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annaonthepage's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Brief mentions of mental ill health and cancer as things the characters have survived so has a hopeful angle. Disablism in the form of scathing dismissal by a family member of a late diagnosis of autism in the protagonist. Slight infantilisation of protagonist throughout, through the voice acting and through the dialogue and action.dsforbus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Death of parent
sabrinaleaf's review against another edition
emotional
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
Probably my favourite in the series. I loved them together
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content
iconicavocado's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
(read via audiobook)
Book 📖: 4/5 stars
Audiobook 🎙️: ⭐⭐⭐
Three takeaways:
Three takeaways:
• A nice representation of female autism for this being a romance book
• You don't need to read the 2nd book (The Bride Test) in order to enjoy the story
• If you're looking for a feel-good story, think again.
• If you're looking for a feel-good story, think again.
Boy, was this book unexpected. This book went beyond a simple, sweet romance book. While I actually connected a lot with Anna in the later half of the book and what she goes through I was really taken back by the dramatic turn the story took. I have a love-hate feeling towards this change up and ultimately dock a star because the switch up is so strong that I think other readers would be really jarred when they read it. It's a nice book, but I do caution you to read trigger warnings before you start this book.
To read more spoiler notes of mine see below:
I wish there was more of Quan and Anna's relationship within the book. The book takes a major turn midway that overtakes the whole story from romance to self discovery through massive hardship. The love story definitely takes a backseat the rest of the book. Which I didn't mind because the themes that come out of it connected to me personally. I just don't think this serious emotional twist is "for everyone" especially in this kind of genre.
This is not a book you read to cheer yourself up, that is for sure!
I also didn't think it was totally necessary for Quan to have had cancer. I personally felt that was a bit unnecessary to have that much sadness between both main characters considering where the last half of the story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
ghostsversion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the fact that I wasn’t 100% emotionally invested in the previous one. I feel like Mrs heard me and was like “Oh really? Well here’s an entire book about two people pleasers falling in love and also about how tiring it is to try and be what others want you to be.” Like, ma’am, I’m already dead, stop stomping on me. And maybe I related a bit on the masking autism part but whatever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
The romance is almost the background to Quan and Anna's personal journies with grief and identity, but that makes everything about this story more personal and poignant. Yes, you still get the tender moments and the spice that the other books in the series do so well. But it's really a romance for readers who love character development and self-reflection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
nutmegandselkie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
sas_lk's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was definitely my favourite of the entire series. Anna and Quan felt so real to me, and their problems felt like they were my own, even though I can't really relate much to either.
In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.
Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is.
Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.
These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.
In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.
Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is.
Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.
These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Body shaming and Cancer
absofsteel77's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit