takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
(Reread on audio) MY GOD THIS BOOK!!!! Helen Hoang I am in your walls.
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical trauma, Grief, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racism
I really don't know why 'cancer' has been tagged because Anna's father is unwell due toSpoiler
a stroke... There is a lot of caretaker exhaustion. Anna is diagnosed as autistic which especially her sister responds poorly to (telling her she's not). She struggles with masking and the diagnosis due to that response. Anna eventually spirals into a severe depression.mlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
solspringsreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Death of parent, Grief, Ableism, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
booksandlooksss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
wow.
This was seriously devastating. I think this is definitely more along the lines of women's fiction for sure, since the romance took a back seat to everything going on within the plot.
I would definitely check trigger warnings before reading or listening to this. This whole story just made me feel for Anna. Anna receives life changing news from her therapist in learning that she's autistic. She's in a toxic situation with her sister, who gaslights Anna into doing things against her wishes while also gaslighting her that she doesn't have Autism.
This whole story is Anna's journey with herself and her mind. As the book continues, things just keep piling on top of each other. Her dad suffers a massive stroke and she is tasked with taking care of him. This part of the story is honestly so devastating to listen to and you truly feel for Anna and what she's going through.
The romance elements with Quan definitely help lighten up the story for sure. He's the sweetest and I love how supportive he is for Anna their entire relationship.
Overall, it's seriously a fantastic read. Frustrating at times and honestly devastating, but that's what makes this book special.
If you want a more emotional reading experience, I recommend listening to this on audio.
This was seriously devastating. I think this is definitely more along the lines of women's fiction for sure, since the romance took a back seat to everything going on within the plot.
I would definitely check trigger warnings before reading or listening to this. This whole story just made me feel for Anna. Anna receives life changing news from her therapist in learning that she's autistic. She's in a toxic situation with her sister, who gaslights Anna into doing things against her wishes while also gaslighting her that she doesn't have Autism.
This whole story is Anna's journey with herself and her mind. As the book continues, things just keep piling on top of each other. Her dad suffers a massive stroke and she is tasked with taking care of him. This part of the story is honestly so devastating to listen to and you truly feel for Anna and what she's going through.
The romance elements with Quan definitely help lighten up the story for sure. He's the sweetest and I love how supportive he is for Anna their entire relationship.
Overall, it's seriously a fantastic read. Frustrating at times and honestly devastating, but that's what makes this book special.
If you want a more emotional reading experience, I recommend listening to this on audio.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Ableism
lost_windsock's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
This book. This book had me so full of feels. I was absolutely furious for Anna. The way her family treated her, and the way she felt trapped in her own mind, unable to say no, was devastating to sit through. I wanted to jump into the pages and shout NO for her! It was truly heartbreaking to see that no one would listen to her. Except Quan. Sweet, loving, caring Quan. What a journey he'd been through between the second book and this one. Quan was always one of my favorite characters, and while his story had a painful tinge in this book, it was still just perfectly him to be there for Anna and learn to trust himself again. This book made me feel so many things, and I just could not have loved it more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
mswarning's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
This book was pretty different from the two in the series. It's definitely more serious and less.. contemporary romance? Anna's family and her father's in-home hospice care completely take over the book. My heart broke for her, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be stand up for yourself with the pressure/family dynamics like hers.
Spoiler
I really expected Priscilla to have a hand in the deal going sour between MLA and LVMH. I was relieved that Hoang did not take that route with the family backstabbing. In the second book, Quan traveled to New York for work. And then Priscilla works there and has a LV purse. My mind definitely tried to make connections that weren't there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
tspice24's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
carliethompsonwriting's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
cnricochet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infertility
Minor: Classism, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
jadejade's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
The final book in this series is noticeably less light-hearted from the first two books but I loved it all the same. In particular, I appreciated the portrayal of the incapacitation or death of the head of the family leading to a permanent change to the family dynamic, potentially even destroying family relationships. I'm glad I read this now, when I needed an exploration of this subject, when I needed reassurance that it's not just in my head.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Infertility, Excrement, Infidelity, and Medical content