Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - How to End a Love Story

This shit will give you "INTENSE SHARED TRAUMA" to "extremely good, sweet romance" whiplash, but it's good.

Contemporary romance, NJ/NYC->LA bicoastal trauma bonding, spicy, 2 POVs, 3rd person, present tense.

Both protagonists are relatable with distinct voices and their own issues. No one is bringing a secure attachment style to the party and that's okay.

I burned through this book after a certain point. TraumaTraumaTrauma isn't my flavor of choice (bc I'm a weenie) and the first few chpts kept this book on my TBR longer than it should have, but there's so much rock solid other shit Kuang pulls. She's a master of casual, escalating intimacy- both physical and emotional. The dialogue is excellent. Sex scenes are very hot and organic.

If she writes more romance (or adventure- Kuang vibes like someone who'd nail a buddies-against-a-big-bad situation) I'm fucking there.

Rating: Higher rating than I thought I'd land on bc Kuang is so fucking good at organic intimacy (there are

cuddle

scenes), honest characters, and when she writes the big feelings they hit. The

HEA

has some banger passages.

Book about "The Industry"/Hollywood - this was the best version of "Hollywood" I've read or seen- it felt more like a description of a real job, workplace, and industry than the otherizing depictions that usually make it to us normies.

Narrators: Voice actors slapped. Katherine Chin was amazing and has a stable of voices that rules. Chpt 33

made me laugh harder than anything I've read in a while-

Andrew Eiden is always solid, but his take on that killed me.

Overall, Chin and Eiden's pacing made the book really beautiful.

Content Warnings

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

It’s been a long time since a book has truly surprised me, and I commend Yulin Kuang’s debut (!) for doing it. This novel was a doozy, folks, and I loved it very much.

I think, if you’re looking for a modern book that has the vibes of Jane Austen when it comes to YEARNING and dramatic romance, this one has to be it??? That may sound crazy to say. But I couldn’t help feeling that familiar great tug and ache of Georgian-era stories. Okay, maybe this one has more of the tragedy synonymous with the Brontes. In any case, Kuang’s writing swept me away. The desperation on the pages gripped me to the bone. The way Grant wanted and needed Helen was so TANGIBLE.

“How To End A Love Story” was much more romantic and sexual than I thought it would be, especially considering the cold beginning and introduction to these two characters with the worst kind of shared tragedy. It worked so well obviously because one second I’m like okay and then I’m obsessed with the way they sink deeper into each other’s orbits and forgive themselves for being who they once were. I love that Grant falls first and isn’t afraid to tell Helen what he wants. It’s so genuine and so soft. Helen is more the stand-offish unsure one and their pairing doesn’t feel forced at all, even with the circumstances of their past and present. Kuang’s writing is harsh in a whimsical way, somehow an oxymoron of sweet subtle sentences and hard honest dialogue. There are heavy overall themes of suicide, grief, panic attacks. The story is very demanding of all of your emotions. It is definitely not a romcom. It’s a romantic drama for sure, with lots of deep trauma and healing.

THIS is how you do the grumpy x sunshine trope. It’s not too much of either, one character being a little ball of rainbow and glitter, the other the grim reaper who hates children and animals. It’s just the right amount of give and take, of one falling first and the other afraid to admit it. That’s that on tortured slow burns, baby. Lololololol the head of The Tortured Poets Department will see you now.

“Loving can hurt, and I want to do it anyway.”

READ THIS BOOK!!!!! Sorry if you cry but actually not really because crying is HEALTHY!!!!

Content Warnings

instalovewithbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

I started this book as an audiobook, but soon realized that the audiobook wasn't fast enough for me, and that I had to switch to my physical copy I bought for Indie bookstore day and I'm so glad I did.

This book took me longer than I thought it would, but honestly I'm glad it did. I'm glad I didn't gobble it up, and slowly enjoyed Helens and Grants story.

I wasn't sure how this love story would end. It is a romance, and you need a HEA but there was so much against them. I did find that the ending was severely rushed and that possibly another 20 or so pages would have been nice.

Overall, a great read. Would read another book written by Yulin.

Content Warnings

moreadsnrambles's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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rheagoveas's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful slow-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

4.5

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lisacanteven's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I did enjoy this book. The plot was very unique and moved at a great pace. I loved hanging out with these characters. I just didn't love the writing style. It felt a little too screen writing and not enough like a novel. It was the same reason I don't care for Emily Henry's books. They feel like they are only written to become the next Netflix hit.
I'm also surprised the editor didn't make the author remove the use of "tattoo of his heartbeat" about 3 times. The fact that it appeared in the books 4 times (or more if I missed one) is outrageous.
I did really love the look into Helen and Grant's jobs. I would love to have that job if it didn't mean living in LA, so I really appreciated how much detail the author went into the scenes surrounding their jobs.

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