beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed Book Lovers. When I read Book Lovers first, everyone was saying it was much better than her previous work and I thought they were being cryptic . . . but they were right – this book was missing a spark.
This book is based on Poppy Wright. Every year for 12 years she has spent her summers with her best friend Alex Nielsen. When they met 12 years ago, they hated each other and were pretty confident they’ll never speak again. 11 years ago, they are forced to share a ride home from college and by the end of it a friendship is formed. And a pact: every year, one vacation together. 10 years ago, Poppy discovers that Alex has a fear of flying on the way to Vancouver and Poppy holds his hand the whole way. 7 years ago, they get far too drunk and narrowly avoid getting matching tattoos in New Orleans. 2 years ago, it all goes wrong. This year, Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. A trip that will determine the rest of their lives.
I liked the idea of this story, and I liked the main characters, but I just felt like it was missing something. I think it’s something to do with friends to lovers I've never seen it done well except for Final Offer by Lauren Asher. I find myself skimming through this book especially towards the end, as I can’t stand 3rd part breakups. And I felt like the 2 summers ago big event was so much of a build up for it to be a little hill and not that big of a deal. The only one who really saved this book was Alex. He was so funny and sweet and awkward and the whole time I just wanted to hug him.
I liked the writing of this book, I just didn’t personally connect to it. I didn’t really vibe with Poppy and with her being the main character and main voice during the novel, I was just skimming a lot of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
gummifrog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a fun and easy read! I liked Emily Henry's most recent book, Book Lovers, so I thought I'd give her backlist a try as a palate cleanser between heavier reads. This one was just as sexy and fun, but I have to say the reasoning for the couple not getting together just grew more confusing to me as time went on. They're not very nice to each other about the romance that hangs between them, and sometimes it felt like the masc lead was projecting way too much of his own insecurities onto the protagonist for it to be healthy (and the fact that a therapist wouldn't notice that is a baffling idea, lol).
Regardless, it was a fun and easy book for those who like travel and friends-to-lovers! I would read it again and recommend it to others for certain.
Regardless, it was a fun and easy book for those who like travel and friends-to-lovers! I would read it again and recommend it to others for certain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
marioosa517's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like Emily Henry’s writing, and enjoyed the flipping back-and-forth between present day and past trips. I didn’t relate to the main characters very much, partly I think because they felt a little bit like caricatures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy and Drug use
rickireadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this was good yet not my favorite. i was honestly having a pretty great time up until the end. i hated the like last 10-15%. i liked the past and present storytelling. LOVED the sick / comfort scene. i liked alex yet felt like he was such a flat character sometimes??? idk. i think i liked this more than beach read but still didn’t make emily a like “must read” author for me 🫠
⚠️: death of parent, grief, bullying, drug use, injury/injury detail
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, and Bullying
izzieisaloser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
SPOILERS
I love Alex a whole lot tbh (except for chapter 35 did not love him then, genuinely teared up a lot) But loved him immediately again on chapter 36.
But I love their dynamic and how you can tell Alex is in love with her during the flashbacks (and current time) but she’s just ignorant to it the ENTIRE time. Annoying af but very funny at the same time. Sarah pissed me off a lot. Love David.
I read books and just wish I could be in one sometimes where all my problems get solved relatively quickly, writing this on a book where a problem that happened two years ago isn’t solved for the whole two years is a little not correct but it’s okay.
Any way loved everyone (but Sarah)
Stacey and Bob are definitely some of my top 10 favorite fictional people ever.
I love Alex a whole lot tbh (except for chapter 35 did not love him then, genuinely teared up a lot) But loved him immediately again on chapter 36.
But I love their dynamic and how you can tell Alex is in love with her during the flashbacks (and current time) but she’s just ignorant to it the ENTIRE time. Annoying af but very funny at the same time. Sarah pissed me off a lot. Love David.
I read books and just wish I could be in one sometimes where all my problems get solved relatively quickly, writing this on a book where a problem that happened two years ago isn’t solved for the whole two years is a little not correct but it’s okay.
Any way loved everyone (but Sarah)
Stacey and Bob are definitely some of my top 10 favorite fictional people ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Drug use
mhairi_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The chemistry wasn't there for me in this one 😢.
I've heard such great things about this book but unfortunately it just fell flat I'm afraid. Don't get me wrong it got better as the story went on but it took sooo long for me to become invested.
Seeing as I'm really just dipping my feet into the romance genre I'm still learning what tropes I do and don't like so this may have been a case of the tropes in this book just not being for me. But I didn't really adore either of our two main characters and the Croatia trip really caused all of that? In two grown adults? It just didn't feel like a true representation of an adult relationship.
We all knew where it was going but I don't think it needed to take 300 and odd pages to get there.
I have a few more Emily Henry books to read and again I've heard just wonderful things so I'm hoping they might be more up my street. But this one is a no from me.
I've heard such great things about this book but unfortunately it just fell flat I'm afraid. Don't get me wrong it got better as the story went on but it took sooo long for me to become invested.
Seeing as I'm really just dipping my feet into the romance genre I'm still learning what tropes I do and don't like so this may have been a case of the tropes in this book just not being for me. But I didn't really adore either of our two main characters and the Croatia trip really caused all of that? In two grown adults? It just didn't feel like a true representation of an adult relationship.
We all knew where it was going but I don't think it needed to take 300 and odd pages to get there.
I have a few more Emily Henry books to read and again I've heard just wonderful things so I'm hoping they might be more up my street. But this one is a no from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content and Drug use
diana_raquel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“But most of us are too scared to even ask what we want, in case we can't have it.”
That's it!
Friends-to-lovers it's not my favorite prompt! And this book proves it! The only reason why I'm giving this book a 3.5 stars rating is that I liked the interaction between Poppy and Alex as friends. And I think that I'm being a little generous here. Look, I know that the end game of the book is romance, but do they have to be a couple? Why couldn't they reconnect and stayed friends?
I admit that, at first, even knowing that this was a friends-to-lovers story, I was having fun. I was entertained. I liked the writing style and I have to say that the characters are well-developed. Another thing that I really liked was the non-linear story because, that way, I felt like we were knowing more about the characters and kept the reason why Alex and Poppy were no longer friends a secret for a little more time. However, Alex's love for Poppy seemed a little on the obsessive side. Not to the point of being a red flag, but it's a little creepy. And that put me off.
So I would not recommend this book, but I'm willing to read Book Lovers. Maybe I'll like it!
That's it!
Friends-to-lovers it's not my favorite prompt! And this book proves it! The only reason why I'm giving this book a 3.5 stars rating is that I liked the interaction between Poppy and Alex as friends. And I think that I'm being a little generous here. Look, I know that the end game of the book is romance, but do they have to be a couple? Why couldn't they reconnect and stayed friends?
I admit that, at first, even knowing that this was a friends-to-lovers story, I was having fun. I was entertained. I liked the writing style and I have to say that the characters are well-developed. Another thing that I really liked was the non-linear story because, that way, I felt like we were knowing more about the characters and kept the reason why Alex and Poppy were no longer friends a secret for a little more time. However, Alex's love for Poppy seemed a little on the obsessive side. Not to the point of being a red flag, but it's a little creepy. And that put me off.
So I would not recommend this book, but I'm willing to read Book Lovers. Maybe I'll like it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Injury/injury detail, Cursing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gaslighting, Car accident, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism, Classism, Cancer, and Medical content
ahena's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use