Welcome to Litsy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story‘s fine, but does not live up to the hype. The Author‘s Note is a content warning, but it was still far darker and more serious than anticipated. I thought it would be a small portion, but it totally drives the plot. I prefer my romances a bit lighter and funnier. I appreciated the characters more than the story. The tough subject matter was handled very well, though, especially concerning Grant‘s character. He was my favorite.

Pretty good. Very, very steamy. (Maybe a smidge TMI sometimes.) I wish there had been a bit less sex and bit more conversation as the characters got to know each other. I wanted more emotional build up.

This was pretty good! I liked the storyline. It definitely tugged on my heart and has a nice amount of spice. I would read another book from this author!

How To End A Love Story was centred around a straight laced author who‘s book was being made into a movie or series. She has to work with someone from her past that has a couple of connections from years before. It‘s well written and an easy read.

Today‘s goals?
Book, iced latte and a hammock

June 28, 2024 I have no words for the way Kuang wrote the book. In the beginning it felt slow and then sped up in the middle, discussing and focusing on the relationship that Helen and Grant had with each other, in the writing room and outside of the writing room. Outside of the writing room "things" got steamy and hot. The sad part about the book is that Michelle suicides. Take caution when reading this book. 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

June 26, 2024 Almost done with the book! Very interesting way to take on a romance book. Seems different than any romance book I have read. The books that I read that are romance are DEEP ROMANCE. After, I can read The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma and A long time coming by Meghan Quinn.

June 18, 2024 Happy Tuesday! Started reading the book and did not expect it to be the way it started. Like literally speaking. How to End a Love Story actually ties in the idea of a on-the-page discussion about "complicated grief, suicide loss, and death of a sibling". Michelle Zhang, Helen Zhang's younger sister suicides and she sees Grant Shepard at her sisters' funeral. He was the last person she hoped to see EVER. Now he is in a writing group.

June 17, 2024 Chugging along with my TBR! Im proud of myself for reading books and trying to get out of my comfort zone (which is probably obvious by now). Decisions, decisions, decisions. Should I go back to a romance novel or read another historical fiction?

Meh, there were some eye-rolly moments for me with this one, and I think the cover is a bit too light-hearted-looking for the history the two main characters have with each other. I didn‘t love the first third of the book, skimmed some parts, skipped a rather large chunk when “the time together is over like we said it would be”🙄 and skimmed enough of the end to know what happens. Not awful, but not for me.

Listening to this one… it‘s a little early in the morning for this much spice… 😂😫

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The “enemies to lovers” trope is on another level with a tragic backstory the two main characters must overcome while working together in the writers‘ room for a book-to-screen adaptation, producing a love story that‘s romantic, steamy, and emotional. 🎧 #reesesbookclub

This was a fantastic debut! Compelling and layered, this unique love story between two unlikely characters is full of angst, longing, and heart. I‘m not surprised that Kuang has been a screenwriter and show runner in the past and I can‘t wait to see how she has adapted Emily Henry‘s forthcoming adaptations. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #BOTM

Oof. This packs an emotional punch and then balances with some fabulously spicy romance. I really enjoyed this one, flying through it this week while taking some sick time off work (stupid cold). I did think it went a touch too long, but I honestly wasn‘t ready to leave the characters yet either so I get it.

Once again I was sucked in by social media and Costco‘s book table - this is okay. Pretty spicy

Yulin Kuang has written a romance novel that goes so much deeper than your typical fare. She has taken the enemies to lovers trope and built a story that hits the reader emotionally, intellectually and romantically of course. Delving into serious issues like mental health, suicide, and trauma, Kuang is able to take these difficult issues and give us something that feels modern, true and thoughtful.

Yesterday was a gardening and audio book day, today is a laundry and reading outside kind of day #longweekendvibes practicing for summer

After school swim and a read ❤️ shark reading season kicks off now ( let‘s see how this book goes )

May TBR! 📚📚📚 It would be great it I could actually stick to a tbr for once, since I genuinely think I will really like all of these.

Romance reading seems to be my coping mechanism of choice this month. Not sure it‘s working though.
“How to End a Love Story” by Yulin Kuang. An enemies to lovers complicated by a shared tragedy. Really lovely romance, very interesting tidbits about screenwriting for a TV show, compelling atmosphere. I really have no complaints, it was a page turner. Mature content throughout.

Helen and Grant (both 18) were impacted by the suicide of Michelle, 16. Now, 13 years later, Helen and Grant‘s lives are brought back together. …Honestly, it‘s not the plot that will stick with me as much how inconsequentially the impact of that death to Grant (non-family) was considered by Helen and her parents (family). It‘s one of those who-was-she-to-me things that always strikes an emotional chord with me.

My picks for April‘s #botm! Feeling romances. I think I‘m going to get the new Leigh Bardugo at my indie (though it‘s not one of the indies that gets a free bookmark) so I didn‘t get it in my box.

#BOTM was hard to resist this month! But one was a free birthday book!

A great blend of depth, humor, &romance. I‘ll admit there are times both Helen &Grant frustrated me, but they also felt very real. They had a complicated past that was a unique “2nd chance” set up, but from a friendship &forgiveness standpoint ¬ an ex.
There‘s definitely moments of heaviness &the theme of letting go/moving on is seen throughout. But I thought it was well-balanced w/plenty of comedy &lighter romantic moments.

TW: Suicide of sis

In a weird coincidence, both books I‘m reading have screenwriters as main characters. One contemporary fiction/romance and one mystery/thriller, so at least I won‘t get the plots confused!

#weekendreads