May I Recommend: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
A five star romance
Welcome to May I Recommend. A new series where I recommend a book I love in a really fun and relatable way. Think: mood boards, favorite quotes, playlists, and similar TV/movie/book vibes. Consider it a heartfelt recommendation from me to you.
Romance is my go-to genre for a palate cleanser. Earlier this month, I read a book I loved and then a book I didn't love, so I wanted to dive into something I knew would hold my attention so I wouldn't fall into a reading slump.
Enter: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang. I didn't know when I started it that it would become a new favorite and suck me in so much. But I read it over the course of a few sittings and am still thinking about it two weeks later.
It's getting a lot of buzz, and rightfully so, in my opinion. It's one of the freshest and best rom-coms (I gave it five stars!) that I have read in a while!
The gist
Helen and Grant haven't seen each other since their senior year of high school, thirteen years ago.
Helen is now the author of a popular series of young adult novels that are being adapted into a TV show. She has been dealing with writer's block, so she agrees to upend her life in New York City and move to LA to join the writing team for the show while she waits for her next novel to come to her.
Grant moved to LA after high school to escape his past in New Jersey. Since then, he's built a great career and is a sought-after screenwriter. He takes a job in the writers’ room for Helen's new show despite knowing it's going to be…complicated.
They are both exactly as they remember each other from high school, and despite the hard shared experience that binds them, their working relationship grows from enemies to friends to something more.
The thoughts
Spoiler alert: I loved it! As soon as I turned the final page, I immediately added it to my list of favorite romances. Helen and Grant are two characters that I couldn't help but love. They are down to earth, and thoughtful, and funny, and were a delight to spend time with. They each have their flaws, but they are so relatable, making you more invested in their relationship. I appreciated that they took the time to address their problems rather than ignore them, a refreshing change from some romance novels that sometimes hinge too much (in my opinion) on an easily solved problem.
I also really enjoyed the plot of enemies to friends to lovers. When they first see each other again, there is a lot of unspoken history between them. They quickly have to move past that to work together with the team in the writers' room as they bring Helen's novels to life. This friendly truce allows them to explore their real feelings for each other, which was such a delight to see blossom on the page. There is also a thread throughout where Helen reflects on her complicated but loving relationship with her parents, which I really enjoyed.
Kuang is a screenwriter — she is currently working on both adaptations of Emily Henry's novels — and her experience in the field shines through. The characters felt well-drawn, and the dialogue sparkled. Overall, I found this to be such a well-written novel.
And because of Kuang's expertise in the area, I loved the LA setting and all the insight into the world of screenwriting and creating adaptations.
The vibe
I got a lot of Emily Henry vibes from this one. It makes sense since, as mentioned above, Kuang is doing the adaptations for Emily Henry's novels. But if you are a fan of Emily Henry's down-to-earth characters and witty dialogue, you'll love this one. Especially if you love Beach Read or Book Lovers, this book tackles similar themes since they are set in the world of writing and creative pursuits.
Similar to Nora Ephron's works, the characters in this book are in their 30s, have successful careers, and a strong sense of self. If you appreciate romances that don't revolve around coming-of-age narratives, this book is for you.
Lastly, this is an open-door romance, steamier than I usually gravitate towards. But there are just a handful of scenes, and they could easily be skimmed over or skipped altogether (see slide two) if they aren't your thing, still leaving you with a fantastic story.
The visuals
Who doesn’t love a good book mood board?
Quotes I loved
Grant shoots her a crooked, reassuring smile that seems to wedge right into a wobbling corner of her heart. Almost there, it seems to say.
He feels like he’s just started a new favorite book and he can’t put it down or he’ll lose his place.
“I do love my parents,” Helen says, a little haltingly. “Sometimes I think it sounds like I don’t. To people who come from other types of families. Families that know how to love each other out loud. Mine never did.
Are you going to read this one? I’d love to know! And I’d love to know what you think if you do.
‘Til next time,
PS: If you enjoyed this post, here are a few others you might love as well.
I got this one from Book of the Month and have been seeing it everywhere! I definitely want to pick it up soon.
I just finished this last weekend, actually. I share so many of your thoughts. While reading it, I wasn't aware of how much I was loving it until I finished. It packs a lot but everything feels fleshed out and believable. Definitely a new favorite!