alisonreadsitall's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. I’m reading all of EmHen’s backlog (YA) novels, and I have to say, I was really impressed by this one, not that it’s a huge surprise.
Magical realism isn’t my typical read nowadays, but this had me hooked from the start. One thing that Emily excels at is painting a picture. Her descriptions make you feel as though you are experiencing it right along with the characters. And we all know that she knows how to write a good book boyfriend. 😊🫠
There is an exploration of family legacy, love, loss, and grief in this book making it much heavier than I originally expected, but I think that’s what makes this so book so beautiful. Don’t read this if you aren’t ready to sit in your feelings. 🥹🥺
4.5 stars rounded up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Cancer
kshertz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Magical realism with a slow burn and slow pace are pretty hard for me. But this is a sweet Romeo and Juliet story about triumph and overcoming family curses and our histories. The lesson is great and it’s a sweet reminder about what is really important.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
sharbrz's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Death
soniajoy98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, and Animal death
Minor: Violence, Abandonment, and Child abuse
taty_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
This is my fourth Emily Henry book and it definitely took me on a journey. I enjoy magical realism. Seeing memories from the past and how it's affecting the present was pretty cool.
This story is definitely filled with a lot of grief and loss. Please check trigger warnings if you plan to read this one. It was magical but at the same time dark.
This story is definitely filled with a lot of grief and loss. Please check trigger warnings if you plan to read this one. It was magical but at the same time dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Chronic illness
taroroot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
frankly, i would never trust a man named Saul. additionally, i should not ever have to read "Ping!" in a non-corporate setting. other than that, it was okay. grief was really well explored throughout the book with both June and Saul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Chronic illness, Cancer, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and Suicide
theespressoedition's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As much as I absolutely adore Emily's latest contemporary romance novels, I just don't think her other books are for me... and that's okay.
A Million Junes was a book that I may have enjoyed if I'd had any idea what was happening. However, there are plenty of other "all vibes, no plot" books that I have enjoyed in the past, so maybe this wasn't the right time for me to read this one? I will say that I'm incredibly glad Julia Whelan narrated the audiobook because I at least enjoyed the performance even if I was clueless about the story itself.
I listened to almost the entire book in one afternoon. It's definitely a quick read, no doubt about it.
What baffled me the most is it felt like it was almost middle-grade at times, while adult at others, also a bit horror but sort of contemporary as well? I guess magical realism is the best way to look at it, with elements of creepiness that just kinda washed over the entire story.
Now that I'm writing about it, I'm thinking that in the future I just need to read it again and see if it hits differently a second time around. It's forbidden love - Romeo and Juliet style - and kind of messes with your mind, which are both things I normally enjoy. Maybe a second reading would help me out...
A Million Junes was a book that I may have enjoyed if I'd had any idea what was happening. However, there are plenty of other "all vibes, no plot" books that I have enjoyed in the past, so maybe this wasn't the right time for me to read this one? I will say that I'm incredibly glad Julia Whelan narrated the audiobook because I at least enjoyed the performance even if I was clueless about the story itself.
I listened to almost the entire book in one afternoon. It's definitely a quick read, no doubt about it.
What baffled me the most is it felt like it was almost middle-grade at times, while adult at others, also a bit horror but sort of contemporary as well? I guess magical realism is the best way to look at it, with elements of creepiness that just kinda washed over the entire story.
Now that I'm writing about it, I'm thinking that in the future I just need to read it again and see if it hits differently a second time around. It's forbidden love - Romeo and Juliet style - and kind of messes with your mind, which are both things I normally enjoy. Maybe a second reading would help me out...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Blood, and Murder
moonytoast's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Dementia
Moderate: Violence, Cancer, and Child death
znvisser's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was my first magical realism in a while and it started off good: I was really invested, especially for the first half. Just a cute story, interesting build-up, and the magic was just mysterious enough to pull you in. Unfortunately in the second half the magic and memories derailed a bit for me and the previously well-outlined current day characters kind of fade away with it. It started to feel like a list of essential memories that makes the reader understand quickly what happened, but then you still have to sit through many more memories, while the two MCs are very slow in their understanding of it all and then finally there is a whole event where the past is literally spelled out, but it takes unnecessarily long by being buried in even more elaborate magic scenery (and unfortunately I am not a scenery type of reader).
So unfortunately this story went a bit downhill for me but because I enjoyed the first half I was invested enough to continue; it didn’t completely ruin my experience but I would have preferred to stay closer to the earlier vibes.
So unfortunately this story went a bit downhill for me but because I enjoyed the first half I was invested enough to continue; it didn’t completely ruin my experience but I would have preferred to stay closer to the earlier vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Cancer, Child death, and Dementia
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
maggienistler's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Child death and Suicide