3.75 ⭐️s

Wow. So first, this was waaaaaayyy different than the movie. After reading that the author had to basically whitewash the story to make it more palatable to audiences, I have to say I understand and feel sorry that she needed to do that in order to get this story out there.

The movie was great and I loved Anne Hathaway, but after reading the book, I’m afraid it simplified and kind of trivialized the story of Hayes and Solène. Their relationship was way more complicated than just the age gap hanging over their heads and I don’t think the movie really captured the complexities of Hayes’s character at all. I also think it would have added more to the story to have the conflict between him and Oliver play out on the screen.

Nonetheless, I really liked the story—age gap aside. These two loved each other deeply despite the obstacles until they physically couldn’t be with each other anymore, but the love was still there and while listening, I honestly hurt with them. It was never going to be a happy ending, which is the tragedy of it all, but not because of the age gap, which is what the movie is mostly about.

I hardly EVER read a book after viewing the tv/film adaptation, but in this case, I’m glad I did because this was a solid read.