PS: I Hate You, Lauren Connolly (Review by Stephanie Rowitz)
Rating: 4.5/5
26-year-old Maddie Sanderson has been tasked with scattering her brother’s ashes as part of his dying wish. The catch is that she has to bring her brother’s best friend, Dominic Perry, with her, who also happens to be the guy who broke her heart when she was 19. Josh knew Dom hurt her, so why would he ever think Maddie would be okay with this? As Maddie and Dom trek through Alabama, Alaska, and several other states on Josh’s list, they find more than closure as they say goodbye to Josh, perhaps even a way to start anew
I really enjoyed this book! I like how the author balanced grief and romance to create a novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever lost someone or a piece of themselves. There were heartbreaking moments, spicy bits, and a lot of heart. There were also a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming but were authentic and satisfying. The only thing I wish this book had more of was a bit more from Dom’s perspective. It’s hard to do in a single POV book, but I think it could’ve been done through dialogue or maybe a chapter here and there from Dom’s perspective. There’s a lot of Maddie’s perspective told through interiority, which was great because I knew where her head was the whole time, but I wanted to see a bit more from Dom’s perspective, too.
Overall, PS: I Hate You is a cozy, feel-good romance that deals with many heavy topics, such as loss, grief, and difficult relationships with family members, particularly mothers. The disclaimer might feel off-putting, but I promise it’s a book that will uplift and surprise you in the best ways. This is my first time reading a book by Lauren Connolly, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Rating: 4.5/5
26-year-old Maddie Sanderson has been tasked with scattering her brother’s ashes as part of his dying wish. The catch is that she has to bring her brother’s best friend, Dominic Perry, with her, who also happens to be the guy who broke her heart when she was 19. Josh knew Dom hurt her, so why would he ever think Maddie would be okay with this? As Maddie and Dom trek through Alabama, Alaska, and several other states on Josh’s list, they find more than closure as they say goodbye to Josh, perhaps even a way to start anew
I really enjoyed this book! I like how the author balanced grief and romance to create a novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever lost someone or a piece of themselves. There were heartbreaking moments, spicy bits, and a lot of heart. There were also a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming but were authentic and satisfying. The only thing I wish this book had more of was a bit more from Dom’s perspective. It’s hard to do in a single POV book, but I think it could’ve been done through dialogue or maybe a chapter here and there from Dom’s perspective. There’s a lot of Maddie’s perspective told through interiority, which was great because I knew where her head was the whole time, but I wanted to see a bit more from Dom’s perspective, too.
Overall, PS: I Hate You is a cozy, feel-good romance that deals with many heavy topics, such as loss, grief, and difficult relationships with family members, particularly mothers. The disclaimer might feel off-putting, but I promise it’s a book that will uplift and surprise you in the best ways. This is my first time reading a book by Lauren Connolly, but it definitely won’t be my last.
