meremeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
Minor: Child abuse
poisonivy's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
3.0
man i battled to get through this, but it was def an it’s not you it’s me situation - objectively this is probably a good book, i just couldn’t get into it 🥲
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Child abuse
lauragreer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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: Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Child death
thegazillionthreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.5
My thoughts (mainly for myself to look back on)
I have been debating between 3.5 or 4 stars…. Because I absolutely loved the writer’s aspect of the characters in the book + the few quotes I really liked, I think I will say 4.
Update: 3.5 won the debate I think, (which is not on a bad rating on my personal rating scale)
This book was a bit different than what I expected. Not in a bad way, it was just more serious and deep than I thought it was going to be, and not the “super fun only focused on the steamy romance” that I thought, although it did have some funny and swoon scenes. The blurb had me imagining and speculating how things would be (especially when it mentioned cults, and I became apprehensive from it actually) but it all ended up being pretty different from what I anticipated, cults and all.
At times I kept losing focus though and had to keep rereading things, which affected things a tad. Some of this due to outside factors, the writing style could be it but idk why because it was pretty clear, some due to the timeline of things especially in the beginning… but it really does boil down to me being way too easily confused 😅 so that’s on me.
I didn’t always feel the chemistry between the characters… other times I did.
Spoilers Below
Spoilers Below
Gus, even up until the end, I couldn’t fully trust him, it wavered. Not because he was a bad guy, no no no. He really was a good guy. But he was written so well I think and then seeing things from January’s POV I was feeling bad for her several times. When he disappeared. Then after that phone call. Then even when he went and talked to his ex and just didn’t really say anything for a whole day. I guess it’s the lack of communication and silence and all that… but, it did concern me for January and their relationship 😅
But I get it, I get that’s his character and why he is that way and that he’s a lot more than that and all that. And in the end they seemed good.
Like I said, I liked some of the quotes and the whole message of “happy for nows”. It’s real and I like it.
Also I must add how my jaw DROPPED when Gus’ romance book was revealed. That was not what I expected. Omg. 😭 Sir, that is not a happy ending or a romance book. (I know, I know. It’s a happy ending to him, but still 😂)
Also like I said, absolutely loved that they were writers, and several times it made me want to go write.
All in all, not quite what I expected and sadly didn’t love it as much as I hoped, but it was still good and I would still recommend to those who are thinking of giving it a go.
I have been debating between 3.5 or 4 stars…. Because I absolutely loved the writer’s aspect of the characters in the book + the few quotes I really liked, I think I will say 4.
Update: 3.5 won the debate I think, (which is not on a bad rating on my personal rating scale)
This book was a bit different than what I expected. Not in a bad way, it was just more serious and deep than I thought it was going to be, and not the “super fun only focused on the steamy romance” that I thought, although it did have some funny and swoon scenes. The blurb had me imagining and speculating how things would be (especially when it mentioned cults, and I became apprehensive from it actually) but it all ended up being pretty different from what I anticipated, cults and all.
At times I kept losing focus though and had to keep rereading things, which affected things a tad. Some of this due to outside factors, the writing style could be it but idk why because it was pretty clear, some due to the timeline of things especially in the beginning… but it really does boil down to me being way too easily confused 😅 so that’s on me.
I didn’t always feel the chemistry between the characters… other times I did.
Spoilers Below
Spoilers Below
Gus, even up until the end, I couldn’t fully trust him, it wavered. Not because he was a bad guy, no no no. He really was a good guy. But he was written so well I think and then seeing things from January’s POV I was feeling bad for her several times. When he disappeared. Then after that phone call. Then even when he went and talked to his ex and just didn’t really say anything for a whole day. I guess it’s the lack of communication and silence and all that… but, it did concern me for January and their relationship 😅
But I get it, I get that’s his character and why he is that way and that he’s a lot more than that and all that. And in the end they seemed good.
Like I said, I liked some of the quotes and the whole message of “happy for nows”. It’s real and I like it.
Also I must add how my jaw DROPPED when Gus’ romance book was revealed. That was not what I expected. Omg. 😭 Sir, that is not a happy ending or a romance book. (I know, I know. It’s a happy ending to him, but still 😂)
Also like I said, absolutely loved that they were writers, and several times it made me want to go write.
All in all, not quite what I expected and sadly didn’t love it as much as I hoped, but it was still good and I would still recommend to those who are thinking of giving it a go.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Child abuse
caitlinjadams's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Wow wow wow this book is meaty and a delight and made me cry and smile and think and I wish I could read it for the first time again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse
Cultskryfrh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
- 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: Grief
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
annick's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This spoke to me. I read a lot of fantasy and unrealistic fiction. This was refreshing. Grounded in real life emotions and experiences and humour. The final few chapters didn’t deliver as much as I’d hoped but I will be reading this again. Highlighting and annotating the humour and spice and most importantly the emotional and philosophical reflections.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Cancer, Violence, and Toxic relationship
maello's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
I would say overall this book was good! I really enjoyed it, and definitely cried at some parts. I definitely didn't like the 'typical' parts where the girl assumes the feelings of the guy. I get why she did that, etc, but it's just hard to read. I feel like I've read it a million times. I would recommend this book to people that like 'grumpy-sunshine' tropes or 'rivals-to-lovers' (sort of, it's more like misunderstood rivals-to-lovers or one-sided). It had good writing, there are a few good quotes that I really loved that the writer includes during parts where the MC is being introspective. I would say that this story is more of a good one rather than an okay one, was a good read, but was predictable. And I kind of didn't like the ending either.
My rating system:
5 ⭐ = Great story, loved it, would definitely recommend to everyone
4 ⭐ = Good story, enjoyed it, worth the read, would recommend it to people that like this genre
3 ⭐ = Okay story, some predictable parts, it was fine
2 ⭐ = Lame story, boring, kept losing interest
1 ⭐ = Terrible story, couldn't finish
My rating system:
5 ⭐ = Great story, loved it, would definitely recommend to everyone
4 ⭐ = Good story, enjoyed it, worth the read, would recommend it to people that like this genre
3 ⭐ = Okay story, some predictable parts, it was fine
2 ⭐ = Lame story, boring, kept losing interest
1 ⭐ = Terrible story, couldn't finish
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Cancer
Minor: Vomit and Child abuse
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