This novel started out really slow, and I didn't particularly care for any of the characters at first. However, as the story progressed, I found myself caring for how the women, particularly Joy, would end up. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

This just wasn't for me. It's the story of three women- Annie, Joy, and Celine- and their loves and losses. Oh, and Theo, who moves in when Joy and Annie need a roommate to make the rent. The thing is, there's so much talking and I didn't really like any of them. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC. I know I'm an outlier.

How to Fall Out of Love Madly was not what I was expecting. Somehow I got a rom- com vibe from the title. Unfortunately this is a more depressing yet truthful look at women trying to figure out life and what they deserve. Joy, Annie and Celine each have their own issues to figure out. I wish they had talked to each other, been examples of how women can help other women. The story dragged for me, I kept hoping one of them was going to get it together and help the others.

Sally Rooney fans go buy this book! I was so excited for this one, but sadly it did not do it for me. it really reminded me of Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney, so if you like her books you should grab this one for sure. The story centers around Joy, Annie, and Celine as they face their late 20’s early 30’s on the dating scene. Annie is in love with her very problematic (in my eyes) boyfriend Jason, Joy is in love with her new roommate Theo (whom she does EVERYTHING for) and Celine is nursing her broken heart by dating Theo (even though she doesn’t really like him. Overall this book was very character driven, which isn’t my style, and while the writing was well done, it just didn’t work for me.

This wasn't the novel for me. It was a slow read with a really negative start and felt superficial. Jana Casale's writing is good, but it simply wasn't the novel for me, and I still recommend others go and give it a try.

I found the premise of this book to be intriguing but the reality of the story did not meet my expectations. The lack of character development led to a book being just mediocre when it could have been fantastic.

We get to know Annie, Joy and Celine through their bad break-ups, work and family situations, friendships, and ethical dilemmas. Author Jana Casale presents the feminine experience writ large through this trio, their treatment by different sectors of society, how they cope with hardship, ageing, and anxiety.

I love how each character steps up eventually and does the right thing, despite consequences, fear and the judgement of others. There were such moments of honesty, truth and integrity in this story of breakthroughs and triumphs, I didn't want it to end. But I know it'll stay with me for a long time, and I'll be recommending it to others to read for ages.

Not for me unfortunately; I'm not a romance reader, but try to read a few a year just to stay up with unique titles to add to the collection. Think others will enjoy this.

This book is a quiet powerhouse from an author who I now consider one of my all-time favorites. I adored Jana Casale's THE GIRL WHO NEVER READ NOAM CHOMSKY back in 2018, and was thrilled to get an early edition of her new work HOW TO FALL OUT OF LOVE MADLY. If her first book was a perfect coming-of-age story, this new one is a perfect answer to, "what happens after you come of age?' Focused on three women whose lives intertwine in interesting ways, Casale's viewpoint is one of contemporary feminism when a lens looking directly at women in their early 30s trying to figure out who they want to spend their lives with. Or, if they want to spend their lives with someone at all. She so clearly gets to the heart of dating as an adult, having one-sided crushes, and learning more about yourself after you've already made it through your self-discovering 20s.

The characters in this book, Annie, Joy, and Celine, all come to terms with, in different ways, their relationship to the opposite gender and how it drives their lives. It's not an easy thing to look straight down the barrel on, but I have rarely read a book that gets to the heart of it as clearly as Casale does in this masterpiece. The ladies are so nuanced and specific you'll feel like you know them in real life. They are our friends, they are us, they are the people we follow on social media or sit across from on the subway. They have terrible boyfriends and terrible friends and terrible jobs and terrible body image, but they are still on their own journeys and the twists and turns this book takes to also take care of the characters is the best part of the reading experience.

Remember the show Girls? This book reminded me of that show but waaay less sex and nudity:) Not less millenial angst and the relationship drama though.

Even though I've been out of the dating scene for years the struggles and worries of these three 30yo women, Joy, Annie and Celine, felt so relatable.

This is a character driven book. A very well-written one.We'll get to hear these women's inside voices. There were times when I wanted to give them hugs, especially Joy; shake some sense into them to see how terrible the guys they are with, especially Annie; and just inject some self-worth and self-love into their veins (this applies to all of them)

Joy is so in-love with her roommate Theo it almost hurts to read it. Ah Joy, she has such a terrible self-image and she desperately want to find love. Annie deserves better than that jerk of a boyfriend and Celine...

I think Celine was there to show us that even the gorgeous ones have issues and insecurities.

Again, the writing was so good. Full of astute observations that made me think and reflect. I highlighted so many passages. I need a print copy.

The formatting might throw people off. The book jumps from Joy's to Annie's to Celine' s POV's. It also reads like short stories about these women's pasts. I was particularly impressed by how Joy's aunts story was told and what happened at Annie's workplace regarding a sexual harassment allegation.

I need a few of my friends to read it so we can discuss it. It is marketed as Sally Rooney-esque so take that how you will.

I enjoyed it! It almost reads like short stories, which was unique. I loved Joy but also wanted to smack sense into her at times. The contrasting perspectives and personalities were very interesting. I appreciate how it was all female perspectives, but part of me was hoping for some Theo perspective too at times.

Begins with two women looking for a third roommate and follows these best friends through their struggling relationships they have with the men in their lives. I found the grappling with discovering your male boss has a history of sexual assaulting female assistants timely, even though this is sadly a timeless issue. This was a witty novel and a quick read. The humor surrounding the womens’ struggles of dating and relationships reminded me of the TV shows Fleabag and Shrill. However, while I enjoyed the book overall, I think in the long run it will be forgettable. It’s too similar to many of the other previously existing stories in the media (TV, movies, book, ect) written by and for millenial women.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
I happened to really enjoy this book and could not put it down. Parts of it made me uncomfortable but it brought up important issues - definitely look up trigger warnings but I definitely recommend!

I enjoyed this book about millennial angst. I particularly liked the way Casale writes about internal thoughts. It's more heavy than light and is not a romance. Highly recommend for those who enjoy a thoughtful read - not for tropy romance readers.

I consider Jana Casale's first book, The Girl Who Never Read Noam Chomsky, an all-time favorite and have been eagerly anticipating her next book so I was thrilled to get an advance copy from NetGalley. This did not disappoint - loved every bit. Again it was a character-driven novel, this time about falling in love with the wrong people and learning about yourself in the process - so life affirming. The author captures the everyday details of life so delightfully - I didn't want the book to end.

A keen look at the lives of women who learn to extricate themselves from toxic, codependent relationships with men. Requires a strong tolerance of characters with super low self-esteem, but the extreme insecurities are at times relatable.

I had a hard time getting into this one. It was a little too full of relationship and millennial angst for me to find it enjoyable. Thanks for letting me check it out!

DNF around 25%

These women are miserable, and nothing is happening in the book. From the beginning, I had issues enjoying reading; Joy and Annie are roommates and friends, but they are outwardly and inwardly cruel to themselves and each other. Coupled with the insipid behavior they tolerate from the men in their lives, it seems like Joy and Annie are content being mired in misery.

I wish I could have become more invested, as some other reviews rave about this book, but I couldn’t imagine spending any more time reading How to Fall Out of Love Madly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

I feel like this book would have really resonated with me had I read it a decade ago! Like the protagonists, I'm in my early 30s - and while you'd imagine that would make them relatable to me, I agree wholeheartedly with another NetGalley reviewer who said they felt younger. Reading about them brought me back to my early 20s, but not in a particularly entertaining or illuminating way. Their dynamics, both inter- and intra-personal, felt overly familiar in the sense that reading an old journal might. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the experience, but it wasn't new or especially interesting.

For a novel about women, it revolved around men; I'm not confident it would pass the Bechdel test, though I get that it was in large part the point. I do think that Casale did a really nice job building up the character of Theo - his relationship with Joy felt realistic and nuanced, and I understood why she gravitated towards him. I also liked how Joy and Annie's friendship ebbed and flowed throughout the book - their dynamic was a little bit messy, and that felt authentic. Celine, to me, felt like an afterthought - while I probably liked the writing in her sections the most, she didn't feel quite as believable or fleshed-out to me as Joy and Annie did.

Overall, 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—The Dial Press for my ARC.

(PS - I LOVE the cover!)

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Fall Out of Love Madly tells the story of three women and the men in their lives, plus a couple of other people in their orbit. The writing and pacing is very consistent, and I think there are some really poignant lines that Casale has crafted, however there's also a lot of lines that make tonal sense, but I found to be a little bit aggravating to read (see: discussion of cellulite, for example).

This is marketed as a millennial book, and I do think that distinction is very correct. I am on the generational cusp between millennial and gen z, and I did find that this book would probably be at its best if you're a true millennial. I also think this book would work best if you find the characters relatable, which was something I hadn't quite anticipated. I did find this book to be very straight and, as a queer person, many of the concerns and observations/revelations/etc just did not land with me. A lot of the book is just that one meme where the tarot cards spell out DUMP HIM because the men are so incredibly mediocre. Arguably, though, I think people who place a lot of value in romantic relationships will probably see a little bit of themselves in this book. The women all felt very real and their concerns are ones I am tangentially familiar with (which is to say their concerns are not ones I personally have experience with, but I know many people who do have those concerns).

This didn't quite work for me, and I don't think it's a book that will work for everyone. All in all, I think this book was fine, but would be great if the characters resonate with you.