Reviews with content warning for Grief - Writers & Lovers

“Nearly every guy I’ve dated believed they should already be famous, believed that greatness was their destiny and they were already behind schedule…Now I understand it’s how boys are raised to think, how they are lured into adulthood. I’ve met ambitious women, driven women, but no woman has ever told me that greatness was her destiny.”

oh wow i needed to read this book. i loved going through casey’s struggles with grief, her paralyzing love for writing, her relationship with Men omg like she was so messy and relatable and lovable to me !!! this is for all the girls who grew up reading books underneath their desks in class, dreaming of writing a novel one day no matter how laughable it felt in the moment <3

Content Warnings

clare072's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

4.75

Content Warnings

elanuruysal's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

Content Warnings

atamano's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

amyvl93's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

One thing about me is that I love a novel which appears to be one thing but that hits you with something else; I'd heard Writers & Lovers talked about as a romance novel, and whilst romantic relationships are very central - this novel is almost a coming-of-age novel for Casey, who is in her early 30s and grappling with the aftermath of the surprise loss of her mother and heartbreak whilst also wanting to finally complete her novel.

What really struck me about Writers & Lovers is how well and rolling grief is captured here, it feels very authentic and doesn't easily sleep away - the moment where Casey decides she wants to call her mum after a lovely date and then realises she can't really felt like a gut punch. The writing about writing also didn't feel forced either, King avoids making scenes about writing feel too indulgent or navel-gazey.

Of course the Lovers bit of the title is also key to the novel's success - with Casey having two different options; Silas who is another jobbing writer who also teaches at a local secondary school whose own grief makes him flighty, and Oscar an older established writer in the Boston area who has two small boys whose Mum passed away and who appears to offer more grounding. Both men are presented as whole rounded characters, you can understand their appeal to Casey and what they can bring to her life. I was ultimately very happy with the decision she makes.

There's lots else to like about this book - King is just so accomplished at presenting rounded individual scenes - the restaurant that Casey works for much of the novel felt like a character in itself, with the varied cast of characters who work there; I also enjoyed what the novel says about learning about books and reading, the insight into Casey's brother's own relationship complications, Oscar's frustrated career ambitions...Writers & Lovers just hit really well for me, and I really recommend.

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