twistykris's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
This was a super sweet, funny When Harry Met Sally retelling. I liked all of the characters, even at their lowest points. I felt like the development of Ari and Josh was particularly interesting, especially as we get both of their perspectives (3rd person) and I can truly appreciate how both Ari and Josh are both flawed characters and deal with their own interpersonal struggles. The hate-at-first-sight to kinda-friends to oh-wait-are-we-lovers banter was fantastic!
I find the miscommunication trope frustrating, BUT given it's at a time when Ari is incredibly vulnerable, I do feel like it served its purpose here. And at a certain point it felt like Ari's character redemption arc dragged on just a liiittle bit too long for my taste.
I find the miscommunication trope frustrating, BUT given it's at a time when Ari is incredibly vulnerable, I do feel like it served its purpose here. And at a certain point it felt like Ari's character redemption arc dragged on just a liiittle bit too long for my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
katiejohns's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
kirareadssometimes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
When I heard that this would be a great book for fans on when harry met sally I was anticipating that the book would have the same vibe as the movie and similar main characters. This book is actually a story where about 1/2 of it seems to come directly from the movie. There was clearly an attempt at making the original movie characters more diverse, which in this case meant the FMC was bisexual and open to both monogamy and polyamory. A great choice but the way it was written in felt very pointed. It felt like it came up more than it needed to; that’s just her life, doesn’t need a constant spotlight. The secondary characters were the only other diverse characters. The MMC made emotional progress but felt like we didn’t get to see him overcome his work issues in a meaningful way. I also don’t feel like we saw the FMC make any emotional progress. She was lonely, came home and realized she was in love.
This books was still quite engaging with great banter and a fun friendship aspect. Mostly feel like the recs I saw were misleading.
This books was still quite engaging with great banter and a fun friendship aspect. Mostly feel like the recs I saw were misleading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
samchase112's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
These people are kinda (well, not kinda) the worst, but… I still liked watching them find each other? Sort of? They have some serious issues, and we see them (sort of) work it all out throughout the book, leaning on each other as they've never leaned on others for one reason or another. But the problem remains: They're pretty deplorable. Glad they got their happy ending, and it's not Josh and Ari's fault they're terrible people, but… oh wait. It is. Books about awful people aren't necessarily doomed to failure, but it does highlight the worst parts of them, and in this case, just made me want to rewatch When Harry Met Sally :) Not a complete disappointment of a romance! Which is pretty good given the expectations I had via other reviews.
Oh, and Ari seriously needs to find a personality or hobby or whatever beyond simply sex.
Oh, and Ari seriously needs to find a personality or hobby or whatever beyond simply sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Infidelity
Minor: Drug use and Death of parent
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
If you like the movie When Harry Met Sally, this is basically a modernized and expanded book version with more sex jokes. I was in the mood for an autumn slow-burn romance in New York, and this hit the spot, really. It was neat to see how the characters' relationships and views changed as time and events went by, and their mistakes were understandable, if painful to read at times. I did get a little tired of the reliance on sex jokes for humor, but I think that's my biggest critique. I listened to this on audiobook and would recommend it, I really like this narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
juffnstuff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
lermaline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.25
For fanfictions and New York fans (obviously)
I'm sorry that I didn't like this book more. I picked it up on the verge of a reading slump expecting it to spark my reading flame back up because I have a an autumn reading challenge to complete and I'm putting way to much pressure on myself, but I dragged throught it. I heard a couple good reviews about how it was sweet and funny, and it for sure is. It has fall/end of the year vibes, in fact I think I got hooked by the stunning cover. However I didn't expect it to hold so much heartbreak and difficult emotions. I adored the vast range of relationships, how people care about each other and remain in the other's lives over time. Besides that I had a hard time with the "grumpy" hero, to me he was oftentimes too rude and inflexible. There are many, many references that I didn't quite get (to the cooking world, the humor world, the New York of it all) as a non-New Yorker, hell I'm not even American. So I felt detached about the setting throughout the book, where I think a NY fan would precisely feel greatly immersed in the culture. In fact the author kindly included an extensive guide to NYC at the end including food places, museums, etc. It didn't come as a surprise when I discovered "You, Again" is a When Harry Met Sally fanfic and even has Reylo fanfic air to it. The ups and downs of the book are specifically inherent to the format of writing and uploading fanfic, the auhtor explained. I'm sure I would read another book from her again !
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
My favorite romantic comedy of all time is When Harry Met Sally...so, this book was essentially written for me, so I'm not surprised that it kept me laughing and swooning throughout. I tabbed this one like crazy and my annotations are pretty unhinged- i wrote a paragraph of nonsense at the end of the third act breakup. I feel like this would've been a 5 star for me but at times I felt it dragging, or maybe it is just that it takes me longer to read thicc books lately, so maybe it isn't entirely the book's fault. I'll be rounding up to 5 on goodreads anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Death, and Death of parent
immovabletype's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use