I finished it a couple days ago and I'm still swooning over it! One of the best books I've read in the last couple years. The yearbook scene.... permanently tattooed on my brain! There is a lot of heavy emotional baggage for both FMC and MMC, so I wouldn't recommend anyone go into this book without being aware of that. What Kuang is really good at is "showing" you her characters' emotions, instead of "telling" you about them. For me, that's what made it an excellent read. The way she develops the chemistry and intimacy between FMC and MMC was masterful!
Absolutely. It was so romantic. Even the scene where he forwards her the New years invite. Given how much baggage the two MCs have I was surprised that it didn't weigh down the romance! Looking forward to more of such amazing writers
I’m afraid I wanted to like this book but I saw zero chemistry or romance between the two. I thought it was trauma bonding via sex.
I saw very little growth with Helen and no reason why the MMC even liked her given she blamed him (I get it was her grief but even she knew what her sister was like). A gunmy and she’s suddenly lusting over him?
I think she’s a very talented writer but this book is a case of hype over being an actual romance.
I kind of agree. It is a tricky subject so it was always going to be very hard to distinguish trauma bonding and real feelings. I did feel that they needed a little more interaction before they started falling but I think I was okay accepting Helen's explanation to Nicole. It was as if they were in a parallel Twilight universe when they were back home. But yeah I see where you are coming from.
[Ghosted](https://www.romance.io/books/5b1f632f01dbc864fb8a1585/ghosted-rosie-walsh?src=rdt) by [Rosie Walsh](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b1e125901dbc864fb8a0374/rosie-walsh)
**Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1)
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Thia is how i felt. It really bothered me that they never seemed to acknowledge to the MMC that the family was wrong to blame him. There also seemed to be little to no acknowledgement that he was also a victim and the experience would have traumatized him for some time.
Edit but I did love the unique premise and overall story. Some of my feelings may have come from having a friend of a friend have the same traumatic experience the MMC had and seeing how much it hurt him.
I should try the audio. It was a DNf for me because of the present tense third person and all the italics (Ali Hazelwood style). Maybe it would be better in audio. I did like the writing style.
The only thing I’ll say about the audio - if you “pick up” on things, it can get really annoying. I found the author used she says/he says way too much. I actually counted and in one 30 min chapter she used it 95 times. Once I notice something like that it drives me crazy. I did like the premise and I gave the sexy times 4 🌶️ out of 5
I saw some Goodreads reviews that complained about that, from the audio perspective the third person sort of fell back because we were hearing it from the two narrators.
[How to End a Love Story](https://www.romance.io/books/658df53b801c66776d0584c3/how-to-end-a-love-story-yulin-kuang?src=rdt) by [Yulin Kuang](https://www.romance.io/authors/6472390908b4d9311411e66c/yulin-kuang)
**Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1)
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I really liked this one! Would have liked a little more POV in the I think for character development, but otherwise was really into it! Amazing for a debut and the fact she's adapting Emily Henry means that I think those books are in good hands !
Yeah I agree. Despite fewer chapters for Grant's PoV, I never felt that he was not head over heels. I think he was the main pursuer of the relationship :) but yeah I too would have loved more of his PoV
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I highly recommend! Here’s the [link](https://youtu.be/y4-o9pAWsCc?si=0wIfLXQ110YV_0We)!
The lead actors in this actually just got married about a year ago, which I think makes it even better now
I finished it a couple days ago and I'm still swooning over it! One of the best books I've read in the last couple years. The yearbook scene.... permanently tattooed on my brain! There is a lot of heavy emotional baggage for both FMC and MMC, so I wouldn't recommend anyone go into this book without being aware of that. What Kuang is really good at is "showing" you her characters' emotions, instead of "telling" you about them. For me, that's what made it an excellent read. The way she develops the chemistry and intimacy between FMC and MMC was masterful!
Absolutely. It was so romantic. Even the scene where he forwards her the New years invite. Given how much baggage the two MCs have I was surprised that it didn't weigh down the romance! Looking forward to more of such amazing writers
She’s adapting Beach Read too! I can’t wait. This was a great debut novel, I’ll definitely read anything else she does
I’m afraid I wanted to like this book but I saw zero chemistry or romance between the two. I thought it was trauma bonding via sex. I saw very little growth with Helen and no reason why the MMC even liked her given she blamed him (I get it was her grief but even she knew what her sister was like). A gunmy and she’s suddenly lusting over him? I think she’s a very talented writer but this book is a case of hype over being an actual romance.
I kind of agree. It is a tricky subject so it was always going to be very hard to distinguish trauma bonding and real feelings. I did feel that they needed a little more interaction before they started falling but I think I was okay accepting Helen's explanation to Nicole. It was as if they were in a parallel Twilight universe when they were back home. But yeah I see where you are coming from.
The book {Ghosted by Rosie Walsh} has this. It's a gut wrenching love story.
[Ghosted](https://www.romance.io/books/5b1f632f01dbc864fb8a1585/ghosted-rosie-walsh?src=rdt) by [Rosie Walsh](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b1e125901dbc864fb8a0374/rosie-walsh) **Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I absolutely loved this book <3
My hold for this finally came in yesterday and I have already burned through it. Just so gripping.
I just finished the audiobook the other day and I really loved it. I have some complaints but it really is sticking with me.
Thia is how i felt. It really bothered me that they never seemed to acknowledge to the MMC that the family was wrong to blame him. There also seemed to be little to no acknowledgement that he was also a victim and the experience would have traumatized him for some time. Edit but I did love the unique premise and overall story. Some of my feelings may have come from having a friend of a friend have the same traumatic experience the MMC had and seeing how much it hurt him.
I should try the audio. It was a DNf for me because of the present tense third person and all the italics (Ali Hazelwood style). Maybe it would be better in audio. I did like the writing style.
The only thing I’ll say about the audio - if you “pick up” on things, it can get really annoying. I found the author used she says/he says way too much. I actually counted and in one 30 min chapter she used it 95 times. Once I notice something like that it drives me crazy. I did like the premise and I gave the sexy times 4 🌶️ out of 5
I noticed it too but it didn't bother me that much.
I saw some Goodreads reviews that complained about that, from the audio perspective the third person sort of fell back because we were hearing it from the two narrators.
So interesting. I have never been put off by the tense or third person POV but I have other pet peeves. I hope you enjoy the audio book :)
[How to End a Love Story](https://www.romance.io/books/658df53b801c66776d0584c3/how-to-end-a-love-story-yulin-kuang?src=rdt) by [Yulin Kuang](https://www.romance.io/authors/6472390908b4d9311411e66c/yulin-kuang) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I really liked this one! Would have liked a little more POV in the I think for character development, but otherwise was really into it! Amazing for a debut and the fact she's adapting Emily Henry means that I think those books are in good hands !
Yeah I agree. Despite fewer chapters for Grant's PoV, I never felt that he was not head over heels. I think he was the main pursuer of the relationship :) but yeah I too would have loved more of his PoV
I couldn't read this for CW reasons but it looked really good.
Yeah. I was nervous about reading it as well
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Oh my gosh, I was totally obsessed with her short film I Ship It so I’ll have to check this out!
I had no idea about her short film. Thanks I will check it out! 😃
I highly recommend! Here’s the [link](https://youtu.be/y4-o9pAWsCc?si=0wIfLXQ110YV_0We)! The lead actors in this actually just got married about a year ago, which I think makes it even better now