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anna_m16's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
marybsimp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Medical content, Cancer, and Terminal illness
sincerelybook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death
tinaxx2's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
shanxo18's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Heartbreaking. Honestly, I had to take a break reading this book because it just hurt too much to read. I think personally this book hit to close to home for me but I think if I read this prior to my current relationship I would have been able to finish the book without taking a break. It is a book about two characters who meet when they are 5 and grow up to fall in love. The book is innocent and wholesome, while still having issues that cause the couple to be apart for a while. I love how we watched the characters grow up and change but the relationship still only grows no matter what happens they still love each other. The book although young adult, was heartwarming it gives you butterflies and your so invested in the relationship that by the end your heart just aches for the characters. I think it teaches a valuable lesson that most of us take for granted as well as showing how love can hit you at anytime, it can knock you off your feet when you least expect it and it is so beautiful and painful at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death
ninainthesky's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Chronic illness
cait's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3.5
And my heart completely burst.
I've figured it out. My problem with these uber-popular cancer books is that I grew up on Lurlene McDaniel novels. I'm not sad that these teenagers in love die. I'm mostly just annoyed that the authors make it take so long. Which is probably why I couldn't get 100% behind A Thousand Boy Kisses. As soon as I figured out it was a cancer book, I knew how it was going to go. They were going to reunite. He was going to make as many of her dreams come true as possible. She was going to die. It was all going to be very sad. At least Lurlene McDaniel killed them fast.
This novel follows Poppy and Rune. Poppy is a cheerful Southern belle who claims Rune as her best friend the first day he comes to the US from Norway when they're five. From day one, they're inseparable. Which is why, when Poppy's grandmother dies when she's eight and bequeaths her with a jar filled with 1,000 paper hearts and the goal to fill every single one out with a heart-stopping kiss, Rune takes it upon himself to be the one and only boy who provides her with those kisses. But when Rune's father is forced to return the family to Norway, the two are separated and, before long, Poppy cuts Rune off without a word. He returns different, angry, and desperate to find out why the love of his life abandoned him when he needed her most.
There were some elements of this story that did really work for me. I love a childhood friends who transition seamlessly into lovers plotline. I love softboys who simp for the one they love. I loved the general lack of drama between the protagonists. I loved the family relationships and dynamics.
But there were a lot of things that didn't work for me, too. The slut-shaming. The possessiveness. The codependency of Poppy and Rune's romance. The constant references to Rune's long hair that just made me think of how greasy it must be after he'd spent all day smearing his hands through it over and over. There was an element of toxicity to their relationship that made me uncomfortable. The way the characters repeatedly said that their lips belonged only to each other. The way they only seemed to really like each other and their relationships with their friends existed only in the abstract.
The ending was genuinely heartbreaking - I cried actual tears when Rune filled out the thousandth heart - but the fact that the whole town came together to fill out a thousand paper lanterns with these painfully awkward, intimate moments (view spoiler) and then the ending, when they reunite in the blossom grove? It gave me the ick.
I've figured it out. My problem with these uber-popular cancer books is that I grew up on Lurlene McDaniel novels. I'm not sad that these teenagers in love die. I'm mostly just annoyed that the authors make it take so long. Which is probably why I couldn't get 100% behind A Thousand Boy Kisses. As soon as I figured out it was a cancer book, I knew how it was going to go. They were going to reunite. He was going to make as many of her dreams come true as possible. She was going to die. It was all going to be very sad. At least Lurlene McDaniel killed them fast.
This novel follows Poppy and Rune. Poppy is a cheerful Southern belle who claims Rune as her best friend the first day he comes to the US from Norway when they're five. From day one, they're inseparable. Which is why, when Poppy's grandmother dies when she's eight and bequeaths her with a jar filled with 1,000 paper hearts and the goal to fill every single one out with a heart-stopping kiss, Rune takes it upon himself to be the one and only boy who provides her with those kisses. But when Rune's father is forced to return the family to Norway, the two are separated and, before long, Poppy cuts Rune off without a word. He returns different, angry, and desperate to find out why the love of his life abandoned him when he needed her most.
There were some elements of this story that did really work for me. I love a childhood friends who transition seamlessly into lovers plotline. I love softboys who simp for the one they love. I loved the general lack of drama between the protagonists. I loved the family relationships and dynamics.
But there were a lot of things that didn't work for me, too. The slut-shaming. The possessiveness. The codependency of Poppy and Rune's romance. The constant references to Rune's long hair that just made me think of how greasy it must be after he'd spent all day smearing his hands through it over and over. There was an element of toxicity to their relationship that made me uncomfortable. The way the characters repeatedly said that their lips belonged only to each other. The way they only seemed to really like each other and their relationships with their friends existed only in the abstract.
The ending was genuinely heartbreaking - I cried actual tears when Rune filled out the thousandth heart - but the fact that the whole town came together to fill out a thousand paper lanterns with these painfully awkward, intimate moments (view spoiler) and then the ending, when they reunite in the blossom grove? It gave me the ick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
yasmine0600's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
ashley_1206's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
okay so. in reality this book is a 4.5 for me but let me tell you why don’t attack me this is my opinion for all you rune stands out there.
can i say this book was soul shattering. like my heart completely bursted multiple times. starting from when they first met to when they finally met again. but let me tell y’all the roller coaster i went through with this book because it’s a lot, hold on tight.
okay so loved rune right. until his bad boy stage. when he started calling poppy a bitch, started grabbing her by her wrists. NOPE. huge turn off for me. also smoking is a huge turn off fyi just incase anyone is wondering.
so yeah idk how i feel about the whole good boy to bad boy to good boy again. again ROLLERCOASTER.
also i’ll be honest… i thought about dropping the book. DONT YELL AT ME. again the bad boy stage i HATED it. there are ways to do a bad boy mysterious character this one was a hit or miss for me. however i stayed for poppy i really did.
this book also taught me a lot about life like my annotations are insane. i cant want to listen to the playlist so i can get all my feels out. age range i would give this book is YA for sure. not too bad. also just mentioning there is talks about heaven, god, praying etc just in case anyone was wondering <3
can i say this book was soul shattering. like my heart completely bursted multiple times. starting from when they first met to when they finally met again. but let me tell y’all the roller coaster i went through with this book because it’s a lot, hold on tight.
okay so loved rune right. until his bad boy stage. when he started calling poppy a bitch, started grabbing her by her wrists. NOPE. huge turn off for me. also smoking is a huge turn off fyi just incase anyone is wondering.
so yeah idk how i feel about the whole good boy to bad boy to good boy again. again ROLLERCOASTER.
also i’ll be honest… i thought about dropping the book. DONT YELL AT ME. again the bad boy stage i HATED it. there are ways to do a bad boy mysterious character this one was a hit or miss for me. however i stayed for poppy i really did.
this book also taught me a lot about life like my annotations are insane. i cant want to listen to the playlist so i can get all my feels out. age range i would give this book is YA for sure. not too bad. also just mentioning there is talks about heaven, god, praying etc just in case anyone was wondering <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Violence
gilbertbl1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Grief