chemistryreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Woah, this book is a tough read. It is incredibly deep and covers a hard topic and it doesn’t feel like fiction at all. The timing going between current and past was really well done and balanced. I felt a real emotional weight in this book and TJR really does such an excellent job of bringing the reader into her world. Emma felt really complex in her dilemma, and as a reader, my heart aches for her pain and the choice she had to make. I love seeing both of her love stories with both Jesse and Sam I felt like Jesse’s wasn’t shown as much but that’s almost understandable in a young love. Sam’s love story with Emma was tightly intertwined with her healing and getting over Jesse. <spoilers ahead> Ultimately when it got to present time, I felt so much for these characters. I ached for Sam and sympathized so much with how he loved Emma, but also needed her to choose him first. Jesse, I mean you have to feel for him. His tragedy and trauma is just gut wrenching. And Emma. Having two loves and having to choose?! Strangely, I really felt the need to know what happened to Jesse pinky finger, and you do find that out. I didn’t really understand what was going through Jesse’s head and how everything seemed so normal. However, the fight in Maine was so well done. It was everything I needed and I know Emma may be judged for what happened in Maine, but it felt so necessary and so real. I needed to see that side of Jesse, and it felt so true. Ultimately the ending wrapped up pretty quickly, but I don’t think there could’ve been a better ending for this book. It isn’t entirely perfect but a book with this plot was never going to have a light hearted happily ever after. With that short ending, I really want Jesse story, and how he finally comes back to himself.<\spoiler> Julia Whalen is a phenomenal narrator for this book and is a real pleasure to listen to. 4⭐️, 2🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Injury/injury detail, and Grief
jillgoober's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This novel follows the life of Emma Blair, a woman who ends up, by age thirty-one, having two "true loves." She marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse, and just before their one-year anniversary, his helicopter goes down and he is presumed dead. A few years later, she meets and falls in love with Sam, an old friend she used to work with at her parents' bookstore, and they get engaged. However, 3 1/2 years after he disappeared, we find out that Jesse survived and he's back. How will Emma be able to choose between her two true loves?
I've never been so grateful to NOT be a main character of a book. I could feel Emma's pain through the pages, knowing that no matter what she chose, she would irrevocably break someone's heart. I could never imagine being in such an impossible situation. One thing I loved about this book is that it really focused on Emma's growth over time and how the person she is should affect her decision the most. Her older sister, Marie, at one point says to her, "I don't think you're trying to figure out if you love Sam or Jesse more. I think you're trying to figure out if you want to be the person you are with Jesse or you want to be the person you are with Sam."
At this point, it's incredibly difficult for me to NOT give a TJR book a five star rating. She always hits it out of the park. She really makes you fall in love with both Sam and Jesse so that you can see how impossible Emma's choice really is. This book pairs well with a box of tissues.
I've never been so grateful to NOT be a main character of a book. I could feel Emma's pain through the pages, knowing that no matter what she chose, she would irrevocably break someone's heart. I could never imagine being in such an impossible situation. One thing I loved about this book is that it really focused on Emma's growth over time and how the person she is should affect her decision the most. Her older sister, Marie, at one point says to her, "I don't think you're trying to figure out if you love Sam or Jesse more. I think you're trying to figure out if you want to be the person you are with Jesse or you want to be the person you are with Sam."
At this point, it's incredibly difficult for me to NOT give a TJR book a five star rating. She always hits it out of the park. She really makes you fall in love with both Sam and Jesse so that you can see how impossible Emma's choice really is. This book pairs well with a box of tissues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Grief
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Medical trauma, and Body horror
audiomostly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Medical trauma and Blood
zoebill96's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.25
emma had me at my limit the whole time but it was a great book and i do understand that she had to take her time but i am a bitch, what are you gonna do?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Medical trauma
carolinareadz's review
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
heartbreakingly beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer and Medical trauma
lavxna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Medical trauma
Minor: Death
thevieira's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Body horror, Medical content, Sexual content, Cancer, Medical trauma, and Vomit
ruthhmariee's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I think the ball was dropped a little with this one. I get the story and how that could’ve been super difficult for anyone. I wasn’t super attached to any of the characters at all. This was because I didn’t get to know any background really before it was like boom we are in love this is the story. I was angry at Emma constantly which is probably another reason I didn’t rate this book too highly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Medical trauma