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moonylovesstars'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Addiction
ksilvio'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
the_rabble's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Contemporary romance, NJ/NYC->LA bicoastal trauma bonding, spicy, 2 POVs, 3rd person, present tense.
Both protagonists are relatable with distinct voices and their own issues. No one is bringing a secure attachment style to the party and that's okay.
I burned through this book after a certain point. TraumaTraumaTrauma isn't my flavor of choice (bc I'm a weenie) and the first few chpts kept this book on my TBR longer than it should have, but there's so much rock solid other shit Kuang pulls. She's a master of casual, escalating intimacy- both physical and emotional. The dialogue is excellent. Sex scenes are very hot and organic.
If she writes more romance (or adventure- Kuang vibes like someone who'd nail a buddies-against-a-big-bad situation) I'm fucking there.
Rating: Higher rating than I thought I'd land on bc Kuang is so fucking good at organic intimacy (there are
Book about "The Industry"/Hollywood - this was the best version of "Hollywood" I've read or seen- it felt more like a description of a real job, workplace, and industry than the otherizing depictions that usually make it to us normies.
Narrators: Voice actors slapped. Katherine Chin was amazing and has a stable of voices that rules. Chpt 33
Overall, Chin and Eiden's pacing made the book really beautiful.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Mental illness
thatswhatshanread'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
I think, if you’re looking for a modern book that has the vibes of Jane Austen when it comes to YEARNING and dramatic romance, this one has to be it??? That may sound crazy to say. But I couldn’t help feeling that familiar great tug and ache of Georgian-era stories. Okay, maybe this one has more of the tragedy synonymous with the Brontes. In any case, Kuang’s writing swept me away. The desperation on the pages gripped me to the bone. The way Grant wanted and needed Helen was so TANGIBLE.
“How To End A Love Story” was much more romantic and sexual than I thought it would be, especially considering the cold beginning and introduction to these two characters with the worst kind of shared tragedy. It worked so well obviously because one second I’m like okay and then I’m obsessed with the way they sink deeper into each other’s orbits and forgive themselves for being who they once were. I love that Grant falls first and isn’t afraid to tell Helen what he wants. It’s so genuine and so soft. Helen is more the stand-offish unsure one and their pairing doesn’t feel forced at all, even with the circumstances of their past and present. Kuang’s writing is harsh in a whimsical way, somehow an oxymoron of sweet subtle sentences and hard honest dialogue. There are heavy overall themes of suicide, grief, panic attacks. The story is very demanding of all of your emotions. It is definitely not a romcom. It’s a romantic drama for sure, with lots of deep trauma and healing.
THIS is how you do the grumpy x sunshine trope. It’s not too much of either, one character being a little ball of rainbow and glitter, the other the grim reaper who hates children and animals. It’s just the right amount of give and take, of one falling first and the other afraid to admit it. That’s that on tortured slow burns, baby. Lololololol the head of The Tortured Poets Department will see you now.
“Loving can hurt, and I want to do it anyway.”
READ THIS BOOK!!!!! Sorry if you cry but actually not really because crying is HEALTHY!!!!
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book took me longer than I thought it would, but honestly I'm glad it did. I'm glad I didn't gobble it up, and slowly enjoyed Helens and Grants story.
I wasn't sure how this love story would end. It is a romance, and you need a HEA but there was so much against them. I did find that the ending was severely rushed and that possibly another 20 or so pages would have been nice.
Overall, a great read. Would read another book written by Yulin.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
moreadsnrambles's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
rheagoveas'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
lisacanteven'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
4.0
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.
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
beanith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found the writing to be solid, and it’s abundantly clear to me that Kuang is a skilled storyteller. I would pick up another book from her in the future, and I look forward to her film adaptations of Emily Henry’s Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. I see so much potential, but my reading experience with this was quite bumpy (at its lowest a 3.5 and at its highest a 4.25) and the issues I have are hard to ignore.
The build up to the relationship worked the best for me, unfortunately the follow through was convoluted.
My problems mostly revolve around Helen and how she treats Grant (and how the narrative handles his PTSD). This book is dual POV, and during the third act I found myself actively rooting for Grant to break up with Helen. She’s coming from a hurt place but there’s no excuse for how she behaves
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I think this book had a hard time balancing its emotional core with ‘steamy romance’. It felt like once sex entered the picture the emotional growth of the characters paused. And the side characters weren’t really integrated enough in their lives to call them out on it.
Characters
Helen: I’m so sorry to this woman but I kind of hate her. I want her to heal and grow and find joy, but I also felt like she was really so bad for Grant.
Grant: I slow-burn fell for him lmao. He’s an oak tree, he’s the prom king, he’s an East Coast transplant, he’s got PTSD. I love him and want him to be happy and loved and taken care of.
Helen’s Mom and Dad: I loved the individual scenes they had with Grant, and I understand why they are the way they are, but it sure is a doozy (much love to all of you people pleasers with parents who love you but your not sure if they like you)
Michelle:
How to End a Love Story (Taylor’s Version)
- I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
- Out of the Woods
- Gold Rush
- Guilty as Sin?
- Down Bad
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
michelle_my_belle'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? No
4.0
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