julieabe89's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If you like YA contemporary circa 2015 you will probably enjoy this book. I struggled with it. Both the mc and her love interest were painfully self-absorbed. The jumping back and forth on the first time they were together and now really made it hard to keep track of where we were. I'm sure it was to show the symmetry in their relationship but it did not work for me.
ajoannaspg's review
2.0
i can’t stop laughing. this book, bless it, reads like one of those one directions self insert fanfics i used to read at 15.
all those small quirky things the main bff have Always Done, it’s Their Thing, AAAA I CAN’T
and !!! lmao the fact that The Main Love Interest is all like,,,, i’m sad so i do sad things, and the protag is like “yikes... it really be like that sometimes :/” and he’s like YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON WHO’S EVER UNDERSTOO D ME
i’m done goodbye
all those small quirky things the main bff have Always Done, it’s Their Thing, AAAA I CAN’T
and !!! lmao the fact that The Main Love Interest is all like,,,, i’m sad so i do sad things, and the protag is like “yikes... it really be like that sometimes :/” and he’s like YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON WHO’S EVER UNDERSTOO D ME
i’m done goodbye
jang's review
3.0
I like this because it's a quick and easy read. The story is simple, if not a bit too happy and positive (for my liking). The scenarios are ideal but it's not always this simple and cute irl.
I also like the transition between the chapters, the Nows and Thens, the currents and the throwbacks. It made me curious and it made it hard for me to put the book down. I like that both the stories from the past and present happened only in a day. Makes the "happiness" and the "shallowness" tolerable.
You might be thinking why I keep saying it's too happy when Ella actually went through her dumped girl phase a lot. Well, I thought El and Matt's story was really cute and predictable. I'm probably projecting my issues on them but seriously at one point I almost wished for them not to get back together so I could go "Ahh that right there is high school."
I didn't like Matt's reasoning for his sudden disappearance. The story, while it's constantly aspiring to portray difficulties and complexities, is still lacking depth and substance. I would love it if the author toyed more with the drug pusher angle of the story. I actually liked Meg and Jake's story better because while it's stupid and petty and annoying and jfc it's tiring, it's REAL LIFE. I've seen a friend pine for a guy too long amidst the cheating and the broken promises to know that stuff like that actually happen. I guess happy teens wouldn't want that, would they?
Does this unicorn-and-rainbows type of high school stories actually happen irl? My high school was unforgettable and challenging and happy but nowhere as exciting as the stories that this novel presented.
I still like the writing though. Simple but so many lines struck a chord. I found Ella's insecurities the most relatable. I hope they survive LDR and college. No, not really.
I also like the transition between the chapters, the Nows and Thens, the currents and the throwbacks. It made me curious and it made it hard for me to put the book down. I like that both the stories from the past and present happened only in a day. Makes the "happiness" and the "shallowness" tolerable.
You might be thinking why I keep saying it's too happy when Ella actually went through her dumped girl phase a lot. Well, I thought El and Matt's story was really cute and predictable. I'm probably projecting my issues on them but seriously at one point I almost wished for them not to get back together so I could go "Ahh that right there is high school."
I didn't like Matt's reasoning for his sudden disappearance. The story, while it's constantly aspiring to portray difficulties and complexities, is still lacking depth and substance. I would love it if the author toyed more with the drug pusher angle of the story. I actually liked Meg and Jake's story better because while it's stupid and petty and annoying and jfc it's tiring, it's REAL LIFE. I've seen a friend pine for a guy too long amidst the cheating and the broken promises to know that stuff like that actually happen. I guess happy teens wouldn't want that, would they?
Does this unicorn-and-rainbows type of high school stories actually happen irl? My high school was unforgettable and challenging and happy but nowhere as exciting as the stories that this novel presented.
I still like the writing though. Simple but so many lines struck a chord. I found Ella's insecurities the most relatable. I hope they survive LDR and college. No, not really.
beaniedorman's review
4.0
This book is a fast paced romance that I was able to finish in about two days. Though it is a quick read, I really enjoyed the story of romance that it told. Ms. Gibaldi sure knows how to set things in motion quickly! The characters in this book are very defined, each with their own personalities and quirks, not at all like the stock characters that usually bore me in contemporary romances. The story is both believable and easy to relate to. The only reason that I gave four stars instead of five is that I found the romance a little cheesy or a little too fast paced. Overall, I did enjoy this book, and would read more from this author in the future.
Spoiler
like Matt and Ella's inside joke hahamaryelizab3th's review
2.0
a little too cheesy / predictable, but cute. I felt like a lot of parts (like dialogue/conversations) dragged on for way too long & I wish I knew more about Matt & Ella's actual relationship during that year.
drakitha's review
5.0
This book was quick and adorable. I liked the characters and found them pretty accurate to when I was a senior in High School. Thank you Owl Crate!