kimmielgross's review against another edition
This one made my heart hurt. It wrecked me, and I already know this is a book that is going to stick with me for such a long time.
Our main character, Emma marries her high-school sweetheart, Jesse, but the day before their anniversary, he goes missing and is presumed dead. Years and years later, she has fallen in love again and is engaged to a wonderful man, Sam, when she gets a phone call one night from Jesse saying that he's still alive and is coming home.
This book is so insanely heartbreaking. I hate to call it a love triangle, even though I guess technically it is, but it is done so insanely well that I have zero complaints about that aspect. In true TJR fashion, the writing is spot on, and this is the first TJR I've read that isn't a historical fiction, but it is still just so good.
My only wish with this book is that we got a little more from both Jesse and Sam and how they've experienced and processed the whole situation. But this book is 100% about Emma, her grief, her loss, her growth, and her ability to find love again. Oof, it's just so good. I can’t stop thinking about it.
Our main character, Emma marries her high-school sweetheart, Jesse, but the day before their anniversary, he goes missing and is presumed dead. Years and years later, she has fallen in love again and is engaged to a wonderful man, Sam, when she gets a phone call one night from Jesse saying that he's still alive and is coming home.
This book is so insanely heartbreaking. I hate to call it a love triangle, even though I guess technically it is, but it is done so insanely well that I have zero complaints about that aspect. In true TJR fashion, the writing is spot on, and this is the first TJR I've read that isn't a historical fiction, but it is still just so good.
My only wish with this book is that we got a little more from both Jesse and Sam and how they've experienced and processed the whole situation. But this book is 100% about Emma, her grief, her loss, her growth, and her ability to find love again. Oof, it's just so good. I can’t stop thinking about it.
geesankar's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️legit read this book in five hours. Definitely is such a beautiful book and touches on loss/ grief. The author’s writing style is a really good one as it provokes you to keep reading. The author is definitely a really good writer and knows how to put into words what she’s conveying. In terms of a breakup, it makes sense the quotations that are used. However—- I can’t get on board w the aspect of Emma sleeping with Jesse- as good bye? To then pick Sam. But to also do all of this in four - five days feels very unrealistic. Also to jump back into Sam and moving Sam? The plot of it just felt too nicely “tied up in a bow for me”. I feel as tho if the author had spanned the book out over a period of time it would make more sense. The aspect of Jesse still liking or wanting to be his old self in terms of ptsd& being stuck in that aspect. But, it seemed like Jesse and Emma had more “fun together” and Sam just “knew her” and the things she wanted. So in some ways feels like she picked the safer option? Idk. Maybe I’ll process through it a bit more and come back and update my review.
acornell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
abooklikeyou's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
From the very first line of this book, I knew I was going to enjoy it. TJR makes me feel and think like no other author has. I'm not going to lie, as someone who overanalyzes everything and also cares and loves deeply, this was a tough book for me at times. I spiraled in my feelings of wondering who was "right" for Emma to pick while empathizing so deeply with each character.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure what I would do in this situation, and I'm not sure that this is something black and white. What I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed this ride and these characters, and I knew it was going to be Sam from the beginning.
I know that while I may view love a bit differently in my personal life, I do appreciate some of the sentiments in this story. I definitely have some small issues with it... an example would be how sex was thrown around so frivolously in this situation. I don't believe love is an emotion so much as I believe it is a choice. Emotions are fickle and fleeting. So, I don't think aspects of this story of realistic from that perspective.
All that aside, from a purely fictional standpoint, I loved this one. It's a solid 4.5 stars for me.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure what I would do in this situation, and I'm not sure that this is something black and white. What I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed this ride and these characters, and I knew it was going to be Sam from the beginning.
I know that while I may view love a bit differently in my personal life, I do appreciate some of the sentiments in this story. I definitely have some small issues with it... an example would be how sex was thrown around so frivolously in this situation. I don't believe love is an emotion so much as I believe it is a choice. Emotions are fickle and fleeting. So, I don't think aspects of this story of realistic from that perspective.
All that aside, from a purely fictional standpoint, I loved this one. It's a solid 4.5 stars for me.
aliciabarwick's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? No
4.0
phoebe_xx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
ashleytchilders's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
liv1021's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
5.0
bertasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Es la primera novela romántica que leo de Taylor Jenkins Reid y, teniendo en cuenta que este género no es de mis favoritos, he de decir que me ha gustado bastante.
La historia trata sobre la relación de la protagonista con Jesse, su marido y amor de su adolescencia, y Con Sam, su prometido y amor en su edad adulta, y como estas marcan su evolución y crecimiento como persona.
La pluma de Taylor es lo mejor de la novela y, aunque prefiero sus libros de ficción contemporánea, ha sabido defenderse muy bien en este género.
Lo que menos me ha gustado del libro es que ambas relaciones son de color de rosa y los personajes masculinos rozan la perfección, cosa que me ha parecido un poco irreal y demasiado sensiblero. Aunque la evolución de la protagonista y la relación que tiene con su hermana y su familia me han encantado.
La historia trata sobre la relación de la protagonista con Jesse, su marido y amor de su adolescencia, y Con Sam, su prometido y amor en su edad adulta, y como estas marcan su evolución y crecimiento como persona.
La pluma de Taylor es lo mejor de la novela y, aunque prefiero sus libros de ficción contemporánea, ha sabido defenderse muy bien en este género.
Lo que menos me ha gustado del libro es que ambas relaciones son de color de rosa y los personajes masculinos rozan la perfección, cosa que me ha parecido un poco irreal y demasiado sensiblero. Aunque la evolución de la protagonista y la relación que tiene con su hermana y su familia me han encantado.