lilalhreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Minor: Cancer and Injury/injury detail
lmy612's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this audiobook! I was absolutely heartbroken for Sam and was mad at him for ending things with Emma. I wished we had gotten more time with them as a couple.
I also hated how pushy and controlling Jesse was. The way he spoke to Emma was cringy most of the time. I also hated how his words and actions would sway Emma’s thoughts and emotions.
So, I guess I hated Emma too. One word and she flips. Another word and she flops. In her defence, she was faced with an undeniably impossible situation with no pain free solution.
All in all, I was very happy with how it ended and now I can’t wait to watch the movie and cheer for Simu Liu as Sam.
I also hated how pushy and controlling Jesse was. The way he spoke to Emma was cringy most of the time. I also hated how his words and actions would sway Emma’s thoughts and emotions.
So, I guess I hated Emma too. One word and she flips. Another word and she flops. In her defence, she was faced with an undeniably impossible situation with no pain free solution.
All in all, I was very happy with how it ended and now I can’t wait to watch the movie and cheer for Simu Liu as Sam.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Cancer
eam006's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Injury/injury detail and Medical content
kt419's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
lpeddleyoung's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Injury/injury detail
fleur____'s review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Sexual content and Injury/injury detail
yuxuannn's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
this was amazing. the first person pov was abit weird at first (maybe just bcos i don’t really like it) but i got used to it and it sounds like emma is addressing you (the reader) directly, telling you the story herself. i’ve only read one other tjr book (seven husbands of evelyn hugo, amazing book everyone should read it) and i think she has this ability to write the story as if it’s not fiction, like emma is just recounting her whole experience to someone else and it’s not done fiction book telling a thought up story. idk if i make sense 🙃 while it’s amazing and made me a sobbing mess there’s some stuff that doesn’t really sit well with me and hence the not 5 stars
The thing that didn’t sit well with me was the physical relationship between Emma and Jesse after Jesse came back. As much as it was conveyed about the guilt/ disloyalty she felt ‘betraying’ Jesse, i think the opposite (‘betraying’ Sam) was not shown in the same degree. Like girl you’re engaged and then straight on went to have sex with the man you didn’t see for 3 years, although yes he is your husband and the love of your life but girl?!? I just felt a little icky reading it but again, probably a me problem.
The other thing is that I don’t like Jesse (i’m sry team Jesse) although at the end I found myself feeling sad for him and realising that I cannot imagine what he went through. But I’m team Sam the moment he appeared like right from the start and I never liked Jesse even during the Jesse part HAHHAH idk if it’s deliberately written this way but it was very obvious to me even during Jesse’s part that he was not going to be the one to grow old with Emma, that Jesse was a teen/twenties, adventurous, rash decisions, all-or-nothing type of love. Maybe I’m older and know what type of love is lasting, so I find myself rooting for Sam. But tjr really did bring the message across: even if the love isn’t lasting, it doesn’t mean that it was not true love. I think it’s a really beautiful message and she really did convey it very well. I guess that’s why I couldn’t bring myself to give it a lower rating.
Spoiler
firstly the first person pov but i think it’s a me problem cos i don’t really like it it’s a personal preference hhaha.The thing that didn’t sit well with me was the physical relationship between Emma and Jesse after Jesse came back. As much as it was conveyed about the guilt/ disloyalty she felt ‘betraying’ Jesse, i think the opposite (‘betraying’ Sam) was not shown in the same degree. Like girl you’re engaged and then straight on went to have sex with the man you didn’t see for 3 years, although yes he is your husband and the love of your life but girl?!? I just felt a little icky reading it but again, probably a me problem.
The other thing is that I don’t like Jesse (i’m sry team Jesse) although at the end I found myself feeling sad for him and realising that I cannot imagine what he went through. But I’m team Sam the moment he appeared like right from the start and I never liked Jesse even during the Jesse part HAHHAH idk if it’s deliberately written this way but it was very obvious to me even during Jesse’s part that he was not going to be the one to grow old with Emma, that Jesse was a teen/twenties, adventurous, rash decisions, all-or-nothing type of love. Maybe I’m older and know what type of love is lasting, so I find myself rooting for Sam. But tjr really did bring the message across: even if the love isn’t lasting, it doesn’t mean that it was not true love. I think it’s a really beautiful message and she really did convey it very well. I guess that’s why I couldn’t bring myself to give it a lower rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/injury detail, and Death
chemistryreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Woah, this book is a tough read. It is incredibly deep and covers a hard topic and it doesn’t feel like fiction at all. The timing going between current and past was really well done and balanced. I felt a real emotional weight in this book and TJR really does such an excellent job of bringing the reader into her world. Emma felt really complex in her dilemma, and as a reader, my heart aches for her pain and the choice she had to make. I love seeing both of her love stories with both Jesse and Sam I felt like Jesse’s wasn’t shown as much but that’s almost understandable in a young love. Sam’s love story with Emma was tightly intertwined with her healing and getting over Jesse. <spoilers ahead> Ultimately when it got to present time, I felt so much for these characters. I ached for Sam and sympathized so much with how he loved Emma, but also needed her to choose him first. Jesse, I mean you have to feel for him. His tragedy and trauma is just gut wrenching. And Emma. Having two loves and having to choose?! Strangely, I really felt the need to know what happened to Jesse pinky finger, and you do find that out. I didn’t really understand what was going through Jesse’s head and how everything seemed so normal. However, the fight in Maine was so well done. It was everything I needed and I know Emma may be judged for what happened in Maine, but it felt so necessary and so real. I needed to see that side of Jesse, and it felt so true. Ultimately the ending wrapped up pretty quickly, but I don’t think there could’ve been a better ending for this book. It isn’t entirely perfect but a book with this plot was never going to have a light hearted happily ever after. With that short ending, I really want Jesse story, and how he finally comes back to himself.<\spoiler> Julia Whalen is a phenomenal narrator for this book and is a real pleasure to listen to. 4⭐️, 2🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Injury/injury detail, and Grief
team_mosaic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Injury/injury detail and Suicidal thoughts
annasbooks00's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting