Scan barcode
lizamwhelan's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Death
elenamulligan's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is genuinely some of the most beautiful prose I’ve written this year. It’s hard to write characters that feel so real while also broaching such difficult topics like grief and familial issues and Yulin Kuang handles it all so delicately. My heart hurts in the best way after finishing this. I wrote down so many quotes from Grant throughout because he just loves Helen so well and meets her where she’s at and ugh!!! Something to emulate in my own life I guess
when he wrote his address on her internet thigh I had to go take a walk holy cow
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Grief
reiverse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death
senga15's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug use
maggiestraveledbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“He has the impression that she holds all her real thoughts and feelings behind a shiny, impenetrable wall and it might take all the pickaxes in the world to chip a single hole.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 rounded up)
🌶️🌶️🌶️
For all romance lovers who like a heaping of grief and guilt intertwined with swooning and spice.
Overview:
•Contemporary Romance
•Complicated Pasts
•Forced Proximity
•Work Place Romance
•Black Cat/Golden Retriever
•Lots of Angst
TW: death of a sibling, suicide
This novel follows Helen (an author) and Grant (a screenwriter) and how they reconnected in a writers’ room a decade after being eternally connected through a tragedy.
There were many aspects I really enjoyed in this story: the depiction of grief and panic attacks, the writers’ room hilarity, the relatable inner turmoil about social situations. Yulin Kuang writes with emotional intelligence that speaks to our humanity.
I did struggle to connect with the characters at times. I liked them individually, but I wanted a little more chemistry between the two. Their physical relationship trumped their verbal communication.
This definitely wasn’t a lighthearted novel, but it also didn’t pull super hard on my emotions - and I was hoping it would. (And this when I start to wonder if I’m cold hearted.)
Overall, I’m left with mixed feelings. If you like angsty romances, you might enjoy this one! This is a situation I would recommend borrowing before you buy.
More Highlighted Quotes:
“You’re the demon I don’t want to exorcise. If I heal and move on, I’m worried I’ll finally lose you for good.”
“You don’t have to be completely healed to be everything I want. To be mine. I love every part of you, you silly, infuriating woman. I love the parts of you I haven’t even met yet.”
✨ Read via Libby ✨
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
emily_holden's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Car accident
cyndi1966's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Grief
alpinchi's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Car accident, and Suicide
meghan_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER. I’m not usually a cryer (and I don’t seek it out in my reads) but all of the emotions in this book were so deep and real and earned that I cried multiple times. On top of that, the chemistry between the MCs was 🔥🥵.
Phenomenally well written, but warnings for LOTS of on-page struggles through grief & trauma rooted in the FMC’s sister unaliving herself by jumping in front of the MMC’s car when they were all teenagers. Layered on top of that are the FMC’s immigrant parents and the distant relationship they all have with each other… I know it sounds like Entirely Too Much, but the MCs felt SO believable and true. The setup felt intense, but deftly managed.
Phenomenally well written, but warnings for LOTS of on-page struggles through grief & trauma rooted in the FMC’s sister unaliving herself by jumping in front of the MMC’s car when they were all teenagers. Layered on top of that are the FMC’s immigrant parents and the distant relationship they all have with each other… I know it sounds like Entirely Too Much, but the MCs felt SO believable and true. The setup felt intense, but deftly managed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, and Death
amberlfaris's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Grief, and Car accident