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chelle22's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Deadnaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was my second attempt at the Emily Henry hype and I am so glad I liked this one! It did help more that it's dislike-to-love which is a trope I prefer. I really liked the characters of Charlie and the sister Libby. And I liked some of the plot! I think I've found that some things with Emily Henry's writing don't vibe as well for me.
- I find her FMCs pretty unlikeable... and dense? At least the two I have read. While her MMCs seem to be based on real people and are likeable, it's a strange contrast.
- I don't like some of the metaphors and descriptions. I'm still puzzled with the description that she could 'feel his laugh in her stomach'??? There were others that had me making faces or pausing while I read.
And for this book, the epilogue felt like it was written by another person or character and it was kind of odd. Could have done without. It took away from the ending for me.
Anyways I swear I did like this book quite a bit 😅
- I find her FMCs pretty unlikeable... and dense? At least the two I have read. While her MMCs seem to be based on real people and are likeable, it's a strange contrast.
- I don't like some of the metaphors and descriptions. I'm still puzzled with the description that she could 'feel his laugh in her stomach'??? There were others that had me making faces or pausing while I read.
And for this book, the epilogue felt like it was written by another person or character and it was kind of odd. Could have done without. It took away from the ending for me.
Anyways I swear I did like this book quite a bit 😅
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death of parent, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness and Bullying
Fictional car accident in the book they're editingfyredragyn's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying
joey1914's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Bullying
amaranthingly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
PROS
✨ the January Andrews mentions are giving me life! my girl will be forever famous.
✨ the portrayal of Nora and Libby’s relationship as sisters is something that hits close to home. I loved that their conflict was not depicted as “pros and cons” to having a sister; it was shown that there are ups and downs they have to face together despite the strength of their bond and how they’re each other’s person.
✨ Sally and Clint’s short scene times (get it, screen time?) were still so wholesome. sure, I would’ve loved to see more of them together, but it didn’t feel like I didn’t know who they were and their relevance to Charlie’s life.
✨ I see no red flags in the hero, Charlie Lastra. his humor was the perfect blend of snark and wit. he was organized, orderly, and neat. he had sense of style and understood the love for impractical shoes. he had good communication skills and expressed what he wanted. he was understanding, loyal, and empathetic to a fault. as if if Emily Henry was god, she sent Charlie Lastra to apologize for the creation of other men.
✨ I found Nora Stephens relatable. always composes lists (especially color-coded ones), checks emails and answers calls after work hours, thorough with her makeup and skincare, also has fashion sense and in favor of wearing impractical shoes. but despite being perceived as this cold, relentless, workaholic, fastidious, emotionless bitch, she had a “sunny” side. she loves her nieces, goes great lengths to make her sister happy, is a softie, snorts at really good jokes (particularly Charlie’s), and is surprisingly capable of falling in love.
✨ Nora and Charlie’s banters either had me chuckling or uncontrollably smiling.
✨ the grumpy-grumpy here is SPECTACULAR. well, this is the first book i’ve read of that trope, but Book Lovers did it so well, especially with such an underused archetype.
✨ despite being grumpy-grumpy, Nora and Charlie weren’t remotely close to one-dimensional. there were so much more to their attributes and manners that went deeper than being thunderclouds. it is, after all, a reality that everyone is not just grumpy or not just sunshine, we are all a mix of both.
✨ the third act conflict was so nuanced and fleshed out. their situation was so realistic and it was actually high stakes.
✨ oh, to be in the shoes of someone who’s going to read this for the first time. I would love to be torn apart and put back together all over again.
✨ not to be that person but this book felt like a love letter to me
CONS
💫 did too much of an excellent job of raising my standards with men
CONCLUSION
💡 still at odds with deciding my top emily henry book, but this is 6 stars.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
⚠️ adoption, anxiety and panic attacks, bullying, child neglect, death of a parent (recounted), drug abuse (mentioned), divorce, estrangement, grief & loss depiction, overdose (mentioned), pregnancy, stroke (parent)
✨ the January Andrews mentions are giving me life! my girl will be forever famous.
✨ the portrayal of Nora and Libby’s relationship as sisters is something that hits close to home. I loved that their conflict was not depicted as “pros and cons” to having a sister; it was shown that there are ups and downs they have to face together despite the strength of their bond and how they’re each other’s person.
✨ Sally and Clint’s short scene times (get it, screen time?) were still so wholesome. sure, I would’ve loved to see more of them together, but it didn’t feel like I didn’t know who they were and their relevance to Charlie’s life.
✨ I see no red flags in the hero, Charlie Lastra. his humor was the perfect blend of snark and wit. he was organized, orderly, and neat. he had sense of style and understood the love for impractical shoes. he had good communication skills and expressed what he wanted. he was understanding, loyal, and empathetic to a fault. as if if Emily Henry was god, she sent Charlie Lastra to apologize for the creation of other men.
✨ I found Nora Stephens relatable. always composes lists (especially color-coded ones), checks emails and answers calls after work hours, thorough with her makeup and skincare, also has fashion sense and in favor of wearing impractical shoes. but despite being perceived as this cold, relentless, workaholic, fastidious, emotionless bitch, she had a “sunny” side. she loves her nieces, goes great lengths to make her sister happy, is a softie, snorts at really good jokes (particularly Charlie’s), and is surprisingly capable of falling in love.
✨ Nora and Charlie’s banters either had me chuckling or uncontrollably smiling.
✨ the grumpy-grumpy here is SPECTACULAR. well, this is the first book i’ve read of that trope, but Book Lovers did it so well, especially with such an underused archetype.
✨ despite being grumpy-grumpy, Nora and Charlie weren’t remotely close to one-dimensional. there were so much more to their attributes and manners that went deeper than being thunderclouds. it is, after all, a reality that everyone is not just grumpy or not just sunshine, we are all a mix of both.
✨ the third act conflict was so nuanced and fleshed out. their situation was so realistic and it was actually high stakes.
✨ oh, to be in the shoes of someone who’s going to read this for the first time. I would love to be torn apart and put back together all over again.
✨ not to be that person but this book felt like a love letter to me
CONS
💫 did too much of an excellent job of raising my standards with men
CONCLUSION
💡 still at odds with deciding my top emily henry book, but this is 6 stars.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
⚠️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, Pregnancy, Cursing, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Miscarriage, and Drug abuse
chrisljm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
how great it would be to love someone the way nora and charlie love each other. i usually don’t have much to say for third act conflicts, but i loved the one here. it’s perfectly sad while also feeling just how deeply they love each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual harassment, Bullying, Vomit, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
eligru's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Alcohol, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Bullying
widgetknits's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, and Pregnancy
abi2xoxo's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is wonderful. Last week I read another Emily Henry book and this is only my second. It is amazing. The characters are so easy to fall for and I honestly was rooting for them.
It was self-aware about how love stories end but I honestly expected it to throw them out the window until the last chapter! Why was I surprised?
Henry is a great author! can't wait to read more of her books.
It was self-aware about how love stories end but I honestly expected it to throw them out the window until the last chapter! Why was I surprised?
Henry is a great author! can't wait to read more of her books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying