pipss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Death
maybeimali's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.5
Like a little getaway and sweet. Perfect for those who have wanderlust
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Bullying
chainsiren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
micaelamariem's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I LOVED this book. In no small part to my personality already basically being the main character’s. I’m from Ohio. I run a travel blog and have wanderlust. I get migraines. I studied creative writing. I have cats.
But besides all that, I loved that this book fueled my wanderlust and inspired me to travel more, I love the romance, heavy in the slow burn. And though it was weird having the story told in mostly flashbacks, I almost find I preferred that to how Beach Read was told (though I also recommend Beach Read!) it’s not perfect—I would have liked to see more in the present—but it’s still five stars.
But besides all that, I loved that this book fueled my wanderlust and inspired me to travel more, I love the romance, heavy in the slow burn. And though it was weird having the story told in mostly flashbacks, I almost find I preferred that to how Beach Read was told (though I also recommend Beach Read!) it’s not perfect—I would have liked to see more in the present—but it’s still five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, Cursing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Drug use
skeptic_hecate's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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
1.0
I don't like romance books, but I do like a good romance. This book is not that. This book is nothing really, the stakes in this book are so low, they are a tripping hazard.
Poppy is the Emily in Paris of books, but with a pick me girl dialed up to 1000. She is entitled, ungreatful, annoyingly childish and has the same self awareness as a 7 year old. To be fair, she does self reflect at the very end, and apologizes, but, faces absolutely no further consequences for her horrible behaviour, so it feels fake and unearned.
Alex is a wet paper towel of a man whose only personality trait is having big hands (seriously, the author has a hands fetish, what is this, yaoi manga?). That's unfair, his other personality traits are being selfish and terrible at communication.
The conflicts are fabricanted so bad, I half wished they were actual conflicts to really get the book going. It is a short book that reads like an encyclopedia because of how boring it is. This books drags, a lot.
There is absolutely no need for this book to be set on vacations and travels. For how much everyone praises Poppy on her travel blogs, she has the power of making every place sound exactly the same. Be Croatia, Palm Springs, Greece or any other place, Poppy will make sure to make it sound as void of personality and uniqueness as this book.
Considering how much the protagonist travels (through flashbacks, so many flashbacks, this book reads like a 90s soap opera with the amount of flashbacks, all a slight variation of the last one), one would've imagine she will meet lots of different people from different backgrounds and cultures. But no, this book is so white, it seasons chicken with salt. This book is so white, it actually comes from Ohio.
This book is not bad because it is bad written or because the characters are bland and read liked mashed potato. No, this book is bad because it is so boring, so flavourless, so little build up for even less payoff. I actively started skipping parts just to get to the end faster. I forgot about the "plot" four seconds after finishing it, and I am happier because of it.
Poppy is the Emily in Paris of books, but with a pick me girl dialed up to 1000. She is entitled, ungreatful, annoyingly childish and has the same self awareness as a 7 year old. To be fair, she does self reflect at the very end, and apologizes, but, faces absolutely no further consequences for her horrible behaviour, so it feels fake and unearned.
Alex is a wet paper towel of a man whose only personality trait is having big hands (seriously, the author has a hands fetish, what is this, yaoi manga?). That's unfair, his other personality traits are being selfish and terrible at communication.
The conflicts are fabricanted so bad, I half wished they were actual conflicts to really get the book going. It is a short book that reads like an encyclopedia because of how boring it is. This books drags, a lot.
There is absolutely no need for this book to be set on vacations and travels. For how much everyone praises Poppy on her travel blogs, she has the power of making every place sound exactly the same. Be Croatia, Palm Springs, Greece or any other place, Poppy will make sure to make it sound as void of personality and uniqueness as this book.
Considering how much the protagonist travels (through flashbacks, so many flashbacks, this book reads like a 90s soap opera with the amount of flashbacks, all a slight variation of the last one), one would've imagine she will meet lots of different people from different backgrounds and cultures. But no, this book is so white, it seasons chicken with salt. This book is so white, it actually comes from Ohio.
This book is not bad because it is bad written or because the characters are bland and read liked mashed potato. No, this book is bad because it is so boring, so flavourless, so little build up for even less payoff. I actively started skipping parts just to get to the end faster. I forgot about the "plot" four seconds after finishing it, and I am happier because of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death and Death of parent
sarahflanders's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Cursing, and Death
amibo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual content
nicolescottwv's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
4.5
I may or may not write a full review for this one, but I see a lot of myself in both Poppy and Alex. Also, idk if it's just me, but Alex definitely reads as autistic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Bullying
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Pregnancy, Drug use, and Animal death
mentions of pregnancy-related death of a parent