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ksauer's review against another edition
2.0
I get what Hayes was trying to do with this book. Telling the story about a relationship, but beginning at the end and ending at the beginning. However, I found it sloppy and disorganized. In the beginning I had a hard time figuring out what was relevant and what was not. I think if Hayes would have wrote the story from beginning to end it would have had a bigger impact on me, especially with some of the events that took place.
mariathereader's review against another edition
3.0
This book is told in reverse, but it also goes in and out of the past and present which makes the plot a little hard to follow.
The story itself is compelling. We’ve all read about falling in love and heartbreak before. The character development in this book is what made it unique.
I wouldn’t read it again but I think it’s worth a read.
The story itself is compelling. We’ve all read about falling in love and heartbreak before. The character development in this book is what made it unique.
I wouldn’t read it again but I think it’s worth a read.
ll022's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
corireadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I love that I live in a world where this book was written. I have never felt more seen by a piece of literature— it's like this was a book that was written FOR me and, in some ways, ABOUT me.
To me, this was a masterclass in writing and storytelling. While it is billed as a love story in reverse, it is sooo much broader and deeper than just that— it delved into trauma, motherhood, the kinds of love we learn to accept, mental health, and imposter syndrome.
The prose is STUNNING! There were so many places where the author gave words to everyday feelings and experiences that left me in awe and sometimes in tears. And I also loved how the author infused the story with shades of grey; it wasn't just a black-and-white story about a breakup or a terrible ex; the author shows how these two characters found each other, highlights what would draw them to each other and how the very things that may have drawn them together eventually became the things that drove them apart.
Whether I would recommend everyone read this book is a much more complicated question because I don't know whether a lot of people would connect with it in the way I did. Just from reading other reviews, I can see how the things I connected with the most are things other people found tedious or, for some reviewers, unrealistic; and I get how hard it can be to exist in the mind of someone whose decisions you don't understand because you don't have the personal context for some of the trauma being presented. So yeah, this is not necessarily a book for everyone.
But, for me, it was like soul food; it was everything I needed in a book but didn't know it. It offered catharsis and connection, and transcendence by how seen it made me feel. I laughed, cried, talked about it with my therapist, raved about it to my friends, and annotated it within an inch of my life. The easiest 5 stars I have ever given.
To me, this was a masterclass in writing and storytelling. While it is billed as a love story in reverse, it is sooo much broader and deeper than just that— it delved into trauma, motherhood, the kinds of love we learn to accept, mental health, and imposter syndrome.
The prose is STUNNING! There were so many places where the author gave words to everyday feelings and experiences that left me in awe and sometimes in tears. And I also loved how the author infused the story with shades of grey; it wasn't just a black-and-white story about a breakup or a terrible ex; the author shows how these two characters found each other, highlights what would draw them to each other and how the very things that may have drawn them together eventually became the things that drove them apart.
Whether I would recommend everyone read this book is a much more complicated question because I don't know whether a lot of people would connect with it in the way I did. Just from reading other reviews, I can see how the things I connected with the most are things other people found tedious or, for some reviewers, unrealistic; and I get how hard it can be to exist in the mind of someone whose decisions you don't understand because you don't have the personal context for some of the trauma being presented. So yeah, this is not necessarily a book for everyone.
But, for me, it was like soul food; it was everything I needed in a book but didn't know it. It offered catharsis and connection, and transcendence by how seen it made me feel. I laughed, cried, talked about it with my therapist, raved about it to my friends, and annotated it within an inch of my life. The easiest 5 stars I have ever given.
nhafez's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved loved loved this book.
I saw reviews saying the backwards narrative was confusing and I completely disagree. I found it so emotional hearing the story in reverse and so heartbreaking to see the start of their love story when it was full of hope and ambition, knowing what was to come.
I think this is a brilliant read especially for anyone who has loved and lost as the blurb says
I saw reviews saying the backwards narrative was confusing and I completely disagree. I found it so emotional hearing the story in reverse and so heartbreaking to see the start of their love story when it was full of hope and ambition, knowing what was to come.
I think this is a brilliant read especially for anyone who has loved and lost as the blurb says
maddy_kearns's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so beautiful to read. There was something so cathartic and wholesome about reading a 'love story' in reverse. I really don't think I would have enjoyed it even close to as much if it had of been told in chronological order. There was something hopeful and healing about the backwards progression. It weirdly gave me the vibe of healing from a breakup with so much anger at the start to something hopefully after you've healed.
ermykneeandwheezy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
isering's review against another edition
4.0
A love story told in reverse, starting with a break-up, and then moving backwards towards the first, hopeful meeting. Beautiful and sad and very readable.
jglash's review against another edition
1.0
I don’t leave 1 star reviews. But I really hated this book. I finished it hoping there would be some redeeming something but no. I held off on writing anything because I felt bad for hating a book that talks about abuse, and then I was mad because I felt like that’s why it was in there. So you’d feel too bad to leave a negative review. Theo is supposed to be the villain, but they were both horrible people. Just
merete's review against another edition
1.0
Did not enjoy. I'm not even sure why I kept reading. The entire story is explained within the first few pages, so it ends up being a book long rant about why the main character breaks up with her crappy boyfriend. I'm only giving it a star because the second half was better than the first, though it didn't actually build up to anything good.