Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - How to Fall Out of Love Madly

Annie and Joy are two (best?) friends living together. They’re each unhappy in their own way — Annie in her relationship, Joy with herself and the fact that she’s single. Enter Theo, their new roommate, and someone Joy falls hard and fast for. Everything is domestic bliss, with Annie moving out and leaving Joy and Theo to it, until Theo brings home Celine, his seemingly perfect new girlfriend. It’s a novel about women, women’s perceptions of themselves and of love, and the urge to be loved (by a man, specifically).

Every woman mentioned in this book is somehow miserable. And I mean every single one. From Joy to Annie to Celine to Myriel to Patricia to Beth to Erin to even Kathi, to all of their mentioned mothers. Except maybe for Joy’s aunt, who seems fine. I liked that the stories it tells are relatable to some degree, it might make one reflect about falling into certain relationship patterns. Personally, I’d have loved to see at least one example of someone not shrinking herself to fit a man’s needs in one way or another — before the end of the book.

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autihd_elno's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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kristinamj's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective 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

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madelinedalton's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I think the author wanted this novel’s “thesis statement” to be: “Even high-achieving, strong, kind women make themselves small for men without realizing it, and that is a tragedy.” Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on this front because almost all of the chapters are centered around the shitty men in their lives rather than the other positive qualities they supposedly possess. If the book had given more reasons to like Joy, Annie, and Celine—and had shown them to the reader rather than telling us they’re there (such as being told Joy is amazing at her job but never seeing her at work)—I would have loved it. I would have been so infuriated by the way these men treated them. But instead, I found myself emotionally detached. Their stunted communication skills and life problems also seemed unrealistic for women in their early 30s.

I also felt like the hatred of their bodies was a bit too graphic and distressing given that there was little resolution on that topic. Joy has a full blown eating disorder, but the book just ended with “sometimes I eat ice cream now!” instead of her getting proper treatment.

ANYWAY, as a mid-20s woman, I want to read stories about women who are trying their best and have some admirable qualities but still struggle, not walking disasters who have gone three decades never once questioning their realities.

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bethanyann97's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective slow-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

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jourdanicus's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ademusoyo's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense 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? Yes

2.5

I did not like this book.

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I read it but I was disappointed all the way through.

The book is relatable to anyone in early 30s or late 20s but each of the characters felt insufferable in their own individual way.

I was hoping for a big turning point at the end but it all just fell short to me.

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