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adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Vomit, Death of parent
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
A cynical romance author who no longer believes in love & a brooding literary writer stuck in a creative rut find themselves neighbors for the summer—both broke, blocked, and battling their own disillusionments. Augustus Everett, known for crafting dark, tragic fiction, and January Andrews, a bestselling romance writer with a flair for happy endings, couldn't be more different—until a spontaneous challenge flips their worlds. For 3 months, he’ll write something hopeful, and she’ll attempt a weighty literary novel. She drags him on whimsical, rom-com-worthy adventures, while he pulls her into interviews with death cult survivors. The goal? Finish their books and prove that opposites don’t attract. Falling in love? Definitely not part of the deal.
Did a combo of physical, audio & digital - I finished last night and wanted to sleep on my thoughts before reviewing... Woke up still feeling it was a 5-star read (surprise, surprise). Funny Story & Book Lovers are still tied for 1st place in my ranking of Emily Henry books, with this one next, and then Happy Place. Up next - People We Meet on Vacation, then Great Big Beautiful Life! I got a fair share of chuckles in with Beach Read, and I definitely got in my feels when it came to January's complicated relationship with her father (IYKYK). I'm super close with my dad, so I couldn't help but put myself in our FMC's shoes - as awful as that may sound - but I think that's why this book hit harder than Happy Place. Again, Emily Henry is SO GOOD at writing relatable characters, ones you just fall in love with - even if you promise not to.
Did a combo of physical, audio & digital - I finished last night and wanted to sleep on my thoughts before reviewing... Woke up still feeling it was a 5-star read (surprise, surprise). Funny Story & Book Lovers are still tied for 1st place in my ranking of Emily Henry books, with this one next, and then Happy Place. Up next - People We Meet on Vacation, then Great Big Beautiful Life! I got a fair share of chuckles in with Beach Read, and I definitely got in my feels when it came to January's complicated relationship with her father (IYKYK). I'm super close with my dad, so I couldn't help but put myself in our FMC's shoes - as awful as that may sound - but I think that's why this book hit harder than Happy Place. Again, Emily Henry is SO GOOD at writing relatable characters, ones you just fall in love with - even if you promise not to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first Emily Henry. The characters felt real & alive. Two writers, hurt by life, heal each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Great story. Loved the sort of twist on the “grumpy + sunshine” trope, and how we all can have a mix of both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Alcohol
emotional
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, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the book until the ending. I felt like the ending was kind of a bummer. I also just couldn’t get past the dad cheating on his dying wife. I also really felt like the characters were so broken and messed up that they weren’t going to last for very long past getting together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a nice read! Great banter with a grumpy MMC. Heavier themes than anticipated (check triggers). Enjoyable audiobook narration. The ending was a little lackluster, but the journey was lovely!
TW: Cancer (survivor), parent death, cheating, divorce, grief
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Grief, Death of parent
slow-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 adored this story about grief and learning to love again after heartbreak. I loved watching January and Gus's story start before it ever really started. Watching them basically find their way back to each other was so beautiful that it might not make you believe in HEA, but happy-for-nows can be just as good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Child death