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malley's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
wet_towlette's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Writing kinda cringey but it’s an Emily henry book so it’s expected and accepted. Anyway I think it’s my favourite of her books. I don’t like ending at all; I don’t understand why there always has to be a fucking time jump ending but whatever. The meat of this book was good so that’s what really matters I guess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
cheesie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
emily henry writes characters so real so well that it’s hard to step away because you need a minute to say goodbye to your real-life human friends on pages. the biggest complaint i have heard about her books are that they’re boring, but so far i disagree. i think feeling like i really know these real-life people and can step into their lives for a little bit is exciting.
my biggest qualm is that i wish her books were, or could be, dual pov. i think poppy and january (the two emily henry fmcs i’ve met so far) are whole people i’ve known for years, and alex and gus are their boyfriends they’ve told me about in detail.
this was a really good book and i’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys slices of life.
so far, my emily henry ranking:
people we meet on vacation
beach read
my biggest qualm is that i wish her books were, or could be, dual pov. i think poppy and january (the two emily henry fmcs i’ve met so far) are whole people i’ve known for years, and alex and gus are their boyfriends they’ve told me about in detail.
this was a really good book and i’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys slices of life.
so far, my emily henry ranking:
people we meet on vacation
beach read
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
chainsiren's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
yikeslou's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this was a solidly fine book but poppy and alex were a little too annoying to be enjoyable for me and the reason for the 80% breakup/misunderstanding typical of any romcom book was just stupid lol
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, and Death of parent
lagaialettrice's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
jamiejanae_6's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
hann_cant_read's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying
dlrosebyh's review
emotional
lighthearted
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
Alex and Poppy don't have much in common. He's dressed in khakis, she's a wild child. He loves to stay home with a book, whereas she has an insatiable need to travel. They have been the best of friends ever since a tragic car share from college many years ago. She is in New York City and he is in their little hometown for the majority of the year, but they have spent one wonderful week of vacation together every summer for the past ten years.
Poppy is in a rut despite having everything she should want. She is certain that the tragic, last trip she took with Alex was the last time she felt completely content. She makes the decision to make it all right by persuading her best buddy to go on one more trip with her. Amazingly, he consents.She now has a week to make everything right. If only she can avoid the one major reality that has silently persisted throughout their ostensibly ideal relationship.
I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book. I had heard mixed reviews, so I didn't really expect it. I don't particularly love it, but I also don't despise it. It's in the middle of the spectrum, perhaps leaning more toward the loving end.
The characters in Emily Henry's novels all accept their flaws, which is a characteristic of her writing. Emily Henry also writes character studies and not just romantic novels. I enjoyed Poppy's persona even though I don't really relate to her. At least for me, Alex seemed quite relatable. Although I wished I had seen more of the other characters, I found both of them to be engaging.
The chemistry between the characters was definitely strong, it was there, it was making itself known. Don't get me wrong, the buildup was incredible, but I wasn't especially fond of the story's climax. I don't like the miscommunication trope, which is something about me, but the trope that irritates me the most is when the characters abruptly stop their relationship without even trying to communicate with one another. Even though it was ultimately quite realistic, i didn't like it. I might have found it tolerable if the execution had been better.
The repeated mention of their height and Alex's obsession with baths were the two elements in the novel that irritated me the most. Like, yeah, we understand! Poppy is small in comparison to the tall, strong Alex. You don't have to say it each time they lock eyes with one another. I initially didn't mind that Alex liked showers, but if I'm being completely honest, Poppy bringing it up roughly every two chapters started to irritate me. But yet again, I need someone who will value me as much as Alex cherishes his showers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I hadn't read anything by Emily Henry before so I'm pleased I've tried her now. She can definitely write a solid romance and this was enjoyable enough while I was reading it but I don't think it will be memorable in the long term. I thought the "reveal" in the third act was slightly disappointing but generally I was invested in Poppy and Alex's relationship and thought their characters were developed well. I'm unlikely to read more of Henry's books soon but I have heard that this is her weakest one so maybe I will in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent