amylowe's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chrissireads's review against another edition
3.0
This Is How It Ends is a very sweet book from Kathleen MacMahon. It’s incredibly easy to read. It’s set in Ireland, where two characters Bruno and Addie are brought together and share a romance. It’s quite odd how Bruno knows of Addie, but not odd in too weird a way!
I thought the characters were good, but some more powerful than others. I thought Addie was the stand out character and Bruno got left behind a little bit. I think something that slightly annoyed me was the lack of information there was in the book about the characters or how slowly the information was given. There’s suspense and then there’s just dragging it out. In some books, it’s nice to have the mystery, but for me, in this book it didn’t work. I didn’t feel as deeply for the characters as I would’ve hoped, because I didn’t feel like I knew their history.
I think this is a decent read though. It’s got a very emotional ending, which I found touching. I think some readers will love it, some readers will hate it and then those like me, somewhere inbetween.
I thought the characters were good, but some more powerful than others. I thought Addie was the stand out character and Bruno got left behind a little bit. I think something that slightly annoyed me was the lack of information there was in the book about the characters or how slowly the information was given. There’s suspense and then there’s just dragging it out. In some books, it’s nice to have the mystery, but for me, in this book it didn’t work. I didn’t feel as deeply for the characters as I would’ve hoped, because I didn’t feel like I knew their history.
I think this is a decent read though. It’s got a very emotional ending, which I found touching. I think some readers will love it, some readers will hate it and then those like me, somewhere inbetween.
inkwitchery's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book as a galley on NetGalley.
I was attracted to this book after reading the synopsis even though I don’t often read books taking place in the recent past. However, it took me quite a while to get through this book due to other hobbies/projects. Additionally, the story didn’t grab me right away. I feel it was mostly due to the characters being on the verge of middle age, I couldn’t quite relate. Not that I’m a spring chicken, but you know what I mean. ;)
The story takes place in 2008, during the economic downturn, and a few months before Obama was elected president. We are introduced to Bruno, a banker in his late 40s who has recently lost his job due to the global economic collapse, and felt a need to get away, or distract himself from, the chaos. Fulfilling his promise to his father, he embarks on a mission to trace back his roots. His researching has led him to the house of his distant cousins in Ireland.
Addie is a 38 year old architect, who’s temporarily taking care of her father, a surgeon named Hugh. Addie has recently suffered a miscarriage and broken up with her long time boyfriend. Her way of coping with this is to take her dog, Lola, out for daily walks along the beach and/or going to the local pool to swim out her frustrations.
While this story is billed as a romance between Bruno and Addie, I was a little put off about them being (distant) cousins. Maybe it’s just me? However, their romance was very sweet. Bruno was someone Addie needed to bring a little lightness, and fun to her life. I felt the Obama angle was superfluous. It didn’t really make much difference to the story nor did it play any major part other than Bruno wanting Obama to win the election. I felt including that in the synopsis was a little bit of false advertising.
Overall, I liked this book. I didn’t love it, but I liked it. It was an easy read, with likable characters. I think the only character I didn’t care for, until the end, was Hugh. I was happy for Addie and Bruno. They made the most of each other, and their time together. The ending was predictable and I hate to say this, but it didn’t on pull my heartstrings as much as what happened to Lola. Poor, poor Lola! :(
I was attracted to this book after reading the synopsis even though I don’t often read books taking place in the recent past. However, it took me quite a while to get through this book due to other hobbies/projects. Additionally, the story didn’t grab me right away. I feel it was mostly due to the characters being on the verge of middle age, I couldn’t quite relate. Not that I’m a spring chicken, but you know what I mean. ;)
The story takes place in 2008, during the economic downturn, and a few months before Obama was elected president. We are introduced to Bruno, a banker in his late 40s who has recently lost his job due to the global economic collapse, and felt a need to get away, or distract himself from, the chaos. Fulfilling his promise to his father, he embarks on a mission to trace back his roots. His researching has led him to the house of his distant cousins in Ireland.
Addie is a 38 year old architect, who’s temporarily taking care of her father, a surgeon named Hugh. Addie has recently suffered a miscarriage and broken up with her long time boyfriend. Her way of coping with this is to take her dog, Lola, out for daily walks along the beach and/or going to the local pool to swim out her frustrations.
While this story is billed as a romance between Bruno and Addie, I was a little put off about them being (distant) cousins. Maybe it’s just me? However, their romance was very sweet. Bruno was someone Addie needed to bring a little lightness, and fun to her life. I felt the Obama angle was superfluous. It didn’t really make much difference to the story nor did it play any major part other than Bruno wanting Obama to win the election. I felt including that in the synopsis was a little bit of false advertising.
Overall, I liked this book. I didn’t love it, but I liked it. It was an easy read, with likable characters. I think the only character I didn’t care for, until the end, was Hugh. I was happy for Addie and Bruno. They made the most of each other, and their time together. The ending was predictable and I hate to say this, but it didn’t on pull my heartstrings as much as what happened to Lola. Poor, poor Lola! :(
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of two people, Addie and Bruno, who are both a bit older, single and disappointed by their current lives. Bruno is American but decides to track the story of his Irish ancestors by descending on them completely by surprise as a way to try and escape the U.S. Election. He swears that if Obama doesn’t win, he will refuse to return to America, and throughout the novel, he constantly worries about this situation. Addie on the other hand, has had a couple of failed relationships and is currently looking after her father, a surgeon with a lot of attitude who has currently broken both his wrists and is about to undergo a lawsuit for malpractice. Addie ends up meeting Bruno as his second cousin once removed, and they fall in love.
I did enjoy this story, and found it quite refreshing that it explored love in a couple outside of their twenties and thirties. The characters were intriguing, but I found this was also a problem with the novel as I didn’t feel they were explored to their full potential. I was eager to know more about Addie and Bruno’s back story and their previous relationships, which was merely touched upon. I won’t say too much about the ending, but to be honest, it was fairly obvious to me and I did expect it. Don’t get me wrong, this is an interesting and decent story, but I feel more could have been made of what was there.
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.wordpress.com
I did enjoy this story, and found it quite refreshing that it explored love in a couple outside of their twenties and thirties. The characters were intriguing, but I found this was also a problem with the novel as I didn’t feel they were explored to their full potential. I was eager to know more about Addie and Bruno’s back story and their previous relationships, which was merely touched upon. I won’t say too much about the ending, but to be honest, it was fairly obvious to me and I did expect it. Don’t get me wrong, this is an interesting and decent story, but I feel more could have been made of what was there.
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.wordpress.com
books_with_tess's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This book didn't connect with me emosionally as I'd hoped.
It felt like just yet another "love enters life, life ends" kind of story. It didn't feel unique, atleast not at the level the hype claimed.
To be honest, what hurt the most was
But in general it is a good story, with lovely characters and fun. But it won't stick with me, not like Me before you did. (Which this one is slightly being compared to.)
It felt like just yet another "love enters life, life ends" kind of story. It didn't feel unique, atleast not at the level the hype claimed.
To be honest, what hurt the most was
Spoiler
Lola dying at the end! I mean come on...But in general it is a good story, with lovely characters and fun. But it won't stick with me, not like Me before you did. (Which this one is slightly being compared to.)
paulineerika's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Reads like a Nicholas Sparks novel without the charm of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Characters are hard to get invested in and the ending is depressing. A story for the sake of writing a story, IMO, but not a very good one.
alexeee's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4 out of 5.
This is why it begins…. Bruno, an American, has come to Ireland to search for his roots. Addie, an out of work architect, is recovering from heartbreak while taking care of her infirm father. When their worlds collide, they experience a connection unlike any they’ve previously felt, but soon their newfound love will be tested in ways they never imagined possible…… and this is how it ends…..
Really enjoyed this book. Admired Addie’s carefree life, felt for her sister’s push into adulthood at a young age, and tried to understand Hugh with his closed feelings and old style attitudes. And right in the middle of it all Bruno is trying to trace his family tree.
You become engaged and involved in the drama, and in the end, I challenge you to keep a dry eye.
This is why it begins…. Bruno, an American, has come to Ireland to search for his roots. Addie, an out of work architect, is recovering from heartbreak while taking care of her infirm father. When their worlds collide, they experience a connection unlike any they’ve previously felt, but soon their newfound love will be tested in ways they never imagined possible…… and this is how it ends…..
Really enjoyed this book. Admired Addie’s carefree life, felt for her sister’s push into adulthood at a young age, and tried to understand Hugh with his closed feelings and old style attitudes. And right in the middle of it all Bruno is trying to trace his family tree.
You become engaged and involved in the drama, and in the end, I challenge you to keep a dry eye.
pflugify's review against another edition
3.0
It was just...ok. Mediocre sounds a little harsh, but appropriate.
dannireadsallthetime's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly this is one of the worst books I have ever read
None stop description all the way through, there is just no need for it, the most mundane things were explained in detail..... honestly I don't care get on with the story.
The story itself is ridiculous. Bruno comes to Ireland to look for his distant relatives, yes ok that's fine. High the father and Addie the daughter are adamant they don't want to meet him and won't let him in the house. Addie changes her tune pretty quickly and sleeps with him. Ridiculous, I know they're distant cousins but no they would not sleep together just like that.
I wasn't really sure who was who, if people were related or not. Descriptions of the characters are mentioned too late in the book, as you have already calculated an imagine of them and then have to completely change it. Their ages when they are finally mentioned are repeated too many times.
There is a twist at the end m, which for me I just sat there and thought really?? This story has no substance, it's poorly written and the characters are not believable, it could have had potential but it's flat and dull and the ending almost felt like a desperate plea to keep the story going. I'm not even sorry it was just terrible.
None stop description all the way through, there is just no need for it, the most mundane things were explained in detail..... honestly I don't care get on with the story.
The story itself is ridiculous. Bruno comes to Ireland to look for his distant relatives, yes ok that's fine. High the father and Addie the daughter are adamant they don't want to meet him and won't let him in the house. Addie changes her tune pretty quickly and sleeps with him. Ridiculous, I know they're distant cousins but no they would not sleep together just like that.
I wasn't really sure who was who, if people were related or not. Descriptions of the characters are mentioned too late in the book, as you have already calculated an imagine of them and then have to completely change it. Their ages when they are finally mentioned are repeated too many times.
There is a twist at the end m, which for me I just sat there and thought really?? This story has no substance, it's poorly written and the characters are not believable, it could have had potential but it's flat and dull and the ending almost felt like a desperate plea to keep the story going. I'm not even sorry it was just terrible.