reading_phoenix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
thefebruaryfriday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief
ilylakaka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief
rainbow10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
tammythree's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Self harm, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
Minor: War, Pregnancy, and Child abuse
rearic's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
spearly's review against another edition
- 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
_________
You can see it on her face. Her reality is being ripped away, and she knows it.
Her mother is gone, and she knows it.
There is agony in that picture.
Every time I look at it, I think, “I know exactly how she feels.”
TW: Cheating, Grief, Drunk Driving, Death of Parent, Death, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempt
The book has been on my tar for a while. I was even recommended it by some friends on here a few times. And still, I hesitated. maybe it was the cover (it's very 2010, you gotta admit). Maybe I didn't think it would be anything special.
But I was wrong.
I was gripped from Juliet's first letter. She has an incredible way with words, and her grief was palpable in every word. Declan's too, when he wrote back. I loved their correspondence, then their friendship. I think I also have a major soft spot for secret pen-pals. There's something so romantic about connecting with someone's words, their inner most thoughts and worries and insecurities, about the magic of anonymity. A girl can dream, I guess.
The story itself was tragic and riveting and heart-wrenching. I wanted to badly for these characters to find each other, but I too was drawn in by these anonymous letters. I didn't want to lose that connection too soon, either. I wanted to see our MCs figure it out for themselves. It definitely helped that as the two grew closer in their letters, fate brought them together time and time again in real life.
I also have a secret soft spot for
Spoiler
pen-pal situation where the guy finds out the other's identity first. Seeing Declan grapple with whether or not he should tell Juliet who he is, seeing him still want that connection with her even after he discovered her identity, gives me butterflies.Thank you to everyone who recommended this to me. I'm sorry it took me so long. You were right.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, and Bullying
atalea's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt