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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
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
okiecozyreader's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
I feel like you can tell this book is written by a screenwriter, and it’s fun to have a glimpse into that world.
There is a large car scene / suicide on the first page and a lot of the book deals with the trauma from that experience, from both the sister and the car driver. Helen (the sister) hasn’t seen the car driver, Grant Shepard (doesn’t that sound like a Hollywood name?) since the accident. Then he shows up as the script writer for her book series that is going into production.
Most of the book is from Helen’s pov, but sometimes it does alternate between her and Grant.
It was a fun read, with some spicy scenes (she actually lists the chapters at the end of the Acknowledgments) and lots of orgasms. Iykyk
“But Helen has created a very special window into her life that’s just for her parents… She stores up bad news like acorns in winter and metes them out in small doses, when she finally has good news to soften the blow.” P109
“She… wonders if emotional earthquakes have the same kind of internal fallout - rattled bones, shaken foundations, everything hanging on the walls slightly askew.” P200
“He woke up this morning feeling like he should make some space in his life for people with long winter coats….
Maybe, he thinks, I should just get rid of things I don’t need anymore.” P213
There is a large car scene / suicide on the first page and a lot of the book deals with the trauma from that experience, from both the sister and the car driver. Helen (the sister) hasn’t seen the car driver, Grant Shepard (doesn’t that sound like a Hollywood name?) since the accident. Then he shows up as the script writer for her book series that is going into production.
Most of the book is from Helen’s pov, but sometimes it does alternate between her and Grant.
It was a fun read, with some spicy scenes (she actually lists the chapters at the end of the Acknowledgments) and lots of orgasms. Iykyk
“But Helen has created a very special window into her life that’s just for her parents… She stores up bad news like acorns in winter and metes them out in small doses, when she finally has good news to soften the blow.” P109
“She… wonders if emotional earthquakes have the same kind of internal fallout - rattled bones, shaken foundations, everything hanging on the walls slightly askew.” P200
“He woke up this morning feeling like he should make some space in his life for people with long winter coats….
Maybe, he thinks, I should just get rid of things I don’t need anymore.” P213
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Medical trauma, Grief, and Child death
cathyo_113's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
yes, yulin kuang, i di trust you with the film adaptations of emhen’s work. i really do.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide, Car accident, Child death, and Death
ittywitty's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Misogyny
gwenswoons's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked a lot about this - it didn’t feel entirely successful to me, but I would certainly read more by Yulin Kuang in the future! I really appreciated that the author dived into complex familial relationships (especially with the female MC’s first-generation immigrant parents) and the specific nature of grief after losing someone close to suicide. I loved the chemistry between the two central characters and thought the sex scenes (VERY open door 😂😜) were super hot throughout and really gorgeously written.
I did find the characters’ arcs disappointing and flat - somehow their individual growth in order to find their way back to each other didn’t quite register or land believably. I also guess I struggled (though I am a voracious rom-com and romance reader and actually very rarely say this!) with the believability of the basic premise: there were just a few too many neat/tidy coincidences to the overall romance plot, and though I get the plot device of this very specific enemies-to-lovers bent, it was so on the nose (like…there’s enemies and there’s “was driving the car when your teenage sister, who had no access to mental health support, jumped in front of it and died by suicide”) that it felt sort of heavy-handed ultimately. As I said - lots that was interesting, and also not totally satisfying for me ultimately.
I did find the characters’ arcs disappointing and flat - somehow their individual growth in order to find their way back to each other didn’t quite register or land believably. I also guess I struggled (though I am a voracious rom-com and romance reader and actually very rarely say this!) with the believability of the basic premise: there were just a few too many neat/tidy coincidences to the overall romance plot, and though I get the plot device of this very specific enemies-to-lovers bent, it was so on the nose (like…there’s enemies and there’s “was driving the car when your teenage sister, who had no access to mental health support, jumped in front of it and died by suicide”) that it felt sort of heavy-handed ultimately. As I said - lots that was interesting, and also not totally satisfying for me ultimately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Suicide, Child death, and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
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