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starshine1's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
anastashamarie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
***A few TWs at the end of this review that may be seen as spoilers. Marked with asterisks, like so.***
I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. Maybe it's because I'm feeling sentimental because we lost my GG earlier this year, or maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for a coastal, friends-to-lovers romance after my teenage Sarah Dessen obsession. But this was literally the perfect summer read for me.
Not only was this a give-you-a-cavity sweet, but there was so much more to the story, which was packed with themes of family, obligation, prejudice, and love. I loved the woven storyline of Jenna's and her grandmother's healing, told through alternating perspectives in a shared setting. Though this is a love story on the surface, it's really about acceptance and finding who you're meant to be more than it's about the romance overall. It made me grin giddily at the banter between the romantic pairings, laugh out loud at Evelyn's antics, and even sob by the end.
(It does have fade-to-black sexual encounters, but honestly I think that "mystery" was entirely appropriate for the tone of the rest of the story.)
Even though I was quite sure this would end in a HEA, I wouldn't necessarily call this book 100% predictable either. I was absolutely absorbed beginning to end.
Just 10/10, A+ work in my opinion.
***TWs: suicide, xenophobia/religious bigotry, mentions of spouse dying by drunk driver, alcohol misuse***
I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. Maybe it's because I'm feeling sentimental because we lost my GG earlier this year, or maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for a coastal, friends-to-lovers romance after my teenage Sarah Dessen obsession. But this was literally the perfect summer read for me.
Not only was this a give-you-a-cavity sweet, but there was so much more to the story, which was packed with themes of family, obligation, prejudice, and love. I loved the woven storyline of Jenna's and her grandmother's healing, told through alternating perspectives in a shared setting. Though this is a love story on the surface, it's really about acceptance and finding who you're meant to be more than it's about the romance overall. It made me grin giddily at the banter between the romantic pairings, laugh out loud at Evelyn's antics, and even sob by the end.
(It does have fade-to-black sexual encounters, but honestly I think that "mystery" was entirely appropriate for the tone of the rest of the story.)
Even though I was quite sure this would end in a HEA, I wouldn't necessarily call this book 100% predictable either. I was absolutely absorbed beginning to end.
Just 10/10, A+ work in my opinion.
***TWs: suicide, xenophobia/religious bigotry, mentions of spouse dying by drunk driver, alcohol misuse***
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Racism, and Grief
meisqr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
I started reading this book because I was in a bit of a reading slump, and it helped me get through it. This book is heartwarming and I thoroughly enjoyed it. To be honest, I enjoyed Evelyn’s story more than Jenna’s. I think this is mainly because the current timeline felt a bit rushed compared to the past wherein it was more fleshed out, even if it had been distributed equally. Evelyn’s character is someone I wish I was, especially since she has a strong personality, which is even carried out until the present. The book also explored, and explained further Jewish traditions and how they affected the lives of the Bergmans and those around them during that era. It educated as well as entertained me. I enjoyed the pacing of the book, and the pace of how Evelyn’s secrets were revealed further down the line was wonderful. The growth that Jenna showed throughout the book was quite empowering to me too. I think that the epilogue was one of the best possible routes the story could take and it was a really sweet end for everyone.
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Alcohol
effys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an absolutely incredible read, it was absolutely hilarious and had me laughing out loud (particularly at Evelyn). The two intertwining stories were both equally as gripping and unputdownable as each other. This was such an incredible book and I am so great full I got the opportunity to read it early!
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Cancer, Death, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
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