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zoer03's review
3.0
This is a pretty good book, saying that to live your life you need to just do rather than constantly worry whether your failing or worse just coasting. I did feel some sympathy for Emily as she lost her twin the other side to herself from a young age and how it affected her so much she couldn’t really grow or let go of the grief that consumed her. But through her drastically wanting to change her “average” looking life she finds that maybe thinking about what Claire would do if she was alive is not the best way about going about living. I wasn’t sure about the romance side of this story and that’s where it fell a bit flat for me… I found at times Emily could be a bit too much and a bit too typical of the general “I am rubbish, no one would stay with me by choice” type girl trope. I did find that the book may have been a bit too long but all in all it’s a decent story and has heart and it will move you.
laviederhi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, and Vomit
victoriab21's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
rafepennyvisc's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
raye_loves_reading's review
4.0
After watching a documentary on averages, Emily Turner has come to the conclusion that her life is average. For some, this would be enough, but Emily has felt, for a long time, that there is something off, as though she is failing at life.
The thing is, Emily isn’t really average, but she is dissatisfied, all around her people are making changes, but she’s just stuck in a job that doesn’t make her happy, she never travels, she observes the lives of others and she wants to make a change.
With the 20th anniversary of her twin’s death upon her, she is being haunted by memories of their life as children, and though she can’t seem to recognise it, she’s sliding into depression.
Emily is so determined not to be average that she is pushing people away, she’s scared of settling into a routine that doesn’t appeal.
The story is both incredibly sad (by which I mean it made me cry) and funny. Moments such as when she is horrified by the picture taken after she finishes a Tough Madder run or did a bungee jump are amusing and made me chuckle. But then there are the sections where we learn more about her sister Claire and the tragedy that leads up to her far too premature death.
Character development and growth in this book are really well done and I don’t think there is a single person I could say I didn’t like. Everyone from Leon her colleague in the charity shop to Bruce the brutal but complex HIIT instructor contributes to the story and to Emily’s plans to change her life. As Emily does things that change her life, stepping out of her comfort zone, the thoughts of her sister seem to grow stronger.
I really enjoyed this book, I managed to read it in a few hours and I couldn’t put it down. It has everything you could want from a contemporary romance, including making me cry. I love a book that makes you feel everything.
The thing is, Emily isn’t really average, but she is dissatisfied, all around her people are making changes, but she’s just stuck in a job that doesn’t make her happy, she never travels, she observes the lives of others and she wants to make a change.
With the 20th anniversary of her twin’s death upon her, she is being haunted by memories of their life as children, and though she can’t seem to recognise it, she’s sliding into depression.
Emily is so determined not to be average that she is pushing people away, she’s scared of settling into a routine that doesn’t appeal.
The story is both incredibly sad (by which I mean it made me cry) and funny. Moments such as when she is horrified by the picture taken after she finishes a Tough Madder run or did a bungee jump are amusing and made me chuckle. But then there are the sections where we learn more about her sister Claire and the tragedy that leads up to her far too premature death.
Character development and growth in this book are really well done and I don’t think there is a single person I could say I didn’t like. Everyone from Leon her colleague in the charity shop to Bruce the brutal but complex HIIT instructor contributes to the story and to Emily’s plans to change her life. As Emily does things that change her life, stepping out of her comfort zone, the thoughts of her sister seem to grow stronger.
I really enjoyed this book, I managed to read it in a few hours and I couldn’t put it down. It has everything you could want from a contemporary romance, including making me cry. I love a book that makes you feel everything.
emmascr's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews
This is Rebecca Ryan’s debut book and well you wouldn’t think so. She writes like a seasoned author Emily is very relatable. Without being too obvious she is just your average person. She has an average job and lives what she perceives as a very boring life. I think we have all been there thinking that we should be more than we are. Emily has the added pressure that she believes her twin sister would have had an amazing life had she not passed away when they were 8 years old. Emily’s life list made me laugh so much. The tough mudder scenes were some of my favourites. I had to stop reading to catch my breath because I was giggling so much. This book shows us how grief can keep affecting us even 20 years down the line. My mum passed away when I was 9 years old and even now at 33 grief can, at times, overwhelm me. I completely understand how Emily was feeling with a big anniversary looming and her family dealing with their grief differently to her. It can be easier to bury your head in the sand. This book was laugh out loud funny while also being very poignant. This is a beautiful book about life and grief but peppered with some of the funniest scenes I have ever read. An excellent debut and I cannot wait for more from Rebecca.
This is Rebecca Ryan’s debut book and well you wouldn’t think so. She writes like a seasoned author Emily is very relatable. Without being too obvious she is just your average person. She has an average job and lives what she perceives as a very boring life. I think we have all been there thinking that we should be more than we are. Emily has the added pressure that she believes her twin sister would have had an amazing life had she not passed away when they were 8 years old. Emily’s life list made me laugh so much. The tough mudder scenes were some of my favourites. I had to stop reading to catch my breath because I was giggling so much. This book shows us how grief can keep affecting us even 20 years down the line. My mum passed away when I was 9 years old and even now at 33 grief can, at times, overwhelm me. I completely understand how Emily was feeling with a big anniversary looming and her family dealing with their grief differently to her. It can be easier to bury your head in the sand. This book was laugh out loud funny while also being very poignant. This is a beautiful book about life and grief but peppered with some of the funniest scenes I have ever read. An excellent debut and I cannot wait for more from Rebecca.