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lkristin2018's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.5
Poppy and Alex met in college. They have very different personalities, but grew to be very close friends. However, at the beginning of the book, it is clear that something happened two years ago to fracture their friendship. Every summer for ten years, they had vacationed together, and they agree to try again.
This is a sweet romantic comedy that also deals with some serious issues, in particular how being bullied and feeling different continues to affect people even after the bullying has ended. It also shows how losing a parent at a young age causes pain that is not easily dealt with, even for adults. And, of course, like many romantic comedies, miscommunication and incorrect assumptions about other people cause many difficulties.
I enjoyed the way Emily Henry wove the story together, alternating the present and the past gradually until the full picture could be understood. I also liked the character development and that both of the main characters went to therapy to better understand themselves. This definitely helps destigmatize seeking help for mental health.
This is a sweet romantic comedy that also deals with some serious issues, in particular how being bullied and feeling different continues to affect people even after the bullying has ended. It also shows how losing a parent at a young age causes pain that is not easily dealt with, even for adults. And, of course, like many romantic comedies, miscommunication and incorrect assumptions about other people cause many difficulties.
I enjoyed the way Emily Henry wove the story together, alternating the present and the past gradually until the full picture could be understood. I also liked the character development and that both of the main characters went to therapy to better understand themselves. This definitely helps destigmatize seeking help for mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
One joke about suicide and one joke about self harm. Lots of drinking and drug references. One main character was bullied and sexually harassed as a teenager and one main character was dealing with the grief of having lost a parent at a young age.gauriraut's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy
taryn_g's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Injury/Injury detail
isabellarob73's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the book drew from When Harry Met Sally (one of the best rom coms of all time). At times the book made me anxious, or amused, or a little sad. I did feel like the end was somehow too rushed after the slowness of the first portion. So I guess my complaint is that it could’ve been longer. Still, I appreciate Emily Henry’s style of writing that uses romance to also broach other important aspects of life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, and Pregnancy
lilshelly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Normally not one for romcoms, but this made me feel all kinds of happy and invested. Loved the descriptions. I loved Alex. The emotions were so tangible. And frustrating on occasion. Just learn to communicate!
The only complaint I have is that the incident that made them not talk for two years was partially what I expected and also underwhelming. There was a lot of build up to it for it to be kind of a "that's it?" moment.
But, still worth it.
The only complaint I have is that the incident that made them not talk for two years was partially what I expected and also underwhelming. There was a lot of build up to it for it to be kind of a "that's it?" moment.
But, still worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
kailiyahknight's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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: Bullying, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death and Drug use
carlymarie17's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.25
Not nearly as good as Beach Read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Death of parent
bzliz'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
3.75
I have some seriously mixed feelings here. On one hand, I had a good time reading this and I do think Poppy and Alex are wonderful together. On the other, I can’t help but think about how downright irritating they would both be if they were real and I think their situation would be borderline toxic. They are a special kind of codependent that is somehow both sweet and infuriating at the same time, which gives me pause, but then Emily Henry redeems both of them in my eyes by putting them both in therapy! That’s my number one comment about a lot of book couples- get your ass to therapy- and this time they both did the damn thing!
I also might be in the minority for this but I think the book was well paced and I liked jumping between the current time and the progressive timeline of their relationship over many, many vacations. The passing of years showcased how much they meant to each other and, for me, how it became scarier to admit their feelings over time because they each had so much to lose if it went wrong.
I also might be in the minority for this but I think the book was well paced and I liked jumping between the current time and the progressive timeline of their relationship over many, many vacations. The passing of years showcased how much they meant to each other and, for me, how it became scarier to admit their feelings over time because they each had so much to lose if it went wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
chluless's review against another edition
3.5
this took a minute for me to get into but i ended up loving it.
emily henry might be the only contemporary romance author to melt my cold cold heart
emily henry might be the only contemporary romance author to melt my cold cold heart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
cielosiluminado'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
3.0
It’s fascinating. How so much of love is about who you are with someone.
i really wanted to love this because poppy and alex were so cute and funny. but sadly i personally can’t rate it higher because of the lack of communication being the reason why they went 2 years no contact + 12 years in total of being in love with each other but doing nothing. it was so frustrating when reading and learning more of their background/relationship, and seeing how blatantly the lack of communication made them (and me) suffer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Death of parent