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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
this was my first emily henry book. i know she's a very loved author but i tried to get into the story with no expectations. i was only hoping to find a cute summer read to give me a bit of escapism, lmao.
let's start talking about the things i loved from this book! the first one, even though it's not plot-related was the dedication page. i just thought it was so endearing <3 then we have the contrast between the name of the two main characters. january and augustus. for me, it was a funny way to show some of their differences without even knowing them. the first pages were great, i absolutely loved it and i felt like emily was psychoanalizing me lmao. ngl i felt disappointed by january's dad behavior cause i was starting to like him and he decided to be an asshole lol.
but when the main characters began interacting was kinda scared, cause their relationship was being nice and sweet so i was expecting a breakdown anytime soon. luckily, there wasn't any! and instead, we got stuff that made me smile/scream internallysuch as gus confessing he had read january's books and even remembering them or the "why do you think, january?" OR when january realizes the way gus looks at her sometimes. therefore the romance (and also the comedy, btw! i have so many quotes underlined in yellow) were great.
on the other hand, i liked the fact that the book had other themes besides the januarygus relationship. i think this was the first time i've read a book where the main characters are authors and i completely loved that! the whole cult subplot was also interesting imo, and don't even get me started on their reflections about love because as a hopeless romantic with no love life i related to both of them. idk, it was enjoyable to read the whole bet thing and either reading very sad stuff or very cute things, and the characters getting to know each others' traumas in the meantime.
last but not least, as a daughter of moroccan immigrants, i absolutely ADORED the fact that the author mentioned my country several times <33
however, the reason why i can't give this 5 stars is because of the smut. like, okay, i know they're adults and everyone loves smutty books and blah blah blah but it just isn't for me, alright? and also because, although i ended up liking the story, i didn't really get the summer-themed read i was expecting. moreover, even though i love their relationship, the way they just get to date each other was a bit flat tbh.
so yeah i think it's a great mix between grief, love, loss, getting out of one's comfort zone and real and flawed characters. im looking forward to read more of emily henry's books!
let's start talking about the things i loved from this book! the first one, even though it's not plot-related was the dedication page. i just thought it was so endearing <3 then we have the contrast between the name of the two main characters. january and augustus. for me, it was a funny way to show some of their differences without even knowing them. the first pages were great, i absolutely loved it and i felt like emily was psychoanalizing me lmao. ngl i felt disappointed by january's dad behavior cause i was starting to like him and he decided to be an asshole lol.
but when the main characters began interacting was kinda scared, cause their relationship was being nice and sweet so i was expecting a breakdown anytime soon. luckily, there wasn't any! and instead, we got stuff that made me smile/scream internally
on the other hand, i liked the fact that the book had other themes besides the januarygus relationship. i think this was the first time i've read a book where the main characters are authors and i completely loved that! the whole cult subplot was also interesting imo, and don't even get me started on their reflections about love because as a hopeless romantic with no love life i related to both of them. idk, it was enjoyable to read the whole bet thing and either reading very sad stuff or very cute things, and the characters getting to know each others' traumas in the meantime.
last but not least, as a daughter of moroccan immigrants, i absolutely ADORED the fact that the author mentioned my country several times <33
however, the reason why i can't give this 5 stars is because of the smut. like, okay, i know they're adults and everyone loves smutty books and blah blah blah but it just isn't for me, alright? and also because, although i ended up liking the story, i didn't really get the summer-themed read i was expecting. moreover, even though i love their relationship, the way they just get to date each other was a bit flat tbh.
so yeah i think it's a great mix between grief, love, loss, getting out of one's comfort zone and real and flawed characters. im looking forward to read more of emily henry's books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
This book was really good. And I say it like that because, once again, this is not my go-to genre. But, once again, was a suggestion from my monthly reading group and I decided to give it a chance.
This is not a typical romance in a sense that are some really dark and heavy topics represented: domestic abuse, a cult, death... the kind of themes that are not associated when you ear the genre romance.
I really enjoyed this book. I like how dark and mysterious Gus is and how fragile and hurt January feels. And I like the way both of them decide to give each other a chance (although, sometimes, January frustrated me a lot). The best part about this book is that it shows that two people with completely opposite visions of the world can find common ground.
I really liked this book and will look for more books by Emily Henry.
This is not a typical romance in a sense that are some really dark and heavy topics represented: domestic abuse, a cult, death... the kind of themes that are not associated when you ear the genre romance.
I really enjoyed this book. I like how dark and mysterious Gus is and how fragile and hurt January feels. And I like the way both of them decide to give each other a chance (although, sometimes, January frustrated me a lot). The best part about this book is that it shows that two people with completely opposite visions of the world can find common ground.
I really liked this book and will look for more books by Emily Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Car accident, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, Vomit
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was very few things I didn’t like about this book. It felt kind of like Die Hard where every little detail felt important and you couldn’t tell the story without. It wasn’t a slow burn but you didn’t jump right into it. Everything felt earned and the HEA wasn’t sacrificed for the storyline being real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content
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
I read this book in a day, it made me laugh, cry, and swoon. More than just your ordinary romance novel, it’s setting the bar high for the rest of the books i read this year
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Yes
“I’ve never met someone who is so perfectly my favourite person” - Emily Henry 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
This was so lovely 😭 I needed a wholesome binge! Emily Henry’s writing makes it all so easy. Chapters aren’t too long, a nice balance of humour and sadness. And most importantly, that fizz of chemistry between Gus and January from start to end. 🧪
I loved both of them! Which is quite rare in rom com books surprisingly. Both are dealing with their past - so TWs for grief, cancer, loss of a parent, child abuse, adultery. But I really liked how this book dealt with living in the now and accepting yourself. 💕
The battle of the authors was a great plot and bonding idea, I found myself really looking forward to Saturdays. Fridays, not so much. I found they didn’t build on the story or the relationship, felt like a lost opportunity really. Also, this isn’t a beach read, it definitely gave me autumn vibes if anything so I would read it whenever. 🍂
Overall, nice easy flirty rom com with some real life hurt. Check the TWs but I really enjoyed this book and would recommend 🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
This was so lovely 😭 I needed a wholesome binge! Emily Henry’s writing makes it all so easy. Chapters aren’t too long, a nice balance of humour and sadness. And most importantly, that fizz of chemistry between Gus and January from start to end. 🧪
I loved both of them! Which is quite rare in rom com books surprisingly. Both are dealing with their past - so TWs for grief, cancer, loss of a parent, child abuse, adultery. But I really liked how this book dealt with living in the now and accepting yourself. 💕
The battle of the authors was a great plot and bonding idea, I found myself really looking forward to Saturdays. Fridays, not so much. I found they didn’t build on the story or the relationship, felt like a lost opportunity really. Also, this isn’t a beach read, it definitely gave me autumn vibes if anything so I would read it whenever. 🍂
Overall, nice easy flirty rom com with some real life hurt. Check the TWs but I really enjoyed this book and would recommend 🥰
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol