camilaremolina 's review for:

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

3.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I honestly don’t know where to start. The premise of this book is absolutely adorable and intriguing. The whole “scavenger hunt after death” idea is always a great hook (it gave me major P.S. I Love You vibes, which I’m pretty sure inspired the author).

That said, I did run into a few issues, mostly with the FMC. In my opinion, she came across as really immature. It felt like she wasn’t even aware that she needed therapy or some serious self-reflection until the very end of the book. Yes, she went through a lot (losing Josh and dealing with their awful mother) but she lashed out and treated almost everyone around her terribly for most of the story. Her behavior toward Dom was especially harsh, like something a teenager would do. Even her own friends got the cold shoulder. I mean, I’m 25 and sure, I hold grudges like the best of us, but I don’t throw tantrums or act rude at every chance I get. Maybe that’s just me.

Overall, though, I still appreciated the story. It was endearing and wholesome by the end. The smut, however, felt kind of forced—very graphic and stretched out over too many pages without really adding to the emotional weight of the story.

One last thing: the whole “mom as an influencer” subplot just didn’t work for me. It felt unnecessary. I know I’m probably biased because I prefer stories that feel a bit more timeless, and when books start throwing in words like “Instagram,” “TikTok,” and “influencer,” I immediately get the ick. But again, maybe that’s just a personal thing. The mom could’ve still been awful without the blogger angle.

Anyway, I guess I had a lot to say! Please don’t let my opinion stop you from picking up this book, it still has a lot of heart and could very well become one of your favorites. That’s the beauty of reading: we won’t always see things the same way, and that’s okay.