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A review by the_rabble
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This shit will give you "INTENSE SHARED TRAUMA" to "extremely good, sweet romance" whiplash, but it's good.
Contemporary romance, NJ/NYC->LA bicoastal trauma bonding, spicy, 2 POVs, 3rd person, present tense.
Both protagonists are relatable with distinct voices and their own issues. No one is bringing a secure attachment style to the party and that's okay.
I burned through this book after a certain point. TraumaTraumaTrauma isn't my flavor of choice (bc I'm a weenie) and the first few chpts kept this book on my TBR longer than it should have, but there's so much rock solid other shit Kuang pulls. She's a master of casual, escalating intimacy- both physical and emotional. The dialogue is excellent. Sex scenes are very hot and organic.
If she writes more romance (or adventure- Kuang vibes like someone who'd nail a buddies-against-a-big-bad situation) I'm fucking there.
Rating: Higher rating than I thought I'd land on bc Kuang is so fucking good at organic intimacy (there arecuddle scenes), honest characters, and when she writes the big feelings they hit. The HEA has some banger passages.
Book about "The Industry"/Hollywood - this was the best version of "Hollywood" I've read or seen- it felt more like a description of a real job, workplace, and industry than the otherizing depictions that usually make it to us normies.
Narrators: Voice actors slapped. Katherine Chin was amazing and has a stable of voices that rules. Chpt 33made me laugh harder than anything I've read in a while- Andrew Eiden is always solid, but his take on that killed me.
Overall, Chin and Eiden's pacing made the book really beautiful.
Contemporary romance, NJ/NYC->LA bicoastal trauma bonding, spicy, 2 POVs, 3rd person, present tense.
Both protagonists are relatable with distinct voices and their own issues. No one is bringing a secure attachment style to the party and that's okay.
I burned through this book after a certain point. TraumaTraumaTrauma isn't my flavor of choice (bc I'm a weenie) and the first few chpts kept this book on my TBR longer than it should have, but there's so much rock solid other shit Kuang pulls. She's a master of casual, escalating intimacy- both physical and emotional. The dialogue is excellent. Sex scenes are very hot and organic.
If she writes more romance (or adventure- Kuang vibes like someone who'd nail a buddies-against-a-big-bad situation) I'm fucking there.
Rating: Higher rating than I thought I'd land on bc Kuang is so fucking good at organic intimacy (there are
Book about "The Industry"/Hollywood - this was the best version of "Hollywood" I've read or seen- it felt more like a description of a real job, workplace, and industry than the otherizing depictions that usually make it to us normies.
Narrators: Voice actors slapped. Katherine Chin was amazing and has a stable of voices that rules. Chpt 33
Overall, Chin and Eiden's pacing made the book really beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Mental illness