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feyley's review against another edition
5.0
This book tore me apart. It reminded what it was like to be in love and be destroyed by it. That was a more accurate portrayal of love than most books can even allude to. That was what love feels like when it's been ripped away from you. It was spectacularly written, I am in awe.
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
It floors me that the same person who wrote [b:The Bad Beginning|78411|The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1)|Lemony Snicket|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327916627s/78411.jpg|1069597] is also responsible for this. I loved Min's voice-- her dry humor, her insightfulness, her willingness to take a chance and her self-chastisement after the fact. Being the sap that I am, I was rooting for Min and Ed the whole way through, and did NOT see the ending coming. The artwork was a lovely complement to the story. The only things that bring it down from a 5-star are the over-reliance on old movie references, and the difficulty that I had suspending disbelief about a high school junior writing a 300 page letter to her ex-boyfriend, as cathartic as it might be. Daniel Handler gets teenagers, though, and this was a true pleasure to read.
magnolia_foster's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jmariecapdem's review against another edition
5.0
Achingly Sweet: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler It's hilarious, it's real-life relationship dilemma. It's first love yet it's also why Ed and Min broke up. It showed me the wonders of film, criminy, as Ed said it was. But now I realized even if love can change a thing about Ed, or anyone else, maybe even enjoying the "different" side he thought was gay, for the sake of love, still won't make it work. If only love can put things in sync entirely without having to make things complicated "trying to go with it", if only it turned Ed a true man who can stand proud for Min, and only Min, then it'll be a happy ending for them. Above anything else, I love the characters, love the poetic Handler writing, love the flashbacks. I giggled at the memories, I even teared up at the challenges between the characters.Quick note: I've broken up with my exes without giving anything back, any memories back to them, because that will be such a revenge and it'll tear their world apart, remembering everything.Oh well, poor Ed, he fell in love and messed up with the wrong girl. xD
maddyv03's review against another edition
I felt like it was written similarly to “Normal People”, which wasn’t my favorite style. I’d give it another chance because it sounded interesting, but not now.
saraaa_catherine's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
_isabella_reads_'s review against another edition
2.0
This was kind of weird. I liked it, but I don't know if I would recommend it.
ohtrisarahtops's review against another edition
2.0
Review also found here
I had such high hopes for this book. Maybe that has something to do with why I did not enjoy it. It took me forever to get through it even though it isn't even that long. The writing was weird and dragged for almost the entire book and it felt like nothing even really happened throughout the whole novel.
I couldn't stand the characters. They all felt extremely fake and over the top to me. The way Min handled the breakup and everything that came after seems extremely petty and childish even though she's supposed to be in high school. Ed seemed like he was just there to be the bad guy and Al I can barely even remember.
The only thing I really enjoyed about this book was the illustrations and the fact that it was written as a letter telling what happened in the past leading up to why these two teenagers broke up. If it hadn't been so angsty maybe I could have loved the book a little more.
I had such high hopes for this book. Maybe that has something to do with why I did not enjoy it. It took me forever to get through it even though it isn't even that long. The writing was weird and dragged for almost the entire book and it felt like nothing even really happened throughout the whole novel.
I couldn't stand the characters. They all felt extremely fake and over the top to me. The way Min handled the breakup and everything that came after seems extremely petty and childish even though she's supposed to be in high school. Ed seemed like he was just there to be the bad guy and Al I can barely even remember.
The only thing I really enjoyed about this book was the illustrations and the fact that it was written as a letter telling what happened in the past leading up to why these two teenagers broke up. If it hadn't been so angsty maybe I could have loved the book a little more.
spunglass's review against another edition
2.0
What I expected from this book, was... well not what I got.
I wasn't expecting it to be a 'letter' that isn't really a letter... since I honestly can't think of anyone who would write someone a letter that exceeds 2 pages -- unless you're my mom.
The idea of it was relatable: as I was reading I kept thinking back on all the little things I had collected over the years that are tokens for 'major events' during relationships. I still have playbills from the theatre, post-it's with little scraps of poetry, pressed flowers... etc.
But, the little stories it included about the items she collected - weren't believable, and utterly frustrating at times to read through.
Yes, Min... you are 'different' because I can't think of anyone who would willingly want to go along with half of the ideas you dream up.
(The art was fabulous though!)
I wasn't expecting it to be a 'letter' that isn't really a letter... since I honestly can't think of anyone who would write someone a letter that exceeds 2 pages -- unless you're my mom.
The idea of it was relatable: as I was reading I kept thinking back on all the little things I had collected over the years that are tokens for 'major events' during relationships. I still have playbills from the theatre, post-it's with little scraps of poetry, pressed flowers... etc.
But, the little stories it included about the items she collected - weren't believable, and utterly frustrating at times to read through.
Yes, Min... you are 'different' because I can't think of anyone who would willingly want to go along with half of the ideas you dream up.
(The art was fabulous though!)