Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - How to End a Love Story

What a beautiful and emotional love story. I was so invested in Helen and Grant’s story. I cried and smiled and gasped. The way the author described how each protagonist was feeling made me feel like I was right there with them. The audiobook narration was also very well done. I can see myself rereading this in the future.

Read if you like emotional, tortured, slow-burn love stories with spice.

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alexsanch25's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Really good first novel for a debut author! I’ll definitely keep her on my radar.

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abweigel's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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pantslint's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.0

Okay. The premise of HTEALS is honestly quite fucking ridiculous (

I mean, falling in actual love with the guy that literally drove the car that killed your sister?

), but I've shut my eyes and ears to everything wrong with this book because I really enjoyed it. Yulin Kuang is so good at building tension and vivid imagery—you can really see her skill as a screenwriter here. Her writing is so cinematic; I felt like I could see and hear everything as I read, like scenes in a movie. Great 🌶️ scenes. I love how Grant is absolutely gone for Helen, his emotional state being in complete shambles over how much he loves her (very much like Ali Hazelwood's MMCs).

This book is funny and emotional. I really enjoyed the little snippets of what it's like to love and resent your immigrant parents. There's a quote from the book where Helen's dad is "sitting on the couch, watching some bootlegged Chinese historical drama series on his iPad" and thinking about that quote makes me laugh every time, because I can only picture my own father doing the same thing.

The sister relationship of this book felt oddly familiar, and I realize that Helen's Sending All My Love is an actual book by Anna Akana (titled So Much I Want to Tell You: Letters to My Little Sister). I've been a long-time fan of Akana and I'm pleasantly surprised to learn that she was the sensitivity reader for this work, mentioned in the acknowledgements. Finding out two of your faves are friends is so fun.

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snazzyspeedy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

A solid four star romance. There were some storytelling elements that were introduced at the end that I’d have loved to see happen throughout the book (namely,

Grant plotting out his options in screenplay format when deciding to go to the premiere. That was a wonderful element of both creative storytelling and character development that should have been weaved throughout the book!

). I also agree with another user that the

third act breakup

was a little long, but overall I enjoyed the pacing of the book.

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willbefunorelse's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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emetrock's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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flyinglark's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.0

It was nice getting to know the world of screenplays and dynamics in a writer's room, but this book is about how loving someone can be complex. (Spoiler for ending)

Honestly, I wouldn't have minded if Grant and Helen hadn't reconciled after their breakup in the third act.

They were brought together years after a tragedy, and the relationship could have been a stepping stone to closure and processing the grief left behind. Their highs of relationship interspaced with emotional parts sometimes gave a whiplash, That said, Helen and Grant's relationship had me in a chokehold, especially in the non-sexual interactions.

🌶 Chapters (not all): 14,15,16,17,18,20,21,24,26,35

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