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mary_mel 's review for:
What Happens in Amsterdam
by Rachel Lynn Solomon
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I’m torn between 3.75 and 4!
What I loved
- that the author poured her love for Amsterdam and the Dutch culture into the book and how it shows (at least to me as non Dutch person). I felt I traveled there and learnt some words and cultural things.
- the second chance trope
- the way is starts as a total disaster was funny
- Wouter (the MMC) is AN ABSOLUTE GREEN FLAG. Like a real gem as MMC, mature, confident, smart, caring about his family, gentle. And being a tall hottie isn’t his main attribute as MMC?
- his family
What I liked less:
- I’m not sure about how Dani the FMC was portrayed. I liked to see her character growing. I liked how she allowed herself to chose for herself and not for her parents. But there are things that annoyed me a bit about her behaviour (like her miscommunication?)
- her parents were really annoying but at the same time they were too borderline between caring and people you want to hate. I’d prefer more one way or the other to have clear characters and not this kind juste for the sake of fitting in the story
- the smutty scenes were too 🌶️ for me and too long, it’s not that I want only closed bedroom scenes but it felt like the author didn’t want to have second chance instalust to seal the relationship but at the same time, the level of character intimacy put in these scenes was used to somehow justify that they will end together despite having big communication issues? Idk it felt inconsistent with the rest
Other things I think were a bit suboptimal, like why not but could have brought more to the story:
- therelationship dynamics between Iulia and Roos. It’s the only two other single characters and tadam then end up having a crush on each other and that’s all we’ll know about. Why not but also, why?
- the importance of art for both main characters. We have glimpses of it on the Now timeline but considering how much it was back then and that it’s something they have in common I’m disappointed that we don’t see her having a new job in art or him getting back to art more than some sketches here in there
- the height gap was exaggerated and reminded at times it was not the main issue like she is 1.50m and he’s tall like Dutch tall! I don’t mind petite rep but do we have to have it mentioned every time she sees a bike but surprisingly we don’t hear about it much between them while it is huge
Overall I loved the Amsterdam vibes, the Dutch culture impressions, the second chance/ fake marriage tropes, the MMC who’s the best green flag ever and the character growth of the FMC
I was less into the book due to the miscommunication trope between several characters with and around the FMC, the FMC herself and the smutty scenes being too long.
What I loved
- that the author poured her love for Amsterdam and the Dutch culture into the book and how it shows (at least to me as non Dutch person). I felt I traveled there and learnt some words and cultural things.
- the second chance trope
- the way is starts as a total disaster was funny
- Wouter (the MMC) is AN ABSOLUTE GREEN FLAG. Like a real gem as MMC, mature, confident, smart, caring about his family, gentle. And being a tall hottie isn’t his main attribute as MMC?
- his family
What I liked less:
- I’m not sure about how Dani the FMC was portrayed. I liked to see her character growing. I liked how she allowed herself to chose for herself and not for her parents. But there are things that annoyed me a bit about her behaviour (like her miscommunication?)
- her parents were really annoying but at the same time they were too borderline between caring and people you want to hate. I’d prefer more one way or the other to have clear characters and not this kind juste for the sake of fitting in the story
- the smutty scenes were too 🌶️ for me and too long, it’s not that I want only closed bedroom scenes but it felt like the author didn’t want to have second chance instalust to seal the relationship but at the same time, the level of character intimacy put in these scenes was used to somehow justify that they will end together despite having big communication issues? Idk it felt inconsistent with the rest
Other things I think were a bit suboptimal, like why not but could have brought more to the story:
- the
- the importance of art for both main characters. We have glimpses of it on the Now timeline but considering how much it was back then and that it’s something they have in common I’m disappointed that
- the height gap was exaggerated and reminded at times it was not the main issue
Overall I loved the Amsterdam vibes, the Dutch culture impressions, the second chance/ fake marriage tropes, the MMC who’s the best green flag ever and the character growth of the FMC
I was less into the book due to the miscommunication trope between several characters with and around the FMC, the FMC herself and the smutty scenes being too long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Alcohol