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meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoyed the overall premise of this book. The multigenerational friendship, the dual time line love stories, and the road-trip through the southern US laid the groundwork for a heartfelt, funny and endearing story. There were a lot of parts that were genuinely sweet and funny, but sometimes the author’s characterization of Millie and Hollis was way too quirky. The entire time I felt like Millie was just the adult version that one weird friend from every early aughts Disney show that dressed in too many layers and had a hyper fixation on something random like jewelry made of fruit. And Hollis is basically just season 1 Jughead from the Riverdale. Except he wrote in a spiral bound notebook instead of on a typewriter. Truly the background love story was more interesting and I wish the author could have made Millie and Hollis’s just as good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
cwlapreziosa's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
timbercat's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? No
4.0
farenwell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
becky_anne7'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
4.75
melisasbookshelf's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
lydiarama's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
What a wonderful debut! I can tell Sarah Adler is going to be another instant-buy/borrow author for me. I had some doubts at first, as I felt the first couple of chapters were a bit clunky and awkward, but the doubts were swept away very quickly once Adler caught her stride, and then Millie’s honest, matter-of-fact, hopeful voice was like a friend I’ve known all my life. As a “silly thing,” myself, I felt a strong kinship with her.
Hollis is rude and seemingly unkind at first, almost to the point of causing doubts about his character, but Adler pulls off the magic trick that truly great romance writers are able to perform in enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract stories and eventually made his grumpy, tortured-writer countenance pay off a little under halfway through. Seeing Hollis open up under the sunshine of Millie’s kooky, big-hearted nature was beautiful and swoon-worthy.
The best surprise of the book, however, was that there was another love story hidden inside like a delicious multi-layered candy. Rose and Elsie’s love is bittersweet, nostalgic, and transcendent. It broke my heart as much as it put it back together. Their story, as each others’ one-that-got-away, is a perfect backdrop for Millie and Hollis’ struggle to take chances and to trust in love when you find it, even if taking the leap is terrifying.
This is a perfect read for lovers of Sally Thorne and Sarah Hogle. I’m so happy I found it.
Hollis is rude and seemingly unkind at first, almost to the point of causing doubts about his character, but Adler pulls off the magic trick that truly great romance writers are able to perform in enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract stories and eventually made his grumpy, tortured-writer countenance pay off a little under halfway through. Seeing Hollis open up under the sunshine of Millie’s kooky, big-hearted nature was beautiful and swoon-worthy.
The best surprise of the book, however, was that there was another love story hidden inside like a delicious multi-layered candy. Rose and Elsie’s love is bittersweet, nostalgic, and transcendent. It broke my heart as much as it put it back together. Their story, as each others’ one-that-got-away, is a perfect backdrop for Millie and Hollis’ struggle to take chances and to trust in love when you find it, even if taking the leap is terrifying.
This is a perfect read for lovers of Sally Thorne and Sarah Hogle. I’m so happy I found it.
shelbymarie516's review against another edition
4.0
Lesbian love is not really my cup of tea, but it's not the main couple here. This was actually so super cute and happy-sad.