Hello beautiful book lovers! Did you know that Emily Henry’s books are being adapted to the big screen? and that same screenwriter is the one who wrote the book I’m sharing today, Yulin Kuang.
✔️forced proximity
✔️workplace romance
✔️ enemies to lovers
✔️ family drama
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
3.75
This is not your typical rom-com. I was sort of expecting a fluffy, cute romcom but found this heart-clenching, emotional, and even sad at times but sweet love story.
TW: grief, suicide loss, death of a sibling
What is it about?
Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She’s even scored a coveted spot in the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer’s block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there.
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he’s well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can’t pass up.
Grant’s exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she’s never been. And Helen’s exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he’s in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet… the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present. (via Goodreads)
Helen and Grant got my attention rather quickly. Their story seemed so intriguing that I was excited to see where it would lead. I loved reading how they fell in love and opened up to each other. Also, it was so fun to read about screenwriting and book adaptations!
There was beautiful character growth, and the love was so raw and honest that it made my heart clench more times than I can count. Helen’s emotional journey was one that, as a reader, you not only witnessed but also experienced. I truly felt her anger, grief, loneliness, happiness and love. The ending brought me to tears, and I didn’t expect that at all!
The second half of the book got a bit repetitive, and the story dragged on because of that. As much as I liked Helen, she exasperated me a lot at times, especially in the second half of the book. Also, I loved the fact that she made true friends, but I feel like those friendships lacked depth. I didn’t feel how close she had become with Nicole and Saskia as it was described.
Despite that, it was a beautiful and poignant story about love, not only romantic love but sisterly. Those letters to her sister made me ugly cry. I know many people will love this book. After reading Yulin I’m even more excited to watch Emily Henry’s adaptations.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tell me, are you reading this one? or have you read it already?
love, Lin xo
