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stephrand's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I always love a book that entails the behind-the-scenes of some kind of entertainment production and enjoyed the cast of characters that came from the writing room.
Helen is a bit hard to root for/like at times, but it makes sense from all of the family trauma and drama she has endured. Parts of her and Grant’s story seemed a bit choppy at parts (how quickly they went from enemies to friends to more) but I did enjoy this overall.
A lot of serious topics, but also a lot of spice (if that’s not your thing, I’d skip this one).
TW: death, suicide, substance abuse
Helen is a bit hard to root for/like at times, but it makes sense from all of the family trauma and drama she has endured. Parts of her and Grant’s story seemed a bit choppy at parts (how quickly they went from enemies to friends to more) but I did enjoy this overall.
A lot of serious topics, but also a lot of spice (if that’s not your thing, I’d skip this one).
TW: death, suicide, substance abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death
Minor: Drug use
gwenswoons's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked a lot about this - it didn’t feel entirely successful to me, but I would certainly read more by Yulin Kuang in the future! I really appreciated that the author dived into complex familial relationships (especially with the female MC’s first-generation immigrant parents) and the specific nature of grief after losing someone close to suicide. I loved the chemistry between the two central characters and thought the sex scenes (VERY open door 😂😜) were super hot throughout and really gorgeously written.
I did find the characters’ arcs disappointing and flat - somehow their individual growth in order to find their way back to each other didn’t quite register or land believably. I also guess I struggled (though I am a voracious rom-com and romance reader and actually very rarely say this!) with the believability of the basic premise: there were just a few too many neat/tidy coincidences to the overall romance plot, and though I get the plot device of this very specific enemies-to-lovers bent, it was so on the nose (like…there’s enemies and there’s “was driving the car when your teenage sister, who had no access to mental health support, jumped in front of it and died by suicide”) that it felt sort of heavy-handed ultimately. As I said - lots that was interesting, and also not totally satisfying for me ultimately.
I did find the characters’ arcs disappointing and flat - somehow their individual growth in order to find their way back to each other didn’t quite register or land believably. I also guess I struggled (though I am a voracious rom-com and romance reader and actually very rarely say this!) with the believability of the basic premise: there were just a few too many neat/tidy coincidences to the overall romance plot, and though I get the plot device of this very specific enemies-to-lovers bent, it was so on the nose (like…there’s enemies and there’s “was driving the car when your teenage sister, who had no access to mental health support, jumped in front of it and died by suicide”) that it felt sort of heavy-handed ultimately. As I said - lots that was interesting, and also not totally satisfying for me ultimately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Suicide, Child death, and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
I did enjoy this book overall but I felt like the resolution from the third act conflict was quickly resolved. I wanted the characters to talk out the issue more. It felt rushed after the hurt. I really liked Grant he was very vulnerable and honest about his feelings, truly begging to be loved. I needed our girl Helen to put in a little more work. She was in denial and we didn’t get to really see her growth. It felt like she all of a sudden decided she was in love and ready during the resolution. This book covers a lot of emotional topics. I think fans of Emily Henry will like this one, I can see why Yulin was slated to adapt Beach Read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Drug use
jen_sometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
sarasukovic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Car accident, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Drug use
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
A gorgeously written and all encompassing contemporary romance, that tugged at my heartstrings just as much as it made me swoon. If you love your romances slow burn, sizzlingly intense and bordering the literary— then you’re in for an absolute treat!
Told through the alternating POVs of Helen and Grant, whose complicated history (Helen’s sister committed suicide via moving car, which happened to be driven by Grant) and growing attraction sees them navigating grief, guilt, the long term effects of trauma, forgiveness and even love in a heartfelt (and surprisingly pragmatic) way that I found incredibly relatable.
Given that gut punch of an opening chapter, I had no idea how Yulin Kuang was going to get our protagonists to actually talk to each other (let alone fall in love.) But the intricate (and nuanced) way in which their chemistry and intense attraction for one another is explored was simply breathtaking.
I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for a couple quite as much as I did Helen and Grant, who have far more in common than either could ever imagine. Both struggling to cope with the after effects of their shared trauma and the loneliness caused by their emotionally guarded, workaholic lifestyles. I loved watching them slowly puzzle each other out, and begin to open up to one another—healing emotional wounds they’ve both carried for thirteen years.
Helen’s complicated bond with her mother and the guilt she feels surrounding her relationship with Grant adds the perfect amount of conflict to keep things interesting without spiralling into anything overly dramatic or unbelievable.
I do think this is the kind of book that needs to be read to be truly appreciated, and I honestly feel Kuang’s background in screenwriting helped soo much with that. Oftentimes with prose dripping with sensory imagery that evoked grand and complex feelings without a single line of dialogue needed (which I absolutely loved.)
Overall, How To End A Love Story was a lush, emotional rollercoaster of a debut that has me eager for more of Kuang’s work. Fans of Emily Henry or Sally Thorne should definitely consider picking this one up. Just check the TWs first.
Also, a huge thank you to Tallulah over very at Hodder Fiction for the fabulous proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Car accident, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
gabichatslit's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Wow. Wow.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for gifting an eARC of this book in exchange for review*
This book kept me enraptured, had my emotions up and down, and felt like watching an impending train crash at times. But I couldn’t look away and I couldn’t stop reading.
The premise had me intrigued from the moment the book’s release was announced and I just kept thinking— “there’s no way this is gonna work. how will this possibly work?” lol And for the first 30% of the novel, I was still like how can this end well for anyone? But Kuang made it work and by 41% I was rooting for Helen and Grant.
These characters felt so so real. And I love how the POV’s flowed between the main characters multiple times in every chapter instead of bouncing between each one chapter to chapter. Helen drove me up a wall at the beginning with her insecurities but it made her feel so human because like I know her, I’ve been her. It felt so good to watch her grow and establish boundaries kind of with her parents. And see her make friends. It was nice to see Grant fight for something/someone and to not let things happen to him. They deserved a happy ending with one another because they really saw one another and pushed the other to be better.
I wish there had been more moments of watching Helen and Grant settle into their relationship after getting over their big hurdle. Only having like one or two chapters of their HEA, felt like a letdown given how much they overcame but I had a good time nonetheless.
There were moments while reading, where I was floored by the way Kuang wrote not only dialogue but prose, and I find myself reassured that us, Emily Henry fans, are in good hands with her at the helm of the PWMOV and Beach Read adaptations.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for gifting an eARC of this book in exchange for review*
This book kept me enraptured, had my emotions up and down, and felt like watching an impending train crash at times. But I couldn’t look away and I couldn’t stop reading.
The premise had me intrigued from the moment the book’s release was announced and I just kept thinking— “there’s no way this is gonna work. how will this possibly work?” lol And for the first 30% of the novel, I was still like how can this end well for anyone? But Kuang made it work and by 41% I was rooting for Helen and Grant.
These characters felt so so real. And I love how the POV’s flowed between the main characters multiple times in every chapter instead of bouncing between each one chapter to chapter. Helen drove me up a wall at the beginning with her insecurities but it made her feel so human because like I know her, I’ve been her. It felt so good to watch her grow and establish boundaries kind of with her parents. And see her make friends. It was nice to see Grant fight for something/someone and to not let things happen to him. They deserved a happy ending with one another because they really saw one another and pushed the other to be better.
I wish there had been more moments of watching Helen and Grant settle into their relationship after getting over their big hurdle. Only having like one or two chapters of their HEA, felt like a letdown given how much they overcame but I had a good time nonetheless.
There were moments while reading, where I was floored by the way Kuang wrote not only dialogue but prose, and I find myself reassured that us, Emily Henry fans, are in good hands with her at the helm of the PWMOV and Beach Read adaptations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Cursing, and Suicide
Minor: Drug use and Injury/Injury detail
hannahmichele5's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful, heartbreaking, angsty, hilarious, steamy, phenomenal, etc. etc. etc.
I might write a more coherent review someday but probably not. Fans of Emily Henry, Elissa Sussman, Tia Williams, and Ashley Poston (so, me) will INHAIL this book!
I might write a more coherent review someday but probably not. Fans of Emily Henry, Elissa Sussman, Tia Williams, and Ashley Poston (so, me) will INHAIL this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicide, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug use
belarna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wonderfully paced and sprinkled with just the right amount of spice and tension - How To End A Love Story is an easy recommendation from me, especially for fans of Emily Henry (the fact that Kuang is set to direct the film adaption for Beach Read and is the screenwriter for the film adaption of People We Meet On Vacation should make you want to pick this up!).
How To End A Love Story is an endearing romance with a focus on acceptance, grieving, and personal growth. Kuang writes the leads in a way that makes them feel real, which is showcased through their complex past, shared trauma, and the evident tension between the two.
This debut was exceptional, kept me thoroughly engaged, and I truely cannot wait to see what Kuang brings out next!
I’m speechless and consumed by heartache. Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, and Drug use
bricrowder'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? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was easily my favorite book I've read so far this year! I have so many emotions and love for it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book.
The book centers on Helen, an YA book author who is temporarily moves to LA to help write the scripts for the TV adaptation of her book series. She discovers that one of the other writers is Grant, who was tragically the person who hit and killed her sister thirteen years prior when they were teenagers. Even though it was an accident and not Grant's fault, there is obviously so much heavy tension and emotions from the trauma they've both endured in different ways.
Their relationship slowly builds from cold colleagues to friends, and then to so much more.
The book is extremely deep and complex. The author talks about death in such a brutally honest and refreshing way. It goes back and forth between funny and devastating. How there can be anger along with grief.
There were so many amazing, thought-provoking, and powerful lines that made me feel every emotion.
The characters are complex, flawed, and wonderful. I absolutely loved this book! It reminds me of a Emily Henry romance with another level of complexity, sadness, and love.
I can't recommend this book enough! It is every feeling. One of those books you will feel sad when you finish it because it's over and you know it will be hard to beat and compare to. I can't wait to read more by this author. Thank you again for the chance to read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book.
The book centers on Helen, an YA book author who is temporarily moves to LA to help write the scripts for the TV adaptation of her book series. She discovers that one of the other writers is Grant, who was tragically the person who hit and killed her sister thirteen years prior when they were teenagers. Even though it was an accident and not Grant's fault, there is obviously so much heavy tension and emotions from the trauma they've both endured in different ways.
Their relationship slowly builds from cold colleagues to friends, and then to so much more.
The book is extremely deep and complex. The author talks about death in such a brutally honest and refreshing way. It goes back and forth between funny and devastating. How there can be anger along with grief.
There were so many amazing, thought-provoking, and powerful lines that made me feel every emotion.
The characters are complex, flawed, and wonderful. I absolutely loved this book! It reminds me of a Emily Henry romance with another level of complexity, sadness, and love.
I can't recommend this book enough! It is every feeling. One of those books you will feel sad when you finish it because it's over and you know it will be hard to beat and compare to. I can't wait to read more by this author. Thank you again for the chance to read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Drug use