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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content
litokeland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
quasinaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored this book! A fun cast of characters, with enough time devoted to both Leena and Eileen but also their friends and roommates and rivals and neighbors without being overwhelming or scattered. The only part that didn't quite work for me was Leena's work situation (how can a boss let their employee get overworked but also send them off on a sabbatical at a moment's notice??)
Gave me similar vibes to both A Man Called Ove and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Gave me similar vibes to both A Man Called Ove and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content
amandasharabooks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer and Panic attacks/disorders
rosienotjen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
therobinjoyce's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Wow...I am so sad. I'm completely underwhelmed at this book. I'd heard so many raving reviews about it but it really disappointed me in all aspects.
Eileene's character was supposed to be lovable and quirky but they just came off as ditzy and impulsive. Leena was supposed to be the young MC heroine we follow and root for but when her attitude and imbecility force her to be such a vanilla, boring character, it's hard to feel drawn to her and invested
The plotline with Eileen's looking for love was so wierd and, while mildly tolerable for the most part, almost utterly boring. The way she seamlessly integrates into city life and everyone (even the mean-spirited, reclusive neighbours) just jumps to her aid and side when she needs it is both unrealistic and idealistic. That leads to almost all aspects of her interaction and narrative throughout the book feeling bland and boring...because it would never happen in real life.
The relationship between Leena and her mother, too, was so boring and felt extremely forced. It felt as if it were a plot device used to try and show Leena's growth over her sadness and vulnerability but instead showed her as a spoiled, obnoxious, weak character and I hated it.
Next we come to Leena and her romantic relationships.
<Spoiler> First, her romantic and interactions with Jackson. For a man who has been hurt before, and now pining for his daughter she sure gives him a rough time. I mean, from page 1 I could tell that Ethan was a bad character and saw all the red flags in both his and her actions and words but it takes until over page 300 for her to believe anyone and figure this out. The moment he had made those ageist comments at the neighbourhood watch meeting that would have been a big red flag. Let alone the fact that he never saw her, only wanted sex, and when he couldn't get his way he lied and bombed his way out of there.
The whole fact that Leena was with him me I could SEE this going on soiled this whole book because any woman with any self respect and self worth would have recognised this. Some may argue that this is character development and it fitted within the plot and character arc but personally, if I can tell someone is sketchy and the MC is still with them then the whole book is ruined because here we have a floppy, weakling of an MC. Imho, Jackson deserved so much better and when she rejected him at may day (if I was him) I would have told her straight that her bf was sketchy and not gone running to London after her when she finally dumped him. I mean, that whole fact, that Jackson knew he was sketchy, said nothing, was strung out for ages while Leena was with Ethan, but then ran after her like a puppy dog when she returned to London just
made me lose all respect for him...
That ending was also, too anticlimactic.
All in all, I would not recommend this book. The synopsis made it sound like a beautiful, modern day, light version of The Holiday but instead it supremely underwhelmed my expectations and I felt cheated of my time and energy for devoting 3 evenings to reading this book.
Eileene's character was supposed to be lovable and quirky but they just came off as ditzy and impulsive. Leena was supposed to be the young MC heroine we follow and root for but when her attitude and imbecility force her to be such a vanilla, boring character, it's hard to feel drawn to her and invested
The plotline with Eileen's looking for love was so wierd and, while mildly tolerable for the most part, almost utterly boring. The way she seamlessly integrates into city life and everyone (even the mean-spirited, reclusive neighbours) just jumps to her aid and side when she needs it is both unrealistic and idealistic. That leads to almost all aspects of her interaction and narrative throughout the book feeling bland and boring...because it would never happen in real life.
The relationship between Leena and her mother, too, was so boring and felt extremely forced. It felt as if it were a plot device used to try and show Leena's growth over her sadness and vulnerability but instead showed her as a spoiled, obnoxious, weak character and I hated it.
Next we come to Leena and her romantic relationships.
<Spoiler> First, her romantic and interactions with Jackson. For a man who has been hurt before, and now pining for his daughter she sure gives him a rough time. I mean, from page 1 I could tell that Ethan was a bad character and saw all the red flags in both his and her actions and words but it takes until over page 300 for her to believe anyone and figure this out. The moment he had made those ageist comments at the neighbourhood watch meeting that would have been a big red flag. Let alone the fact that he never saw her, only wanted sex, and when he couldn't get his way he lied and bombed his way out of there.
The whole fact that Leena was with him me I could SEE this going on soiled this whole book because any woman with any self respect and self worth would have recognised this. Some may argue that this is character development and it fitted within the plot and character arc but personally, if I can tell someone is sketchy and the MC is still with them then the whole book is ruined because here we have a floppy, weakling of an MC. Imho, Jackson deserved so much better and when she rejected him at may day (if I was him) I would have told her straight that her bf was sketchy and not gone running to London after her when she finally dumped him. I mean, that whole fact, that Jackson knew he was sketchy, said nothing, was strung out for ages while Leena was with Ethan, but then ran after her like a puppy dog when she returned to London just
made me lose all respect for him...
That ending was also, too anticlimactic.
All in all, I would not recommend this book. The synopsis made it sound like a beautiful, modern day, light version of The Holiday but instead it supremely underwhelmed my expectations and I felt cheated of my time and energy for devoting 3 evenings to reading this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
birdbrainbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
I loved this book! This book was exactly what I needed right now. First of all, you MUST listen on audio. The two actors that perform protagonists Leena and Eileen are a delight and really bring the story to life. Burnt out Leena is forced to go on two month sabbatical from work in London, and essentially switches lives with her grandmother whose husband recently left her and who wants to look for love beyond her tiny Yorkshire town. Both women are also rediscovering themselves and reconnecting to life after losing their respective sister and granddaughter, Carla, one year ago. This story is sweet, heart-warming, and funny. Give me all the older lady protagonists please!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
mathildem's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer and Emotional abuse
nickoliver's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a delightful book! I still stand by my point that it would make an awesome movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
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