mbmontgo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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: Grief, Death, and Dementia
Minor: Physical abuse, Drug use, and Child abuse
chaermander's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
As always, Mhairi McFarlane's writing style is humourous and easy-going (with some lovely vocab), but this book is a little disappointing compared to the others of hers that I've read. Very very little plot - seriously, nothing really happens. The character development starts slow: this took me a while to get into because, if there's no real plot and no real character development, what is there? But it starts to quicken from about 60% in, and there are some nice phrases and interpretations of grief and relationships. This one will be heading to the charity shop, though - not one to reread down the line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Dementia, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Terminal illness
newtonkatie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Grief
mishaps's review against another edition
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? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Drug use, Dementia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
annaforthebooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
onlz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
really liking this author's trend of writing more about friendships and life than just romance. this one is very grief focused, so that hit a little close to home. second half went by really quickly and the pacing felt inconsistent as a result. storylines tied up a little too neatly. but still, nicely drawn characters and real writing. be warned that the first half is medium heavy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
bubblesofbayla's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I really like Mhairi McFarlane's writing. It's very chatty, is how I'd describe it. So much detail, but not in an overly descriptive way, more in that you really get to know each character's way of looking at the world. My main qualm is that it sometimes feels like too much to fit in just one book. Like, we get to the happy ending and then the book's over. I want to get to spend more time with the relationships she spends so many words nurturing. This one, even more than the other I've read from McFarlane, is not a straight ahead romance novel at all. Big content warning for death and grieving!! But what's so wonderful about it is that she shows us love in the context of life, and that makes the relationships (and friendships! such good side characters!) that much more rewarding. So, bascially if we could get some fluffy novellas for the "afters" that'd be great, but really I'm happy with what she's giving us: some beautiful, complex humans, and how they find the love they deserve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Drug use and Panic attacks/disorders
nix_jinx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse
wafflepolly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Child abuse
sophiegavroche's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident