Scan barcode
chelle22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Infidelity, Medical content, Cancer, Self harm, Car accident, Cursing, and Grief
ellaticonstellation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
I like that this discusses how people change, we evolve and that's okay.
It became preachy at the end that's why I deducted a star. But overall, I enjoyed this. Thank you, Taylor✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Abandonment, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
mari1532's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is the first of Reid's books that I have read and I have to admit that I checked this audiobook out of the library because I saw the movie on sale on Apple TV and wanted to watch it, but I have this desire to read the book before seeing the movie/TV show.
Synopsis: In High School Emma Blair dreamed of a life as far away from her hometown as possible. And when she goes to a party in her junior year of high school she encounters the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, Jesse. After almost a decade of dating and a single year of marriage though fate intervenes and the only man Emma has ever loved is gone forever.
As Emma tries to put her life back together she has to challenge everything she thought she knew about herself. As she begins to forage a new identity for herself she also wants to love again and her high school friend Sam might be just the man to teach her that she can.
Thoughts: I was very invested in Emma as a character. My favourite part of the book was the growth in her relationship with her sister. It was a truly lovely arch throughout the narrative. I also appreciated the connection that Emma developed with her nieces although I do wish that had been explored a little more.
I also wish that Sam had made more of an appearance in the story. Reid did an excellent job of conveying how much Emma loves and cares for Sam, but I would have liked to see them interact a little more throughout the story.
I absolutely did not like Jesse at all. Start to finish. Did I feel bad for him because of the horrific things he endured, sure did. Did it make me like him any better? Sure didn't.
This is an interesting work of literature that held my attention and I was really invested in the outcome. Although it did feel that the cultural standards of domesticity were the driving force of some of Emma's decisions rather than a shifting of her priorities. Overall, not a bad read.
Synopsis: In High School Emma Blair dreamed of a life as far away from her hometown as possible. And when she goes to a party in her junior year of high school she encounters the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, Jesse. After almost a decade of dating and a single year of marriage though fate intervenes and the only man Emma has ever loved is gone forever.
As Emma tries to put her life back together she has to challenge everything she thought she knew about herself. As she begins to forage a new identity for herself she also wants to love again and her high school friend Sam might be just the man to teach her that she can.
Thoughts:
I also wish that Sam had made more of an appearance in the story. Reid did an excellent job of conveying how much Emma loves and cares for Sam, but I would have liked to see them interact a little more throughout the story.
I absolutely did not like Jesse at all. Start to finish. Did I feel bad for him because of the horrific things he endured, sure did. Did it make me like him any better? Sure didn't.
This is an interesting work of literature that held my attention and I was really invested in the outcome. Although it did feel that the cultural standards of domesticity were the driving force of some of Emma's decisions rather than a shifting of her priorities. Overall, not a bad read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
annasbooks00's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
kfmcf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
This one was t o u g h emotionally. There was no team to pick. You're just stuck with this woman as she makes decisions that no one would could or should ever be asked to make.
I think there was a bit of suspension of disbelief that I struggled with at points that caused me to knock it down to a 4, but overall I found this book a success.
Don't read if you're not in an emotional stable place though, for real.
I think there was a bit of suspension of disbelief that I struggled with at points that caused me to knock it down to a 4, but overall I found this book a success.
Don't read if you're not in an emotional stable place though, for real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
kshertz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Hilariously, I think I’ve read this book twice now. I love it. It’s about losing the love of your life and having them reappear after you have moved on. It’s very real about how people can change and grow and that there’s not always one true love. Change is the only constant.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Grief
bookishcoffeedrinker's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- 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
3.0
I have only read one TJR book before this one and DnF'd another.
With all authors there are hit and misses and this one was somewhere in between as a cute contemporary romance to start of the new year.
(For reference I've read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and absolutely adored it. I DNF'd Daisy Jones and the Six. It wasn't quite my style.)
This book centres around Emma Blair who's husband goes missing on their one year anniversary from being married. She grieves, moves on and a few years later she is engaged to an old friend Sam who worked with her at her parents bookshop while in high school. Plot twist her husband is alive and comes home, now she has to choose between her fiancée and recently now not presumed dead husband Jesse (who was her high school sweetheart).
The formatting of the book jumped back to flashbacks to explain the way the mc's met and how they all came together. The dry humour and witty banter from the teenage years was fun and relatable and it didn't bore me. Into the early adult years Emma and Jesse's relationship felt glossed over and abruptly he was gone and boom we've set up a love triangle.
Skip over to the end because I'm too lazy to write a really long review the things that irked me the most were the fact that Emma was able to make her decision in just three days, Jesse accepted her decision in one conversation and the fact that Jesse's return felt unrealistic as he was on a deserted island for 3 years and showed no sign of PTSD apart from saying he didn't "feel right."
I'll come back and write a better review eventually. I am just spouting a summary at this point.
Overall this book was enjoyable. It's not something I'd jump to recommend to people at first look at my bookshelf but if you want a cutesy fast paced romance read this would be appropriate. It wasn't a TJR tear-jerker but I am willing to read more of her books because I am a sucker for contemporary romance.
With all authors there are hit and misses and this one was somewhere in between as a cute contemporary romance to start of the new year.
(For reference I've read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and absolutely adored it. I DNF'd Daisy Jones and the Six. It wasn't quite my style.)
This book centres around Emma Blair who's husband goes missing on their one year anniversary from being married. She grieves, moves on and a few years later she is engaged to an old friend Sam who worked with her at her parents bookshop while in high school. Plot twist her husband is alive and comes home, now she has to choose between her fiancée and recently now not presumed dead husband Jesse (who was her high school sweetheart).
The formatting of the book jumped back to flashbacks to explain the way the mc's met and how they all came together. The dry humour and witty banter from the teenage years was fun and relatable and it didn't bore me. Into the early adult years Emma and Jesse's relationship felt glossed over and abruptly he was gone and boom we've set up a love triangle.
Skip over to the end because I'm too lazy to write a really long review the things that irked me the most were the fact that Emma was able to make her decision in just three days, Jesse accepted her decision in one conversation and the fact that Jesse's return felt unrealistic as he was on a deserted island for 3 years and showed no sign of PTSD apart from saying he didn't "feel right."
I'll come back and write a better review eventually. I am just spouting a summary at this point.
Overall this book was enjoyable. It's not something I'd jump to recommend to people at first look at my bookshelf but if you want a cutesy fast paced romance read this would be appropriate. It wasn't a TJR tear-jerker but I am willing to read more of her books because I am a sucker for contemporary romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy, Self harm, and Medical content
ashley_1206's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
i want to cry because of how cute this book was. Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again with this book ladies and gents. this book made me go through all the emotions. shock, guilt, love, hatred, lust. i found myself thinking about the ending and resonating with our main character emma.
if there’s one thing you should know what TJR books is that she is going to leave you questioning all you will ever know about life. this plot wasn’t even happening to me but i learned so much about myself, the world around me, and the life i’m living. i have ENDLESS quotes that i could share.
next i wanna talk about how relatable our main character is. we watch her grow up and struggle through life like no other. and i know some of you may think “two men being in love with you? sounds like a dream.” no man this book had me STRESSED. not going to lie i did have a favorite not even 30% into the book and i was LOYAL. i was almost slipping sometimes (we don’t talk about that).
not sold yet? fine. this book has the second chance at love trope from 2 different angles. go enjoy <3
if there’s one thing you should know what TJR books is that she is going to leave you questioning all you will ever know about life. this plot wasn’t even happening to me but i learned so much about myself, the world around me, and the life i’m living. i have ENDLESS quotes that i could share.
next i wanna talk about how relatable our main character is. we watch her grow up and struggle through life like no other. and i know some of you may think “two men being in love with you? sounds like a dream.” no man this book had me STRESSED. not going to lie i did have a favorite not even 30% into the book and i was LOYAL. i was almost slipping sometimes (we don’t talk about that).
not sold yet? fine. this book has the second chance at love trope from 2 different angles. go enjoy <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Toxic relationship
More...