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imds's review
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, and Death
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.5
This was just the kind of slow, quiet read I love. Introspective, contemplative, and utterly focused on the main characters and their emotions. The writing was just gorgeous, too. So lyrical and romantic and evocative. Reading this book felt like a comforting hug.
Will and Nora were so adorable together. Love at first sight is not ordinarily my favourite trope to read but I loved the way it played out here, how it was still a slower-burn. Reading the way Will felt so much but so desperately didn't want to turn into his parents, the way that Nora clung to the past and was so averse to change, and the way they both overcame those struggles to become stronger together was so heartwarming. I really enjoyed that although they faced multiple conflicts with each other there wasn't a huge dramatic fight and breakup near the end that derailed the romance. And I'm always here for a hurt/comfort trope and a found family aspect in any book.
The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy was the involvement of so many side characters in the resolution of the final couple of conflicts, nor the very public nature of Will's declaration (public grand gestures horrify me, in all honesty, although the heroine loved it so...).
Will and Nora were so adorable together. Love at first sight is not ordinarily my favourite trope to read but I loved the way it played out here, how it was still a slower-burn. Reading the way Will felt so much but so desperately didn't want to turn into his parents, the way that Nora clung to the past and was so averse to change, and the way they both overcame those struggles to become stronger together was so heartwarming. I really enjoyed that although they faced multiple conflicts with each other there wasn't a huge dramatic fight and breakup near the end that derailed the romance. And I'm always here for a hurt/comfort trope and a found family aspect in any book.
The only thing that I didn't quite enjoy was the involvement of so many side characters in the resolution of the final couple of conflicts, nor the very public nature of Will's declaration (public grand gestures horrify me, in all honesty, although the heroine loved it so...).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Blood and Terminal illness
kyleethecatlady's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Death, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
notbrhymes's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
i loved this book! I put 4.5 stars because I decided I’m going to stop giving 5 stars the day I read books and wait to see how I’m feeling in a week.
But! I loved this! I loved Nora and Will and all of the growth they both showed throughout this book. I loved the longing we got to see from both of them.
I loved the whole entire cast of characters the book was based around. I love the found family aspect. I love Gerald and Sally especially! I just loved it. I also love that the conflict (that always seems to happen towards the end of every romance ever) didn’t feel sudden or unexpected and that it was easily resolved.
But! I loved this! I loved Nora and Will and all of the growth they both showed throughout this book. I loved the longing we got to see from both of them.
I loved the whole entire cast of characters the book was based around. I love the found family aspect. I love Gerald and Sally especially! I just loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
16kneidels's review
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment
frantically's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
just ALL the found family feels
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness and Blood
mmiller18's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death
angelaf's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I absolutely loved Love at First, not quite as much as Love Lettering, but close! Clayborn does a great job showing how the characters work through grief and guilt to become people they feel better about being. I especially loved the line, "You don't have to love people the way you learned to love at first." I also thought the author did a great job incorporating full older characters, as well as the short-term rental issue. Read if you enjoy: contemporary romance, characters working through grief, learning to love, Chicago settings
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
meganpbennett's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Will first met Nora when he was a teenager, but it wasn't really a meeting - she was throwing tomatoes at a squirrel and he was sitting under a tree watching. It was cuter than it sounds. Flash forward and Will's just inherited his uncle's apartment in a very small apartment building, for no reason that Will can figure out. After all, his uncle refused to help his mother, so why did he leave the apartment to Will? And Nora, she now lives in her late grandmother's apartment - the same one from earlier - working remotely and not changing a thing in the apartment.
Will, not wanting a thing to do with the inherited apartment, decides the best thing to do is to rent it out. And the neighbors do not approve. Including Nora, who Will thinks he might have fallen for all those years ago. Can they work through the renovations and problems?
Will, not wanting a thing to do with the inherited apartment, decides the best thing to do is to rent it out. And the neighbors do not approve. Including Nora, who Will thinks he might have fallen for all those years ago. Can they work through the renovations and problems?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Blood