This book was absolutely beautifully written and devastatingly frustrating!!

How To End a Love Story, is heavy and includes some difficult family and relationship dynamics, but I found that even when I was frustrated with the characters, I still felt deeply for the pain these characters have suffered with. Helen and Grant were characters with frustratingly human emotions and feelings, and though I had qualms with some of the story, the writing was amazing. The way their struggles are written, albeit frustrating was so realistic.

I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t feel more attached to this book and this relationship but the stress I had outweighed my connection to the relationship between Grant and Helen. The banter between them grew to be one of my favorite parts of the book, and Yulin did an amazing job of making the sarcasm and humor balance with the romance and attraction between them.

The pacing throughout the book was one of the major issues I had with the story, it was slow to start and the tension in the middle dragged on, but the end was rushed.

However, I am excited to see what Yulin writes next because her writing was an instant draw, and her ability to write these characters, makes me excited to read more from her!

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for the arc.

This book does yearning so well. Watching these two characters orbit around each other, collide, and then bounce back apart only to start all over again was painful in the best, angsty way.

I also related to Helen so. Much. The imposter syndrome? The awkwardness that happens sometimes when you're in a room with people who are all having a Great Time and whenever you try to jump in it just Does Not Work? It was so painful to read about but so accurate, and I was rooting so hard for Helen as she came out of her shell.

My one gripe is the writing style. Third-person present-tense is an interesting point of view to take, and combined with the brisk, almost choppy writing was sometimes a bit too much and took me out of the story.

The portrayal of grief in this book was so powerful and visceral. I think the author did a great of describing the stages (and even lack of stages) of grief. I would have preferred to read this from Helen's perspective, in the first person POV, but it was really well done.

This one had many bumpy ups & downs like a wooden rollercoaster! At times it was a little slow but all in all it was a very cute story. I wish Grant would have had a heart to heart conversation with Helen’s parents. I think that’s the only thing this story was missing imo. I would have really enjoyed that bridge being mended. The will they won’t they really frustrated me but I think that’s why I really loved this story of them falling in love. There were some triggers and it’s mentioned before reading it so please take note before reading this book.


Thank you, NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to dive into one of the cutest love stories I’ve read in a long time.

FIVE STARS. I loved this so much. I have been looking forward to reading Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story for a while now, and I was absolutely ecstatic to receive an e-arc.

Yulin Kuang is incredibly talented. This is truly one of those books that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Thank you netgalley and Avon and Harper for this free e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I had love-hate feelings about How to End a Love Story. On one side, I loved the plot, the idea of two main characters divided by such a tragedy and the triumph of love between them. The dynamics and cultural differences were other highlights. However, I couldn't feel a true connection due to the writing style. The present tense used for third-person narrations just isn't my cup of tea.

I appreciated a lot more than I hated though, and the use of past tense is a personal preference. Hence, four stars.

Thank you Yulin Kuang, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for access to an early copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ughhhh where to begin! This book was so good! The love between Grant and Helen was beautiful. The way they would support each other. The push and pull. The circumstances that brought them together in the first place had me worried there for a minute lol. This was a brilliant Rom-com that had great banter,good spice, dealt with lots of heavy themes very well and was so easy to visualize that it felt like watching a movie in my head. (Would actually love for that to happen actually!)

Just a beautiful book that deals with love (in it’s many forms) grief, resentment, dealing with immigrant parents and the generational trauma that comes with that. Helen’s social anxiety at times. Elder daughter things and just so many things, and so well too.

She was frustrating at times but I was still rooting for her all the way! Grant and Helen’s love story has placed itself high in my book couples list. My eyes watered multiple times whether due to them or the beautiful/heart breaking moments Helen had with Michelle. As an older sister, those moments were so difficult but beautiful to read. I never wanted it to end and wanted to see even more of Helen and Grant! (That’s how much I loved them!)

And I cannot go on a simp rant for Grant cause it will go on forever (love him dearly)

I can go on and on but consensus is (!) I loved this story and already have a physical that I had to purchase on its way to me to add to my shelf. Yulin Kuang wrote an amazing,sweet,heartbreaking,romantic, spicy,heartfelt story and I can’t wait to see what else she does in the book world and for the screen! She has definitely become an author I would auto-buy from. ☺️


thank you avon | harper voyager and netgalley for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange of my honest review

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This book kept me enraptured, had my emotions up and down, and felt like watching an impending train crash at times. But I couldn’t look away and I couldn’t stop reading.

The premise had me intrigued from the moment the book’s release was announced and I just kept thinking— “there’s no way this is gonna work. how will this possibly work?” lol And for the first 30% of the novel, I was still like how can this end well for anyone? But Kuang made it work and by 41% I was rooting for Helen and Grant.

These characters felt so so real. And I love how the POV’s flowed between the main characters multiple times in every chapter instead of bouncing between each one chapter to chapter. Helen drove me up a wall at the beginning with her insecurities but it made her feel so human because like I know her, I’ve been her. It felt so good to watch her grow and establish boundaries kind of with her parents. And see her make friends. It was nice to see Grant fight for something/someone and to not let things happen to him. They deserved a happy ending with one another because they really saw one another and pushed the other to be better.

I wish there had been more moments of watching Helen and Grant settle into their relationship after getting over their big hurdle. Only having like one or two chapters of their HEA, felt like a letdown given how much they overcame but I had a good time nonetheless.

There were moments while reading, where I was floored by the way Kuang wrote not only dialogue but prose, and I find myself reassured that us, Emily Henry fans, are in good hands with her at the helm of the PWMOV and Beach Read adaptations.

"How to End a Love Story" by Yulin Kuang is a captivating and emotionally resonant journey through the complexities of love and loss. As someone who appreciates stories that delve into the intricacies of human relationships, I found this novel to be a compelling exploration of the highs and lows of romance.

Kuang's writing is both poignant and relatable, effortlessly capturing the essence of the human experience. Through the lens of her characters, she navigates themes of heartbreak, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love with grace and sensitivity.

What sets "How to End a Love Story" apart is its authentic portrayal of the messiness of love. Kuang doesn't shy away from depicting the raw emotions and difficult choices that accompany matters of the heart, resulting in a narrative that feels both honest and deeply affecting.

In conclusion, "How to End a Love Story" is a beautifully written novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the complexities of love. With its compelling characters, evocative prose, and powerful themes, it's a book that lingers in the heart and mind long after the final page is turned.

When my friends at Avon Books reached out and asked if I was interested in an early copy of How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang I couldn’t reply YES fast enough! While this is Kuang’s debut novel she’s the screenwriter for Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation, as well as the director for the upcoming Beach Read feature Film. Yes please, and thank you!!

This is the story of Helen and Grant, two young professionals in LA. Helen has worked hard to get the opportunity to have her book made into a series, while Grant is at a standstill in is career but can’t go backwards so agrees to sign on as a writer on the series. Sounds fine? Notsofast. They are tied by a seismic event in their teens.

Don’t let this breezy romcom setup fool you into thinking this is a lighthearted summer read. Much like Beach Read, Kuang balances heavier elements with modern romance. There’s joy among grief, attraction lives beside pain. Khang serves up a smart, nuanced look at how trauma both propels us forward and anchors us in time. How do we forgive imperfect people who are no longer here, and moreso ourselves?

I think this is an outstanding choice for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Katherine Center. Read if you love romance that also touches on deeper themes. I’ll be watching to see what Yulin Kuang does next, and can’t wait for the other projects she’s working on!

How do you reconcile a past teenage tragedy with grown-up attraction? TW: anxiety, suicide. Grant unfortunately was the driver that killed Helen's suicidal little sister; they haven't met in 13 years, until now, when Grant is a screenwriter for author Helen's novels. Kuang treats both Helen and Grant with compassion as they slowly take baby steps towards a relationship-- yes, there's attraction, but they grow to like each other as people too, but both have to reckon with the accident and the complicated nature of Helen's immigrant family expectations.

4.25/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

This was cute!! It was light, funny, a little spicy and the characters were relatable! I love a good forbidden love story!! This was so original and I haven’t read anything like it yet. Helen was so easy to connect to and you could feel her pain through the words. The whole time I was rooting for Grant! I wanted them together so bad because I knew they would heal together through their shared horrible accident. For a debut novel this is absolutely amazing!!!

Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

2.5 stars rounded up since it's a debut. I was really very interested in this title after reading a review of it in a library journal, it sounded great, and since this was E. Henry's screenwriter, I thought it would be similar. Alas, that was not to be. My biggest complaint was the inclusion of way, way too much spice and smut in this one. I just don't need that in my reads & if I want to read porn, I certainly know where to find it. There was so much of it, that it was hard to just skip or skim those parts. Other readers might very well enjoy that, but between that and some other triggers (suicide) this one was just not for me (sigh). Anyway, my sincere thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the approved ARC.

Helen Zhang's younger sister was killed in a car accident in high school. Grant Shepard was the person driving the car that killed her.

13 years later, Grant, now a screenwriter, is sitting in the same room as Helen, helping turn her popular YA book series into a TV show.

How is this even going to work? That is the question that Helen and Grant need to figure out as they get to know each other in this new setting, years after a traumatic incident that changed both of their lives.

Though Helen has spent this time harboring hate toward Grant, and Grant has spent that time trying to leave the accident in the past, new emotions start to form as they are forced to spend time together.

How to End a Love Story is about in two people recovering from trauma and learning to feel worthy of love - as they can't help but fall in love with each other. Steamy and dramatic with many light-hearted moments in between, this is a book I'd recommend to romance readers who love complexity.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

5! How to End a Love Story follows the story of Helen and Grant, which is Yulin Kuang’s debut book. This is such a well-rounded and written story. Kuang’s storytelling truly captivated me and was able to keep my attention from beginning to end. To be honest, in the beginning, I was a bit confused about how these two characters were going to grow to love each other. However, when the tension and angst began to rise, I NEEDED them to get together. Helen and Grant worked so well because they understood one another and knew how to forgive and move on from the past. The last third of the book was so emotional that I was caught off guard. The heartache was insane. This is not only a love story between the two characters but a story that explores grief, family dynamics, and happiness. What an amazing debut and I can't wait for more books from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. How to End a Love Story releases on April 9th!

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang was a pleasure to devour!
One of the best contemporary romances I’ve read!
I was completely hooked on the first page and could not put it down.
I absolutely loved the writing style, the characters were so charming, and the chemistry was PERFECT!
This book was perfectly paced and kept me interested.
This debut is immediately captivating, blending warmth and romance with meaningful insight.

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Overall this is a really solid contemporary romance debut by Yulin Kuang. Her two main characters, Grant and Helen, are connected by a tragedy at the end of their senior year that forever alters both their lives. Years later, they find themselves working together, and slowly realizing they may have more in common than they thought.

The storytelling as a whole in this book was beautiful, and it explored challenging family dynamics, grief, trauma, and forgiveness in upfront ways. There were moments when the romantic progression felt a little haphazard and also when the jumping from once perspective to the other was too quick and the author's background as a screenwriter was showing through, but in general I think this is definitely a story worth reading.

Super cute and fun! I have been following Kuang's career for a long time and their multi-faceted talents extend to novel writing. Delightful!

This was absolutely utterly perfect. I could not ask for more - a well balanced story, a moving plot, and a whole lot of heart and emotional triumph. I cannot recommend this enough. Kuang carves out a unique spot for herself that is simultaneously in the same stratosphere as Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Katie Cotugno. Absolutely wonderful.

I have a lot to say about this book so let's dive in. First off, holy cow, I did NOT expect a book with this cute of a cover to make my heart ache as much as it did. THE ANGST. THE HUMOR. THE HEART ACHE. Everything about this book was just so wonderful. I was very nervous going into this but I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. Amazing banter, it had me laughing out loud throughout the entire thing. I LOVED the aspect of Helen noticing different versions of Grant, reminded me a lot of january/gus in beach read. When I wasn't reading it, I found myself wishing I was and missing the characters like they were real people. When I tell you they were living in my mind RENT FREE.

This book is such a breathtakingly beautiful and vulnerable portrayal about grief, love, forgiveness and life. Yulin writes with such emotional intelligence and I think that's one of the best things about this book. If you're an EmHen fan, you will absolutely love this book. I laughed, I cried, I yelled at Helen's frustrating parents and I swooned over Grant. Reading this will have you fully understanding why Yulin is the one adapting EmHen's books and I couldn't be happier after reading this beautifully heartbreaking and adorably hilarious book. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite quotes: "I'd rather have a fraction of you than all of someone else"
"He looks up just then, and it's like the sun comes out only to highlight Grant Shephard's smile."
"This is what it would feel like to love Grant Shephard, she thinks, and it aches."