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grosemareads's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
Solid one off romance rom-com vibes. Deducting a point for Helen’s being irritatingly entrenched in denial for 95% of the book / Grant being so maddeningly in love with a woman for no apparent reason who does absolutely nothing but push him away. Still solid if you can push through mild annoyance, I understand that it’s the for the ~tension~
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Car accident, and Grief
reiverse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death
anniesbookpicks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death
cyndi1966's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Grief
happyeverabigail's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
This book holds a lot of well written scenes and sections. In a way that sometimes felt fragmented but I stuck it out and it does come back together. Helen and Grant’s history is complicated in a way that can’t be tropified. He was at the scene of her sister’s suicide and yet it’s not like he had any kind of relationship friendship or otherwise with her sister prior, it was a random chance of events in a small town. So it’s a weird kind of baggage to be a person you associate a very tragic event with but then have to work with 10ish years later but then also fall in love with?? Some parts of their romantic and spicy scenes felt like a different story because of this and I was admittedly feeling a little 4 star-y but then the last 30% really brings this all back together and the writing room setting of Hollywood was so vivid and interesting. This truly is a great book.
Not to self insert but the FMC was a bit autistic coded at the beginning when it came to navigating the social aspects of the writers room and life in general and I got so excited for potential rep. This unfortunately was a bit forgotten. It still was very relatable and has value Helen’s initial seriousness and the way her brain works to cope with that but like I mentioned it’s not really a plot point after that, her mental inner monologue is more influenced by unprocessed trauma, still really impactful.
Not to self insert but the FMC was a bit autistic coded at the beginning when it came to navigating the social aspects of the writers room and life in general and I got so excited for potential rep. This unfortunately was a bit forgotten. It still was very relatable and has value Helen’s initial seriousness and the way her brain works to cope with that but like I mentioned it’s not really a plot point after that, her mental inner monologue is more influenced by unprocessed trauma, still really impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
Minor: Racism
thatswhatshanread's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
It’s been a long time since a book has truly surprised me, and I commend Yulin Kuang’s debut (!) for doing it. This novel was a doozy, folks, and I loved it very much.
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!!!!
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!!!!
Content Warnings
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
estellec13's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol and Medical content
bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Suicidal thoughts
lisacanteven's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.0
I did enjoy this book. The plot was very unique and moved at a great pace. I loved hanging out with these characters. I just didn't love the writing style. It felt a little too screen writing and not enough like a novel. It was the same reason I don't care for Emily Henry's books. They feel like they are only written to become the next Netflix hit.
I'm also surprised the editor didn't make the author remove the use of "tattoo of his heartbeat" about 3 times. The fact that it appeared in the books 4 times (or more if I missed one) is outrageous.
I did really love the look into Helen and Grant's jobs. I would love to have that job if it didn't mean living in LA, so I really appreciated how much detail the author went into the scenes surrounding their jobs.
I'm also surprised the editor didn't make the author remove the use of "tattoo of his heartbeat" about 3 times. The fact that it appeared in the books 4 times (or more if I missed one) is outrageous.
I did really love the look into Helen and Grant's jobs. I would love to have that job if it didn't mean living in LA, so I really appreciated how much detail the author went into the scenes surrounding their jobs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Addiction
juanat77's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Alcohol, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide