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christinamarie96's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
booksbri's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
quillwielder's review against another edition
5.0
BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I’VE READ THIS MONTH!!!!
The author clearly did her research and I truly commend her for that!!! The book is outstanding in itself and for someone who don’t usually gravitate into reading YA books, this one outdid itself! I adored James and Hazel’s story, and as well as Aubrey and Colette’s. I think it helped that the author organized the parts so beautifully, compartmentalizing then into different subtopics and I believe that’s one of the many factors that have affected my reading experience for this one in a good way. Music played a big part in this story, the kind of art ready to sweep the characters off their feet, and incorporating jazz into the storyline made it even more beautiful and gracious. The tragedy that each of the characters, by way of Aphrodite’s storytelling, went through such great lengths in order to combat despair but still rose from the heavy tragedies they were part of, signifies that hope is a beautiful thing and one of the best asset that the author wanted to reach out towards its audience. I enjoyed the storytelling of the Greek Gods, the humor they put into it, and GAAAHHH, THIS BOOK IS BEYOND BEAUTIFUL I WANNA CRY!!! In fact I did, I couldn’t hold back the tears in James and Hazel’s part when a ring was in the way!!! The writing is definitely superb and this book took me to places I never thought it would.
Lovely War is a story about hope. Holding on to something you care about. Lovely War proves that sometimes, believing is all you need and from there, you ought to figure things out. Kudos to the author for having written a magnificent book!
The author clearly did her research and I truly commend her for that!!! The book is outstanding in itself and for someone who don’t usually gravitate into reading YA books, this one outdid itself! I adored James and Hazel’s story, and as well as Aubrey and Colette’s. I think it helped that the author organized the parts so beautifully, compartmentalizing then into different subtopics and I believe that’s one of the many factors that have affected my reading experience for this one in a good way. Music played a big part in this story, the kind of art ready to sweep the characters off their feet, and incorporating jazz into the storyline made it even more beautiful and gracious. The tragedy that each of the characters, by way of Aphrodite’s storytelling, went through such great lengths in order to combat despair but still rose from the heavy tragedies they were part of, signifies that hope is a beautiful thing and one of the best asset that the author wanted to reach out towards its audience. I enjoyed the storytelling of the Greek Gods, the humor they put into it, and GAAAHHH, THIS BOOK IS BEYOND BEAUTIFUL I WANNA CRY!!! In fact I did, I couldn’t hold back the tears in James and Hazel’s part when a ring was in the way!!! The writing is definitely superb and this book took me to places I never thought it would.
Lovely War is a story about hope. Holding on to something you care about. Lovely War proves that sometimes, believing is all you need and from there, you ought to figure things out. Kudos to the author for having written a magnificent book!
syddielee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
goneforspell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
tell_them_stories's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
thelilbookwitch's review against another edition
5.0
Full review [here].
I haven't read a historical fiction novel this good...ever.
This is why we have 5 stars on here, and why I save my 5 star ratings for a good reason. Because Lovely War has definitely earned them.
I want to put this book in every person's hands. I've been shouting on the internet about it since page 80 (and it's close to 500 pages long), and I'm buying myself a copy as well so I can reread and savor every chapter again and again in the future. Maybe I won't cry as much the next time...
This book has massive crossover appeal for adult audiences. It is achingly tender, and beautifully bittersweet. Any fan of WWI or WWII historical fiction will love it, even fans who might not normally pick up a historical fiction novel should give this a try.
Seriously. Why are you still reading this review and not the actual book?? Begone and read it!
I haven't read a historical fiction novel this good...ever.
This is why we have 5 stars on here, and why I save my 5 star ratings for a good reason. Because Lovely War has definitely earned them.
I want to put this book in every person's hands. I've been shouting on the internet about it since page 80 (and it's close to 500 pages long), and I'm buying myself a copy as well so I can reread and savor every chapter again and again in the future. Maybe I won't cry as much the next time...
This book has massive crossover appeal for adult audiences. It is achingly tender, and beautifully bittersweet. Any fan of WWI or WWII historical fiction will love it, even fans who might not normally pick up a historical fiction novel should give this a try.
Seriously. Why are you still reading this review and not the actual book?? Begone and read it!
arayofreading's review against another edition
4.0
This novel's selling point was that it was World War I told by Greek gods, and it definitely did not disappoint on that end. I absolutely loved the framing of this story and how it ties to the overall themes, as well as the charming personalities that came through with the narrators. I loved how our four main characters are also well-developed, with their own histories that we come to understand and how that brings them closer to each other. I also loved how you could tell the author did so much research on this time period--with the depiction of Black soldiers in the army and the history and influence of Jazz, as well as the various roles women played in the war effort.
I did feel like some parts dragged a bit, and while I was moved by many scenes, there were times were I felt that the emotional impact that the book was trying to evoke didn't quite hit me (at least as much as it seems to have had on a lot of people lol).
Overall I really enjoyed this fresh take on historical fiction and thought it was a great balance of showing the love and hardship that is always entangled with war.
I did feel like some parts dragged a bit, and while I was moved by many scenes, there were times were I felt that the emotional impact that the book was trying to evoke didn't quite hit me (at least as much as it seems to have had on a lot of people lol).
Overall I really enjoyed this fresh take on historical fiction and thought it was a great balance of showing the love and hardship that is always entangled with war.
mailemak21's review against another edition
5.0
This was so beautiful!
The concept was immediately intriguing, but I wasn’t sure what the book was going to be about. It was so thick and I wasn’t sure what what going to happen lol.
So many beautiful things happen and this was such a touching book. When I bought this book I thought it would take me all of break to finish, but I shocked myself! I couldn’t put it down, the storytelling was unique and captured the beauty you associate with Greek gods/goddess’s. February has been surprisingly (and fitting) filled with romance books, but I have to say I’m enjoying them so much! Hazel, James, Colette and Aubrey all have my heart and Hades, Aphrodite and Hephaestus are right there along with them. (We can throw Apollo in there too)
A great book to pull you from a reading slump!
The concept was immediately intriguing, but I wasn’t sure what the book was going to be about. It was so thick and I wasn’t sure what what going to happen lol.
So many beautiful things happen and this was such a touching book. When I bought this book I thought it would take me all of break to finish, but I shocked myself! I couldn’t put it down, the storytelling was unique and captured the beauty you associate with Greek gods/goddess’s. February has been surprisingly (and fitting) filled with romance books, but I have to say I’m enjoying them so much! Hazel, James, Colette and Aubrey all have my heart and Hades, Aphrodite and Hephaestus are right there along with them. (We can throw Apollo in there too)
A great book to pull you from a reading slump!