chrstnlvly's review
emotional
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? No
4.0
Do you ever feel like your life got away from you somehow?
A short story by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this hit so close to home.
Aside from Fredrik Backman, TJR is one of my new favorite author. I'll read anything she writes. I'm convinced TJR's books are amazing because she sucks you into the world of her characters. She makes you believe they are real people, which says a lot about her writing style. First page of this story and I was engrossed.
Read this in an hour (it's only 88 pages and is free on KU). For some reason, I was teary eyed all throughout the time I was reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Pregnancy
romancefullybooked_kel's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Infertility
maira_h's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 stars 🌟Â
I've never read anything by TJR, mostly because 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' is massively popular, and I was scared of being disappointed. The only reason I chose to read this was probably because it was super short. I didn't think a novella with only letters as a story-telling device would give this much of an impact. But I'm wrong on so many levels. This was so engaging for such a short little book.
Maybe I'll another book by TJR in the future.
I've never read anything by TJR, mostly because 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' is massively popular, and I was scared of being disappointed. The only reason I chose to read this was probably because it was super short. I didn't think a novella with only letters as a story-telling device would give this much of an impact. But I'm wrong on so many levels. This was so engaging for such a short little book.
Maybe I'll another book by TJR in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
chloelj27's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Infertility
alannahberkeley's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Infidelity
savleigh3's review
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Infertility
daijastoughton's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Infertility
Moderate: Pregnancy
toofondofbooks_'s review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh my god. i loved this. i didn't cry but i got pretty close. this was just such a bittersweet little story told in epistolary format; letters written back and forth between man and a woman whose respective spouses are having an affair with each other. they piece together literal evidence of the affair and develop a special relationship in the process. i just thought this was so well done. i could see it working as a full length novel, but also think it works just fine as a novella. TJR got me again with another banger.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Infertility, and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
trish1oo1's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While I do love an interesting narrative device I feel like telling this story through letters limits the story. We have seen these characters before, we have seen this plot before, and this story before. But what would make it unique? Making these characters distinguishable and interesting. Since this story is only being told by letter we are limited in what we learn about the characters. We don't get to see them at dinner and interact, we only read about the aftermath. That is not good storytelling and it makes reading this story less enjoyable. I'm sure the author had great intentions for this story by coming up with a fun narrative device however, this was not the correct story to use it. The vagueness and missing character details do not work in such a brief story.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
bealittlebrave's review
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Infertility