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sammiesshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I would like to start by saying that I most definitely thought this book was supposed to be a romance when I went into it mostly blind, and that was the worst expectation I could have had. This is not a romance. Like, at all. It is arguably an anti-romance. However, I did still enjoy this book.
The concept of this book really drew me in, and I was especially thrown for a loop when I read that Dannie's life hadn't diverged from her path less than six months before her premonition date. It had me on the edge of my seat in the sense that I was thinking "Now what the hell happens for her to get to that point if this is where we are now?" This aspect was gripping, but do be warned that a lot of the first half of this book is dull and kind of just Dannie going about her everyday life as a corporate lawyer in a comfortable yet lackluster relationship in NYC. Even her arguments with Bella are dull. But I am glad that I pulled through that draggy bit because I did not expect the book to unfold the way it did.
The moment when the book shifts moods hit me like a truck. I did not see that coming. As I said, I wrongly assumed that this was a rom-com, when in reality it was a sad-sad. The second half of the story was still beautiful, but it was absolutely heartwrenching. I sobbed through most of it. It was incredibly raw and dark seeing into that aspect of her life.
Overall, I did cry my eyes out, so that is always a plus. The ending did feel kind of jarring and out of place, but I still enjoyed the journey from point A to point B. A thoroughly enjoyable and easy quick read.
Some of my spoilery opinions below:
I hated Bella until she was on her deathbed and acted like a normal human. Before that she seemed like an absolutely terrible friend who basically walked all over Dannie and threw tantrums. And it was nuts of her to go do all that baby shopping without even taking a second pregnancy test, even if she had been truly pregnant. Like, furniture when you're less than two months?? Insanity.
Also, it was very weird and jarring to me that Aaron and Dannie slept together the night of her celebration of life, and the way they went about it was also very strange. Like, Dannie clearly felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave initially, even if she got into it later. It felt weirdly coercive and then for them to act like nothing happened after?? wtf.
The concept of this book really drew me in, and I was especially thrown for a loop when I read that Dannie's life hadn't diverged from her path less than six months before her premonition date. It had me on the edge of my seat in the sense that I was thinking "Now what the hell happens for her to get to that point if this is where we are now?" This aspect was gripping, but do be warned that a lot of the first half of this book is dull and kind of just Dannie going about her everyday life as a corporate lawyer in a comfortable yet lackluster relationship in NYC. Even her arguments with Bella are dull. But I am glad that I pulled through that draggy bit because I did not expect the book to unfold the way it did.
The moment when the book shifts moods hit me like a truck. I did not see that coming. As I said, I wrongly assumed that this was a rom-com, when in reality it was a sad-sad. The second half of the story was still beautiful, but it was absolutely heartwrenching. I sobbed through most of it. It was incredibly raw and dark seeing into that aspect of her life.
Overall, I did cry my eyes out, so that is always a plus. The ending did feel kind of jarring and out of place, but I still enjoyed the journey from point A to point B. A thoroughly enjoyable and easy quick read.
Some of my spoilery opinions below:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Medical content, Vomit, and Cancer
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
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