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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Let me start by saying I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an HONEST review.
That being said: I hated it. Eve was truly insufferable. She was a garbage person I could not stand from the beginning. At 37% (kindle) I had to force myself to keep going. Ben (our other lead) doesn’t even come into the story until the halfway point. Ben was a gem and didn’t get nearly enough of a plot or character development. When he entered the story, it was a relief because it meant dealing with Eve a little less. The fact that he tolerated her and put up with her (for lack of a better term) “quirks” boggles my mind.
And the italics. FOR THE LOVE, the italics. Pages and pages and pages of Eve’s thoughts in italics made me feel like I was losing my mind.
The writing was well done. I just really hated the story. I wanted to like it so much.
That being said: I hated it. Eve was truly insufferable. She was a garbage person I could not stand from the beginning. At 37% (kindle) I had to force myself to keep going. Ben (our other lead) doesn’t even come into the story until the halfway point. Ben was a gem and didn’t get nearly enough of a plot or character development. When he entered the story, it was a relief because it meant dealing with Eve a little less. The fact that he tolerated her and put up with her (for lack of a better term) “quirks” boggles my mind.
And the italics. FOR THE LOVE, the italics. Pages and pages and pages of Eve’s thoughts in italics made me feel like I was losing my mind.
The writing was well done. I just really hated the story. I wanted to like it so much.
When I first heard about TLSWSD, I was totally into it. I read some great reviews and after reading the synopsis I was all in. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but I found the story lacking. I can’t even say exactly what it was, I honestly just wasn’t invested. Eve in my opinion came off bratty and had some commitment issues. Totally understandable, but after a while it became repetitive. I can’t stand someone who continuously blames their past for why they are the way they are. Like if you want to change, change. It really is that simple, and Eve was all about blaming everything and everyone for why she was the way that she was. Ben, I liked. He was a little too nice, but he really was the perfect guy for Eve. I like that he was nice but he was still assertive and just didn’t let Eve get away with shit. He was honest, and I loved that about his character. Overall the story was OK. It just didn’t really hold my attention. For me, I just wasn’t emotionally invested in the characters or the story. I thought the writing was good, it was just not for me I guess.
I almost cashed out on this one, but I recently bailed on two other reads so I decided to see it through. I had a hard time rooting for the "love" story in this book. I suppose the way Ben and Eve got together was a lot like what happens in real life, but in fiction format it all seemed a little too, "so what?" for my taste. Also, the story alternated between Ben and Eve's viewpoints, but I walked away feeling we got a little too much of Eve and not nearly enough of Ben.
The best part of this book is the way the author writes about New York City. I graduated from college and moved to NYC around the same time as these characters and so much of the book brought me back to that time.
The characters and the story were a little bit disappointing. Eve and Ben's personalities really complemented each other and I liked the two of them together. However, there wasn't a ton of the two of them together, or when they were together there was so much of it just in either of their heads that we didn't get to see them interacting much. In fact, most of the story was described to us rather than played out for us. There were also some big moments that were just glossed over quickly and I never fully understood the timeline. It felt like Eve and Ben had been together for a month or two, but towards the end of the book I thought maybe it was a year or two? Lots of promise but this one never quite got there.
The characters and the story were a little bit disappointing. Eve and Ben's personalities really complemented each other and I liked the two of them together. However, there wasn't a ton of the two of them together, or when they were together there was so much of it just in either of their heads that we didn't get to see them interacting much. In fact, most of the story was described to us rather than played out for us. There were also some big moments that were just glossed over quickly and I never fully understood the timeline. It felt like Eve and Ben had been together for a month or two, but towards the end of the book I thought maybe it was a year or two? Lots of promise but this one never quite got there.
Thank you to Netgalley, for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
First, the good. I really enjoyed how Ben and Eve each narrate the story. Their voices were distinct and I easily knew which character was telling the story. I also loved the way New York City was portrayed. It felt like I was really there. The writing in general was also really good. Cohen's style is enjoyable and easy to read.
Now, the not so good. The story itself just didn't work for me. It was hard to figure out how much time was passing in the story. We learn that Eve's mom died in the 9/11 attacks. Then we later learn that she was the secretary for Ben's dad. Ben figures this out and knows it's going to be a HUGE thing to tell Eve. And when he tells her she barely reacts. Which, is completely out of character. She has meltdowns about her socks missing their mates, but when Ben tells her his dad basically told her mom to wait in the second tower and if she had left when she wanted to she would've survived, Eve just tears up and they move on with their lives. Yes, she thinks about it later, but still not to the extent I expected from how her character had been painted.
Then Ben is just completely dull and boring. We never get to know him. He's very one dimensional and just in love with Eve. Until she kisses her ex-boyfriend, because of course she does. Could we have a love story where the girl doesn't cheat on the boy? Or how about if she does he doesn't forgive her. Eve is just another manic pixie dream girl in another predictable love story. I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes and saying, of course that's what she did.
I really wish the author had explored more of Ben's character for us. I also felt the whole 9/11 event was a character in itself and it wasn't given the weight it could have had. I loved the premise, but just didn't feel it was executed well.
First, the good. I really enjoyed how Ben and Eve each narrate the story. Their voices were distinct and I easily knew which character was telling the story. I also loved the way New York City was portrayed. It felt like I was really there. The writing in general was also really good. Cohen's style is enjoyable and easy to read.
Now, the not so good. The story itself just didn't work for me. It was hard to figure out how much time was passing in the story. We learn that Eve's mom died in the 9/11 attacks. Then we later learn that she was the secretary for Ben's dad. Ben figures this out and knows it's going to be a HUGE thing to tell Eve. And when he tells her she barely reacts. Which, is completely out of character. She has meltdowns about her socks missing their mates, but when Ben tells her his dad basically told her mom to wait in the second tower and if she had left when she wanted to she would've survived, Eve just tears up and they move on with their lives. Yes, she thinks about it later, but still not to the extent I expected from how her character had been painted.
Then Ben is just completely dull and boring. We never get to know him. He's very one dimensional and just in love with Eve. Until she kisses her ex-boyfriend, because of course she does. Could we have a love story where the girl doesn't cheat on the boy? Or how about if she does he doesn't forgive her. Eve is just another manic pixie dream girl in another predictable love story. I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes and saying, of course that's what she did.
I really wish the author had explored more of Ben's character for us. I also felt the whole 9/11 event was a character in itself and it wasn't given the weight it could have had. I loved the premise, but just didn't feel it was executed well.
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m glad I stuck with this book. Time jumps often take me out of a story- I take the loss of the intervening years too hard. And, because this was marketed as a romance, I was expecting a focus on the romantic relationship as the axis of the action.
More literary fiction with a romantic through-line, this book pulled me in regardless. A cross between The Flatshare and ____, and, yes, a sprinkle of When Harry Met Sally. And Eve’s relationship with her mother has echoes of the protagonist from When Women Were Dragons.
New York is not my city, but you can tell this book is written by someone who loves it. Dynamic and gritty and breathless.
I love, love, loved the way Ben balanced out Eve’s character.
More literary fiction with a romantic through-line, this book pulled me in regardless. A cross between The Flatshare and ____, and, yes, a sprinkle of When Harry Met Sally. And Eve’s relationship with her mother has echoes of the protagonist from When Women Were Dragons.
New York is not my city, but you can tell this book is written by someone who loves it. Dynamic and gritty and breathless.
I love, love, loved the way Ben balanced out Eve’s character.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Let me start by saying I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an HONEST review.
That being said: I hated it. Eve was truly insufferable. She was a garbage person I could not stand from the beginning. At 37% (kindle) I had to force myself to keep going. Ben (our other lead) doesn’t even come into the story until the halfway point. Ben was a gem and didn’t get nearly enough of a plot or character development. When he entered the story, it was a relief because it meant dealing with Eve a little less. The fact that he tolerated her and put up with her (for lack of a better term) “quirks” boggles my mind.
And the italics. FOR THE LOVE, the italics. Pages and pages and pages of Eve’s thoughts in italics made me feel like I was losing my mind.
The writing was well done. I just really hated the story. I wanted to like it so much.
That being said: I hated it. Eve was truly insufferable. She was a garbage person I could not stand from the beginning. At 37% (kindle) I had to force myself to keep going. Ben (our other lead) doesn’t even come into the story until the halfway point. Ben was a gem and didn’t get nearly enough of a plot or character development. When he entered the story, it was a relief because it meant dealing with Eve a little less. The fact that he tolerated her and put up with her (for lack of a better term) “quirks” boggles my mind.
And the italics. FOR THE LOVE, the italics. Pages and pages and pages of Eve’s thoughts in italics made me feel like I was losing my mind.
The writing was well done. I just really hated the story. I wanted to like it so much.