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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to like this story more. But this book is SO long and I felt like the gods being a part of the story, in theory sounds really interesting, but the way Berry goes about it by having Aphrodite be on trial made the story convoluted, for me at least. I don’t get why there had to be alternating timelines, one from the first World War wherein we have our four mortal main characters and one timeline from the second World War when Aphrodite is on trial, it just felt disjointed to me. Why have the second timeline at all? Just tell the first timeline from the POV of the gods, no need for Aphrodite to be on trial in a separate time period, it just made no sense to me and I feel like made the book more longwinded then it needed to be.
I did love the build up of the two couple’s relationships, how Berry covers what many people went through during the war in these four main characters. However, the ending felt so rushed. We have almost 500 pages of build up to find out what happened to them in like 5 pages at the end of the book, summarized very briefly by the gods.
I loved the journey, the fleshing out of the characters, peeling back the grim layers of war and not shying away from the army’s racism but rather shining a light on it. I loved the history, the feelings of first love and second chances after one had maybe lost their first love. That I loved, it’s just a shame the ending was so rushed kind of helter-skelter like otherwise I probably would have rated it higher.
Berry definitely did her research for this book, I will say that for sure. There is a historical note in the back where she sites many books and a bibliography as well. So that was not a miss, the care in which she took to tell multiple sides of the war (both without and within) must be acknowledged.
But pacing was this book’s downfall, too long and convoluted to get to such a lackluster ending…
I did love the build up of the two couple’s relationships, how Berry covers what many people went through during the war in these four main characters. However, the ending felt so rushed. We have almost 500 pages of build up to find out what happened to them in like 5 pages at the end of the book, summarized very briefly by the gods.
I loved the journey, the fleshing out of the characters, peeling back the grim layers of war and not shying away from the army’s racism but rather shining a light on it. I loved the history, the feelings of first love and second chances after one had maybe lost their first love. That I loved, it’s just a shame the ending was so rushed kind of helter-skelter like otherwise I probably would have rated it higher.
Berry definitely did her research for this book, I will say that for sure. There is a historical note in the back where she sites many books and a bibliography as well. So that was not a miss, the care in which she took to tell multiple sides of the war (both without and within) must be acknowledged.
But pacing was this book’s downfall, too long and convoluted to get to such a lackluster ending…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death, and Hate crime
clarawithc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, War, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness
chloewakham's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, War, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment
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
valeria_balzan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book in general gave me chills. It is such a well woven tale, and I loved the concept that it was narrated by the goddess of love itself. It gave it such a refreshing narrative, as well as more of a back on the gods.
I absolutely adored the back and forth letters in between Hazel and James. It really gave.you an idea of how they were getting to know eachother and eventually falling in love too.
There are so many quotable phrases and electric moments which were simply amazing because once you get to know these characters and root for them, it's like you grow and want them to be happy.
Even though it was a little intimidating in length, it is such a page turner.
I absolutely adored the back and forth letters in between Hazel and James. It really gave.you an idea of how they were getting to know eachother and eventually falling in love too.
There are so many quotable phrases and electric moments which were simply amazing because once you get to know these characters and root for them, it's like you grow and want them to be happy.
Even though it was a little intimidating in length, it is such a page turner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Mental illness, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
lauraeerika's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
immaculate writing julie berry, PHENOMENAL
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Slavery
Minor: Ableism
saltyy_sarah's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Murder and Sexual harassment
debbysreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
"Just listen to my silly little love story."
Another gem added to my list of favourites. I'd seen a lot of great reviews for Lovely War but didn't have a clue what it was really about, and I was pleasantly surprised.
This is such a beautifully woven tale of love and loss and music and souls brought together in times of destruction, World War 1. It is so rich, that's the word. This book explored complex themes of love, grief and even racism. Soldiers fighting on the same side, for the same cause, are separated by their colour of their skin. It really hits you.
The narration style is also one of my favourites! Greek gods narrating parts they identify with - like Aphrodite narrating the hopeful, romantic parts; Hades narrating the tragic bits sprinkled with death; Ares describing the war - made for a wonderful reading experience. It was so unique and beautiful. I didn't physically cry but felt all the emotions deep in my soul, because WOW this book had a lot of them. The main characters are absolutely delightful and have distinct, loveable personalities. Hazel and James are my OTP <3 And I adored Colette and Aubrey too.
Yes, it was a bit instalovey, but it was so well-written I didn't mind it. I was on the edge of my seat any time these couples met. The tension.
Also am I the only one who imagined James McAvoy from Atonement as James? They even have the same name >.<
Overall, brilliant. A fascinating, captivating story of how love and war walk hand in hand that will stay with you for a long time.
"Let them start their dreadful wars, let destruction rain down, and let plague sweep through, but I will still be here, doing my work, holding humankind together with love like this"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
jaila's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment
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