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lonerangerl30's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent
krandelzhofer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
lkristin2018's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Two sisters from NYC embark on a laid back vacation in small town North Carolina, with a list of experiences to try. After arriving, one of the sisters ends up in a romance with a man she had met briefly and not liked in NYC.
It was fun to watch all the rom com tropes being openly both mocked a bit, later work with the romance in the book. And the romance itself involved both consent and sexual safety, which I appreciated. The greatest strength of this book in my mind though, was the relationship of the sisters, and how their shared grief of their mother affected them differently. Losing their mother at ages 16 and 20, quite different stages of development, allowed the author to explore the effects of grief on each of them individually, as well as how it affected their relationship as sisters. The love, frustration, and then understanding brought a great deal of genuine emotion to what could have been a simple rom com.
It was fun to watch all the rom com tropes being openly both mocked a bit, later work with the romance in the book. And the romance itself involved both consent and sexual safety, which I appreciated. The greatest strength of this book in my mind though, was the relationship of the sisters, and how their shared grief of their mother affected them differently. Losing their mother at ages 16 and 20, quite different stages of development, allowed the author to explore the effects of grief on each of them individually, as well as how it affected their relationship as sisters. The love, frustration, and then understanding brought a great deal of genuine emotion to what could have been a simple rom com.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
The women’s grief for their mother is a big theme. The result of the grief gives the older sister panic and a sleep disorder, though never explicitly stated. Their is ableism is using suicidal comments as hyperbole for someone simply wanting better WiFi. (Ie, using suicidal expressions to convey minor annoyance) There was one reference to a suicide attempt, and one reference to suicidal thoughts/feelings.mariareviews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Four stars wasn’t what I thought I’d end up giving this book. Honestly, at the 20% mark, I was ready to DNF it and move on. While I do enjoy a good “villain” redemption arc, what really grates on me is when characters compartmentalize themselves and the people around them into your stereotypical book tropes. But despite that, Nora’s story hit home, especially as an older sister. Feeling like I have to be a second mother to my little sister has always been something I struggle with. No matter how much she grows up, she’ll always be my little sister—just like Nora feels about Libby. It’s a tough role to navigate, and I feel like the book really captured that dynamic.
What really won me over, though, was the banter between Charlie and Nora. It was sharp, funny, and felt real. As much as I enjoy the predictability of Hallmark movies, I’ve never understood why the woman always has to leave her exciting, successful city life to raise chickens on a farm. The whole opposites-attract trope can be so frustrating when it's done that way.
That said, the reason this book didn’t get five stars from me is because the ending felt a little underwhelming. I wanted more from Charlie and Nora’s reunion—something deeper, more fleshed out. I also would’ve loved to know more about Dusty and how Nora’s life in New York changed after she returned. A longer, more detailed epilogue would’ve really wrapped things up nicely. In fact, if I had taken Nora’s advice and read the epilogue first, I might not have started the book because I feel like it just didn’t live up to the rest of the story.
All in all, though, it’s a fun and easy read. It doesn’t require too much thinking, and it’s a nice twist on the usual small-town-romance and opposites-attract trope.
What really won me over, though, was the banter between Charlie and Nora. It was sharp, funny, and felt real. As much as I enjoy the predictability of Hallmark movies, I’ve never understood why the woman always has to leave her exciting, successful city life to raise chickens on a farm. The whole opposites-attract trope can be so frustrating when it's done that way.
That said, the reason this book didn’t get five stars from me is because the ending felt a little underwhelming. I wanted more from Charlie and Nora’s reunion—something deeper, more fleshed out. I also would’ve loved to know more about Dusty and how Nora’s life in New York changed after she returned. A longer, more detailed epilogue would’ve really wrapped things up nicely. In fact, if I had taken Nora’s advice and read the epilogue first, I might not have started the book because I feel like it just didn’t live up to the rest of the story.
All in all, though, it’s a fun and easy read. It doesn’t require too much thinking, and it’s a nice twist on the usual small-town-romance and opposites-attract trope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Alcohol
emmahe's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
_pauline's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I had to try really hard to ignore certain things (- let’s PLEASE stop calling crushes by their last name & sisters sissy -) but overall I liked this a lot more than I expected. it took me a month to finish it but it’s entertaining & lighthearted for the most part; although the characters still have depth + there’s a lot more going on besides the romance plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
jaimc's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
sxndaze'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
3.5
Maybe it's possible to belong in a hundred different ways to a hundred different people and places.
my second emily henry book, and i sadly didn’t vibe with it as much. nora is so concerned with not being the girl that men want in the end because she’s too cold, too much and too high maintenance, but she’s just got some trauma. it’s not a crime to care about your career and to love the city.
i don’t like libby. i understand and get the point of her, but i find her selfish and unlikable even with her motives. also baby as a middle name??? calling nora sissy??? unacceptable. speaking of terrible names, shepherd???
charlie though. i do adore charlie and the banter between nora and charlie is this book’s strongest aspect. they are lovely, but the foundation of their relationship is quite weak for a rivals (barely even. more like hardly tolerate) to insta lovers. he’s sweet to her and understands nora fundamentally, but i can’t help but wonder how.
overall it’s fine! i got through it quickly and felt compelled to keep going. i can’t say it was my favourite though, and i am sorry about that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Medical content
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit
cielosiluminado's review
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
4.0
The last-page ache. The deep breath in after you’ve set the book aside.
NORA AND CHARLIE WERE SO CUTE!!!! their banter was so much fun and i have no complaints on the romance parts of the book as their relationship progressed naturally. it read like a hallmark movie and i was vibing.
ramblings about what bothered me—tldr: let my girls remain city, career-minded girls! stop taking them to small towns to “change them”. and unfortunately the sisters’ miscommunication was atrocious and overshadowed a lot of the romance parts which explains my star-rating.
some things that irked me so bad was (1) how the family angst and resolution played out and (2) how nora was considered “cold” to the very end. if she were a man, she’d be called ruthlessly ambitions and no one would say anything about her being career-focused, not wanting children, not wanting to move outside the city, etc. but because she’s a (tall) woman, she faced so much criticism, professionally and personally. i don’t understand how nora’s relationship with her sister libby is so revered when libby was one of those judgmental people that saw nora as cold and unfeeling. and how they made up so quickly which pissed me off so bad.
i understand why people love emily henry’s books and after reading this one, i can say it’s my favorite one to date.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol