librarybookscene's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I found January annoying for not being able to get over the fact that her father wasn’t who she thought he was. Of course parents have lives they don’t tell/share with their children, the same way children have parts they don’t share with their parents
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
tytrack99's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.75
I LOVED this book!! I was laughing out loud at points and literally screaming at the cute moments. ALMOST a 5 star, but the moments when they were off just bc January ASSUMED what he was feeling instead of just asking were annoying. and the fact they got engaged not even a year after his divorce lol. for all we know the divorce could have been finalized the month before. so I knocked off .25 stars for those two things. but otherwise, I loved it! I loved the deeper themes she explored within the infatuation she had for Gus as well as her own grief and trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Child abuse
witcheslovingwitches's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
it’s always books with the silly little cartoon character covers that end up shattering your heart. what a feat of the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cancer, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
livelaughomo'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
January is reeling from the implosion of her personal life when she arrives in a lake house for the summer only to find her college rival Gus living next door. They agree to swap genres in an attempt to combat their mutual writer’s block, but they’re not prepared for the feelings developing between them.
I’m finally in my Emily Henry era and I could not be happier. This book was everything everyone promised it would be, and I’ll keep this review short and sweet because we all know the internet really doesn’t need my opinions added to the ten million reviews of this book already out there. That said, I LOVED this and I have to scream it from the rafters at least once, so consider this that scream. I cried SO HARD (from literally 3 pages in and then again all the way through the last 50 pages). The characters are SO good, and so many lines will live rent free in my mind forever (why say ILY when Gus Everett said WIWYSIFOTYE). I am so glad I finally read this and truly can’t wait to continue my EmHen journey!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; small town vibes; crying
CW: Loss of parent; grief; mentions of child abuse/domestic violence; infidelity
January is reeling from the implosion of her personal life when she arrives in a lake house for the summer only to find her college rival Gus living next door. They agree to swap genres in an attempt to combat their mutual writer’s block, but they’re not prepared for the feelings developing between them.
I’m finally in my Emily Henry era and I could not be happier. This book was everything everyone promised it would be, and I’ll keep this review short and sweet because we all know the internet really doesn’t need my opinions added to the ten million reviews of this book already out there. That said, I LOVED this and I have to scream it from the rafters at least once, so consider this that scream. I cried SO HARD (from literally 3 pages in and then again all the way through the last 50 pages). The characters are SO good, and so many lines will live rent free in my mind forever (why say ILY when Gus Everett said WIWYSIFOTYE). I am so glad I finally read this and truly can’t wait to continue my EmHen journey!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; small town vibes; crying
CW: Loss of parent; grief; mentions of child abuse/domestic violence; infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Child abuse, Cancer, and Death
cassie7e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Both a substabtial literary novel and a romance. Unexpectedly charming and funny, with some lovely descriptive lines. The characters are fully individually developed and have stories outside the romance plot. The banter feels genuine and personal (though book dialogue is never realistic) rather than generic and cheesy like so many others I've read. I so appreciate characters that actually speak to each other and express vulnerability, very refreshing. And a much more interesting deal than the contrived "pretend to be fiances" plot, and developed characters and story beyond the relationship between the main characters.
This book feels like a commentary on itself - the combination of literary and romance tropes - and I always love stories about the process of writing and how stories come out of so many pieces of us and what we're working through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse
jessica1994's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Cancer, and Child abuse
kat_rowlen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
I didn’t think January and Gus had much chemistry and their romance seemed forced. Also, the conflict at the end was basically just a misconception which was annoying. The story just never really came together for me. I would have rather read the fake books in this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Infidelity
khloereads86's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this one so much more this time than the first time I read it a couple years ago. January & Gus <3 both healing and trying to be their best for themselves and each other. It was so sweet and funny and real. Emily Henry books always feel like home
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Cancer
rad_reads_123's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Vomit