How To End a Love Story // a book pairing
“Maybe being bad at things in front of other people is the secret glue of friendship.”
Thank you to for sharing this BONUS book pairing! Immediately after Rosalie emailed me her idea, I dove into this book based on her beautiful review. You can find Rosalie at !
Helen and Grant's lives are tied together in high school for one terrible reason: Helen's little sister threw herself in front of Grant's moving car and died. Now they're tied together again over a screenplay adaptation of Helen's books, and Helen can't keep her carefully constructed walls built up around Grant. As the jacket material says, "can they write themselves a new ending?"
I read a whole bunch of romance novels recently, all with similar covers and summer in the title, all light and dreamy as a summer romance should be. But for me the best romance of the season was not a summer romance. It is How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang. I eagerly picked it up because I am a big fan of Emily Henry novels as well as adaptations in general, and Kuang is the screenwriter for the screen adaptations currently in production. I wanted to get a taste of Kuang's writing style, which might come through in the screen versions of Henry's books.
Of the book, the Kirkus Review says, "for readers who like romances threaded with operatic sorrow," and, I do. I really do. I gave this novel five whole-hearted stars; every romance novel should make me feel this way.
How To End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Feels like: being wrung out after a therapy session, the burn of your cheeks after an awkward word, curiosity, relief, joy. Finding your person, loving even though it's risky.
Looks like: Vintage Hollywood studios, California beaches, piles of high school memorabilia.
Sounds like: the hum of collaboration through glass doors, the clickity clack of a writer typing, the faint accent of your bilingual friend, and companionable silence.
Tastes like: blistered green beans and garlic in sesame oil, the third date at a ramen place after you're comfortable enough to slurp together, the so-so pizza from your neighborhood spot. Tears from long held grief.
Pairs well with: A box of tissues, Chinese takeout, and then your adult women's book club, to discuss.
Favorite Quotes:
Maybe being bad at things in front of other people is the secret glue of friendship.
Eventually, it did become his dream, and he discovered the terrifying feeling of wanting something for himself and not being sure he would ever get it.
She hates that she always feels ridiculous trying to wear her own anger—like it’s the wrong size after too many winters spent at the back of her closet.
She’s terrified of it. She’s terrified that she’s incapable of wanting something and getting it, of real life obliterating perfect weather and happy endings if she goes on for an extra chapter, or even an extra sentence. That just means you really want it, she reminds herself, as her heart hammers in agreement. So she nods and says, “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
“You don’t have to be completely healed to be everything I want. To be mine. I love every part of you, you silly, infuriating woman. I love the parts of you I haven’t even met yet.”
Book pairings make great book club conversation starters!
Share this post with a friend or with your book club to inspire your own pairings.
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These are always so fun to read. Adding this to my TBR!
Gonna add this to my list! Love the pairings! :)