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jessicabearbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"The present is our own. The right-this-second, the here and now, this moment before the next, is ours for the taking. It's the only free gift the universe has to offer. The past doesn't belong to us anymore, and the future is just a fantasy, never guaranteed. But the present is ours to own. The only way we can realise that fantasy is if we embrace the now".
This book is for anyone who has ever been so desperately in love, you can't see yourself surviving if it ends. I think a little part of this story will stay with me forever. As a side note - this book only took me three months to read because I was too busy crying over a dissertation. But once I opened this again I was OBSESSED and read the last two thirds of the book in a couple days.
The characters are beautiful, it's so easy to fall in love with a lot of them. Maybe because I saw so many similarities to people in my own life - but I think the relatableness is what makes this story so heartbreaking and real. There are plenty of silly, everyday scenarios that have happened to almost every university student and person, paired then with the plot twists that make you grateful your own life isn't as dramatic. But whatever the crazy situation and context is, the emotions are the same and tug at your heart because you've felt them. There is such human innocence in this book, and I think that's so beautiful.
Grace, oh sweet Gracie, who was always too gentle for this world, I'm glad you're happy now. Matt and especially Grace didn't deserve what happened throughout this novel, and GIRL - I hated the frustration I felt as a reader having to watch everything unfold! But ultimately the story was beautiful, there was such a nice balance between comedy, emotion, dialogue and description. The world building and scene setting was always great - after visiting New York last year I've been searching for a way to go back. Reading this was perfect and maybe that's why I felt such a sense of loss when I had to say goodbye to these characters, their world, and their story.
The story was beautiful and there were so many powerful quotes I found myself tabbing and going back too! However, I had a few issues with some of the things Matt agreed to or said, whether this is him being a teenager or him being a dick I can't decide, for the most part though Grace was lucky to have him. I got confused a lot over the whole Monica/Elizabeth timeline - there's definitely a lot of little things and hints to think about and remember when reading this book, as a lot of loose ends are tied up throughout and aren't as shocking or relieving unless you're reminded of which characters or plot they relate too.
Overall, a strong four stars as the book definitely lives up the hype. I would recommend (I actually bought this book again straight away as a gift for my Mum, who reminds me so much of Grace and Aletha), especially to those desperately in love, or who still think about the one who got away.
"I feared there would be no healing us. The scars were too deep".
Mini playlist for this book:
Matilda - Harry Styles
Timeless - Taylor Swift
Nothing New - Taylor Swift
When We Were Young - Adele
This Love - Taylor Swift
This book is for anyone who has ever been so desperately in love, you can't see yourself surviving if it ends. I think a little part of this story will stay with me forever. As a side note - this book only took me three months to read because I was too busy crying over a dissertation. But once I opened this again I was OBSESSED and read the last two thirds of the book in a couple days.
The characters are beautiful, it's so easy to fall in love with a lot of them. Maybe because I saw so many similarities to people in my own life - but I think the relatableness is what makes this story so heartbreaking and real. There are plenty of silly, everyday scenarios that have happened to almost every university student and person, paired then with the plot twists that make you grateful your own life isn't as dramatic. But whatever the crazy situation and context is, the emotions are the same and tug at your heart because you've felt them. There is such human innocence in this book, and I think that's so beautiful.
Grace, oh sweet Gracie, who was always too gentle for this world, I'm glad you're happy now. Matt and especially Grace didn't deserve what happened throughout this novel, and GIRL - I hated the frustration I felt as a reader having to watch everything unfold! But ultimately the story was beautiful, there was such a nice balance between comedy, emotion, dialogue and description. The world building and scene setting was always great - after visiting New York last year I've been searching for a way to go back. Reading this was perfect and maybe that's why I felt such a sense of loss when I had to say goodbye to these characters, their world, and their story.
The story was beautiful and there were so many powerful quotes I found myself tabbing and going back too! However, I had a few issues with some of the things Matt agreed to or said, whether this is him being a teenager or him being a dick I can't decide, for the most part though Grace was lucky to have him. I got confused a lot over the whole Monica/Elizabeth timeline - there's definitely a lot of little things and hints to think about and remember when reading this book, as a lot of loose ends are tied up throughout and aren't as shocking or relieving unless you're reminded of which characters or plot they relate too.
Overall, a strong four stars as the book definitely lives up the hype. I would recommend (I actually bought this book again straight away as a gift for my Mum, who reminds me so much of Grace and Aletha), especially to those desperately in love, or who still think about the one who got away.
"I feared there would be no healing us. The scars were too deep".
Mini playlist for this book:
Matilda - Harry Styles
Timeless - Taylor Swift
Nothing New - Taylor Swift
When We Were Young - Adele
This Love - Taylor Swift
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
kelseyfontaine's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Very cute second chance romance! The story kept me hooked the entire time, and the plot twist was very unexpected. I felt very connected to Matt and Grace’s love story and it was interesting to read a different type of romance that what I normally do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Abortion
brinkley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
valeriaboom's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
The first part of this book was amazing, I thought it would be 5 stars, and I was actually enjoying it a lot until page 231!!! but then things started to go downhill and I hated it so so much. Dan and his relationship with Grace creeped me out so much, and the fact that they got married??? Wtf! I also absolutely hate the miscommunication trope, and it made no sense at all in this book!!! And the unexpected pregnancy? No thank you! It made me sad how much this book made me angry, and even though I liked most of it, I can’t give it more than 2 stars for that stupid ass ending grrrr
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
nzmerchant's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Already knew from the second chapter that this book would not be up my alley. Wanted to give it a fair chance but the characters really irritated me - only liked Matt’s mom and Ash. I think the characters were portrayed a bit too idealistically and there were a lot of things in their characters that I would have liked to see further developed - like Matt’s relationship with his family and how that affects his romantic relationships, and why Matt trivialised some of Grace’s valid concerns. Idk felt like everything was very surface level and mopey even in their internal dialogues. Similar miscommunication/wrong timing plot as Normal People but without the character’s self awareness and reflection lmao. I also really dislike Grace’s arc - why did she marry Pornsake and have a kid with Matt? Surely there would have been better ways of developing the plot rather than perpetuating creepy student-teacher relationships. And I hate that Matt got to be the career guy and have a great career but Grace didn’t? Overall, not a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
mimo_'s review against another edition
medium-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
1.0
they should’ve stayed strangers 🥱
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Death and Death of parent
julierambaeck's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This is a no from me. Did not like the characters whatsoever, they were childish and they just kept on whining... I found the characters super toxic, and the relationship even more. The maincharacters did not grow at all they were the same throughout the whole story that spans over 15 years and NOTHING happened with them as characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
bookswithbront's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
3.5
I’m so conflicted about this book.
The characters drove me insane, and some of the story points didn’t work for me. But at the same time, I didn’t want to put it down.
The “before” parts of this book felt so real and true to what it’s like to fall in love in college. And yet I don’t understand why Matt’s character was so much more developed than Grace’s. Even when she was narrating, I felt like I was seeing her through Matt’s eyes. Matt was so much more nuanced and at times straight-up unlikeable, but I always understood what was going on with him. I think if we’d gotten the same for Grace it would have improved the book exponentially for me.
The characters drove me insane, and some of the story points didn’t work for me. But at the same time, I didn’t want to put it down.
The “before” parts of this book felt so real and true to what it’s like to fall in love in college. And yet I don’t understand why Matt’s character was so much more developed than Grace’s. Even when she was narrating, I felt like I was seeing her through Matt’s eyes. Matt was so much more nuanced and at times straight-up unlikeable, but I always understood what was going on with him. I think if we’d gotten the same for Grace it would have improved the book exponentially for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion and Classism
lauren717's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
lindseybarnett's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol