wet_towlette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Animal death, Alcohol, Bullying, and Mental illness
infjkiki'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: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Bullying
Minor: Mental illness, Animal death, and Drug use
serendipity421's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy
undecidedpersonality'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Bullying
anastashamarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
🌴 This was everything I want in a romance. Dynamic relationships (friendships, family relationships, and romantic relationships). Woven past and present storyline with a little bit of mystery. Emotional and personal growth themes. Banter that makes me blush and giggle. So much romantic/sexual tension. It's just *chef's kiss*.
🌄 And I will die on the hill that friends-to-lovers makes for a much more realistic and heart wrenching love story. There is so much more at stake than any other trope.
I saw some comments that "if they'd just talked about it, this whole book wouldn't have happened." And clearly those people have never caught feelings for a friend. It's not just a matter of admitting your feelings; it's the very real possibility of losing someone who's a highlight of your life, of destroying a dynamic that feels so perfect that it can't be anything BUT fragile and that a fraction of it will always be better than none. So you hope it goes away--and tuck it away yourself if it won't--if only to keep your piece for as long as you can. Emily Henry captures those nuances perfectly, if you ask me.
🧳 Everyone who says this book is boring is missing the whole point. Poppy and Alex's story is about friendship and simplicity, not about excitement and trips. It's knowing you always have your favorite person there at the end of the day. It's the hope and comfort of a healthy and supportive relationship with the one person who gets you. It's being adults who still play. It's the intimacy of still finding joyful and novel moments amid the mundane.
At the risk of going on an Esther Perel-based rant, Poppy and Alex's relationship is what science says is the most fulfilling and satisfying. And it definitely gives me the warm and fuzzies.
🏨 The only things I have to complain about are 1) that the time jumps mixed with the writing style could get confusing and 2) that the ending felt a little rushed. I wish the past summers were written in past tense and the current summers were written in present tense. I'll leave out my specific issues with the end to stay spoiler free.
✈️ So anyway, A+ wholesome & emotional love story if you're someone who appreciates relationships of all sorts.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Bullying
Minor: Grief and Panic attacks/disorders
addysongilmore's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Mental illness and Injury/Injury detail
nehanaomi's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Grief, Pregnancy, Animal death, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
emmilouise'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? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Bullying, and Mental illness
jmo907'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
5.0
Moderate: Mental illness
blackveilbeccy'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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Outing, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia