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medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wanted this book to be so wonderful, and it just fell flat. Part of that is a professional hazard - my work life means I probably experienced this book differently than many readers - but part of it is that the pacing felt way off and the narrative didn't hang together coherently in my view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
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
I was immediately pulled in by the Reddit AITA start and couldn’t put it down from there. Emma and Justin were both inspiring in their own ways and I loved watching them grow together. Emma had so much to overcome and her story was heartbreaking. I only wish we got a little more time in there happily ever after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
A funny enjoyable Romcom with a hint of The Glass Castle that also feels like a really good therapy session!
I don't toss out 5 stars easily, but this one earned it!
What happens when 2 people with the same apparent curse, to be 'the one before The One' date each other?
I knew when I finished this book I'd be missing these characters like long time friends. It will definitely be a re-read!
Abby has a special way telling stories that cover heavy subjects while being funny and healing to both the characters and reader.
Every one of her books has made me laugh out loud, swoony grin and cry real tears - Every. Single. One.
If you've read Abby's other books, the easter egg game in this one is so good!
I don't toss out 5 stars easily, but this one earned it!
What happens when 2 people with the same apparent curse, to be 'the one before The One' date each other?
I knew when I finished this book I'd be missing these characters like long time friends. It will definitely be a re-read!
Abby has a special way telling stories that cover heavy subjects while being funny and healing to both the characters and reader.
Every one of her books has made me laugh out loud, swoony grin and cry real tears - Every. Single. One.
If you've read Abby's other books, the easter egg game in this one is so good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent
This book is maybe heavier in circumstance then your average romance novel. I think you should approach with the roght understanding of what you’re getting into. It is, imo, well handled and well written
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Best one in the series so far! Loved it & it combined/brought back so many previous characters that it just made me smile. The characters are very relatable, it's a realistic love story filled with trauma & healing. ❤️🩹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Forced institutionalization
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
I liked this one! I'm also a childhood trauma survivor who related to a lot of the work the FMC is doing throughout the story.
The least spicy of the trilogy, which makes sense I guess, if we're focusing on healing. Ha.
Check the CN at the beginning of the book!
Quotes:
If I didn't play, I couldn't lose. But if I left Justin, I'd lose anyway.
I think something is wrong with me, like there's something in me, in my heart, that doesn't work right... It's like there's a part of me that's always small and I don't know why and I don't know what to do about it.
You're not asking for too much. You were just asking the wrong person. Ask me instead.
I used to never be able to say, 'I love you.'... To say it meant to give someone power over me and the ability to hurt me. But I could say with my whole heart that I loved Maddie. She was one of the great loves of my life.
The least spicy of the trilogy, which makes sense I guess, if we're focusing on healing. Ha.
Check the CN at the beginning of the book!
Quotes:
I think something is wrong with me, like there's something in me, in my heart, that doesn't work right... It's like there's a part of me that's always small and I don't know why and I don't know what to do about it.
You're not asking for too much. You were just asking the wrong person. Ask me instead.
I used to never be able to say, 'I love you.'... To say it meant to give someone power over me and the ability to hurt me. But I could say with my whole heart that I loved Maddie. She was one of the great loves of my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Car accident, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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
Literally just finished this, so my number rating may change after continuing to process the book.
I was not expecting such an impactful story when I first took this book home. The premise of two people trying to break a dating curse sounded cute enough; and the personal issues each of the main characters face were hinted at in such a small way, I didn’t expect the story to play out as it did.
If you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s writing, you’ll most likely enjoy this. The characters are thought out and dynamic, and the love story is passionate and sweet. I definitely shed some tears.
The author wrote in the acknowledgments that she consulted with mental health professionals and nurses when writing this book to maintain as much accuracy as possible. That being said, she doesn’t really name some of the mental health issues in the story. I’m not sure if I felt like her terminology trivialized it or lent to Emma’s avoidance of her trauma.
Overall, I sped through this after dedicating some time to digging in; and I really, really enjoyed it.
I was not expecting such an impactful story when I first took this book home. The premise of two people trying to break a dating curse sounded cute enough; and the personal issues each of the main characters face were hinted at in such a small way, I didn’t expect the story to play out as it did.
If you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s writing, you’ll most likely enjoy this. The characters are thought out and dynamic, and the love story is passionate and sweet. I definitely shed some tears.
The author wrote in the acknowledgments that she consulted with mental health professionals and nurses when writing this book to maintain as much accuracy as possible. That being said, she doesn’t really name some of the mental health issues in the story. I’m not sure if I felt like her terminology trivialized it or lent to Emma’s avoidance of her trauma.
Overall, I sped through this after dedicating some time to digging in; and I really, really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
Loved it! Check trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury