3.5 Stars <3

I think this book did very well with the grief in terms of Helen. Grief is ongoing and while it may not be the focus of the book as it happened in the past, it was still touched upon beautifully. While Helen misses her sister, she's still angry with her because she will never know what drove Michelle (spooky the first time I read that) to do it. Helen holds a sort of anger toward her because she doesn't have her little sister to go through life with. I think it was also heartbreaking because their last conversation was an argument that ended with both of them saying hateful things towards each other and it wasn't a death that was accidental.
Having Grant and Helen work together to complete a common goal was trying due to their past. Grant being unwillingly involved in the death of her sister has caused Hele to almost resent his existence and I think it always has to do with her parents. Having Grant at arms distance is in the sake of her parents who grieve every day over the loss of their youngest.
My main gripe about the story that led me to this rating is the inclusion of certain characters, the third-act breakup, the 'enemies-to-lovers' that wasn't really long-lasting, Helen putting the expiration date on their relationship and constantly bringing it up, the second car-accident (I feel like it didn't do anything to progress the plot) and the smut scenes (gasp I know). I think once they got over the negativity of their relationship/friendship, the smut was almost every chapter after that.
I do think, however, I would pick this up and reread and my rating can change in the future but this book was overall solid and would buy the physical copy because the cover is stunning and it was still enjoyable.

Helen is the extremely dutiful daughter of two controlling parents. All three of them have been traumatized by the death of Helen's sister, who bolted into traffic, apparently on purpose and was struck by a passing car driven by a nice young former classmate named Grant. The forced proximity trope is that Helen and Grant end up in Los Angeles working on a television series together. After a period of hostility, they find each other, and then the problem is whether to keep it going, which would destroy her parents, or break up, which would kill Helen and Grant. I found this book uneven. It took a while to get into it, but then I enjoyed it. The author did a good job of showing everyone's emotions, and they were deep. Also, it was really interesting to see how a show is developed.

This book has a lot of my favorite things: romance in the form of enemies to lovers and writing, specifically in the form of a TV writers room. I'm not sure I've seen that world depicted before and I thought it was s terrific setting for the novel.

As far as obstacles to overcome, falling in love with the man who was driving the car that killed your sister when you were teenagers is pretty high stakes and is handled well.

The book pulled me in right away -- it's an easy read in the best sense: good characters, interesting drama stakes, and some steamy scenes too. My one criticism would be that it felt a tad long to me, but overall a terrific read I'd recommend.

In "How to End a Love Story" by Yulin Kuang, readers are taken on a poignant journey of healing, forgiveness, and unexpected love. Set against the backdrop of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, the novel explores the complexities of grief, guilt, and the power of second chances.

Helen Zhang, a bestselling author grappling with imposter syndrome, and Grant Shephard, a screenwriter haunted by his past, are brought together by fate and circumstance. Their shared history, marked by tragedy and loss, forms the foundation of their tentative reconnection. Kuang skillfully navigates their emotional journey, capturing the rawness of their pain and the tentative hope that blooms between them.

The dynamics between Helen and Grant are beautifully portrayed, with layers of complexity and nuance. Their chemistry is palpable, drawing readers into their tumultuous relationship as they navigate the challenges of working together while confronting their unresolved feelings for each other. Kuang's exploration of their individual struggles and vulnerabilities adds depth to their characters, making them relatable and endearing.

The backdrop of the entertainment industry adds an intriguing layer to the story, providing insight into the creative process and the pressures of Hollywood. Kuang's vivid descriptions of the bustling city of Los Angeles and the inner workings of the writers' room lend authenticity to the narrative, immersing readers in the glamorous yet cutthroat world of show business.

One of the strengths of the novel is Kuang's exploration of themes such as forgiveness, redemption, and self-acceptance. As Helen and Grant confront their past traumas and insecurities, they learn to confront their demons and embrace the possibility of a future together. The emotional depth and authenticity of their journey make for a compelling read that resonates long after the final page.

Overall, "How to End a Love Story" is a captivating and heartfelt tale of love, loss, and redemption. Kuang's evocative storytelling and well-drawn characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and literary fiction alike. With its poignant exploration of grief and healing, "How to End a Love Story" is a powerful reminder that sometimes, love has a way of finding us when we least expect it.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I specifically think this will appeal to those readers that are looking for books with some well written spice that is just explicit enough to be fun to read. Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard do not like each other. But they're also connected to each other forever because of a horrific life event (Helen's sister's death) when they were both in high school. Now as Helen's book series is being adapted for a tv show and she is at the pinnacle of success she has to deal with her past and her present which both inexplicably and to her dismay involve Grant. Grant is the number two in the writer's room for Helen's tv show and having to deal with his charming exterior every day starts to take a toll on Helen. It also becomes harder to resist.
I think the book explores Helen's character really well giving her personality depth with her feelings about her sister's death and her subsequent psychosis over all of it. It also aptly shows what it's like to grow up in an Asian immigrant household and the parental pressures that come with it.
Something I didn't love was that at times in the book the sister death just started to feel like a random death event just for the sake of making the story deeper. Spoiler ahead; I also am not a big fan of the trope where the main characters are convinced that their relationship will not work based on something that seems arbitrary in context of their big emotions for each other. I was frustrated by some of the choices the heroine made but ultimately I feel like the book tied itself up in a satisfying enough way to outweigh the frustration. All in all recommend for fans of women's fiction adjacent romance. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC!

'How to End a Love Story' by Yulin Kuang is a beautiful and heart-wrenching novel that explores the complexities of grief, guilt, and love. Thirteen years after her sister's tragic death, Helen Zhang has built a successful career as a young adult author and is now working on a TV adaptation of her series. But beneath her seemingly perfect life, she's struggling with writer's block and the constant fear of being exposed as a fraud.
When Helen's childhood friend and the cause of her sister's death, Grant Shephard, shows up as her new boss on the TV show, she's forced to confront her past and the unresolved feelings she has for him. As they work together, their undeniable chemistry and shared history make it difficult for Helen to keep her guard up. But with their families still holding onto grudges and secrets threatening to surface, their relationship is put to the test.
Kuang's writing is poignant and evocative, making it impossible not to feel deeply for these characters. Helen and Grant are both flawed and complex, with layers of emotions and trauma that shape their actions and decisions. The way their past intertwines with their present is beautifully woven, creating a sense of tension and longing.
The story also delves into the behind-the-scenes world of TV writing, giving readers a glimpse into the creative process and the dynamics of a writers' room. Kuang's own experience as a TV writer shines through in the details, adding authenticity to the story.
One of the strengths of this book is the exploration of grief and how it affects different people. Helen and Grant's reactions to the loss of her sister are vastly different, but both are struggling to come to terms with it in their own ways. It's a reminder that there is no right or wrong way to grieve and that healing takes time. Overall, 'How to End a Love Story' is a powerful and emotional read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. Kuang's writing is exquisite, and her characters are so well-developed that you can't help but root for them. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a heartfelt and honest love story.

i had a hard time moving forward from the past history that the romantic leads had, the trauma they inflicted upon each other in such a hard time is so hard to get past and i just couldn’t suspend my belief that they could

Yulin Kuang’s debut novel was an absolute home run. I finished this novel in less than 24 hours and was so sad for it to end. It follows the story of author Helen as she navigates working in the writing room of her novel turned to tv show. She is greeted on the first day of work by Grant, someone from her past. Grant and Helen are tied by the tragic death of Helen’s sister. In this enemies to lovers novel, we are treated to the best combination of raw and honest dialogue, the perfect amount of steam, and a chance to full understand how their love story evolves. It was a brilliantly written romance novel and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

The screenwriter for Emily Henry’s novels wrote a book? Sign me up!

I was so excited to dive into this novel, but darn it, I just struggled seeing the connection between Helen and Grant. Sure, they’re connected by a terrible tragedy, but does that mean they should be together? By the end, I wasn’t quite so sure.

On a side note, I did love the scenes where the screenwriters would get together. You can tell it’s Kuang’s sweet spot!

The potential was real! The story has the perfect formula for my contemporary romance preferences: emotional traumas to heal from and diving into personal struggles, especially self-worth and self-doubt, beyond the romance itself.

At first I felt real animosity from Helen and conflict in Grant which enticed me. I was excited to see the how she was going to stop resenting him, but I found that the tension fizzled out too quickly, like the build up of camaraderie was missing so many beats. I blinked and suddenly they were friends and suddenly they were physical. In retrospect, I could see the seeds being planted but it felt like they sprung into a whole garden without the proper time for water to absorb. I think I felt whiplashed and this was only around the 30% mark so I didn't really believe their chemistry or emotional connection (aside from the obvious tragedy that tied them).

Also, it somehow didn't go deep enough for me, despite the heavy themes, especially the stuff with her parents which felt unresolved. Maybe it was meant to be that way? I'm not sure, but it wasn't satisfying to me and I badly wanted it to be because I relate to Helen's dynamic with her family.

Ultimately it was that I couldn't connect with either MC, especially Grant, who didn't quite feel three-dimensional and a little bland. And the smut was really not to my tastes; not the worst I've ever read but bland and cringy at the same time? And for a romance to have left me feeling "if they weren't endgame I'd be good," that's not a good sign!

Of course this is my opinion! I did have a fun time reading most of the book and enjoyed following Helen. The ending was sweet and the final library scene was too cute!

I liked the concept of this book however I felt like the romance was pretty abrupt. Helen went from loathing Grant for something that happened 13 yrs ago that wasn’t entirely his fault to all of sudden being into him. I still don’t know how we got from Point A to Point B. I don’t think they had any chemistry. I got pretty bored halfway through the book which made it hard to finish.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review. SPOILERS AHEAD!! This book has triggering factors, so please proceed with caution.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Summary of the plot:

Grant and Helen are tied together by a tragedy. Thirteen years ago, Helen's sister Michelle committed suicide by jumping in front of Grant's car. Helen and her family blamed Grant for Michelle's death, even Grant blamed himself too. Jumping forward to this story, Helen is now a best-selling author and one of her books is getting turned into film. Grant is one of the lead writers/producers for the film. Helen finds out that he will be working with her and tried to get him to quit, but Grant doesn't because he needs a job. Helen is very rude to Grant despite his attempts to try to be friendly. Eventually, they're forced to work together with the rest of the producers and they fall in love, but not without complications.

Thoughts on the book:

I think my biggest issue with this book is I felt like the author missed an opportunity to really explore the challenges of mental health, especially within the Asian community. I've never lost anyone to a car accident or suicide, so I definitely can't say how someone should be reacting after 13 years, but even after so long, no one except maybe Grant has really processed in Michelle's death. Everyone still blames Grant for Michelle's death. The most we really get regarding dealing with mental health struggles is Grant having a couple of panic attacks and him taking deep breaths to calm down. I felt like more could have been done to explore how Helen and her parents could be dealing with Michelle's death.

I also found Helen to be unlikable at times. In the beginning, it made sense, but I didn't see enough character development to truly be on her side by the end of the novel. Helen basically just doesn't like anyone except Grant. And even Grant was just okay in my opinion.

Something that I did enjoy was seeing the writers' room and how ideas are bounced off of each other. It's intriguing see how a plot for a book can be different (and should be different) from the plot of a film based off the book. You get to see Helen grow a bit as a writer as she learns how films and books differ. (And apparently Yulin Kuang is adapting Emily Henry's book, so I can only assume that the writing room is accurate!)

Overall, this was a decent read. I wish I liked this book more because the plot was so interesting and different than other contemporary romance novels. Alas, we can't all get what we want.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book follows two people who are tied together by a tragic event. Years later, they meet again and we follow them as they fall in love and try to navigate through their shared past.

First of all, I loved the Asian American representation! I loved Helen and her personality and really identified with her sense of duty to her family. I enjoyed seeing the Asian American family dynamics represented and thought it was really accurate.

I also really enjoyed having the dual POV with the 2 main characters. It was good to see how both characters were still dealing with their own trauma/struggles many years after the death of Helen's sister and see how Helen's sister's death affected them in different ways. The two MCs had great chemistry and I found them to be very endearing. If you like yearning and angst, this book is for you. Because of how huge the elephant in the room was in their relationship, I honestly didn't know how the relationship was going to end up, but I was pretty satisfied with the ending.

I loved this book and read it all in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book!

How to End a Love Story is a heartfelt, funny, sexy romance that is a winner from top to bottom. If I could read this for the first time all over again, I would. Thank you so much for getting the opportunity to read!

The four stars are merely math - I give the first 1/3 of the book two stars and each following third 4.5 stars, added together and rounded up.

Why explain the math? Four stars sounds like a great rating, BUT for the full first third of the book (arguably when a reader needs to be engaged the most), I was slogging through an okay plot with a FMC who was negative, harsh and believably without friends or social skills.

The transition for the FMC was too abrupt. The edibles episode was the perfect transition for the writing room group, but in other areas? The change was jarring.

If you can forget the first third, this book has all the feels, presented with believable emotion and turmoil and you will be engaged on every page. So much so that you might, like me, feel a tad annoyed that the first third stood in the way of recommending this book to anyone and everyone who would listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Loved this romance story. It was done flawlessly. Yhe author is new to me and didn't know much about the writing style, but found I enjoyed thebread.

Recommend.

I picked up HOW TO END A LOVE STORY (Pub 04.09) because my friend Addie needed to talk about it. That's always a good sign.

This contemporary literary romance debut by screenwriter/director Kuang is about complicated people in a complicated situation. It's also a deeply emotional story about family, forgiveness, grief and hard-fought-for happy endings.

While there is no such thing as a "typical" romance, this story feels like so much more than a love story. There is mutual long-term trauma that is woven through both MC journeys. I loved that the chemistry laden tension was paired with a mutual respect for each other without immature miscommunication. Heft aside, there is funny banter, spicy steam, and interesting colleagues.

Also, because the author is also a screenwriter I felt like I was seeing this on the big screen- in the best way. Addie said it best, "But Kuang uses words so well to tell Grant and Helen's story. I found myself wanting to highlight phrases and remember passages because they connected so well to life."

What an interesting title and I went in blind. The title alone sold me.
Our main characters, Helen Zhang and Grant Shephard are not your typical love story. There’s no misunderstanding that is keeping them apart… Nope, it’s a legit problem. That was really refreshing and I didn’t realize how refreshing until a couple days after reading it and discussing it with a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I love my rom-coms, but man, there are some rom coms that I am like if you just COMMUNICATED this book would be so much shorter.

This was the author’s debut novel, which also in itself is incredible and I will absolutely be reading whatever this author puts out next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely LOVED this one.

Helen is a bestselling author of a YA series who is headed to Hollywood to help assist with her books getting turned into a TV show. She's still reeling from the tragic death of her younger sister while she was in high school and is very closed off and to herself. Grant is a writer in the television world who accepts on job on Helen's show, despite his connection to the death of her sister, which has affected his life immensely. They get thrown into the writing room together and what starts as genuine hatred blossoms into something else. There is a lot of depth to both characters and the relationship that occurs despite the crazy circumstances, feels realistic. I felt that the complex topic of grief was handled well and that I was rooting for the characters the whole time.
This is a good book for fans of authors such as Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. I think that this author could absolutely become a bestseller and I am honored to have gotten to read their debut novel.

If a Pulitzer in romance was a thing, the short list would be Yulin first then Grant Shepard second. Because apparently women still remain undefeated when it comes to the fictional writing of men. (The yearning!!!)

This book is honestly an emotional prowess of romance in all its raw and uncut powers to utterly destroy and put you back together so beautifully. It’s genre defining that pushes the boundaries further, creating a narrative space for complicated families, mental health struggles, and forbidden love that still charges those two hind brain cells to lustfully kiss right through it anyway.

Helen and Grant were absolute gone (horny) for each other, and seeing the ties of everything else fall into place, complicated still, but with the understanding that love doesn’t have to wait for the perfect assimilation of two worlds colliding as long as there’s strength to fight for it everyday.

I resonated a lot with the themes that touch on growing up with immigrant parents, being the oldest sister, and the comparison that is the thief of joy from our present will to take pride in what we do have, and I think Yulin is a force to be reckoned with. Her debut is one for the ages and I think shines a light on the pool of talent that exists to tell love stories from all walks of life still.

Thanks to Avon for a digital copy of this beautiful arc.