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lisacanteven's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
I did enjoy this book. The plot was very unique and moved at a great pace. I loved hanging out with these characters. I just didn't love the writing style. It felt a little too screen writing and not enough like a novel. It was the same reason I don't care for Emily Henry's books. They feel like they are only written to become the next Netflix hit.
I'm also surprised the editor didn't make the author remove the use of "tattoo of his heartbeat" about 3 times. The fact that it appeared in the books 4 times (or more if I missed one) is outrageous.
I did really love the look into Helen and Grant's jobs. I would love to have that job if it didn't mean living in LA, so I really appreciated how much detail the author went into the scenes surrounding their jobs.
I'm also surprised the editor didn't make the author remove the use of "tattoo of his heartbeat" about 3 times. The fact that it appeared in the books 4 times (or more if I missed one) is outrageous.
I did really love the look into Helen and Grant's jobs. I would love to have that job if it didn't mean living in LA, so I really appreciated how much detail the author went into the scenes surrounding their jobs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
juanat77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
datskira's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
nnennaya_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, and Grief
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
I feel like you can tell this book is written by a screenwriter, and it’s fun to have a glimpse into that world.
There is a large car scene / suicide on the first page and a lot of the book deals with the trauma from that experience, from both the sister and the car driver. Helen (the sister) hasn’t seen the car driver, Grant Shepard (doesn’t that sound like a Hollywood name?) since the accident. Then he shows up as the script writer for her book series that is going into production.
Most of the book is from Helen’s pov, but sometimes it does alternate between her and Grant.
It was a fun read, with some spicy scenes (she actually lists the chapters at the end of the Acknowledgments) and lots of orgasms. Iykyk
“But Helen has created a very special window into her life that’s just for her parents… She stores up bad news like acorns in winter and metes them out in small doses, when she finally has good news to soften the blow.” P109
“She… wonders if emotional earthquakes have the same kind of internal fallout - rattled bones, shaken foundations, everything hanging on the walls slightly askew.” P200
“He woke up this morning feeling like he should make some space in his life for people with long winter coats….
Maybe, he thinks, I should just get rid of things I don’t need anymore.” P213
There is a large car scene / suicide on the first page and a lot of the book deals with the trauma from that experience, from both the sister and the car driver. Helen (the sister) hasn’t seen the car driver, Grant Shepard (doesn’t that sound like a Hollywood name?) since the accident. Then he shows up as the script writer for her book series that is going into production.
Most of the book is from Helen’s pov, but sometimes it does alternate between her and Grant.
It was a fun read, with some spicy scenes (she actually lists the chapters at the end of the Acknowledgments) and lots of orgasms. Iykyk
“But Helen has created a very special window into her life that’s just for her parents… She stores up bad news like acorns in winter and metes them out in small doses, when she finally has good news to soften the blow.” P109
“She… wonders if emotional earthquakes have the same kind of internal fallout - rattled bones, shaken foundations, everything hanging on the walls slightly askew.” P200
“He woke up this morning feeling like he should make some space in his life for people with long winter coats….
Maybe, he thinks, I should just get rid of things I don’t need anymore.” P213
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
michelle_my_belle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great mix of heavy and fun (and spicy). I also appreciated the author's use of dual POV. It was so nice to get almost simultaneously, both characters' perspectives throughout the shared scenes. I could definitely feel the author's experience in screenwriting. The story felt very cinematic. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
nailartklaudia's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Car accident
waltyelnats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
emmahe's review against another edition
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
abbeyjreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
yes, yulin kuang, i di trust you with the film adaptations of emhen’s work. i really do.
i ADORED THIS!!!! i appreciate it when the background of characters in romcoms is actually complex and nuanced instead of *trying* to be complex and nuanced and failing miserably. kuang put so much heart and depth into helen’s emotional process and her interactions outside of grant. it really made her infuriating decisions and mind boggling responses become not only plausible but justifiable. the way these two characters are so deeply woven together in their hurt and their trauma i think makes their connection even more beautiful.
this was the PERFECT level of bantery. honestly? sometimes emhen is over the top with her banter, same vein as amy sherman palladino. kuang had her finger on the pulse of realism here; the quippy comebacks, the romantic declarations, the moments where no words work at all. everything felt seamless and natural in a way that my recent reads have not. this was artful.
also. HOT! these two have CHEMISTRY! PALPABLE! CHEMISTRY! sometimes they were so hot for each other i did question: do these two like each other for anything else? but honestly, i think readers sometimes get swept up in the spice that they forget about the build up where the bond is solidified.
i can’t wait to see what kuang does next. INCREDIBLE DEBUT! i highly recommend.
i ADORED THIS!!!! i appreciate it when the background of characters in romcoms is actually complex and nuanced instead of *trying* to be complex and nuanced and failing miserably. kuang put so much heart and depth into helen’s emotional process and her interactions outside of grant. it really made her infuriating decisions and mind boggling responses become not only plausible but justifiable. the way these two characters are so deeply woven together in their hurt and their trauma i think makes their connection even more beautiful.
this was the PERFECT level of bantery. honestly? sometimes emhen is over the top with her banter, same vein as amy sherman palladino. kuang had her finger on the pulse of realism here; the quippy comebacks, the romantic declarations, the moments where no words work at all. everything felt seamless and natural in a way that my recent reads have not. this was artful.
also. HOT! these two have CHEMISTRY! PALPABLE! CHEMISTRY! sometimes they were so hot for each other i did question: do these two like each other for anything else? but honestly, i think readers sometimes get swept up in the spice that they forget about the build up where the bond is solidified.
i can’t wait to see what kuang does next. INCREDIBLE DEBUT! i highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail