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Which Brings Me to You
Two rambunctious, romantic flameouts. One boring wedding. One heated embrace in a quiet coatroom. This is not exactly the recipe for true love. John and Jane’s lusty encounter at a friend’s wedding isn’t really the beginning of anything with any weight to it; even they know that. When they manage to pull back, it occurs to them that they might start this whole thing over properly. They might try getting to know one another first, through letters.
What follows is a series of traded confessions—of their messy histories, their past errors, their big loves, their flaws, and their passions. Each love affair, confessed as honestly as possible, reveals the ways in which Jane and John have grown and changed—or not changed—over the years; the people they’ve hurt, the ones still bruised. The ones who bruised them. Where all of this soul-baring will take them is the burning question behind every letter—a question that can only be answered when they meet again, finally, in the flesh.
What follows is a series of traded confessions—of their messy histories, their past errors, their big loves, their flaws, and their passions. Each love affair, confessed as honestly as possible, reveals the ways in which Jane and John have grown and changed—or not changed—over the years; the people they’ve hurt, the ones still bruised. The ones who bruised them. Where all of this soul-baring will take them is the burning question behind every letter—a question that can only be answered when they meet again, finally, in the flesh.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2005
128 people are currently reading
2161 people want to read
About the author
Steve Almond
89 books463 followersSteve Almond is the author of two story collections, My Life in Heavy Metal and The Evil B.B. Chow, the non-fiction book Candyfreak, and the novel Which Brings Me to You, co-written with Julianna Baggott. He lives outside Boston with his wife and baby daughter Josephine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
January 3, 2024
2.5 Stars
Not for me
The story begins at a dull wedding ceremony where Jane and John first meet. They were both bored and were looking for a way to spice things up. They stumbled upon a coat room and almost hooked up, but at the last minute, they decided not to. Instead, they decided to take a chance on a different kind of connection and started exchanging letters. In each letter, they shared their intimate experiences with past love affairs. And with each letter, they found themselves getting closer and closer, until they finally met again.
While the story initially seemed a bit silly, I was intrigued by the direction it was heading and excited to see what each letter would reveal. However, as the story progressed, the tales of their past love affairs started to blur together and nothing stood out.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Almond, and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Not for me
The story begins at a dull wedding ceremony where Jane and John first meet. They were both bored and were looking for a way to spice things up. They stumbled upon a coat room and almost hooked up, but at the last minute, they decided not to. Instead, they decided to take a chance on a different kind of connection and started exchanging letters. In each letter, they shared their intimate experiences with past love affairs. And with each letter, they found themselves getting closer and closer, until they finally met again.
While the story initially seemed a bit silly, I was intrigued by the direction it was heading and excited to see what each letter would reveal. However, as the story progressed, the tales of their past love affairs started to blur together and nothing stood out.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Almond, and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
October 4, 2008
I have always thought the opening sentence of a book is the author's best pickup line pitched at the reader.
More so, then, in a book where well-constructed paragraphs hold the explicit promise of intimate relations--that, at least, is the premise of this post-postmodern epistolary novel where the two hyperarticulate protagonists agree to reveal the nasty bits of their romantic pasts in letters before meeting up again in real life.
My former colleague Craig Stoltz put it best, I think, when he reviewed the book for the Washington Post:
"This book is full of superb writing, and that is precisely its problem...The trouble is Jane's letters sound an awful lot as if they've been written by an award-winning author and writing instructor with an MFA. So, alas, do John's. To say this spoils the fun is to understate."
To return to the first line of the book, though, it reads: "I know my own kind." I can only assume that many of the fine Goodreads members who give such lukewarm reviews below are not sympathetic to this kind. Whether the lack of sympathy for this kind is due to character, snark, or textual framing, the book's prelude section remains a worthy meditation on a smushed boutonniere and contains a line of sexual absolution on page five that I have taken as a personal motto (curious? I thought so).
Moreover, how can you ignore the serious fun of keeping the conceit of a post-postmodern epistolary novel aloft for the length of a novel? I mean, really, our two protagonists always have stamps on hand?
And when one mails a drunken letter irretrievable from the postal carrier once deposited in the mailbox, a "remix" chapter follows with all the apology that comes after drunkdials and drunken texts/emails and none of the clarifying horror of the "sent messages" outbox (tell me the "sent messages" folder isn't your favorite, and I will denounce you for the terrible liar that you are).
Perhaps I read this in one sitting because each chapter contains character details I covet. To have our hero admit he is a "marginalia junkie"; to be able to refer to a past lover as "the caramelized one"; to articulate an awareness of destructive tendencies and the wherewithal at seventeen to intuit that "boys were dangerous. Each one was shining, lit from within; their souls were torches." Seemingly trivial and breathy at times, this is true stuff of the sort flawed, complicated, real relationships are built upon.
It's worth remembering that epistolary works were originally "penned" by female characters (Aphra Behn, of course, used the form; male authors like Richardson would take pains to insist in the introduction that the female narrator's story was "true") when the novel was still crystallizing into a genre. Appropriately, the end of the novel careens a bit like its tipsy characters, and structurally, the multiple peaks within the letters throughout are followed by valleys leading to more peaks.
The very end comes together in that elegant way that always brings me to tears--not because it's an emotional moment (it is), but because each reveals their understanding of the other's most significant, sustaining source of pain, and those final admissions seal a narrative that the two characters share voicing--imperfectly and, ultimately, full of hope.
More so, then, in a book where well-constructed paragraphs hold the explicit promise of intimate relations--that, at least, is the premise of this post-postmodern epistolary novel where the two hyperarticulate protagonists agree to reveal the nasty bits of their romantic pasts in letters before meeting up again in real life.
My former colleague Craig Stoltz put it best, I think, when he reviewed the book for the Washington Post:
"This book is full of superb writing, and that is precisely its problem...The trouble is Jane's letters sound an awful lot as if they've been written by an award-winning author and writing instructor with an MFA. So, alas, do John's. To say this spoils the fun is to understate."
To return to the first line of the book, though, it reads: "I know my own kind." I can only assume that many of the fine Goodreads members who give such lukewarm reviews below are not sympathetic to this kind. Whether the lack of sympathy for this kind is due to character, snark, or textual framing, the book's prelude section remains a worthy meditation on a smushed boutonniere and contains a line of sexual absolution on page five that I have taken as a personal motto (curious? I thought so).
Moreover, how can you ignore the serious fun of keeping the conceit of a post-postmodern epistolary novel aloft for the length of a novel? I mean, really, our two protagonists always have stamps on hand?
And when one mails a drunken letter irretrievable from the postal carrier once deposited in the mailbox, a "remix" chapter follows with all the apology that comes after drunkdials and drunken texts/emails and none of the clarifying horror of the "sent messages" outbox (tell me the "sent messages" folder isn't your favorite, and I will denounce you for the terrible liar that you are).
Perhaps I read this in one sitting because each chapter contains character details I covet. To have our hero admit he is a "marginalia junkie"; to be able to refer to a past lover as "the caramelized one"; to articulate an awareness of destructive tendencies and the wherewithal at seventeen to intuit that "boys were dangerous. Each one was shining, lit from within; their souls were torches." Seemingly trivial and breathy at times, this is true stuff of the sort flawed, complicated, real relationships are built upon.
It's worth remembering that epistolary works were originally "penned" by female characters (Aphra Behn, of course, used the form; male authors like Richardson would take pains to insist in the introduction that the female narrator's story was "true") when the novel was still crystallizing into a genre. Appropriately, the end of the novel careens a bit like its tipsy characters, and structurally, the multiple peaks within the letters throughout are followed by valleys leading to more peaks.
The very end comes together in that elegant way that always brings me to tears--not because it's an emotional moment (it is), but because each reveals their understanding of the other's most significant, sustaining source of pain, and those final admissions seal a narrative that the two characters share voicing--imperfectly and, ultimately, full of hope.
December 24, 2023
This book starts off fun with a silly premise… the big issue is the charm wears off fast.
I’ll be interested to see how the movie goes.
Thank you Blackstone Pub for sending me the movie tie in.
I’ll be interested to see how the movie goes.
Thank you Blackstone Pub for sending me the movie tie in.
September 19, 2025
An unconvetional novel with conventional ex's stories.
I liked the way the authors handled the emotional aspect of the book, which was a lot, so the drama aspect is on point. But, the romance part seemed lackluster.
I liked the way the authors handled the emotional aspect of the book, which was a lot, so the drama aspect is on point. But, the romance part seemed lackluster.
dnf
February 5, 2024Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ALC of Which Brings Me to You.
At the 53% mark I decided to not finish the audiobook.
I really enjoyed the first 40% or so, the writing was great and it was really funny. The premise of the story is a great one, and I liked that the characters were both kind of messy and not the usual polished romance book characters.
But even then there were a few moments that bothered me: the male character making fatphobic comments about his first girlfriend, saying that he finds oral sex degrading for women, weird comments about classism, him cheating on her "with thinner girls" - all of that is being reflected upon by the character though, and he does see that his behaviour is shitty, so I was able to see past it.
But then there were several moments where offensive language was used for disabled and little people, and a deeply problematic story about his latina girlfriend. A fight turns violent, and later he writes that he . In her next letter the female main characters recounts an experience of violence by one of her exes, and doesn't challenge Johns behaviour at all.
I don't think this character will be able to redeem himself for me as a reader, and while this is not a review of a character, obviously, but about the story, the writing and the audio production - writing a character like this and clearly not challenging his beliefs and actions in this genre is simply outdated and offensive. This story should have been edited before rereleasing it in this day and age, or probably should not have been rereleased at all. I hope that the screenwriters didn't let any of this into the movie version. It's such a shame, because the premise was amazing and the humor initially funny - but all of that leaves a bitter taste later.
The narrators were really good, although the female narrator's voice, that sounded like a young Dolly Parton to me, took some getting used to.
At the 53% mark I decided to not finish the audiobook.
I really enjoyed the first 40% or so, the writing was great and it was really funny. The premise of the story is a great one, and I liked that the characters were both kind of messy and not the usual polished romance book characters.
But even then there were a few moments that bothered me: the male character making fatphobic comments about his first girlfriend, saying that he finds oral sex degrading for women, weird comments about classism, him cheating on her "with thinner girls" - all of that is being reflected upon by the character though, and he does see that his behaviour is shitty, so I was able to see past it.
But then there were several moments where offensive language was used for disabled and little people, and a deeply problematic story about his latina girlfriend. A fight turns violent, and later he writes that he . In her next letter the female main characters recounts an experience of violence by one of her exes, and doesn't challenge Johns behaviour at all.
I don't think this character will be able to redeem himself for me as a reader, and while this is not a review of a character, obviously, but about the story, the writing and the audio production - writing a character like this and clearly not challenging his beliefs and actions in this genre is simply outdated and offensive. This story should have been edited before rereleasing it in this day and age, or probably should not have been rereleased at all. I hope that the screenwriters didn't let any of this into the movie version. It's such a shame, because the premise was amazing and the humor initially funny - but all of that leaves a bitter taste later.
The narrators were really good, although the female narrator's voice, that sounded like a young Dolly Parton to me, took some getting used to.
February 7, 2024
you know that tiktok trend where they ask people "what gives you the ick"
this.. this book gives me the ick.
the story almost has my attention in the begining where our two main characters fail to hookup in a coat closet at a wedding they dont want to be at. They decide that instead of hooking up they will send confessions about their sex lives to eachother so that they get to know each other more.
The narration is quite boring, you dont actually learn anything of substance about our MCs .. I learned one has an issue with PE (aka the too quickly issues), she really liked hooking up with a boy at school and any boy who would let her. and basically similiar confessions to this continue until they meet again to see if they are soul mates (why confessing these things would make you think you havea soul mate is odd to me)
(also they never actually repeated ttheir names Jane and John .. so i totally forgot until writing the review who they are )
I grew tired of the concept of the book which was sharing confessions so quickly in the book I only finished it so I could hope they ended up alone forever in their misery and boringness. How this became a movie is astounding.
this.. this book gives me the ick.
the story almost has my attention in the begining where our two main characters fail to hookup in a coat closet at a wedding they dont want to be at. They decide that instead of hooking up they will send confessions about their sex lives to eachother so that they get to know each other more.
The narration is quite boring, you dont actually learn anything of substance about our MCs .. I learned one has an issue with PE (aka the too quickly issues), she really liked hooking up with a boy at school and any boy who would let her. and basically similiar confessions to this continue until they meet again to see if they are soul mates (why confessing these things would make you think you havea soul mate is odd to me)
(also they never actually repeated ttheir names Jane and John .. so i totally forgot until writing the review who they are )
I grew tired of the concept of the book which was sharing confessions so quickly in the book I only finished it so I could hope they ended up alone forever in their misery and boringness. How this became a movie is astounding.
April 5, 2007
I need a half-star. Because this book was fun, and cute, and enjoyable. It was really, really good chick lit. But chick lit doesn't really deserve four stars... I think my ratings are very dependent on what kind of book it is, and for chick-lit, this is a four-star book. For literature, three. So I'd give it three and a half, except I can't.
Funny, sweet, awkward, quick read. What more can you ask in a budding romantic relationship? And it's a little predictable. (Show of hands: who thinks the main characters will eventually get together and live happily ever after?) But it's still the kind of book that makes you say "awwwwwwww." If you're the kind to say "awwwwww" in the first place.
Funny, sweet, awkward, quick read. What more can you ask in a budding romantic relationship? And it's a little predictable. (Show of hands: who thinks the main characters will eventually get together and live happily ever after?) But it's still the kind of book that makes you say "awwwwwwww." If you're the kind to say "awwwwww" in the first place.
October 4, 2010
The premise of the novel seemed interesting. The first few pages before the exchange of letters were promising: 2 damaged strangers unusually refraining from casual sex at a wedding and instead go on a 6-month long affair carried out via the post. They were to be confessions; bare honesty.
There were some tidbits of great writing, wonderful phrases, but overall, this book- the confessional letters- were boring. I was expecting some pretty heavy things to be written about, and what I got were some slightly abnormal behaviours. Which would have been fine, had they been more interestingly written about. The emotional depth was not continuously present- it would shine through every now and then, but then it trailed off...
...like this review.
There were some tidbits of great writing, wonderful phrases, but overall, this book- the confessional letters- were boring. I was expecting some pretty heavy things to be written about, and what I got were some slightly abnormal behaviours. Which would have been fine, had they been more interestingly written about. The emotional depth was not continuously present- it would shine through every now and then, but then it trailed off...
...like this review.
September 3, 2010
Boy meets girl at wedding; they get naked in coat closet together, then decide, hey we might have something here - I might really like you for reals.
So they agree to write letters - real pen and ink letters - to each other, "try getting to know each other first, telling each other everything, aiming for honesty over seduction."
So WE, the opportunistic readers, to read their "traded confessions - of their messy histories, mistakes, flaws, and passions, the ones they've bruised,the ones who bruised them.Each letter reveals the ways they've grown - or not grown - over the years."
The title is perfect.
A totally different topic for me, and a fun and thinking-woman's read.
So they agree to write letters - real pen and ink letters - to each other, "try getting to know each other first, telling each other everything, aiming for honesty over seduction."
So WE, the opportunistic readers, to read their "traded confessions - of their messy histories, mistakes, flaws, and passions, the ones they've bruised,the ones who bruised them.Each letter reveals the ways they've grown - or not grown - over the years."
The title is perfect.
A totally different topic for me, and a fun and thinking-woman's read.
February 11, 2019
I don't recommend this book.
December 23, 2023
Embarking on this auditory journey, I found myself captivated by the allure of a world illuminated by letters. The storyteller skillfully transported me back in time, painting vibrant scenes with words that spoke of a bygone era.
Each letter carried a weight of emotion, weaving a tapestry of connection and depth. The narrative's gentle cadence resonated with the romantic charm inherent in handwritten correspondence, evoking a sense of longing for a simpler time.
As the story unfolded, the delicate dance of pen on paper became a symphony of sentiment, leaving a lasting impression that lingered in the heart and mind.
Each letter carried a weight of emotion, weaving a tapestry of connection and depth. The narrative's gentle cadence resonated with the romantic charm inherent in handwritten correspondence, evoking a sense of longing for a simpler time.
As the story unfolded, the delicate dance of pen on paper became a symphony of sentiment, leaving a lasting impression that lingered in the heart and mind.
January 25, 2024
This really just didn’t do it for me. The letters back and forth being 95% of the book just didn’t keep me interested. Then when they did meet back up it was awkward. It just didn’t seem line they actually liked each other the way the author kept trying to make them. It felt very forced. Not to mention I didn’t feel like there was any big moment or plot twist or just anything to make the story stand out. It was bland and boring and honestly I’m surprised I finished it.
August 5, 2014
John and Jane meet at a wedding and find themselves instantly attracted to each other. When their attempted tryst in the coat room goes awry, the two decide there could be something more to them than just a post-wedding fling and decide to try something different -- writing confessional letters about their various relationships to each other.
Once they reach the end of the confessionals, they can decide if a long distance relationship between the two of them is worth pursuing.
And so we're treated to alternating confessions of all the good and bad things that each has done in various relationships up to that point. Included in that are threesomes, boorish behavior and broken hearts along with all the salient details you can possibly want or expect.
And yet somehow by halfway through Which Brings Me To You, I found myself growing less and less enchanted with both parties. The hook of the confessional letters loses its appeal by the mid-point of the novel (or in this case the audio book) and I found myself continuing to listen and beginning to root for these two not to only not get together with each other but anyone else ever.
Once they reach the end of the confessionals, they can decide if a long distance relationship between the two of them is worth pursuing.
And so we're treated to alternating confessions of all the good and bad things that each has done in various relationships up to that point. Included in that are threesomes, boorish behavior and broken hearts along with all the salient details you can possibly want or expect.
And yet somehow by halfway through Which Brings Me To You, I found myself growing less and less enchanted with both parties. The hook of the confessional letters loses its appeal by the mid-point of the novel (or in this case the audio book) and I found myself continuing to listen and beginning to root for these two not to only not get together with each other but anyone else ever.
July 23, 2009
I loved Steve Almond's Candyfreak. However, this is navelgazing, pretentious tripe in an epistolary format. Good light reading, hard for me to relate to since I did not grow up as a privileged suburbanite or a kid with supportive/hippie zen-no restrictions parents. I actually keep forgetting that so much shit that gets published is from contrite liberal-y folks that adopt cynicism as a response to their poverty of... poverty. It seeks a certain audience -- I'm not it. (Still, it's light chick-lit-y reading. It's not TORTURE, but it's no delicious treat either).
January 25, 2024
I really liked the idea of this book. I am a sucker for letter writing, but this one wasn't for me. For some reason it made me feel icky. There wasn't one thing about either of the characters that I liked.
January 28, 2024
This was weird.
January 2, 2024
Which Brings Me To You by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
I was immediately drawn to this book as I recognized the title as being a movie releasing in January. There is basically nothing I like more than a book becoming a movie or TV show so I knew I definitely wanted to check this one out.
We follow John and Jane - two relatively normal individuals who meet at a wedding, have a kerfuffle in a coat closet, and decide to write each other letters. They make a pact that the good, the bad, and everything that is true must be written between the two of them. Once they know everything there is to know about the other, they then can make the decision on if any type of relationship would be worth it.
The audio narrative was very enjoyable for this one. You’ll want to listen in one sitting!
Read this book if you like:
-stories told through flashbacks and letters
-early 2000s romance
-real, raw stories
Which Brings Me To You will be newly released in audio format on January 16th. If it's not yet on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Blackstone Publishing for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
I was immediately drawn to this book as I recognized the title as being a movie releasing in January. There is basically nothing I like more than a book becoming a movie or TV show so I knew I definitely wanted to check this one out.
We follow John and Jane - two relatively normal individuals who meet at a wedding, have a kerfuffle in a coat closet, and decide to write each other letters. They make a pact that the good, the bad, and everything that is true must be written between the two of them. Once they know everything there is to know about the other, they then can make the decision on if any type of relationship would be worth it.
The audio narrative was very enjoyable for this one. You’ll want to listen in one sitting!
Read this book if you like:
-stories told through flashbacks and letters
-early 2000s romance
-real, raw stories
Which Brings Me To You will be newly released in audio format on January 16th. If it's not yet on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Blackstone Publishing for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review on Instagram
January 8, 2024
Written in the form of letters between the main characters, who almost hooked up in the coatroom at a wedding but decided to get to know each other first, Which Brings Me to You tells the romantic history of the two, prior to their meeting. I did like the idea of getting to know each other first, and writing letters was a promising method for a reader to experience their courtship, as well.
Typically, I enjoy character-driven books quite a lot, and I find the epistolary format fun and interesting. I have to admit that Which Brings Me to You kind of fell flat for me, and was not as enjoyable as I anticipated. I found it difficult to like either of the protaganists, as their letters told of their sexual exploits through the years, and left me feeling a little distaste for both of them.
The narration by Kerby Heyborne and Renee Raudman was excellent, and I think I would have struggled to finish if I were reading a print copy. Their voices were perfect for the characters, and enabled me to keep track of which character was writing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audio ARC of Which Brings Me to You by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott. The opinions in this review are my own.
Typically, I enjoy character-driven books quite a lot, and I find the epistolary format fun and interesting. I have to admit that Which Brings Me to You kind of fell flat for me, and was not as enjoyable as I anticipated. I found it difficult to like either of the protaganists, as their letters told of their sexual exploits through the years, and left me feeling a little distaste for both of them.
The narration by Kerby Heyborne and Renee Raudman was excellent, and I think I would have struggled to finish if I were reading a print copy. Their voices were perfect for the characters, and enabled me to keep track of which character was writing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audio ARC of Which Brings Me to You by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott. The opinions in this review are my own.
March 1, 2024
I have not seen the movie yet but the book was wonderful!
I listened to the audiobook, read by the co-authors, Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott, and it was a delight.
It is funny, thoughtful, and soul crushing at times.
Two 30-ish people meet and feel the pull, but instead of getting into a fling - something that did not work for them in the past with various other people, they decide to confess all their heartbreaks and secrets to each other in letters first, before considering a new romance.
The letter format works perfectly - especially when read in two voices.
John and Jane end up confessing about much more than just the past relationships and we learn about their families, childhoods, and careers. The stories they tell each other are fascinating, the rhythm of the story is well paced, and both of their voices are strong and likable.
I really enjoyed the book. Without having too much plot situated in the present, it gives us a story of two lives - both full and interesting, and uniquely messed up. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC. (It was suggested to me after the publishing date, I requested it and miraculously received it!)
I listened to the audiobook, read by the co-authors, Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott, and it was a delight.
It is funny, thoughtful, and soul crushing at times.
Two 30-ish people meet and feel the pull, but instead of getting into a fling - something that did not work for them in the past with various other people, they decide to confess all their heartbreaks and secrets to each other in letters first, before considering a new romance.
The letter format works perfectly - especially when read in two voices.
John and Jane end up confessing about much more than just the past relationships and we learn about their families, childhoods, and careers. The stories they tell each other are fascinating, the rhythm of the story is well paced, and both of their voices are strong and likable.
I really enjoyed the book. Without having too much plot situated in the present, it gives us a story of two lives - both full and interesting, and uniquely messed up. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC. (It was suggested to me after the publishing date, I requested it and miraculously received it!)
January 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to this funny audiobook.
Well, what can I say? I loved the voice actors, they gave a very nice emphasis to the crazy stories John and Jane were writing each other.
The story itself for a little too long for me. The continuous back and forth of email was funny but after 40% of the book went by it became also boring.
I liked a lot the humor of this book, I found many things super relatable, but I didn´t connect to the characters at all and that is a problem because I struggled to finish it.
Anyway by the end was 3 solid stars.
I requested this book because I saw the movie was coming out and I hate to watch the movie before reading the book.
Well, the movie looks nothing like the book, they also changed Johns's name to Will…. If John and Jane were boring, Will and Jane it´s so obvious it´s laughable… but I´m here for the book, not the movie so…
If you like a rom-com with some crazy stories about life, ex-partners, and general unluckiness before finding love, well this is definitely for you.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to this funny audiobook.
Well, what can I say? I loved the voice actors, they gave a very nice emphasis to the crazy stories John and Jane were writing each other.
The story itself for a little too long for me. The continuous back and forth of email was funny but after 40% of the book went by it became also boring.
I liked a lot the humor of this book, I found many things super relatable, but I didn´t connect to the characters at all and that is a problem because I struggled to finish it.
Anyway by the end was 3 solid stars.
I requested this book because I saw the movie was coming out and I hate to watch the movie before reading the book.
Well, the movie looks nothing like the book, they also changed Johns's name to Will…. If John and Jane were boring, Will and Jane it´s so obvious it´s laughable… but I´m here for the book, not the movie so…
If you like a rom-com with some crazy stories about life, ex-partners, and general unluckiness before finding love, well this is definitely for you.
February 12, 2024
This story begins with two people meeting at a wedding. Both feel that “spark”, but John doesn’t want to rush. He suggests they write letters to each other making confessions as a way to get to know each other. This turns into them writing letters back and forth detailing their past loves. While the idea of getting to know someone via how they loved others in the past is an interesting concept, I don’t think I bought into it. It felt weird that this was all that they knew about each other and this was glaringly obviously in the end.
I did enjoy the narrators. They did a great job bringing the characters to life especially since I didn’t really like either John or Jane as people.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a chance to review this audiobook.
I did enjoy the narrators. They did a great job bringing the characters to life especially since I didn’t really like either John or Jane as people.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a chance to review this audiobook.
January 12, 2024
This is the only time I felt… I hope the movie is better than the book. Essays about their past relationships, fails and ones that got away. It fell flat with me. I forced myself to finish the book and was bored of it. I liked one essay. “The Thruple” that one had humor in its bizarre situation.
The ending was not what I expected and left me feeling cheated. A lot of build up and then flat again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. I thought the narrator did an excellent job and had the right voice for the story. I gave the book one extra star for the narrator.
The ending was not what I expected and left me feeling cheated. A lot of build up and then flat again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. I thought the narrator did an excellent job and had the right voice for the story. I gave the book one extra star for the narrator.
February 4, 2024
Started off ok…then fizzled out. Each chapter is the main characters writing letters to each other, and I enjoyed the premise. It wouldn’t be so
bad if they spoke like normal people. Don’t get be wrong, I love beautifully written books filled flowery language, and I think that’s what the author was trying to accomplish. Unfortunately they failed. Instead of eloquent it was obnoxious. I sped-read the 2nd half just to get to the ending.
bad if they spoke like normal people. Don’t get be wrong, I love beautifully written books filled flowery language, and I think that’s what the author was trying to accomplish. Unfortunately they failed. Instead of eloquent it was obnoxious. I sped-read the 2nd half just to get to the ending.
June 9, 2022
Can’t wait to watch this movie that Lucy Hale will be in. A charming story 🥰
April 15, 2024
I did this audiobook with NetGalley because of the movie that was coming out needless to say this was atrocious I will not be watching this story line and writing is terrible
July 19, 2024
Story feels slow. I like the letters, but I feel empty after reading this like I wanted more.
May 3, 2011
Ok, I almost gave a five-star to this chic-lit of a book that was written by two different authors. Was what made me read this book in the first place and it worked so well, actually! But I thought to myself, I can't do that! Remember, you are a dude, a diesel mechanic who works with only men. Can you imagine, if they actually read, knew what you were reading and throughly enjoying it?! It'd be like those old Pace Picante salsa commercials: From New York City (aka a chic-type of a book)...? Get a rope!
This book was, uh-um, cute. The story is as simple as this: girl meets boy at wedding; girl wants boy sexually; goes for the chance; boy and girl end up in coat room closet of the wedding they were both attending; boy and girl almost have sex but boy decides, let's not do this. For various, understandable reasons that you find out later in the book; boy and girl live in two different cities, girl in Philly and boy in NY, but decide to write each other openly and honestly to actually get to know one another.
So the book is a series of letters written back and forth, and as I was reading these letters, I thought to myself, these letters are way too open and honest. No way would people open up this much to each other, ever! But, who am I but one person, right? Maybe plenty of people would do such a thing and on top of that, this book is a work of fiction. Regardless, the letters written from the two characters are entertaining and vividly descriptive and...believable. The stories were also deep, realistic, and to boot, it wasn't a sappy, TOTAL chic, I might as well be reading or watching Sex and the City. But...I am now in touch with my feminine side for reading such. Ha!
This book was, uh-um, cute. The story is as simple as this: girl meets boy at wedding; girl wants boy sexually; goes for the chance; boy and girl end up in coat room closet of the wedding they were both attending; boy and girl almost have sex but boy decides, let's not do this. For various, understandable reasons that you find out later in the book; boy and girl live in two different cities, girl in Philly and boy in NY, but decide to write each other openly and honestly to actually get to know one another.
So the book is a series of letters written back and forth, and as I was reading these letters, I thought to myself, these letters are way too open and honest. No way would people open up this much to each other, ever! But, who am I but one person, right? Maybe plenty of people would do such a thing and on top of that, this book is a work of fiction. Regardless, the letters written from the two characters are entertaining and vividly descriptive and...believable. The stories were also deep, realistic, and to boot, it wasn't a sappy, TOTAL chic, I might as well be reading or watching Sex and the City. But...I am now in touch with my feminine side for reading such. Ha!
July 30, 2007
Jane and John are about to get it on in the coat room at a wedding when he suddenly stops – maybe there could be more to this relationship than just sex. So they part with only each other’s address and a vow to confess the details of important past relationships to the other. And so the letters begin - the gory intimate details of two lives. Once all the baggage is out of the way, will Jane and John have a chance at long-term happiness together? Or will their letters only prove that they have nothing more in common than mutual, fleeting lust?
I love epistolary, journal, diary novels, anything along those lines and so I was really looking forward to reading this. I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped – perhaps this was because my expectations were too high, or because I couldn’t relate, since my relationships have (thankfully) been much more tame than those in the pages of this book.
I love epistolary, journal, diary novels, anything along those lines and so I was really looking forward to reading this. I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped – perhaps this was because my expectations were too high, or because I couldn’t relate, since my relationships have (thankfully) been much more tame than those in the pages of this book.
November 19, 2008
This one of those books that really sticks with you - I kept thinking about it for a long time after I read it, even though I did find it a bit annoying in places. I didn't like Jane as much as I liked John, I thought she was a bit of a weirdo (and obviously a bit PROUD of being weird, like she obviously thought normal people were boring and stupid and were all secretly bored with their dull, ordinary lives). I enjoyed John's bits more, he told more interesting (and funnier) stories and described more events whereas Jane tended to stick mainly to character descriptions and her (weird) feelings. And I liked John as a character more.
For some reason I really liked Alex Paglia, even though I understood and agreed with Jane's assessment of him as selfish and corrupt. He just struck me as funny and cool. I liked his wire framed glasses and his sensitivity.
Overall it was very insightful and fascinating.
For some reason I really liked Alex Paglia, even though I understood and agreed with Jane's assessment of him as selfish and corrupt. He just struck me as funny and cool. I liked his wire framed glasses and his sensitivity.
Overall it was very insightful and fascinating.
August 30, 2019
Maybe a quick coat closet hookup at a wedding isn't the best way to start a relationship--but Jane and John can't quite let it go. Deciding to slow down and get to know each other better, they embark on a series of letters in which they divulge their true, flawed, messy pasts and selves. All these hilarious, mortifying and recognizable tales of lost loves bring them back to the present--maybe ready to take a chance on the most honest and mature relationship either has had.
I really enjoyed this "he said, she said" story of two smart, funny, flawed people and their hope that this might be the time they get it right. The stories they exchange of prior, often disastrous relationships ring true, and it's easy to want John and Jane to make their tentative match work.
I really enjoyed this "he said, she said" story of two smart, funny, flawed people and their hope that this might be the time they get it right. The stories they exchange of prior, often disastrous relationships ring true, and it's easy to want John and Jane to make their tentative match work.
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