icarusandthesun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
taylor jenkins reid is super talented. her stories pull on your heartstrings and her characters are mature and wholesome (even a bit too perfect at times).
the problem is just that the book is far from where i am at in my life right now. i am not nearly thirty, i am not even close to thinking about marriage and children and all that good stuff. and i think relatability is extremely important when it comes to novels like these, in which the whole plot revolves around the characters and their messy lives and messier life-choices.
the book relies on relatability, because from an objective point of the view, the plot isn't very good nor interesting. the things that happen are quite predictable, because reid uses very common and done-before plot devices (
Spoiler
car accident, death of a sister and henry becoming a nurse because of that, all of them getting a happy ending through very unprobable and unbelievable circumstancesthe book's theme is undoubtedly hope, based on all the profound pep-talks and conversations about "que será será"—moving on after tragedy, making the best of every situation, etc. it was refreshing, the way the characters never quite allowed themselves to despair completely. reid never lingered on the bad, nearly every chapter ended on a positive note, so you could say that the book was unrealistically perfect. great, of course, if that's what you're into.
i don't know what else to say about this book. it was good, fine, non-threatening. might put this aside for now or sell it and maybe pick it up again in a couple of years.
the characters in this book, especially the protagonist hannah, talk about fate a lot, and things that are "just meant to be". so i'm gonna go ahead and boldly claim that, if this book and i are meant to be, it'll find me again somewhen in the future.
Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Moderate: Fatphobia, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Child death, and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual content
sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the storyline’s of the book and found the different paths her life took a great read. However there was way too much repetition.
When describing a story or a conversation it was great to have it in full in one life path but seeing we had read it the chapter before when it’s repeated in entirety in the next it’s very much over done. Something that could easily have been referenced.
And oh my gosh if someone mentions the word cinnamon roll or high bun to me I may hit them! What is with authors creating female characters who’s personalities are based around a hairdo and a type of food. It’s annoying and somewhat condescending.
However if you get past the repetition, breakfast pastries and hairstyle requirements. It is a good read into the possibilities life can take you on. And I must say I don’t think after reading it I could choose which life path I would choose for her.
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Car accident, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
The one relationship in the book that I really loved was the only constant in both timelines—Hannah and Gabby’s friendship. I liked one MMC far better than the other, though neither had me in my feelings, as they say. Pretty predictable story arcs on both sides.
However, this is a really optimistic, hopeful read. Good if you’re wanting something light complete with not one, but TWO happily ever afters. It read quite fast, too, so that was a plus.
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical trauma
Minor: Abortion
xmeganlowe's review against another edition
- 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
I was really thinking that in each timeline, Hannah would end up in the same place/situation/with the same person/etc. and in some aspects, everything I suppose was meant to happen still happened. But it was still nice to have an ending that made you question how your decisions really impact the course of your life, and make you question if fate and destiny and soulmates really exist. It was definitely a book that gets you thinking!
But overall still makes you feel good and inspired that even if bad things happen or you’re lost, your decisions are leading you to the right place at the right time and everything happens for a reason, even if that reason doesn’t seem clear to us at the time.
It also has greatttt character development, and I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the female friendship along with the romances.
Minor: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Sexual content, Car accident, and Grief
lily_rumley's review against another edition
Moderate: Sexual content
its_j's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Sexual content
jfield351's review
- 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
Spoiler
Hannah was pregnant , Hannah got hit by a car, and that Mark was cheatingGraphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Cancer, Death, Cursing, Medical content, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Vomit
marybsimp's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abortion, Miscarriage, Death, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This book just fills my heart with so much warmth and joy. I absolutely loved this book. There is something about her books, that I just love so much. It’s like there’s crack in these books, I swear, they are so addicting. Her writing is just so honest, and genuine, and captivating. How did she make two differing stories/paths of the protagonist equally genuine and believable and perfect for the story? She made me root for/love two different love interests EQUALLY! Like who else can do that but Taylor Jenkins Reid? Her writing is just unmatched. I just love everything about this book. Please, do yourself a favor by reading this book. I would like to read a million more books like this. I’m gonna read all of her books now.
Update: this is my second read of this book, and it is just as good if not better the second time. I have not been able to stop thinking or talking about this book for the past six months, and I don’t think I ever will.
Minor: Sexual content, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
I would say maybe 14+