other. Aphrodite and Hephestus's relationship is so compelling. I also really enjoyed Ares as a character. I love him just being annoyed the whole time and also being a total man-whore. The author does a great job of making each of the gods have a very distinct narrating style and role in the story. For example, when Ares is narrating he is not biased and doesn't interject with what's happening. However, Aphrodite is constantly giving her own thoughts and opinions when telling her parts of the story and she also constantly meddles in what the mortals are doing (I mean, she's the whole reason any of the characters in her story end up together).
I think the beginning of this book is really strong. We start off with meeting Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus in the 40s, and Aphrodite starts telling them a love story from WWI. Then she takes us to the 20s to meet Hazel and James who are adorable and super loveable. The author does a great job of making you root for the characters right away.
I also love the other characters we're introduced to. I immediately fell in love with Collette and Aubrey. I also love the role that Hades plays in the story, and the way he's introduced is very cool and funny (And so very Hades).
I also love Aphrodite's and Hephestus's arc. I think their storyline is super romantic and their ending is perfect.
This whole book, despite its problems, is very pretty. The language, style, and way it's written are very beautiful and there are a lot of great quotes in this book.
Now the not so good:
After James goes to war, Hazel moves to France and volunteers with the YMCA. This part of the book is way too long. The entire middle of this book is so boring. The best part of it was Collette and Aubrey. I was really compelled by their relationship but then the author separates them for the rest of the story. Their relationship also becomes a miscommunication trope which I hate with a burning passion. Once Collette and Aubrey are separated it's almost like the author just forgets about them and shoves them off to the side. Then in the last few pages of the book, they reunite and it flashes forward to them being married and living happily-ever-after? This really doesn't make sense because the whole reason they got separated in the first place was because they were in danger of being killed for being a mixed-race couple. But then we're supposed to believe that they moved to America and were fine? The author tries to say that they still faced racism, but she frames it as "Yeah, there were still a couple of people that were racist to them, but they got through it with the power of ~love~". We really didn't need their story at all. Apollo also didn't need to be in this book to narrate it. It would have been better if they just stayed side characters (which is disappointing because I really liked them at the beginning).
Another smaller thing that irked me was Hazel getting assaulted. It added nothing to the story and was never mentioned again. It was really unnecessary and it felt like it was just there for shock value.
Now onto my biggest problem with the book, the ending:
James gets back from war and is traumatized. He is all angsty about seeing Hazel (which is valid). Hazel goes to his house to see him and James doesn't want to see her. Then she leaves and finds some random old lady that invites her to live with her after playing the piano once? This makes no sense and is really stupid. I could have forgiven this if Jame's PTSD played a bigger role in the story, but he basically gets over it in a few chapters. What was the point? Why did we waste valuable plot time on this?
I really thought this book would have some big tragic ending. We're dealing with greek gods, the author had the opportunity to go crazy but she doesn't. There's this little fake-out where Hazel's train gets blown up when she's on her way to see James but then Aphrodite convinces Hades to give her back "without her beauty" (she actually just has a few scars but whatever). Hades letting her live also doesn't make sense. He's introduced as this cool, seductive character but ends up being a total pushover at the end.
Ultimatley, the story gets wrapped up way too fast and builds up to nothing (I did like Aphrodite and Hephestus's ending though).
If you go into this book not expecting anything super crazy to happen and you just want to listen to greek gods tell a story, this book is for you.
Let's start off with the good:
The narration. The narration is amazing, unique, and my favorite part of this book. I love that greek Gods and Goddesses narrate and play a role in the story. My favorite parts of the book were when they were interrupting the story to interact with each other. Aphrodite and Hephestus's relationship is so compelling. I also really enjoyed Ares as a character. I love him just being annoyed the whole time and also being a total man-whore. The author does a great job of making each of the gods have a very distinct narrating style and role in the story. For example, when Ares is narrating he is not biased and doesn't interject with what's happening. However, Aphrodite is constantly giving her own thoughts and opinions when telling her parts of the story and she also constantly meddles in what the mortals are doing (I mean, she's the whole reason any of the characters in her story end up together).
I think the beginning of this book is really strong. We start off with meeting Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus in the 40s, and Aphrodite starts telling them a love story from WWI. Then she takes us to the 20s to meet Hazel and James who are adorable and super loveable. The author does a great job of making you root for the characters right away.
I also love the other characters we're introduced to. I immediately fell in love with Collette and Aubrey. I also love the role that Hades plays in the story, and the way he's introduced is very cool and funny (And so very Hades).
I also love Aphrodite's and Hephestus's arc. I think their storyline is super romantic and their ending is perfect.
This whole book, despite its problems, is very pretty. The language, style, and way it's written are very beautiful and there are a lot of great quotes in this book.
Now the not so good:
Another smaller thing that irked me was Hazel getting assaulted. It added nothing to the story and was never mentioned again. It was really unnecessary and it felt like it was just there for shock value.
Now onto my biggest problem with the book, the ending:
I really thought this book would have some big tragic ending. We're dealing with greek gods, the author had the opportunity to go crazy but she doesn't. There's this little fake-out where Hazel's train gets blown up when she's on her way to see James but then Aphrodite convinces Hades to give her back "without her beauty" (she actually just has a few scars but whatever). Hades letting her live also doesn't make sense. He's introduced as this cool, seductive character but ends up being a total pushover at the end.
Ultimatley, the story gets wrapped up way too fast and builds up to nothing (I did like Aphrodite and Hephestus's ending though).
If you go into this book not expecting anything super crazy to happen and you just want to listen to greek gods tell a story, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Racism, and War
ellieprb05's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
The writing in this book was so beautiful, it flowed perfectly and really represented love and passion.
I think the concept was so interesting and so well done.
I loved all the characters and I loved that we got to see lead characters from different backgrounds,
e.g. a black, American soldier and a Belgian woman, rather than the usual white British characters that are so commonly seen when talking/learning and the world wars.
I think it was really interesting to see the different perspectives of the war through these different characters experiences, we got to see a britsih soldier at the front and what damage and trauma being there can cause and we got to see a black soldier who not only had to fight at the front but also had to deal with all the racism, discrimination and threats that he received.
This book definitely played into the love conquers all motif which is what I was expecting, but I wish the ending bigger and more dramatic, I wish we got death and heartbreak and loss and ugly tears, I think that would have made this book absolutely incredible.
I think the concept was so interesting and so well done.
I loved all the characters and I loved that we got to see lead characters from different backgrounds,
e.g. a black, American soldier and a Belgian woman, rather than the usual white British characters that are so commonly seen when talking/learning and the world wars.
I think it was really interesting to see the different perspectives of the war through these different characters experiences, we got to see a britsih soldier at the front and what damage and trauma being there can cause and we got to see a black soldier who not only had to fight at the front but also had to deal with all the racism, discrimination and threats that he received.
This book definitely played into the love conquers all motif which is what I was expecting, but I wish the ending bigger and more dramatic, I wish we got death and heartbreak and loss and ugly tears, I think that would have made this book absolutely incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Death, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault
madisone's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
My first five star rating of the year. This is an exceptional book. I felt so many emotions reading this. I was constantly thinking about when I would next get to read this, and what was going to happen next. Most books don’t do that for me. I’m not typically one for romance, but every second of these characters made me laugh, cry, sometimes even yell. If you’re looking for a gripping and beautifully written historical romance, this is your book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, War, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Gun violence, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Blood, and Grief
veronicatabor's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, and Sexual assault
ablazegolf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, and War
luisa_joy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
oliviabrcka's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-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? No
4.75
Lovely War is definitely one of the best books I have read this year and I totally understand the hype surrounding it! I first heard of it from Hailey in Bookland on YouTube but have seen it mentioned multiple times on TikTok and Instagram since. It's a World War I historical romance following two central love stories, with a super unique framework using Greek gods. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going in, but when I finished, my heart felt so full and I definitely had some things to think about. I just loved this book and I can definitely see it becoming one of my favorites!
This is the second Julie Berry book I've read, and I appreciated the writing style much better in this book. Her style in Lovely War was much more fluid and beautiful. I was so able to visualize the setting and feel the characters' emotions. I did think some of the chapter divisions were unnecessary and left things feeling choppy, and the pacing was really slow during the first part. However, these didn't affect my enjoyment of the book hardly at all, and I still love it after finishing it.
There are two main love stories in this novel: James & Hazel, as well as Aubrey & Colette. James & Hazel are introduced first, and they just have this overall sweet and pure story. I really enjoyed reading about each of them and all of the growth they went through. Aubrey and Colette were definitely the couple with more substance to them. Aubrey is a member of the black US Army regiment sent to help with the war, and his story is one that explores racism and discrimination in the war. I loved the stories of each of these characters and was very invested in each of them.
The overarching story here is that of the gods. The whole reason that James, Hazel, Aubrey, and Colette's stories are being told is because the Greek god Hephaestus has finally caught his wife, Aphrodite, cheating on him. He puts her on this mock trial so she can explain to him why she's been cheating all this time, and she tells him these stories as a way to explain to him basically why she is so invested in love.
This book mainly discusses the topic of love during wartime, and how people's decisions and judgment change so drastically when things are tumultuous. It also discusses racism in wartime and the power of music, as well as PTSD and recovering marital love. I thought each of them was well fleshed out and that Berry did a wonderful job giving each theme its own time to shine.
I would highly recommend Lovely War to any fan of more difficult, non-fluffy romances. I think it is a beautiful story to read but also brings up more difficult discussions and makes you think long after you finish reading.
This is the second Julie Berry book I've read, and I appreciated the writing style much better in this book. Her style in Lovely War was much more fluid and beautiful. I was so able to visualize the setting and feel the characters' emotions. I did think some of the chapter divisions were unnecessary and left things feeling choppy, and the pacing was really slow during the first part. However, these didn't affect my enjoyment of the book hardly at all, and I still love it after finishing it.
There are two main love stories in this novel: James & Hazel, as well as Aubrey & Colette. James & Hazel are introduced first, and they just have this overall sweet and pure story. I really enjoyed reading about each of them and all of the growth they went through. Aubrey and Colette were definitely the couple with more substance to them. Aubrey is a member of the black US Army regiment sent to help with the war, and his story is one that explores racism and discrimination in the war. I loved the stories of each of these characters and was very invested in each of them.
The overarching story here is that of the gods. The whole reason that James, Hazel, Aubrey, and Colette's stories are being told is because the Greek god Hephaestus has finally caught his wife, Aphrodite, cheating on him. He puts her on this mock trial so she can explain to him why she's been cheating all this time, and she tells him these stories as a way to explain to him basically why she is so invested in love.
This book mainly discusses the topic of love during wartime, and how people's decisions and judgment change so drastically when things are tumultuous. It also discusses racism in wartime and the power of music, as well as PTSD and recovering marital love. I thought each of them was well fleshed out and that Berry did a wonderful job giving each theme its own time to shine.
I would highly recommend Lovely War to any fan of more difficult, non-fluffy romances. I think it is a beautiful story to read but also brings up more difficult discussions and makes you think long after you finish reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Sexual assault
anna_23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, War, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual assault
emmalovesmycology's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Racism, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Cursing