Reviews tagging 'Grief'

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

139 reviews

sydapel'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? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I found a lot to relate to with both main characters, and while that made this incredibly enjoyable for the first half, I found that the second half really lost focus and pace. Third act breakups aren't inherently a bad thing, but I found that the execution of this one didn't actually correspond to effective character growth for either Grant or Helen. This does deal with grief, loss, perfectionism and relationships in a really effective way however, so I'm excited for more from the author. 
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samoflarsen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I love Yulin Kuang’s work but this felt off the whole time and its not just the premise. It sank in the middle and I just didn’t really understand why they loved each other outside of sex ESPECIALLY considering the premise. It felt like two different stories were being told at once and both were the worse off for it.
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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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khonake1's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective 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

Very good book that deals with the complexities of grief and family trauma, as well as identity within a career and relationships. This is still a romance book, but isn’t overly stuffed with tropes or abundantly romantic/cheesy; it felt very raw and emotional at certain points. The only thing that I didn’t love was that it was written in third person (which I don’t often read) but also has dual POV that can switch multiple times in a chapter. I’m glad I listened to the audiobook that had two narrators, otherwise I think that I would have easily lost whose perspective I was supposed to be reading. Definitely look up potential trigger warnings or themes in this book if you may be concerned.
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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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ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

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emotional sad 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

The characters in this book felt real. The author describes emotions very well and nuanced. Beautiful love story
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jdjulia96's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

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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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