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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
My all time favorite Emily Henry book. The character depth was beautiful. It’s not just about romance, but also grief and all the other emotions and changes. Writing is spectacular
lighthearted
reflective
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
The premise of this story was that the main character (January) is a romance author who moves in next door to a literary fiction author (Gus) after the death of her dad. They both have writer's block and help each other overcome that (and fall in love) by switching genres for the summer.
It was a quick and not-too-bad romance read. The plot had several different layers to it that kept it interesting, although some of the plot points worked better than others. Most of the characters were likable except a few of them that weren't very developed - for example, January's main best friend who she mostly interacted with via text for the first 90% of the book. I think that character was just there to give January someone to talk to and fill the typical "best friend in a romance novel" role.
I liked the subplots about the main character's relationships (with each other and with their respective families) but the author lost me a little bit on the cult subplot and also the writer's block subplot, which felt like a convenient premise to get the story moving and then was more or less forgotten by the end.
One admittedly petty thing that bothered me about the writing was that the main character's feelings were described way too frequently through her stomach and various body parts. Here are some of the ways January's emotions were described (via her stomach): "drop," "started flipping and didn't stop," "bottom out," "clench," "felt like molten lava was pouring down it," "twisted," "sick roiling," "flutter," "disappointment wriggling through," "my stomach sang up through my throat," .... and so on. The stomach descriptions were so constant and varied that a real life person would probably want to see a doctor!
It was a quick and not-too-bad romance read. The plot had several different layers to it that kept it interesting, although some of the plot points worked better than others. Most of the characters were likable except a few of them that weren't very developed - for example, January's main best friend who she mostly interacted with via text for the first 90% of the book. I think that character was just there to give January someone to talk to and fill the typical "best friend in a romance novel" role.
I liked the subplots about the main character's relationships (with each other and with their respective families) but the author lost me a little bit on the cult subplot and also the writer's block subplot, which felt like a convenient premise to get the story moving and then was more or less forgotten by the end.
One admittedly petty thing that bothered me about the writing was that the main character's feelings were described way too frequently through her stomach and various body parts. Here are some of the ways January's emotions were described (via her stomach): "drop," "started flipping and didn't stop," "bottom out," "clench," "felt like molten lava was pouring down it," "twisted," "sick roiling," "flutter," "disappointment wriggling through," "my stomach sang up through my throat," .... and so on. The stomach descriptions were so constant and varied that a real life person would probably want to see a doctor!
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
Despite having to suspend my disbelief a few times and not liking some outcomes, I could not put this book down.
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of only two romance novels i have ever given 5 stars. it’s just so perfect? i love january and gus, their struggles are so real and i love how the novel has a plot besides just them falling in love. most importantly, i adore how they are both readers and writers