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chemeducator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug use
meghan_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Phenomenally well written, but warnings for LOTS of on-page struggles through grief & trauma rooted in the FMC’s sister unaliving herself by jumping in front of the MMC’s car when they were all teenagers. Layered on top of that are the FMC’s immigrant parents and the distant relationship they all have with each other… I know it sounds like Entirely Too Much, but the MCs felt SO believable and true. The setup felt intense, but deftly managed.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, and Death
kimapede's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Minor: Suicide, Medical content, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
thatswhatshanread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I think, if you’re looking for a modern book that has the vibes of Jane Austen when it comes to YEARNING and dramatic romance, this one has to be it??? That may sound crazy to say. But I couldn’t help feeling that familiar great tug and ache of Georgian-era stories. Okay, maybe this one has more of the tragedy synonymous with the Brontes. In any case, Kuang’s writing swept me away. The desperation on the pages gripped me to the bone. The way Grant wanted and needed Helen was so TANGIBLE.
“How To End A Love Story” was much more romantic and sexual than I thought it would be, especially considering the cold beginning and introduction to these two characters with the worst kind of shared tragedy. It worked so well obviously because one second I’m like okay and then I’m obsessed with the way they sink deeper into each other’s orbits and forgive themselves for being who they once were. I love that Grant falls first and isn’t afraid to tell Helen what he wants. It’s so genuine and so soft. Helen is more the stand-offish unsure one and their pairing doesn’t feel forced at all, even with the circumstances of their past and present. Kuang’s writing is harsh in a whimsical way, somehow an oxymoron of sweet subtle sentences and hard honest dialogue. There are heavy overall themes of suicide, grief, panic attacks. The story is very demanding of all of your emotions. It is definitely not a romcom. It’s a romantic drama for sure, with lots of deep trauma and healing.
THIS is how you do the grumpy x sunshine trope. It’s not too much of either, one character being a little ball of rainbow and glitter, the other the grim reaper who hates children and animals. It’s just the right amount of give and take, of one falling first and the other afraid to admit it. That’s that on tortured slow burns, baby. Lololololol the head of The Tortured Poets Department will see you now.
“Loving can hurt, and I want to do it anyway.”
READ THIS BOOK!!!!! Sorry if you cry but actually not really because crying is HEALTHY!!!!
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Cursing, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Suicidal thoughts
juanat77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Alcohol, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide
michelle_my_belle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Cursing, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
silverhill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Medical content, Drug use, and Alcohol
cathyo_113's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Addiction, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
abbeyjreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i ADORED THIS!!!! i appreciate it when the background of characters in romcoms is actually complex and nuanced instead of *trying* to be complex and nuanced and failing miserably. kuang put so much heart and depth into helen’s emotional process and her interactions outside of grant. it really made her infuriating decisions and mind boggling responses become not only plausible but justifiable. the way these two characters are so deeply woven together in their hurt and their trauma i think makes their connection even more beautiful.
this was the PERFECT level of bantery. honestly? sometimes emhen is over the top with her banter, same vein as amy sherman palladino. kuang had her finger on the pulse of realism here; the quippy comebacks, the romantic declarations, the moments where no words work at all. everything felt seamless and natural in a way that my recent reads have not. this was artful.
also. HOT! these two have CHEMISTRY! PALPABLE! CHEMISTRY! sometimes they were so hot for each other i did question: do these two like each other for anything else? but honestly, i think readers sometimes get swept up in the spice that they forget about the build up where the bond is solidified.
i can’t wait to see what kuang does next. INCREDIBLE DEBUT! i highly recommend.
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide, Car accident, Child death, and Death