A review by hardbackhoarder
One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-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

4.5

I may add a higher rating after reflection considering how much I can't stop thinking about this book!
Do not be fooled by the cute, rom-com like cover, this book will pull at your heart strings in some serious ways. This has so little to do with romance and more to do with the complexities of friendships over time and coming-of-age into adulthood when you have no clue where you are headed. 

The beginning felt like a normal romance novel, pulling me in with the comfort of the knowable happy ending and then the year gaps made me realize something was up. I'm a sucker for a right-people, wrong-timing trope and this delivered on that and so much more. 

We focus a lot on insecurities throughout on with different characters, even those who aren't the main characters, and I found myself crying out of relating to them, out of hope, and out of fear and sadness at times. 

This was such an unexpected experience and I am thrilled it turned out as such (even if I do feel a bit bamboozled thinking I was about to read a quick cute little romance). 
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