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notesonthepage's Reviews (353)
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
No
I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop thinking about this book any time soon. Abby Jimenez has a way of crafting characters and stories that stick—books that are so full of life and heavy-hitting themes wrapped in romance and humor.
What happens if the romance plot is a done deal and the book has barely gotten started? An author’s contract with me as a romance reader is that they will provide the HEA by the end of the book (and ideally include an epilogue so I have time to come down from all the feels before meeting real life head on again). So of course I know that the romantic protagonists are going to be together when I close the book. But the formation of that certainty is typically a slow process that takes most of the book.
In Say You’ll Remember Me, Abby Jimenez avoids things like a third act break-up or a major miscommunication that threatens to derail the building of the thing that will later become the HEA. Instead she allows life itself to provide the conflict and challenge. There were real issues for the FMC and MMC—both internal and external. But their flaws weren’t at the center of the book’s conflicts.
I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this, and I certainly haven’t cried and shouted, “No way!” out loud (in my kitchen, don’t worry) while reading a book. I will be rereading this one for sure.
What happens if the romance plot is a done deal and the book has barely gotten started? An author’s contract with me as a romance reader is that they will provide the HEA by the end of the book (and ideally include an epilogue so I have time to come down from all the feels before meeting real life head on again). So of course I know that the romantic protagonists are going to be together when I close the book. But the formation of that certainty is typically a slow process that takes most of the book.
In Say You’ll Remember Me, Abby Jimenez avoids things like a third act break-up or a major miscommunication that threatens to derail the building of the thing that will later become the HEA. Instead she allows life itself to provide the conflict and challenge. There were real issues for the FMC and MMC—both internal and external. But their flaws weren’t at the center of the book’s conflicts.
I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this, and I certainly haven’t cried and shouted, “No way!” out loud (in my kitchen, don’t worry) while reading a book. I will be rereading this one for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Becky is a mess. She just doesn’t know why. She has the typical ennui of a late 20-something in a novel whose friends seem to have it more together, and at first it seems like the book is going to be pretty predictable.
After quite a lot of exposition, the main catalyst of the plot (a foreboding tarot reading) sets off a series of events that drive the rest of the book. She gets the Death card and, because she knows nothing about tarot, assumes it’s literal and makes some drastic choices. The book’s title is in reference to the way Becky communicates with the people she loves after the tarot reading—through handwritten letters.
In the aftermath of some Bridget Jones-esque awkwardness, Becky starts to face her mess.
I really didn’t like Becky until close to the end of the book, and I only barely tolerated her friends and her mom until at least halfway through. It was almost as if I felt about Becky and her loved ones the way she did—underwhelmed and a bit let down in the beginning, then frustrated and bitter, then grudgingly respectful.
I blew through this book in a handful of hours, definitely staying up too late when it started to get really intriguing in the middle and I didn’t want to wait to find out what happened next. There are a lot of places I wish the author had spent more time unpacking things (Becky’s relationship with her dad, for example); characters I wish were more fleshed out (such as Becky’s half-sister); and situations that seemed either out of character or slightly too neatly tied up.
Overall though, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a millennial coming-of-age novel based in London with strong Bridget Jones’s Diary and Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k-Up vibes.
Some elements I especially appreciated about this book:
- non-hetero FMC (bisexual representation)
- character descriptions that don’t talk at all about “beauty” or body size
- casual references to 2025-ish that add humor or detail (without overly dating the book or rendering it irrelevant a few years down the road)
- proper usage of the term gaslighting
- positive representations of healthy adult relationships (eventually)
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
After quite a lot of exposition, the main catalyst of the plot (a foreboding tarot reading) sets off a series of events that drive the rest of the book. She gets the Death card and, because she knows nothing about tarot, assumes it’s literal and makes some drastic choices. The book’s title is in reference to the way Becky communicates with the people she loves after the tarot reading—through handwritten letters.
In the aftermath of some Bridget Jones-esque awkwardness, Becky starts to face her mess.
I really didn’t like Becky until close to the end of the book, and I only barely tolerated her friends and her mom until at least halfway through. It was almost as if I felt about Becky and her loved ones the way she did—underwhelmed and a bit let down in the beginning, then frustrated and bitter, then grudgingly respectful.
I blew through this book in a handful of hours, definitely staying up too late when it started to get really intriguing in the middle and I didn’t want to wait to find out what happened next. There are a lot of places I wish the author had spent more time unpacking things (Becky’s relationship with her dad, for example); characters I wish were more fleshed out (such as Becky’s half-sister); and situations that seemed either out of character or slightly too neatly tied up.
Overall though, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a millennial coming-of-age novel based in London with strong Bridget Jones’s Diary and Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k-Up vibes.
Some elements I especially appreciated about this book:
- non-hetero FMC (bisexual representation)
- character descriptions that don’t talk at all about “beauty” or body size
- casual references to 2025-ish that add humor or detail (without overly dating the book or rendering it irrelevant a few years down the road)
- proper usage of the term gaslighting
- positive representations of healthy adult relationships (eventually)
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
I listened to the audiobook for this one, and I’m grateful to the narrators for bringing the two main characters to life with such depth.
There is so much about this book that I really enjoyed, starting with the premise. It’s not just a couple or some friends who got swept out to sea, but two strangers on a one night stand. I liked getting to know the house boat, and the introduction of a rescue seagull named Eugene. I also appreciated the inclusion of PTSD symptoms (hyper vigilance, nightmares, etc.) in the “After” section. While I’m definitely in it for the HEA, I also like the messiness of reality in my romance novels.
Lexi and Zeke were an interesting pair. They were 3-dimensional with baggage and backstories that came out gradually throughout the book. I’ve read and loved several Beth O’Leary books—two favorites being The Switch and The Flatshare. While I’ve found some of her protagonists to be extremely lovable, others haven’t been my favorite (and I may have wanted to root against them at times). In this book, I didn’t love Zeke or Lexi right off the bat, but I certainly rooted for them and loved watching them grow together. They felt relatable and real, with flaws and annoying traits as well as genuinely good hearts and generous spirits.
Beth O’Leary writes books that are unique and immersive. I’m always curious about what she’s going to come out with next. I highly recommend this one.
There is so much about this book that I really enjoyed, starting with the premise. It’s not just a couple or some friends who got swept out to sea, but two strangers on a one night stand. I liked getting to know the house boat, and the introduction of a rescue seagull named Eugene. I also appreciated the inclusion of PTSD symptoms (hyper vigilance, nightmares, etc.) in the “After” section. While I’m definitely in it for the HEA, I also like the messiness of reality in my romance novels.
Lexi and Zeke were an interesting pair. They were 3-dimensional with baggage and backstories that came out gradually throughout the book. I’ve read and loved several Beth O’Leary books—two favorites being The Switch and The Flatshare. While I’ve found some of her protagonists to be extremely lovable, others haven’t been my favorite (and I may have wanted to root against them at times). In this book, I didn’t love Zeke or Lexi right off the bat, but I certainly rooted for them and loved watching them grow together. They felt relatable and real, with flaws and annoying traits as well as genuinely good hearts and generous spirits.
Beth O’Leary writes books that are unique and immersive. I’m always curious about what she’s going to come out with next. I highly recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Abandonment
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, I can officially add Carley Fortune to the list of authors whose books I’m not allowed to read at bedtime, because I will inevitably stay up half the night reading. I wanted to like the protagonists more than I did, but the plot was incredibly interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Fun with National Parks: A Big Activity Book for Kids about America's Natural Wonders
Candela Ferrández, Nicole Claesen
I got a digital ARC from NetGalley.
This book is wonderful—I loved the layout, artwork, content, and representation.
Layout:
I appreciated that the font was sans serif, which makes it easier for early readers to decode. There is a lot of white space—it isn’t overly busy.
Artwork:
The illustrations are both whimsical and informative.
Content:
There is just enough information about each park to be informative without overwhelming young readers. The activities are nicely varied and well thought out. There are details about geography, geology, people, animals, plants, and climate.
Representation:
My favorite thing about the book was the intentional representation. Information about indigenous peoples who predate the formation of national parks was prevalent and straight-forward. Visuals of people included multiple skin tones. Climate change was mentioned as an impact on the glacial fields in one particular national park.
Overall, I think this book is incredible. I will recommend it to all of my fellow teachers and parents of young children, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy for my child’s library.
This book is wonderful—I loved the layout, artwork, content, and representation.
Layout:
I appreciated that the font was sans serif, which makes it easier for early readers to decode. There is a lot of white space—it isn’t overly busy.
Artwork:
The illustrations are both whimsical and informative.
Content:
There is just enough information about each park to be informative without overwhelming young readers. The activities are nicely varied and well thought out. There are details about geography, geology, people, animals, plants, and climate.
Representation:
My favorite thing about the book was the intentional representation. Information about indigenous peoples who predate the formation of national parks was prevalent and straight-forward. Visuals of people included multiple skin tones. Climate change was mentioned as an impact on the glacial fields in one particular national park.
Overall, I think this book is incredible. I will recommend it to all of my fellow teachers and parents of young children, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy for my child’s library.
