A review by alenanguyen
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

dark emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Yulin Kuang is such a screenwriter. Only a screenwriter can balance heart twisting, emotional substance with Vivid sex scenes. Oh god. Also, I made a very hasty judgment in that I feel like the ending really tied up all the [what I thought were] loose ends up in that very emotionally packed, dense letter to Michelle. I feel like it really hits the head of the nail on the coffin and explains so much in ways I felt Helen was skirting around when she would vent about her feelings, which is very accurate portrayal of grief in the way it trickles out over time. 

There is rarely a romance book that addresses the characters as people beyond the romantic relationship, and a lot of the popular romance books often feature white people. The romances that do feature people of color often either make it a really big deal about their ethnicity, but I really like how Kuang balances Helen’s identity as a woman of color in this very white male dominated industry that she’s in with the grief that her family is tackling as well as the relationship with Grant. My main issue was that for 75% of the book, I didn’t really understand the closure that came with Helen getting from Grant and vice versa, so the letter at the end that was addressed to Michelle really put in a broader context for me.

Also I need to formally apologize to her (not that she ever heard my initial thoughts) and thank Whitney for recommending this book and I am so so so excited to hear about the work that Yulin might be doing with us at work!!!!
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