tsodeur's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer
Minor: Death, Self harm, Abandonment, Grief, and Mental illness
cblevz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.5
If you personally connect to grieving the loss of a mother/feminine figure in your life, this book will connect a lot more with you than if not. The small “boring” or “slow” moments will feel more important. A very subjective read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Chronic illness
marieeveparentroy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Blood
leos_books's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, and Sexual content
dollhousebooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Sexual content
leahvogel's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
graceboyd's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-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
2.0
Awful. Goodreads has the in depth review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
showingshelflove's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
indyjg's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
2.5
I was in a bit of a reading slump when I picked this up, ever since finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin. So, I picked this one up on a bit of a whim, knowing that even if the plot fell short, I could connect with the setting. And that is definitely the strength of Rebecca Serle's writing, transporting you to the Amalfi Coast with just her writing. Despite it being a bitingly cold autumn afternoon when I read this, I could almost smell the sea salt, taste the food and feel the heat of an Italian summer. I connected to the premise on a personal level, as losing my mother is one of my deepest fears I've yet to confront. However, I got lost with the strange time travel element.
I don't wish to spoil anything, so that I won't delve too deeply into it. Still, I found that element was clunky, shoehorned into what could've been a good novel about confronting grief, loss and a woman who seems to be her mother, and it is not explained well, in my opinion. My next qualm was how Katy treated her husband, and at first, I was giving her the benefit of the doubt because you never know how you'll act when you lose someone. But Katy's actions are wholly selfish,
Plus, I never truly felt Katy's grief. Sure, I was <i>told</i> about it, but I never felt it. I felt like this goes back to the time travel element,which again, bugs me that it isn't explained in any way.
All in all, a decent enough book for which I've rated it two and a half stars but bumped it up to three for Goodreads.
I don't wish to spoil anything, so that I won't delve too deeply into it. Still, I found that element was clunky, shoehorned into what could've been a good novel about confronting grief, loss and a woman who seems to be her mother, and it is not explained well, in my opinion. My next qualm was how Katy treated her husband, and at first, I was giving her the benefit of the doubt because you never know how you'll act when you lose someone. But Katy's actions are wholly selfish,
Spoiler
One moment she's saying she's confused, grieving her mum, and then she has a whirlwind romance?Plus, I never truly felt Katy's grief. Sure, I was <i>told</i> about it, but I never felt it. I felt like this goes back to the time travel element,
Spoiler
and the strange gimmick of Katy meeting Carol as a thirty-year-old and being confronted with the truth that her mum was still figuring shit out at that ageAll in all, a decent enough book for which I've rated it two and a half stars but bumped it up to three for Goodreads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual content
ktv's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Really liked this. It was a chill book. This was my first audiobook too, and I was addicted to it. I've literally never gotten thru a book so fast.
The spicy scenes weren't even spicy but I was still in shock, jaw dropped, hand over my mouth and everything. I think it was mostly due to it being narrated to me.
6/6/23 edit: this wasn't as good as i thought immediately after reading. i decided to change my rating because i recently finished tfgsc. i didn't take that much off the original rating (4.25) because of the fact that it was my first audiobook and i had a good experience with it.
The spicy scenes weren't even spicy but I was still in shock, jaw dropped, hand over my mouth and everything. I think it was mostly due to it being narrated to me.
6/6/23 edit: this wasn't as good as i thought immediately after reading. i decided to change my rating because i recently finished tfgsc. i didn't take that much off the original rating (4.25) because of the fact that it was my first audiobook and i had a good experience with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment