I rate books almost as soon as I’ve finished them… even if it takes me weeks (or never) to write a review. However, I must confess that when I have a I rate books almost as soon as I’ve finished them… even if it takes me weeks (or never) to write a review. However, I must confess that when I have a book that I loved but other fave GR reviewers didn’t love, I sometimes go back and downgrade (just a star) the book.
Peer pressure? Maybe. More often, folks pick up on problems that I either didn’t notice or chose to ignore because something about the book carried me away.
Before I even finished reading this best buddies vacation diary, I knew it was just my kind of love story. Mostly, because I really connected with Poppy and Alex— not that I’m like Poppy (I wish I had Poppy’s chutzpah), because I’m actually more of an Alex.
I connected because in college I had a best buddy like Alex and let’s just say our story didn’t turn out the way I hoped it might (back then. In hindsight, it would never have worked). There’s definitely right people at the wrong time in life… and so we both moved on.
So this book is a look at 11 vacations taken by two college besties— and how experiences and time changes the relationship, unbalances it, confuses it, and breaks it. The book begins with the hope of fixing something that may not be fixable. And if you love traveling, you’ll love all the funny travel situations we’ve all found ourself in at one time or another! (I’m looking at you charming hotel with crappy heating in Chicago in February.)
So when I finished this funny, not perfect, hopeful, and ultimately satisfying book, I gave it five stars. Then I saw reviews and I downgraded it to 4 stars. Why did I do that? Why do I care if the world knows that I love a happy ending and that a rom-com can deserve the same five stars that a weightier book is also given?
So, five stars it is!
(On a related note, this is now my FAVORITE Emily Henry book! I appreciate the happy ending that my college self could never have.)
I was #1000 and something on my library’s wait list for this book when it came across as a “7-day read” option… just a few days before I headed out onI was #1000 and something on my library’s wait list for this book when it came across as a “7-day read” option… just a few days before I headed out on a long, relaxing Lake Erie getaway— so I downloaded it.
While I remember reading “Beach Read,” awhile back, it didn’t stick with me. This one definitely will— snappy dialogue (I love a great sarcastic response and Harriet had a ton of them), wistful longing for 20-something freedom, and the never-ending question, “what makes us happy?” — all memorable characteristics of this book.
On the surface, there’s a respect for the Hallmark movie trademarks you could find in this story, but Henry manages to add a depth rarely found in those pat, two-hour happy ending movies.
For at least the first half, I really wasn’t quite sure how the book would end— and that is the time Henry earned this reader’s fourth star. I loved that I wasn’t quite sure how she should end the book for her characters. (She develops characters that you quickly come to like and maybe even crush on a bit).
And as the romance angst is developing, Henry shifts the spotlight to the friends group’s time together in their “happy place,” and that added the depth I miss (desperately since my 86-year-old mother loves ‘em) when wrangled into watching back-to-back Hallmark Christmas movies (I unashamedly admit, I do love a well-executed happy ending).
I enjoyed this so much (of course being on a mini-vacation and reading uninterrupted may be responsible for heightening my reading pleasure), that I purchased “Book Lovers” from the local bookstore and am already nearly halfway thru!! (No spoiler but I predict it will be my fave Emily Henry book of all!)...more
Having grown up on the East coast, I’ve dreamed of a Nantucket vacation. Maybe someday.
In the meantime, there’s always Elin Hilderbrand’s popular 3.5
Having grown up on the East coast, I’ve dreamed of a Nantucket vacation. Maybe someday.
In the meantime, there’s always Elin Hilderbrand’s popular novels which are often set at this idyllic and iconic summer getaway. Recently featured in a NY Times article, the author’s annual chick’s getaway to Nantucket sells out year after year. Readers are introduced to the real businesses and buildings that have inspired Hilderbrand’s storylines.
Overall, this was my idea of a light, beach read! But the “ghost” storyline was just annoying at times — awkwardly inserted into everyone else’s story arcs.
Still, I can see why the ladies gobble these books up— charming with multiple happy endings!!
Le sigh— my younger self would have loved this book with its cool, hip, shoe-loving heroine (why yes, one of my social handles does include three of tLe sigh— my younger self would have loved this book with its cool, hip, shoe-loving heroine (why yes, one of my social handles does include three of those words) who happens to also look like a real girl. Real as in plus sized and not built like Barbie.
Add in a handsome, funny and nice dude with an almost-meet-cute who then turns up later in the craziest coincidence! Add a healthy dose of fake love reality TV and you’ve got the makings of a great escape!
Gotta say that the next time I want a few hours away from my life, which has become work-laden and not in a good way, I will turn to Julie Murphy.
She can really deliver a charming, swoon-worthy ending (along with some heartfelt passages about dealing with grief).
Cheering the ending with some reality-TV cheap champagne!! ❤️...more
While Meyer's writing has definitely improved since the first book, I was very disappointed in the final book in this vampire-werewolf youn(Aug 2008)
While Meyer's writing has definitely improved since the first book, I was very disappointed in the final book in this vampire-werewolf young love series.
It's difficult to review this without spoilers, but I'll just say this... it was like watching a train wreck... I kept reading even after I'd surpassed some of the ridiculous plot lines, but as I read it the three stars turned to two stars and thankfully it ended before I downgraded it again.
My favorite book remained #3... I wish I didn't know how Meyers answered all those young vampires/wolves in love questions... we really were better off not knowing!...more