Scan barcode
A review by abitofapoet
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was incredibly emotional. Please read trigger warnings before reading this because it does touch on some really hard topics, but it does so REALLY well in my opinion.
Something that I loved about this book, as much as it broke my heart, is how unique it is. So often a romance novel ends at “I Do.” but that’s not reality. That should be the beginning. Seeing these characters navigate their broken marriage is heart wrenching and hopeful at the same time. You’ll find yourself crying for Quinn and for Graham on one page, and wanting to scream at them on the next. Even the most perfect matches have their category 5 moments.
I found I related to Quinn a lot. More than i’ve ever related to the struggles of a book character before, which is surprising because where Quinn so desperately wants to be a mother, that is my absolute nightmare. But the strain that Quinn’s infertility puts on herself and on her relationship is akin to the strain i’ve felt in my own marriage because of a medical condition. The feelings of not being woman enough for her husband, of constantly letting him down, of their marriage being the thing that ruined his future, and of feeling the need to pull away from him and place this distance between them because of those thoughts. I found myself staring at the pages in disbelief that someone had actually put into words the thoughts that i’ve had in some of my darkest moments. And watching Graham desperately love the ghost of her, wishing he knew how to get her back broke me into pieces.
One emotional quote that really stuck with me: “My Husband’s heart is my saving grace, but his physical touch has become my enemy.”
If you’re looking for a sappy romance, i wouldn’t recommend this to you. If you’re looking for something real and beautiful and heartbreaking, absolutely pick this up.
Something that I loved about this book, as much as it broke my heart, is how unique it is. So often a romance novel ends at “I Do.” but that’s not reality. That should be the beginning. Seeing these characters navigate their broken marriage is heart wrenching and hopeful at the same time. You’ll find yourself crying for Quinn and for Graham on one page, and wanting to scream at them on the next. Even the most perfect matches have their category 5 moments.
I found I related to Quinn a lot. More than i’ve ever related to the struggles of a book character before, which is surprising because where Quinn so desperately wants to be a mother, that is my absolute nightmare. But the strain that Quinn’s infertility puts on herself and on her relationship is akin to the strain i’ve felt in my own marriage because of a medical condition. The feelings of not being woman enough for her husband, of constantly letting him down, of their marriage being the thing that ruined his future, and of feeling the need to pull away from him and place this distance between them because of those thoughts. I found myself staring at the pages in disbelief that someone had actually put into words the thoughts that i’ve had in some of my darkest moments. And watching Graham desperately love the ghost of her, wishing he knew how to get her back broke me into pieces.
One emotional quote that really stuck with me:
If you’re looking for a sappy romance, i wouldn’t recommend this to you. If you’re looking for something real and beautiful and heartbreaking, absolutely pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent