sarah_gbwi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
3.5
afshawn's review against another edition
4.0
There was just something about this book that I simply loved. The story was simultaneously charming and bittersweet, funny and sad. It inspired me to want to make
sure I’m living my life to the fullest! I don’t want to say too much because I quite enjoyed not knowing too much about the plot and letting the realizations sink in and the twists surprise me. I read this in a few days by the beach and it’s perfect for that!
Ultimately I’d rate it 3.5, rounded up to 4.
sure I’m living my life to the fullest! I don’t want to say too much because I quite enjoyed not knowing too much about the plot and letting the realizations sink in and the twists surprise me. I read this in a few days by the beach and it’s perfect for that!
Ultimately I’d rate it 3.5, rounded up to 4.
rdrzjackie's review against another edition
3.0
Very ok
The pacing of this book was odd. It was mostly a very slow read with little bursts of excitement. I wanted to enjoy this book, but it came off as being very cliche and somewhat predictable. Perhaps too much was lost in the translation of the book to English.
The pacing of this book was odd. It was mostly a very slow read with little bursts of excitement. I wanted to enjoy this book, but it came off as being very cliche and somewhat predictable. Perhaps too much was lost in the translation of the book to English.
maplessence's review
2.0
This is a nice book. A perfectly nice book.
Unfortunately it is also very dull.
Some of it may be "lost in translation" (for example, the word alone is used twice in one sentence at 28% & there is a joke about a character's name earlier that I just didn't get) but I made it to 30% without anything interesting happening (although I had hopes about the fortune teller)
Jonathan Grief reminds me (a lot) of Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) and Don Tillman ([b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371651741l/16181775._SY75_.jpg|22084678]) and I've already watched the TV programme for the former and read the book for the latter.
DNF
Unfortunately it is also very dull.
Some of it may be "lost in translation" (for example, the word alone is used twice in one sentence at 28% & there is a joke about a character's name earlier that I just didn't get) but I made it to 30% without anything interesting happening (although I had hopes about the fortune teller)
Jonathan Grief reminds me (a lot) of Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) and Don Tillman ([b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371651741l/16181775._SY75_.jpg|22084678]) and I've already watched the TV programme for the former and read the book for the latter.
DNF
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amandaj6's review against another edition
5.0
Different but Good
This isn’t my normal kind of book. I stopped and started and read the epilogue and then went to the middle and skipped around some more until I read it all. I liked the idea of this book and it most certainly didn’t go how i imagined it would. I laughed and I cried. It was a really great book that sticks with you and leaves you thinking long after finishing.
This isn’t my normal kind of book. I stopped and started and read the epilogue and then went to the middle and skipped around some more until I read it all. I liked the idea of this book and it most certainly didn’t go how i imagined it would. I laughed and I cried. It was a really great book that sticks with you and leaves you thinking long after finishing.
kylemhaggerty's review against another edition
2.0
Not for me
I wish I had enjoyed this book. I am certain part of the disconnect is something lost in translation. I consistently struggle to enjoy romance novels, so that is doubtlessly another contributor. Beyond that, the characters feel, at most, two dimensional and self absorbed. The story feels predictable, so much so that 400 pages in, I’m ready to stop reading again because nothing has surprised me or elicited emotion yet. The irony of writing a bad review for a book whose main character is a hypercritical literary snob doesn’t escape me, but nonetheless I cannot recommend this book.
I wish I had enjoyed this book. I am certain part of the disconnect is something lost in translation. I consistently struggle to enjoy romance novels, so that is doubtlessly another contributor. Beyond that, the characters feel, at most, two dimensional and self absorbed. The story feels predictable, so much so that 400 pages in, I’m ready to stop reading again because nothing has surprised me or elicited emotion yet. The irony of writing a bad review for a book whose main character is a hypercritical literary snob doesn’t escape me, but nonetheless I cannot recommend this book.
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
3.0
Update 4/28: I have since learned that this book was translated which may be part of why the writing seemed off.
Original Review: I liked this but didn’t love it. Some of the writing was clunky and some of the plot didn’t make sense.
Original Review: I liked this but didn’t love it. Some of the writing was clunky and some of the plot didn’t make sense.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
1.0
This was really different than the description led me to believe, a lot more serious. I hated both main characters.
rachbreads's review
3.0
I picked this up totally by chance - I think it was a freebie from Amazon first reads and I honestly never expect too much from those. I really enjoyed this one though! I thought it was a sweet read that was ultimately uplifting, although it touches on dark subjects.
TW: suicide
TW: suicide
zhelana's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story that is either about coincidences or relies way too heavily on coincidences. Jonathan N Grief finds a diary with a year planned out in it. He tries to find out whom it belongs to, but ends up following all of the advice in it. This advice prevents him from finding out whom it belongs to several times. It's essentially a love story, but you don't get much relationship building at all. Most of the story is about Jonathan following the diary and Hannah looking for her boyfriend. I really liked most of this book, but found a lot of parts of it horribly predictable and it didn't really take any amazing turns that I didn't see coming way in advance. Still it was a pleasant read, and I enjoyed it.