Reviews

Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

labunnywtf's review against another edition

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2.0

Finally finished it.

Not quite worth my time.

After absolutely adoring the first SS books, along with Fangirl, this was a real let down. Simon and Baz's relationship was annoying, Penny was annoying, Agatha's arc had seemed to be heading directly toward something, then went the same ol', same ol' route.

SpoilerEverything about this series screamed that Agatha was going to end up being asexual, from the jump. So, to give her a romantic relationship was so damn cliche and annoying.


Also, Simon getting his big reveal ended up being so anticlimactic, after waiting so long for the shoe to drop. Ew. So much ew.

I will continue to re-read Fangirl and Carry On, but I think I'll leave this and Wayward Son off the list.

eames222's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective tense
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

thespoiler's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

mariayoffreda's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

eileenrwerst's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

sweetrosegirl76's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 but not rounding. It kinda read like fan fic. I'm glad Simon and Baz figured it out but tbh I wasn't really sure what the plot was. Not sure I cared. I don't really know what else to say

sparksofember's review against another edition

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2.0

Not nearly as interesting as the other two. There were aspects I enjoyed- Shepherd & Penelope mostly- but the overall book absolutely dragged. The plot was sacrificed to focus obsessively on relationships that I didn't buy (and got unexpectedly cringy & smutty after the first two books). And the whole big emergency/urgent-news from the second book pretty much got dropped - it was bizarre. Also the villain/entire showdown was anticlimactic and as boring a wrap-up as the rest of the book. And 99% of the big questions were never answered.

rainyrachel2024's review against another edition

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4.0

Didn’t remember much from the first two books but was thoroughly invested in Penny and Shephard’s and Agatha and Neave’s stories. Was particularly thrilled for Agatha when she and Neave got together. Loved it 10/10 amazing

netflix_and_lil's review against another edition

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2.0

Very bold move to intercut your climax with the most ill-defined and unnecessary character delivering goat babies in the woods. Never have I felt the tension deflate from a book as quickly as the word 'Agatha' did for Any Way The Wind Blows.

She was far from it's only problem, but her presence was definitely the most avoidable one. Others included an abundance of:

plot what plot
zero stakes
throwing platonic relationships out the window in order to accomodate the romantic ones
a relationship that started healthy and supportive but took a turn for the toxic and codependent here

and many more highlights. I understand if people enjoy this for the characters and read it mainly for that, but not my cuppa. It definitely reads like a holiday special, just like Wayward Son. It's fine, I just don't really consider this a trilogy as a result? The only overarching plot was Simon and Baz's relationship and I was wholly unsatisfied by how RR choose to portray it here. I just really didn't like how they treated one another this time around, in between the ludicrous bouts of sexquestionmark. (I legitimately thought Baz was having a night terror when Simon started biting his scalp because WTF).

A shame to end the series on a low since I really liked Carry On. Maybe if the ending had made me feel a little bit better about where each character was heading mentally and emotionally, nostalgia would have changed my overall thoughts. But it just left me feeling a little hollow, a little fed-up, and a lot eager to move on.

regina_184's review against another edition

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4.75

Overall I love this book since it's mainly just a cute fluffy story about my fav characters.

There is some serious plot lines but overall most of the book is just the characters sorting out their lives and being cute together. So if you love the characters you should love this book, even if it isn't super plot driven.