Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

4 reviews

juanat77's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Alcohol, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide

cathyo_113's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Addiction, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

ittywitty's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Misogyny

ruthhelizabeth's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

How to End a Love Story is an original emotional love tale of two star crossed lovers connected and separated by their history. 
 
If you are someone who has any triggers, it might be helpful to know that in the first chapter it is revealed that

Helen (our female main character) lost her sister as a teenager when she intentionally stepped out in front of a car that Grant (our love interest) was driving.

 

Helen and Grant are complicated characters. Their trauma is handled well in the writing but they regularly get in their own way, which some might find frustrating to read. Not me, I loved the complexity involved in their dynamic and in the relationships they have with their families. 

It was also fascinating to learn about adapting books from an author who has written the screenplays to two Emily Henry books. 

I do feel at times like jumps between different aspects of the plot was jarring, and the pacing could have been smoothed out a little more. The spice was inserted directly next to trauma, which was a bit of a leap emotionally as a reader, but perhaps that was intentional to match the minds of the characters. 

Overall, I am really excited to read anything else Kuang writes and this book was a triumph of a debut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Mental illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship