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emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really found the character insights of this book interesting, and I like what it had to say about grieving, growing, and accepting the good and the bad life has to offer.
I found the romance parts a bit slow, and the story a but sparse outside of the ruminations, but I really liked those ruminations so I still feel pretty positively about it over all.
Definitely was not a page turner for me, but I’m glad I read it and would def recommend to someone looking for a sweet lil beach read ;)
I found the romance parts a bit slow, and the story a but sparse outside of the ruminations, but I really liked those ruminations so I still feel pretty positively about it over all.
Definitely was not a page turner for me, but I’m glad I read it and would def recommend to someone looking for a sweet lil beach read ;)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse
Minor: Sexism
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I could give this book six stars, I would! It was my first emily henry book and I loved it. Gus and January are everything, I loved the both of them. This Book had everything, it was emotional, funny, steamy, I want more! I honestly have no idea why so many people I have seen give this book a bad rating. It was perfect, I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If this had been my first Emily Henry, I would have never picked up another book by her again. The tonal shifts between Gus's gloomy cult plotline and the romance was jarring to say the least, and to watch these two seemingly effortlessly write their books - in different genres than they're used to - was infuriating. It was like watching those movies where the writer shows up to work at their immaculate desk, types furiously on their computer, and then prints out the finished pages and stacks them neatly at their side.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- the letters from her dad did not add much meaning to the story, maybe that was on purpose but it did not reveal anything more than what had already been shown to us from januarys inner thoughts
- more flashbacks from college would have shown more and not told more
- maybe the book would have benefitted from gus' perspective, he was a complex character and his vulnerable moments almost fell flat for me
- the dialogue sounded unnatural throughout the book, especially considering there was supposed to be 'enemies to lovers' banter
- they were never really enemies...? just wrote about different stuff, i mean i know the point of enemies to lovers is they both realize they are kind of similar but they were mean to each other at the beginning for almost no reason, college flashbacks would have helped tell this part of the story better
- i love the banter as their relationship progressed, more spicy banter at the beginning would have been better
- the plot 'twists' idk if u can even call it that were kind of abrupt and felt too on the nose for me, like they were just included for the sake of plot progression
- the cult plotline felt icky to me...i feel like henry included it just to add a shock factor to the book or something...also why were they literally having sex after every cult plotline :(
- the stuff with January's parents was so important and I don't think Emily henry did service to that plotline, especially Januarys relationship with her mom
- more about both characters writing process, personal bias i would have thought it was interesting story telling device
- more show not tell overall, in the love proclamations in the vulnerable moments everything
all in all good not great, plot was a little boring, it had a nice setup but the main plot device of them swapping genres for the summer fell into the background to their love story and didn't interplay that well, I recommend this for anyone in a reading slump the book is easy to read and has a straightforward predictable plot, maybe it will make you blush a little bit and we all know instant dopamine helps propel you back into reading
- more flashbacks from college would have shown more and not told more
- maybe the book would have benefitted from gus' perspective, he was a complex character and his vulnerable moments almost fell flat for me
- the dialogue sounded unnatural throughout the book, especially considering there was supposed to be 'enemies to lovers' banter
- they were never really enemies...? just wrote about different stuff, i mean i know the point of enemies to lovers is they both realize they are kind of similar but they were mean to each other at the beginning for almost no reason, college flashbacks would have helped tell this part of the story better
- i love the banter as their relationship progressed, more spicy banter at the beginning would have been better
- the plot 'twists' idk if u can even call it that were kind of abrupt and felt too on the nose for me, like they were just included for the sake of plot progression
-
- the stuff with January's parents was so important and I don't think Emily henry did service to that plotline, especially Januarys relationship with her mom
- more about both characters writing process, personal bias i would have thought it was interesting story telling device
- more show not tell overall, in the love proclamations in the vulnerable moments everything
all in all good not great, plot was a little boring, it had a nice setup but the main plot device of them swapping genres for the summer fell into the background to their love story and didn't interplay that well, I recommend this for anyone in a reading slump the book is easy to read and has a straightforward predictable plot, maybe it will make you blush a little bit and we all know instant dopamine helps propel you back into reading
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
As always with an Emily Henry novel, i found this to be funny and genuine. The characters are witty and their challenges are realistic. To me this is the standard of a Henry novel!
January and Gus are old college rivals that wind up being next door neighbors in a small Michigan town. Gus is still reeling from a divorce and January from the death of her father. In small town fashion the two get forced into interactions and in rivalry fashion they strike up a challenge to see who is the better author. So ensues weekend research outings and writing notes through to each other ‘you belong with me’ style. I loved.
I was destined to love this from the start but I do have a couple complaints. First is petty: January cries a lot. I get it, her dad died, she is in a low emotional state overall. But relax. Second: I didn’t really love Gus’ divorce and how that was handled. It had been a year and he was very much in love with January but anytime the ex wife interacted with him it threw him for a loop and he just completely locks January out. It made his love and commitment a smidge less convincing to me. Hesitation ain’t a good look Augustus!!!
Anyway those are pretty minor and didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment. Loved this!!
January and Gus are old college rivals that wind up being next door neighbors in a small Michigan town. Gus is still reeling from a divorce and January from the death of her father. In small town fashion the two get forced into interactions and in rivalry fashion they strike up a challenge to see who is the better author. So ensues weekend research outings and writing notes through to each other ‘you belong with me’ style. I loved.
I was destined to love this from the start but I do have a couple complaints. First is petty: January cries a lot. I get it, her dad died, she is in a low emotional state overall. But relax. Second: I didn’t really love Gus’ divorce and how that was handled. It had been a year and he was very much in love with January but anytime the ex wife interacted with him it threw him for a loop and he just completely locks January out. It made his love and commitment a smidge less convincing to me. Hesitation ain’t a good look Augustus!!!
Anyway those are pretty minor and didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment. Loved this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent