I’ve been in a sappy romance spell, and this book was pretty good for the romance feels.

I really liked seeing how the relationship and comfort ability level with Nick developed “over time” (iykyk). I also really enjoyed getting a glimpse back into the teenage mind and seeing life through her eyes. It made me picture myself at that age, someone who also people-pleased to the nth degree to try and keep the peace around her.

The DONC was honestly scary and refreshing to read - to see the FMC take charge of her life and say what was really on her mind. Granted, I think there are nicer ways of going about things, but I think it took guts after the fact to own up to her behaviors and accept the consequences.

I think this book also deals with the idea of falling in love not necessarily at first sight, but in a matter of days. It makes me think of the innocence of first loves and high school love that isn’t as susceptible to life in the same way “adult” love is, for lack of a better comparison. Just that the love the two characters find for one another truly seems to be born of “I felt so fucking lonely and you make me feel seen, and for that I appreciate your existence and presence in my life, no matter how short.”

This book dealt with divorced parents/remarried parents, effects of split custody on the child, death of a loved one and the grieving that follows, idea of perfection and planning to avoid discomfort, how we know it’s love versus not, advocating for yourself, taking responsibility for your actions, and building the courage to confront your problems head on.

The more I write this review, the more I realize I liked this book a lot and enjoyed the life lessons it included along the way. I normally am not one to believe in falling in love in one day can happen, but the way this book presents it, I could dig it. :)

Content Warnings

knitsandnovels's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

isabelvegga's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

“I fell in love with you on Valentine’s Day, Emilie, but I need more than just seven minutes.”

Such a cute read!!!💓💓💓

I enjoyed so much, I laughed and smiled but also almost cried.

I felt identified with both of them, Em and Nick, I love them🫶🏻

✨

“For
The Lonely,
The Daydreamers,
The ones who find their friends between the pages of books—
YOU MATTER, and your happy ending WILL come. Sometimes the wait is just longer in real life than in fiction.”

“I adored my dad.He just sometimes forgot about me if I wasn’t standing right in front of him.” x2

“Love is not what is, but what isn’t.”

“I was fascinated by people whose parents were still together. It seemed surreal and impossibly beautiful to me, the idea of living out all of your childhood years with both parents, together in the same house.” x2

“Existence is the default. Merely existing, emotionally, is the baseline. Happy is, like, this floating, fluid thing that’s impossible to hold on to. Elusive as fuck. Sometimes you get lucky and have it, but it’s only a matter of time before it slips back out of your hands.”