alisylvi's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, and Cancer
Minor: Death of parent and Racial slurs
reverie_and_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Every chapter is introduced by a letter from A.J. to his daughter Maya: full of love, warmth and bookish references. There is also a love-story and tragedy; both of which are told rather (too) lightly. The setting is a small town on a small island with touristy and non-touristy seasons.
I feel obliged to give few minus points for the following comparison: »[…] he had opened and closed the store with the emotionless regularity of an SS officer […]«. Just no, never ever for a funny themed self-observation. Cross that out and you have a story that first seems easy, with a father-daughter-relationship full of warmth and a subtle grin on your face. In the first half I got mostly what I was expecting from this novel, which was a lighter read packed with bookish things and some small town romance sprinkles. However, the second half left me quite sour. I have a desire to spoil, but I’ll refrain and just drop this instead: It does remind me of YA-books that were popular ~10 years ago (it was released 2014 and recently got a new cover).
As with so many stories there are themes that might be upsetting for you. Take care and check for possible content warnings. I would have liked one.
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Car accident
transfluff's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Alcohol, Suicide, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Car accident, Vomit, Death, and Alcoholism
ed_w's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Death, Chronic illness, Car accident, Suicide, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, and Drug use
lauracollins096's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Minor: Xenophobia, Ableism, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Medical content
jessicat10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Miscarriage
lejanne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Death, Car accident, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Cancer
emilybacher's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Cancer
Moderate: Suicide
sglance9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content