Scan barcode
okevamae's review
5.0
Out of Love is a bittersweet story about finding and losing love, told in reverse. We start with their messy breakup and move backward through their relationship, seeing how it fell apart, and then how it began. This is an unusual structure, but a very interesting one, as each chapter gradually sheds light on the future we’ve already seen, and places into context the chapters we’ve already read, slowly building to the full picture. We see all the ways this couple was bad for each other, but also all the ways they were good for each other, and the ways in which they grew as a result of their relationship, even though it ended badly.
As the book goes on, each chapter takes place further in the past, and that’s easy to track. But some chapters switch back and forth from the present to various flashbacks within the same rough time period, and the timeline within those flashbacks is harder to track. You really have to pay close attention to what’s written in present tense and what’s in past tense, as sometimes that’s the only indication as to whether we’re really in the present or not. But that’s a very minor complaint. Overall, the writing is gorgeous and really well done.
The book also takes a stark look at mental illness, as the narrator suffers from depression and anxiety. It does a good job of showing how depression never completely goes away, even when life is good, even when you “have nothing to be depressed about.” Depression doesn’t need a reason. It insinuates itself into the dark spaces in your life and burrows in, and it is always waiting. It dulls the shine of the good times and makes the bad times so much worse. We watch as the narrator has both good days and bad, frequently doubts herself, and has some very dark moments, but when we take a look at the story as a whole we see that in the end (beginning) she persists, she survives, and she has hope. I feel like that kind of story, and that kind of honest look at depression and anxiety (with a hopeful ending) is very important to portray.
Representation: Bisexual main character, Black side character, mentally ill main character
TW: depression, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, sexual situations with dubious consent, past domestic abuse, past child abuse, past sexual abuse, miscarriage
I received an ARC of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As the book goes on, each chapter takes place further in the past, and that’s easy to track. But some chapters switch back and forth from the present to various flashbacks within the same rough time period, and the timeline within those flashbacks is harder to track. You really have to pay close attention to what’s written in present tense and what’s in past tense, as sometimes that’s the only indication as to whether we’re really in the present or not. But that’s a very minor complaint. Overall, the writing is gorgeous and really well done.
The book also takes a stark look at mental illness, as the narrator suffers from depression and anxiety. It does a good job of showing how depression never completely goes away, even when life is good, even when you “have nothing to be depressed about.” Depression doesn’t need a reason. It insinuates itself into the dark spaces in your life and burrows in, and it is always waiting. It dulls the shine of the good times and makes the bad times so much worse. We watch as the narrator has both good days and bad, frequently doubts herself, and has some very dark moments, but when we take a look at the story as a whole we see that in the end (beginning) she persists, she survives, and she has hope. I feel like that kind of story, and that kind of honest look at depression and anxiety (with a hopeful ending) is very important to portray.
Representation: Bisexual main character, Black side character, mentally ill main character
TW: depression, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, sexual situations with dubious consent, past domestic abuse, past child abuse, past sexual abuse, miscarriage
I received an ARC of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
bemysea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.5
deckofkeys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
The way it flows feels so natural as it constantly recontextualises itself over the course of the narrative.
gxcons's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
juliagrace2w's review
3.0
I’d give this a 3.5 because I felt like her story had a lot of relatable elements of the emotions after a relationship ends
janagaton's review
5.0
Listen, this book attacked me from ALL. ANGLES. and i highly appreciated every page. I loved the backwards timeline & how I KNEW it was inspired by 500 Days of Summer, which is one of my fave movies of all time.
TW: abusive relationships, abusive parents, anxiety/depression, alcoholism/substance abuse, eating disorders, miscarriage
TW: abusive relationships, abusive parents, anxiety/depression, alcoholism/substance abuse, eating disorders, miscarriage
bbqish's review against another edition
Didn't like how main character acted like main character in Fleabag show
ashleyhosmer's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ccochard46's review
5.0
Readability - 5 stars
Relatability - 5 stars
Personal Impact - 5 stars
Plot - 5 stars
Writing Style - 5 stars
Originality - 5 stars
Overall - 5 stars (surprise, surprise)
***IMPLICATIONS OF SMALL SPOILERS POSSIBLE***
Final Thoughts:
Screaming. Crying. Overall, very unwell.
Almost never have I ever given a review to a book that has gotten a completely, I mean SPOTLESS review from me.
First off, the idea of this book was absolute genius. Simple? Sure. Have we all thought about this idea probably once within our lifetime of how good of a book it would be to start from the end and work our way backwards in time? Most likely. But do most of us ever actually do it? Nope! Probably because, at least for me, the idea is too challenging. To progress a story from beginning to end is already challenging enough, but to flip it backwards and still give that effect of a novel with rising action, climax and resolution??? And to do it SEAMLESSLY??? Unbelievable. Showstopping. You know the Lady Gaga meme I'm referring to.
I love (and hate) how much this book broke my heart. There were so many moments of not only relation to my own life, but pure revelation. Almost every woman, if not person, has gone through similar struggles with one of the biggest loves of their life. Her struggle with identifying her own sexuality within her years-long relationship, navigating how Theo responds to change and her portrayal of finding herself (and he doesn't seem to handle it all that well, in my opinion, but you know... this book does begin with a breakup *shrugs*), moving from home, navigating your 20s and the financial burdens it can bring, temptation, family tension, and all the different avenues of struggle within a relationship. I was impressed by how many routes could be taken and related to throughout their story. Even side characters, such as the narrator's best friend, had their own personalities and story lines. There wasn't a single character in this that I didn't feel some kind of emotional charge to.
I also have a love/hate relationship with the ending. I was desperately trying to hold onto the idea that I was going to hate Theo up until the very end. Not that I'm in love with him now - however, I will give it to the author that she made me trip on my own feet with how charming he had become by their first meeting. I can easily see why their relationship had begun and moved as quickly as it had, and oh how we have all been swept off of our own feet in the same way before seeing all the blatantly bright red flags ahead of us.
This is the perfect book for someone who has really been through it, or has just left a relationship raw and looking for solace in someone and/or something that understands. Savor every moment of it and re-read it as often as you need to, as I know that I will.
Relatability - 5 stars
Personal Impact - 5 stars
Plot - 5 stars
Writing Style - 5 stars
Originality - 5 stars
Overall - 5 stars (surprise, surprise)
***IMPLICATIONS OF SMALL SPOILERS POSSIBLE***
Final Thoughts:
Screaming. Crying. Overall, very unwell.
Almost never have I ever given a review to a book that has gotten a completely, I mean SPOTLESS review from me.
First off, the idea of this book was absolute genius. Simple? Sure. Have we all thought about this idea probably once within our lifetime of how good of a book it would be to start from the end and work our way backwards in time? Most likely. But do most of us ever actually do it? Nope! Probably because, at least for me, the idea is too challenging. To progress a story from beginning to end is already challenging enough, but to flip it backwards and still give that effect of a novel with rising action, climax and resolution??? And to do it SEAMLESSLY??? Unbelievable. Showstopping. You know the Lady Gaga meme I'm referring to.
I love (and hate) how much this book broke my heart. There were so many moments of not only relation to my own life, but pure revelation. Almost every woman, if not person, has gone through similar struggles with one of the biggest loves of their life. Her struggle with identifying her own sexuality within her years-long relationship, navigating how Theo responds to change and her portrayal of finding herself (and he doesn't seem to handle it all that well, in my opinion, but you know... this book does begin with a breakup *shrugs*), moving from home, navigating your 20s and the financial burdens it can bring, temptation, family tension, and all the different avenues of struggle within a relationship. I was impressed by how many routes could be taken and related to throughout their story. Even side characters, such as the narrator's best friend, had their own personalities and story lines. There wasn't a single character in this that I didn't feel some kind of emotional charge to.
I also have a love/hate relationship with the ending. I was desperately trying to hold onto the idea that I was going to hate Theo up until the very end. Not that I'm in love with him now - however, I will give it to the author that she made me trip on my own feet with how charming he had become by their first meeting. I can easily see why their relationship had begun and moved as quickly as it had, and oh how we have all been swept off of our own feet in the same way before seeing all the blatantly bright red flags ahead of us.
This is the perfect book for someone who has really been through it, or has just left a relationship raw and looking for solace in someone and/or something that understands. Savor every moment of it and re-read it as often as you need to, as I know that I will.
reean's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0