atamano's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Death
Minor: Infidelity and Cursing
books_withblooms's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, and Pregnancy
theonlybaillie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Mental illness
bringmybooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thank you to Edelweiss, Berkley, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
This one worked for a lot of people - like, in a super moving heartfelt wept their eyes out book hangover for days kind of way - but I got … nothing. I love love LOVED The Dead Romantics so my hopes and the hype were pretty high here, but I don’t even think that’s the culprit.
I’m genuinely surprised that even though I really liked the writing and the premise was UNREAL, I felt nothing for these characters. I was shuffling through the pages waiting for something truly magical, but the majority of it was just weird instalove and a magical element that didn’t make any sense.
(Note: magical elements don’t * have * to make sense, see: About Time, which is a pitch perfect film with a magical element that makes 0 sense - but the characters and their stories have to REALLY work for this to work, if you know what I mean)
Anywho - I’m going with “borrow” on this one because while it wasn’t my slice of pie, I know that it’s *chef’s kiss* for others!
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
This one worked for a lot of people - like, in a super moving heartfelt wept their eyes out book hangover for days kind of way - but I got … nothing. I love love LOVED The Dead Romantics so my hopes and the hype were pretty high here, but I don’t even think that’s the culprit.
I’m genuinely surprised that even though I really liked the writing and the premise was UNREAL, I felt nothing for these characters. I was shuffling through the pages waiting for something truly magical, but the majority of it was just weird instalove and a magical element that didn’t make any sense.
(Note: magical elements don’t * have * to make sense, see: About Time, which is a pitch perfect film with a magical element that makes 0 sense - but the characters and their stories have to REALLY work for this to work, if you know what I mean)
Anywho - I’m going with “borrow” on this one because while it wasn’t my slice of pie, I know that it’s *chef’s kiss* for others!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
liltastypuff's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good. A perfect mix of romance, life, and even death (as grief).
The characters are so well written, real, and relatable.
The characters are so well written, real, and relatable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy
Suicide mentioned as a passed event. minor spoilerSpoiler
is mentioned and briefly described. The grief in dealing with a loved ones suicide is a major theme. No suicidal behaviors are discussed.Spoiler
A side character is pregnant throughout the book.baraya's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide
kaitplusbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I'm crying, but they're mostly happy tears, I think. I knew going into this that I loved Ashley Poston's writing. What I didn't realize was how much this book would affect me. And I don't have all the words right now, but I hope I will someday. Because this book is magical, and I hope you love it as much as I do. Thank you, Ashley, for writing such an absolutely magical book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Mental illness, Death, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
ines_santos13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy
gabichatslit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
5.0
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Ashley Poston just solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me with this one. It took me a little over a week to finish this one— and while it partly had to do with me just getting back to reading consistently after only reading for grad school over the past year, I realize now it was also because I was trying to savor the goodness that is this book.
I’m not even sure what I could say that would truly do this book justice. It was one of a kind. It was so beautiful, tender, emotional, sad and hopeful. But I’m so glad I read it. A big big big thank you to Sam (@sb.reads) for making a TikTok to about this book. Because even though I had seen quite a few people recommend the book before watching her vid, I don’t think I would have picked up this book if it hadn’t been for her.
This book was a tender exploration of grief, and what it means to come into one’s self, and honor all the pieces of you that you’ve outgrown to get to who you are in the present moment. It’s a book about taking chances, about learning how to ebb and flow with change, and how to take a chance on yourself and the things that set your soul on fire. I truly love Clementine and Iwan, and their love story/stories (ALL THE WAYS THAT FATE/CHANCE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER… OOH ASHLEY POSTON THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!) will stay with me for a very long time.
The most innocuous sentences hit like a freight train for some reason. So many life lessons hidden in the pages of this book. It’s been a minute since I’ve shed so many random tears while reading. This was just a top tier reading experience.
An easy 5 stars from me.
And I will now be picking up the dead romantics because I need more of Poston’s writing in my life.
The only thing I wish we got more of was Vera realizing the second connection she had to Clementine. And Clementine and Iwan realizing just how much fate was working in their favor. It was always going to be them <3
Ashley Poston just solidified herself as an auto-buy author for me with this one. It took me a little over a week to finish this one— and while it partly had to do with me just getting back to reading consistently after only reading for grad school over the past year, I realize now it was also because I was trying to savor the goodness that is this book.
I’m not even sure what I could say that would truly do this book justice. It was one of a kind. It was so beautiful, tender, emotional, sad and hopeful. But I’m so glad I read it. A big big big thank you to Sam (@sb.reads) for making a TikTok to about this book. Because even though I had seen quite a few people recommend the book before watching her vid, I don’t think I would have picked up this book if it hadn’t been for her.
This book was a tender exploration of grief, and what it means to come into one’s self, and honor all the pieces of you that you’ve outgrown to get to who you are in the present moment. It’s a book about taking chances, about learning how to ebb and flow with change, and how to take a chance on yourself and the things that set your soul on fire. I truly love Clementine and Iwan, and their love story/stories (ALL THE WAYS THAT FATE/CHANCE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER… OOH ASHLEY POSTON THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!) will stay with me for a very long time.
The most innocuous sentences hit like a freight train for some reason. So many life lessons hidden in the pages of this book. It’s been a minute since I’ve shed so many random tears while reading. This was just a top tier reading experience.
An easy 5 stars from me.
And I will now be picking up the dead romantics because I need more of Poston’s writing in my life.
Spoiler
The only thing I wish we got more of was Vera realizing the second connection she had to Clementine. And Clementine and Iwan realizing just how much fate was working in their favor. It was always going to be them <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Suicide