Song of achilles is honestly one of the few books i've read that the ending is ridiculously sad and tragic but it still leaves you satisfied... very hard to do that
yes and also I’m pretty sure all of us knew the ending going in, yet the author wrote in such a beautiful way that I didn’t feel “spoiled” (if you know what I mean), like I shouldn’t keep reading. It only made the ending even more tragic! Madeline Miller did such a great job
@@catherinet.6584 absolutely!! I knew patroculus was going to die but that made the whole ending so much more interesting, as it kept going after his death
describing achilles as "the guy you'd pick first in gym class" made me LAUGH so hard idk why that really is just his whole vibe lmaooooo ALSO I agree with you that corpse-patroclus narrating was visceral af. the whole ending sequence had me *screeching*
Madeline Miller has this very unique ability in her writing to make years pass in minutes without feeling rushed or skimmed through. It’s most prevalent in Circe, where the story takes place over hundreds of thousands of years but it feels new and fresh, never skipping a moment even when the time skip is like nine thousand years
@@BexMcInulty i had the same problem realising that i was not reading it carefully.. Reading every single line so clear makes it super magical that I was surprised they were almost 30 when I was dwelling in their 16 years period but without being confused and detached
Literally some reviewers be like “this book had it all. I loved the characters writing and plot. This book is definitely on my favourite books of the year list. Anyways I gave it three stars.” Like I get disoriented
if cindy wasn’t so honest i can see her going into book marketing lol. deliberately leaving out her own feelings of the book because she’s so good at advertising it and hyping it up… until we hear her actual review lol.
Maybe it's because I'm ace but I've always adored the emotional intimacy that comes with friends to lovers. I'm a firm believer that good romance always begins with a good friendship, and while there are exceptions (and people have different taste in romance and there is no single "good" formula), this rule is applicable in general to most cases.
The problem with showing racism in stories that i see today, is people either blatantly have no clue or they just dont care, and just use it as a plot device, so it not only lacks realism and sensibility, it also loses the commentary the author tries to show in the book
Almost nobody seems to get that enemies to lovers isnt some person insulting and being passive aggressive to the other person and then being nice because they want to smash monke style and then suddenly there’s secrets being spilt post coitus that they behind their mean asshat exterior there were easter eggs of them being nice ALL ALONG. there are a few gems ofc. But friends to lovers is generally better because of all that ✨pining✨
Too many writers try to do enemies to lovers in the route where one of them is definitely in the wrong, but then the author doesn’t properly redeem the wrong character, so it ends up representing an abusive/toxic dynamic. The easiest route that allows for it to be healthy is to have both characters have a genuine misunderstanding of one another where neither are in the wrong. This doesn’t mean that one can’t be on the wrong side, but just means that they themselves are not an active agent in the situation. The best example I have of this is in the show, The Dragon Prince, with the two characters Rayla and Callum. The only example I can think of for the first route is with the show, Avatar: the Last Airbender. The creators were originally gonna have Zuko(the one in the wrong) with Katara, and quite frankly, with the way they masterfully did Zuko’s redemption, they would’ve made a healthy enemies to lovers.
@@hlalelwakunene4638 you are absolutely right! That's one of the best enemies to lovers relationship ever written, and with the added previous friendship?? Flawless. I think enemies to lovers is one of the easiest tropes to fuck it up, so even though I love it, I'm always a bit weary of stories with it.
@@hlalelwakunene4638 Ehhh, I felt that Catra's redemption was too rushed :/ I feel like there should've been more tension and definitely more unforgiveness that happened. Also far too many people have said that Catradora reminds them of their own abusive relationships so yeah...Catradora isn't exactly the ship I'd use as a good example of enemies to lovers. Catra's redemption wasn't strong enough for that
@@withcindy quick note it's a good song but TW it is explicitly about su!c!de so - just so you know so everyone is on the same page going in. Great dark academia banger but emphasis on dark.
@@takes1tomango the way that I love all of those things so much! Spent half my free time this year playing Hades and just finished Circe! I was already a Greek mythology fan tho, thanks to the Percy Jackson series when I was in middle school.
I have to say, Idc if it’s friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers - as long as they have history, it‘ll always add another layer and therefore depth to the relationship that just isn’t there if the characters meet for the first time in the book 😍
My absolute favourite trope is friends to enemies to lovers. And lovers to enemies to lovers again is also very good. Either way, history does make everything better
I'm really happy with your Song of Achilles review. As someone who is a massive Greek mythology nerd I really like your honesty surrounding your rating! And thank you for reviewing even though it was not the easiest to get through. There are so many sweet nuances in the book that if you're not a mythology fan they don't resonate the same way and that's okay. Cheers!
I felt so bad for 2 days after reading the book bc I had mixed feelings since I was really hating the gods and hence the Greek mythology. But after few months, I respect the Greek mythology and I think it is rlly fun. But I still stand by how most overpowered gods were rlly insufferable
I used to have ancient mythology class in middle and high school, and I also live in the Balkans and have lived in Greece... so although I appreciate Greek mythology, I grew up with it so I'm also pretty over it at this point
is there any way that I can enjoy the book while learning the Greek mythology from the scratch? cuz that's what I do now and I hope I can also resonate the same feeling with you about this book
One thing I really like about when you review books is that even if a book is about a topic you’re not super into, ex. “Song of Achilles”, you can still acknowledge that the writing is good despite not being interested in Greek mythology. Unfortunately it feels like a lot of people will just ignore good writing in a review if the book doesn’t cater to their tastes so it’s just nice to see a reviewer who’s willing to give credit where a book deserves it.
Me and two friends buddy read Circe and it took me way longer to get through it than them despite the writing being good. I'm just not into novels like that but can understand Madeline is an exceptional writer
Cindy holds up the “Ferryman“: So I will be giving this book away. Me: That‘s very generous of you. Cindy: So now let me tell you why this book sucks! Me: Hold up 😅
EXACTLY person A being in love with person B for the longest of time but not confessing because they don't want to ruin the friendship not realizing person B is in love with them too all along and person A just okay with the pain as long as the person B is happy PEAK YEARNING
EXACTLYYYYY or they dont realize their feelings for each other all this time they just know its the most important relationship despite having other partners
I never read SoA because I know I would spiral into heartbreak for months. But I’m obsessed with SoA playlists, they have no right to be so good. Cindy, you HAVE to listen to *Achilles, Come Down by Gang of Youths.* It will CHANGE you. 💔
I’ve read the book over the weekend, I was really sad while I was reading, but to me it wasn’t that memorable. Definitely not worth even a week of recovering
As a greek mythology nerd, I loved the ending of Song of Achilles as well.To me, the author ended the story in an amazing way, I feel like just knowing that after all the pain and struggle they were able to meet felt like a good way to end the story.
glad to know you too struggled to get through the song of achilles in the middle, i thought the war setting "slowed down" the pacing and even made it more boring because (unless my memory fails me) it was mostly narrated by patroclus who did... basically nothing, it was all very passive. it's one of the cases where i understood where the hype was but just didn't work out for me. loved to hear your thoughts on the ending, i had forgotten certain details this one quote at the end of the book was also quite beautiful: "But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another. We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory."
Same. I love Greek mythology and it actually made it better, except for the war for some reason. Knowing they were going to die and how made it worse. I felt sick when I first read “what did Hector ever did to me”
@@NoOne-cf4ii I think knowing they were going to die made it better imo, even tho it made me feel sick knowing their fate. It just goes to show how well Madeline Miller writes. Achilles saying “What did Hector ever do to me?” Was just a perfect add to how tragic the ending is
I feel like Song of Achilles is a good book, but yes I could see that if you don't care for Greek mythology or history, then you might not like it. The biggest complaint I heard about it from other reviewers is just that "it was boring"
it does have a very slow pace so i can see how ppl would find it boring. i struggled to get thru the middle and was only able to get thru it cuz i listened on audiobook!
@@withcindy I did enjoy it because I've been obsessed with Geek mythology since I was a kid, but I love that even if you don't like it, you can still appreciate the book as a good piece of writing. I do love how she makes the characters feel like they actually existed in history even though they are just based on folktales
I actually have the opposite conundrum as to why I haven't read it off my shelf. I've loved mythologies since I was a kid (mostly learned from other than long reading, prolly an ADHD thing tbh), so it's the act of reading a book that's putting me off.
Hahaha I think it’s the other way around too-people who are really into Greek mythology don’t tend to like it because of the ways in which it diverges from the original myth
Oh it wasn't just Achilles' son who thought "no homo". Most male historians think the same, even though it's practically described on page in real documents and stories from the time "yes, homo ". Greek mythology nerd and historian here. To Ellias: no, that was the perfect ending. It left you yearning 😉 for more and at the same time satisfied.
People We Meet on Vacation was SO GOOD. The moment I knew I was reading some good shit is when I was so invested in and worried about their reunion that I didn't even see the "just one bed" trope coming. Beach Read was also really good, but I loved the romance in this one so much more. I just love the tension, history and stakes that come with friends to lovers. It's such a superior trope
TSoA really resonated with me in that 'choosing to love each other as much as and as hard as they can even with the inevitability of death and fate looming in the background.' And like you said, the ending was perfect for closure! I'm glad to see your review because it did not occur to me just how much would be lost for someone who does not enjoy Greek Mythology. Keeps my ass humble LOL
*SPOILERS OF THE SONG OF ACHILLES AHEAD* I *looove* Greek mythology, and imo the ending is perfect as it is. I do enjoy open endings (they can be so frustrating sometimes, but they make me feel something, points for the book) and tbh we basically *know* they're gonna be happy together, no need to restart the story. We are aware of how much they love each other, we know what they feel and they will say all the extra stuff eventually. Giving us an extra page would've been like opening a "What will they do now in Elysium? The adventures of Achilles and Patroclus" and that would've been like the story needed a sequel. It doesn't. Love your honesty, tho. Cause it did take me ages to go through the middle of the book. Also, daaamn, your friend would make me cry in 0.38 seconds, but that's on me.
there's just something about liking your friend then hinting & teasing each other to confess together and all that spirals to ending up together. You get both the yearning AND the wholesomeness -- from someone who ends up with her close friend.
Nobody's doing contemporary romance like Emily Henry!! "People we meet on vacations" melted my cold stoned heart like no other romance had in long while hahaha Her other romance "Beach read" is also great and I would highley recommand it for when you're craving a healthy dose of cheese. She has another book coming out in 2022 and I already asked my library to buy it as soon as it comes out that way everyone there knows I'm a thirsty bitch ✌
Friends to lovers does have a lot of yearning/pining which is fun to read, too much of enemies to lovers is just bullying and the fact that people like that concept makes me want to cry
As a mythology buff, I am so happy you liked the ending of SoA despite not caring for greek mythology. And I 100% agree with the vague ending. That last paragraph was my favorite quote in the book.
I’ve always preferred friends to lovers more than enemies to lovers. It’s more natural, while the latter is almost never done right and turns into an abusive relationship. But the superior and most underrated relationship trope is lovers to enemies. Not simply bitter exes but full blown trying to end each other. That’s the main relationship in the book I’m writing.
Friends to lovers seems like the type of trope you would typically expect to be bad but sometimes if executed properly, it would be so good. Just the secret yearning makes it all the better for me. Love your videos Cindy, keep up the amazing work!
@@withcindy I agree! Sometimes authors would overdo it and you most often see it as a toxic kind of relationship rather than something that is actually a wholesome and meaningful one that enables growth between the two characters. That's what I see most often about it and it makes it harder to make it more realistic than absurd and bad.
"Never mess with the passion of Greek mythology nerds. That's the lesson from here." Oh god... As a Greek mythos nerd myself, this brought me back to the times I ranted to my friends about stuff they don't understand. Don't mind me sending this lovely quote to them to remind them to leave when it happens again haha
i agree with you on the ending not needing an extra page; i think achilles and patroclus' story was so well known and this whole greek tragedy, that keeping their reunion private allowed them to keep a piece of their story for themselves.
[[SOA spoiler alert]] As a lover of Greek mythology and SOA I appreciate that you recognized the excellent writing and I'm glad you liked the ending. Its the only lgbt book I've let myself read where they both die because in the end they are still able to be together 🥺
I completely agree with you about the ending of The Song of Achilles. I think that ending was so much more satisfying than any kind of conversation could have been.
Love, Rosie is one of my favorite movies. I’ve seen it too many times to count. People We Meet on Vacation is one of the very few romances I have ever given 5 stars. Coincidence? I think not ma’am. Best-friends-to-lovers is top tier.
I'm so glad you said it! People keep recommending The Song of Achilles left and right, to anybody and everybody, and it always makes me a little bit skeptical, because like you said, not everybody cares or wants to care about Greek mythology! I personally adore it, I've literally studied ancient Greek and greek mythology in school, it's my jam, so that book was incredible to me! But I've seen people start this book thinking it was historical fiction? And I'm just like... this is what happens when you just listen to the hype and try to completely adhere to trends instead of just... going with your own taste... Anyway I'm so glad for your review, I hope it will help people understand that recommendations should be tailored to the person you're making the recommendation to.
I appreciate Cindy immensely for giving me recommendations on what not to read. If not for her, I probably would end up buying a bunch of terrible books. Instead, she has introduced me to multiple wonderful books and has steered me away from terrible ones. Thank you, Cindy, for sacrificing your sanity to spread bad book awareness.
i’m so happy to see so many people eager to travel! those trips are gonna be awesome, they both sound super fun! also, really wish i had studocu when i was in school - definitely would have been more motivated to study lmao
I'm don't really read romance, so I SHOCKED when People We Meet on Vacation made me ugly cry at the end. I could really relate to the very specific fears of intimacy with someone you care about... The fear of what happens if it doesn't work out and what comes after. It was done so well
Haven't found a comment about it yet so I apologize if this is redundant: the thing about Patroclus and Achilles being buried together is actually in a way based on the original text: Achilles says at some point and he wants his and Patroclus ashes to be "mingled together" after they both die. Madeline Miller just gave us the actual better version of it and fulfilled his wishes :'o
so happy you loved people we meet on vacation. emily henry is seriously the best contemporary romance author rn. also, absolutely love your yearning tee
6:58 was the moment I realized that the bar is so low when it comes to dating lmao 🤣 like is it that hard to find someone who has that mentality of "i love that you exist in the world, differences be damned". Damnit, gotta add this book to my to read list, I look forward to it 🙂
for the burial thing, i think (?) in The Odyssey which is like an official sequel to The Iliad, odysseus goes to the underworld and finds Achilles and Patroclus there. so officially they did meet in the underworld. i felt so satisfied when i found out about that.
I've been hesitant about reading "People We Meet on Vacation". I've just started reading romance books (more like listening to romance books they make great audiobooks), and I thought that this one will be your typical over-hyped romance where it reads more like subpar self-insert fanfiction. But with this high of a review I'd have to give it a shoot.
The Song of Achilles has been my favorite book for about seven years now. I’m a super big Greek mythology person (thanks Percy Jackson) and while I know the book is basically fan fiction, it’s so beautifully written and the ending gets me every time. I can totally understand why the middle would be hard to get through though if you’re not interested in the mythology. Even I just skip over the longs names and things sometimes on re-reads. Also I literally just finished People We Meet On Vacation today and yes! It was so good. As a writer her banter is what I aspire to be able to write. I only wish the climax of them in Croatia had been a little more drawn out and I agree that I wish they weren’t both blonde. But it gave me all the feels and I’ll def pick up another one of her books.
A bit late but yeah the song of Achilles definitely made me cry. I am a Greek mythology nerd, but I really enjoyed the ending that the author added, it seemed perfect for them. I also liked how, and this was in the Iliad as well, that the story continued even after Achilles' death, because the story isn't just about him and his love, but the legacy of his rage.
I personally never enjoyed the ancient Greek dramas that we had to read in school, so I was surprised when I read the Song of Achilles and actually enjoyed that aspect of the story. Otherwise the middle part would have been hard to get through. The author explained the mythology way better than my teachers. Still it helped that I knew at least a little bit about the world because of what teachers forced down our throats. Whenever a character that I'd heard of before was mentioned I got this little satisfying spark of recognition and felt like what I learned in school wasn't a complete waste of time.
Fun Fact (as fun as death can be): . In the Odyssey (playing after the Iliad), Odysseus sees Patroclus by Achilles’ side when he visits the underworld 😊
I'm not a big romance reader, but I'm definitely checking People Who Meet On Vacation soon, it sounds right up my alley And, as someone who loves Greek Mythology and The Song of Achilles, I think it says a lot about the story that you were able to enjoy it despite not knowing much about the actual myth!
I think Alex could be friends with Gus from Beach Read because they have pretty similar quotes about being happy that the female protagonist exists. My heart melts at these lines.❤
Of course, the ferryman had to be a handsome white guy. imagine if he looked like an ordinary guy... like, I really want a YA book where the main characters are plain-looking but their journey and traits are not about their plain appearances. I want a book where it's not about loving yourself. Just an MC doing their thing If you know any YA book like that, pls let me know
I'm in the process of trying to get a book published. I made a point of writing ordinary-looking characters and my literary agent specifically criticised the descriptions of two of the main characters because he didn't find them sexy -_- so frustrating
there're many versions of achilles' death and burial and in some of them their bones (achilles' and patroclus') do end up mingled together (even in the odyssey)! In Plutarch' s retelling of the life of alexander the great there's this bit about how him and hephaestion (his "partner") went to commemorate patroclus and achilles' tomb together!!! i know you dont care but the cool thing about mythology is if that you want a particular ending for a story there always is and for its very nature is always "canon" lol
A cool idea I thought for ferryman, it would be cool like if she's falling for him because that's what she finds her "ideal " type, having a internal conflict of staying in limbo because it's comfy instead of going to the afterlife.
I love how start off Ferrymen by enticing people with a free book then proceed to advertise it in the worst way possible. It really does suck knowing what happened to it, I got massive Angel Beats vibes and could see it end in such a bittersweet way. I feel like a lot of YA Fantasy Authors for the books who you gave 3 and 2 stars to could honestly benefit from writing short stories instead. The root of so many problems really do come from the fact that they have to fill in space to complete the 3 act structure. It would be pretty cool if the industry switched things up a bit and have their authors (esp their debut ones) to release short stories in anthologies (kinda like how Japan does it with their manga) so the authors can experiment, people can get a taste of their style, and debut writers can get the experience they need to polish up their book. I've read several short stories with premises that could totally fit a whole novel be so much better in like 20 pages. It really is worrying how a lot of debut authors (esp in YA Fantasy) have a meh release
*raises hand* A biracial mixie here with other mixie friends and we're always too white for the BIPOC kids and too BIPOC for the white kids (we're both half white - half smth else) and racism for mixed kids is NEVER the same as between white people and BIPOC directly. Theyre are different flavors of dislike 💖 and by that I mean I hate every single one 💖💖💖 but like yeah, thanks for saving me from a mediocre book Cindy its MUCH appreciated 💖💖💖💖
I love that Cindy is loving People We Meet on Vacation. that book took me on a mental vacation when I cant travel due to covid. also who doesnt want any Alex as a travel buddy?
“I love when fantasy has a romance because I’m a cheesy bitch” hahaha I felt this so much. This is me. Like seeing me in real life you would never think I’m a hopeless cheesy romantic but yep. Love me some romantic side plots.
@@withcindy yes! My favourite stories always have some romance side to it, but it has to be done well. (Or else, have some found family instead. A mix is best). I love how you answer almost every comment haha you're awesome :)
Cindy: *prefaces her SoA review with a detailed discussion about how recommending books because you like them doesn’t mean she will like them* Me: Oh No! (*white knuckle grips the couch I’m sitting on because that was my favorite book that I read this year.*) Cindy: Anyway I gave it 3.5 stars because it’s well written and the romance is good, I just don’t care for Greek Mythology :v Me: Oh. Okay! : D
"my main complaint about this book is that both of the characters are blonde." this really took me back to when my blonde mother told me (blonde daughter) that 2 blonde people shouldn't be in a relationship cause they don't look good together
cindy, honeslty, your opinion is the only thing i take seriously when it comes to books like i literally discovered the best ones because of your reviews!!
2 ปีที่แล้ว +5
Actually, in Greek mythology, when you die you don't get to enjoy the afterlife with those you love. Although you did go to Hades, you'd be just a shade, basically a shadow of yourself. It's the reason the heroes in the myths did grandiose acts, because once they died they wanted to have achieved immortality through fame, through the retelling of their deeds since once they were gone they would just exist as a meaningless shadow in Hades. It's kind of depressing, but that's how my professor explained when we were discussing Achilles and the Trojan war in Uni.
Friends-to-lovers is iconic. Also can confirm as someone who has had to babysit coworkers decades older than me, can confirm age does not stop anybody from acting like a teenager
Achilles's son be like: two bros, buried together, five feet under cause they're not gay
JDAKLSJDSKLDKALSSKLJDKA
BYE
Just really good friends.
Omg they were roommates 😳 (Funny enough, that's a factual statement)
Bff behaviour
Song of achilles is honestly one of the few books i've read that the ending is ridiculously sad and tragic but it still leaves you satisfied... very hard to do that
yes exactly!! she pulled it off well, so despite the tragic ending u still had closure :)
yes and also I’m pretty sure all of us knew the ending going in, yet the author wrote in such a beautiful way that I didn’t feel “spoiled” (if you know what I mean), like I shouldn’t keep reading. It only made the ending even more tragic! Madeline Miller did such a great job
@@catherinet.6584 absolutely!! I knew patroculus was going to die but that made the whole ending so much more interesting, as it kept going after his death
May I introduce you to The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.
You should also read “Mother Earth” by Chinghiz Aitmatov, the most heartbreaking book I’ve read in my life
Friends-to-lovers trope getting the respect it deserves
i prefer them over enemies to lovers TBH
@@withcindy - same
friends to lovers is my fav of all time and it’s really good and beautiful but you have to admit it’s 2837489492929% better if its wlw or mlm xD
@@withcindy friends to lovers is less likely to be toxic or abusive too
💯
‘Pride and Prejudice’ is the OG Enemies to Lovers. Jane Austen is the High Priestess of this trope ❤️
she invented it
@@withcindy WE LOVE HER FOR IT!
Her mind
I’d argue that Shakespeare did it first with plays like Taming of the Shrew, Much ado About Nothing, and Midsummer Night’s Dream.
So trueee
cindy: my only critique is that both characters are blond
also cindy: **dyes her hair blond**
but im not dating a blonde person!!
@@withcindy am I nothing to you 🥲
@@ellias offf sorry buddy
@@withcindy would you not pursue or dye your hair again if you met a blonde you liked
A piece of celery is better than a piece of cardboard because I swear that's what 90% of love interests in YA books are
well his personality was like a piece of celery so...
@@withcindy Well, at least he‘d be somewhat tasty …
@@anacaly I hate celery, so I'd have to disagree.
90%... You're being nice
This comment makes me very very happy :) Because it is so painfully true.
describing achilles as "the guy you'd pick first in gym class" made me LAUGH so hard idk why that really is just his whole vibe lmaooooo ALSO I agree with you that corpse-patroclus narrating was visceral af. the whole ending sequence had me *screeching*
The ending sequence was the best part of the book, she tied it up very nicely while keeping u invested
Madeline Miller has this very unique ability in her writing to make years pass in minutes without feeling rushed or skimmed through. It’s most prevalent in Circe, where the story takes place over hundreds of thousands of years but it feels new and fresh, never skipping a moment even when the time skip is like nine thousand years
That is so on point!! She got Talent
True facts, you forget the time lapse like nuthin.
See that's where I personally have to disagree. I couldn't get into the writing because the pacing made it feel very detached.
@@BexMcInulty i had the same problem realising that i was not reading it carefully.. Reading every single line so clear makes it super magical that I was surprised they were almost 30 when I was dwelling in their 16 years period but without being confused and detached
"This book is about a girl that goes to Scotland to visit her dad, the train crashes and she dies... the end" I GASPED
A short story indeed
lmao the fact that i got an ad right after she said that so i had to hold my gasp for an entire 15 seconds
And then an advertisement suddenly played after she said that as if on cue 😂
@Nina okay but that’s a really good dark twist though.
i think in original greek mythology, achillies DOES actually have his ashes literally mixed with patroclus’. very fruity.
YES HE DOES
Yeeeeep, I can confirm that I was there.
You built up People We Meet On Vacation so much, I was expecting you to say, “anyways I gave it three stars lol”
LOL that is my usual style isn't it
Literally some reviewers be like “this book had it all. I loved the characters writing and plot. This book is definitely on my favourite books of the year list. Anyways I gave it three stars.”
Like I get disoriented
@o_o / it has some horrible reviews (like all books do) and I'm really debating on buying it 🤔
if cindy wasn’t so honest i can see her going into book marketing lol. deliberately leaving out her own feelings of the book because she’s so good at advertising it and hyping it up… until we hear her actual review lol.
Maybe it's because I'm ace but I've always adored the emotional intimacy that comes with friends to lovers. I'm a firm believer that good romance always begins with a good friendship, and while there are exceptions (and people have different taste in romance and there is no single "good" formula), this rule is applicable in general to most cases.
It provides a solid foundation for the relationship!!
Okay, but enemies to friends to BEST friends to lovers is my jam ngl
oooooo yesssss
i agree! i also adore (childhood) friends to enemies (to friends) to lovers
@@jennybe4766 that ones the best
@@jennybe4766 ooohh is that catradora
@@emberie yeess good example!
The problem with showing racism in stories that i see today, is people either blatantly have no clue or they just dont care, and just use it as a plot device, so it not only lacks realism and sensibility, it also loses the commentary the author tries to show in the book
THIS!
Almost nobody seems to get that enemies to lovers isnt some person insulting and being passive aggressive to the other person and then being nice because they want to smash monke style and then suddenly there’s secrets being spilt post coitus that they behind their mean asshat exterior there were easter eggs of them being nice ALL ALONG. there are a few gems ofc. But friends to lovers is generally better because of all that ✨pining✨
i think enemies to lovers is hard to pull off well!! friends to lovers tho... much more easy for pining
Too many writers try to do enemies to lovers in the route where one of them is definitely in the wrong, but then the author doesn’t properly redeem the wrong character, so it ends up representing an abusive/toxic dynamic.
The easiest route that allows for it to be healthy is to have both characters have a genuine misunderstanding of one another where neither are in the wrong. This doesn’t mean that one can’t be on the wrong side, but just means that they themselves are not an active agent in the situation. The best example I have of this is in the show, The Dragon Prince, with the two characters Rayla and Callum.
The only example I can think of for the first route is with the show, Avatar: the Last Airbender. The creators were originally gonna have Zuko(the one in the wrong) with Katara, and quite frankly, with the way they masterfully did Zuko’s redemption, they would’ve made a healthy enemies to lovers.
Still hold that Shera and the Princesses of Power (Catra and Adora) is theeeee best EVER...Friends-to-Enemies- to-Lovers story EVER
@@hlalelwakunene4638 you are absolutely right! That's one of the best enemies to lovers relationship ever written, and with the added previous friendship?? Flawless.
I think enemies to lovers is one of the easiest tropes to fuck it up, so even though I love it, I'm always a bit weary of stories with it.
@@hlalelwakunene4638 Ehhh, I felt that Catra's redemption was too rushed :/ I feel like there should've been more tension and definitely more unforgiveness that happened. Also far too many people have said that Catradora reminds them of their own abusive relationships so yeah...Catradora isn't exactly the ship I'd use as a good example of enemies to lovers. Catra's redemption wasn't strong enough for that
How many SoA fans here have listened to *Achilles, Come Down by Gang of Youths* almost religiously? It’s practically the theme song at this point.
ill have to check out the song!
@@withcindy quick note it's a good song but TW it is explicitly about su!c!de so - just so you know so everyone is on the same page going in. Great dark academia banger but emphasis on dark.
oh my greek mithology conversion last wear was playing hades > finding achilles, come down on youtube > reading SoA and then Circe.
*Literally* the anthem! That's how I found out about the book! The comment section on the song was full of quotes!
@@takes1tomango the way that I love all of those things so much! Spent half my free time this year playing Hades and just finished Circe! I was already a Greek mythology fan tho, thanks to the Percy Jackson series when I was in middle school.
I have to say, Idc if it’s friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers - as long as they have history, it‘ll always add another layer and therefore depth to the relationship that just isn’t there if the characters meet for the first time in the book 😍
Valid points were made 👀
My absolute favourite trope is friends to enemies to lovers. And lovers to enemies to lovers again is also very good. Either way, history does make everything better
@@amperbm omg finally someone else who loves friends to enemies to lovers! the angst is just too good not to enjoy
@@seaweedwithrice Any recommendations?
I'm really happy with your Song of Achilles review. As someone who is a massive Greek mythology nerd I really like your honesty surrounding your rating! And thank you for reviewing even though it was not the easiest to get through. There are so many sweet nuances in the book that if you're not a mythology fan they don't resonate the same way and that's okay.
Cheers!
Yeah I definitely wasn't able to appreciate it fully because I'm not as well versed in Greek mythology, but thank you for understanding ♥️♥️
I felt so bad for 2 days after reading the book bc I had mixed feelings since I was really hating the gods and hence the Greek mythology. But after few months, I respect the Greek mythology and I think it is rlly fun. But I still stand by how most overpowered gods were rlly insufferable
I used to have ancient mythology class in middle and high school, and I also live in the Balkans and have lived in Greece... so although I appreciate Greek mythology, I grew up with it so I'm also pretty over it at this point
is there any way that I can enjoy the book while learning the Greek mythology from the scratch? cuz that's what I do now and I hope I can also resonate the same feeling with you about this book
One thing I really like about when you review books is that even if a book is about a topic you’re not super into, ex. “Song of Achilles”, you can still acknowledge that the writing is good despite not being interested in Greek mythology. Unfortunately it feels like a lot of people will just ignore good writing in a review if the book doesn’t cater to their tastes so it’s just nice to see a reviewer who’s willing to give credit where a book deserves it.
Yes! The writing did indeed slap ♥️
Me and two friends buddy read Circe and it took me way longer to get through it than them despite the writing being good. I'm just not into novels like that but can understand Madeline is an exceptional writer
Cindy talking about Friends to Lovers while wearing her “yearning” merch just hits a little different LOL
Very appropriate attire
Friends to lovers is SUPERIOR!!!!! The pining, the yearning, the mutual love and understanding!!!!!
It is truly the best!
@@febreeze heartstopper is a good one, it’s a 4 volume graphic novel series by alice oseman!
Cindy holds up the “Ferryman“: So I will be giving this book away.
Me: That‘s very generous of you.
Cindy: So now let me tell you why this book sucks!
Me: Hold up 😅
Enter the giveaway knowing what ur signing up for!
@@withcindy The transparency we subbed for.
EXACTLY person A being in love with person B for the longest of time but not confessing because they don't want to ruin the friendship not realizing person B is in love with them too all along and person A just okay with the pain as long as the person B is happy PEAK YEARNING
EXACTLYYYYY or they dont realize their feelings for each other all this time they just know its the most important relationship despite having other partners
Me when it comes to my best friend.
I came faster than Cindy's war flashbacks when someone mentions ACOTAR
NNO---
Song of Achilles is a masterpiece period. Friends to lovers is just so good when done right!!
It was indeed very well written!
It was! I read it thanks to a friend's recommendation and have never been do happy with a decision in my life lol
A romance that says you can be happy outside of romance? Happy existence is the way to live.
heck yesss
Now we need a lovers to strangers just to balance the yearning
THAT SOUNDS SO SAD
The fear I felt from reading this is ✨ indescribable ✨
Have you heard of 5 centimeters per second? *sobs*
I never read SoA because I know I would spiral into heartbreak for months. But I’m obsessed with SoA playlists, they have no right to be so good. Cindy, you HAVE to listen to *Achilles, Come Down by Gang of Youths.* It will CHANGE you. 💔
Understandable!!
I just listened to it. It's super long but really good!
I read it and you’re right I was heartbroken…still am…will probably always be…😫
I’ve read the book over the weekend, I was really sad while I was reading, but to me it wasn’t that memorable. Definitely not worth even a week of recovering
As a greek mythology nerd, I loved the ending of Song of Achilles as well.To me, the author ended the story in an amazing way, I feel like just knowing that after all the pain and struggle they were able to meet felt like a good way to end the story.
Exactly! The ending was satisfying yet still emotional
glad to know you too struggled to get through the song of achilles in the middle, i thought the war setting "slowed down" the pacing and even made it more boring because (unless my memory fails me) it was mostly narrated by patroclus who did... basically nothing, it was all very passive. it's one of the cases where i understood where the hype was but just didn't work out for me. loved to hear your thoughts on the ending, i had forgotten certain details
this one quote at the end of the book was also quite beautiful: "But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another. We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory."
I love that quote!
Same. I love Greek mythology and it actually made it better, except for the war for some reason. Knowing they were going to die and how made it worse. I felt sick when I first read “what did Hector ever did to me”
@@NoOne-cf4ii I think knowing they were going to die made it better imo, even tho it made me feel sick knowing their fate. It just goes to show how well Madeline Miller writes. Achilles saying “What did Hector ever do to me?” Was just a perfect add to how tragic the ending is
@@niyaakbar1098 I understand that. Im about to read circe now im excited to read more of her worl
I feel like Song of Achilles is a good book, but yes I could see that if you don't care for Greek mythology or history, then you might not like it. The biggest complaint I heard about it from other reviewers is just that "it was boring"
it does have a very slow pace so i can see how ppl would find it boring. i struggled to get thru the middle and was only able to get thru it cuz i listened on audiobook!
@@withcindy I did enjoy it because I've been obsessed with Geek mythology since I was a kid, but I love that even if you don't like it, you can still appreciate the book as a good piece of writing. I do love how she makes the characters feel like they actually existed in history even though they are just based on folktales
@@withcindy yo the audiobook is hella good idk if I would’ve finished it without it 🤔
I actually have the opposite conundrum as to why I haven't read it off my shelf. I've loved mythologies since I was a kid (mostly learned from other than long reading, prolly an ADHD thing tbh), so it's the act of reading a book that's putting me off.
Hahaha I think it’s the other way around too-people who are really into Greek mythology don’t tend to like it because of the ways in which it diverges from the original myth
As someone who loves the way TSoA ended, I felt very personally attacked by Elias' text as I too have a very sparse knowledge of Greek history.
Haha he came for our NECKS
Oh it wasn't just Achilles' son who thought "no homo". Most male historians think the same, even though it's practically described on page in real documents and stories from the time "yes, homo ". Greek mythology nerd and historian here. To Ellias: no, that was the perfect ending. It left you yearning 😉 for more and at the same time satisfied.
People We Meet on Vacation was SO GOOD. The moment I knew I was reading some good shit is when I was so invested in and worried about their reunion that I didn't even see the "just one bed" trope coming. Beach Read was also really good, but I loved the romance in this one so much more. I just love the tension, history and stakes that come with friends to lovers. It's such a superior trope
Yay so glad u loved it too!!
LMAOO THE AUDACITY YOU ACTUALLY PUT UP MY MESSAGE I-
- STAND BY EVERYTHING I SAID
The internet needs to know how much attitude u truly have !!!
I'm happy my scrolling through the comment section paid off and I found this follow up xD
TSoA really resonated with me in that 'choosing to love each other as much as and as hard as they can even with the inevitability of death and fate looming in the background.' And like you said, the ending was perfect for closure! I'm glad to see your review because it did not occur to me just how much would be lost for someone who does not enjoy Greek Mythology. Keeps my ass humble LOL
Awww yeah they were so devoted to each other even beyond "the end" 🥺
Your avi is a whole mood. Love it.
i’m kind of sad cindy didn’t like SoA but her review left me more dead than patroclus 💀😂
NOT MORE DEAD THAN PATROCLUS 💀💀💀💀
*SPOILERS OF THE SONG OF ACHILLES AHEAD*
I *looove* Greek mythology, and imo the ending is perfect as it is. I do enjoy open endings (they can be so frustrating sometimes, but they make me feel something, points for the book) and tbh we basically *know* they're gonna be happy together, no need to restart the story. We are aware of how much they love each other, we know what they feel and they will say all the extra stuff eventually. Giving us an extra page would've been like opening a "What will they do now in Elysium? The adventures of Achilles and Patroclus" and that would've been like the story needed a sequel. It doesn't. Love your honesty, tho. Cause it did take me ages to go through the middle of the book. Also, daaamn, your friend would make me cry in 0.38 seconds, but that's on me.
Exactly! It gave just the right amount of closure ♥️
there's just something about liking your friend then hinting & teasing each other to confess together and all that spirals to ending up together. You get both the yearning AND the wholesomeness -- from someone who ends up with her close friend.
YESSSS PERIOD
Emily Henry’s banter is SO GOOD!!! I loved people we meet on vacation and beach read so much! :)
yes i def plan on reading beach read!!
you're trying to tell me that PUPPY FACE IS GOOD????!???
Nobody's doing contemporary romance like Emily Henry!! "People we meet on vacations" melted my cold stoned heart like no other romance had in long while hahaha Her other romance "Beach read" is also great and I would highley recommand it for when you're craving a healthy dose of cheese. She has another book coming out in 2022 and I already asked my library to buy it as soon as it comes out that way everyone there knows I'm a thirsty bitch ✌
im def gonna read Beach Read next year!!
Friends to lovers does have a lot of yearning/pining which is fun to read, too much of enemies to lovers is just bullying and the fact that people like that concept makes me want to cry
Okay, but enemies to friends to BEST friends to lovers is my jam ngl. The middle part is necessary.
i prefer YEARNING over BULLYING any day
Do agree with that, when “enemies to lovers” is done right it can be good
the way i stopped in the middle of writing my final essay for the semester to watch this
THIS is ur final essay now.
As a mythology buff, I am so happy you liked the ending of SoA despite not caring for greek mythology. And I 100% agree with the vague ending. That last paragraph was my favorite quote in the book.
That last paragraph works as is, no need for expanding ♥️
Honestly any pining (though himbo/dense love interest pining after the girl is my drug) when done well is GOLD to me
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MY DRUG TOO
"It's gonna make me thinks love is real" exactly 😭
My heart can't take it 😭
I SO AGREE PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION IS LIKE IF WILD CHILD HAD PEOPLE ON A VACATION BUT THE GUY WAS AN ANTISOCIAL BAD BOY!!!!
wild child? r u talking about the movie or something else :0
I love how these trips feel like your super-organised friend has planned out a trip for the team
It definitely takes the pressure off for you to plan anything, you can just hop on for the fun ride 🤪
@@withcindy You are the best, depressed, organised book friend
I’ve always preferred friends to lovers more than enemies to lovers. It’s more natural, while the latter is almost never done right and turns into an abusive relationship.
But the superior and most underrated relationship trope is lovers to enemies. Not simply bitter exes but full blown trying to end each other. That’s the main relationship in the book I’m writing.
Friends to lovers seems like the type of trope you would typically expect to be bad but sometimes if executed properly, it would be so good. Just the secret yearning makes it all the better for me.
Love your videos Cindy, keep up the amazing work!
I find enemies to lovers harder to execute!
@@withcindy I agree! Sometimes authors would overdo it and you most often see it as a toxic kind of relationship rather than something that is actually a wholesome and meaningful one that enables growth between the two characters. That's what I see most often about it and it makes it harder to make it more realistic than absurd and bad.
YES!!! FRIENDS TO LOVERS IS 👏 ALL 👏 ABOUT 👏 YEARNING!!! THANK U CINDY OUR QUEEN THE TROPE DESERVES SO MUCH MORE HYPE
YESSS THEY ARE THE BEST COUPLES
"Never mess with the passion of Greek mythology nerds. That's the lesson from here."
Oh god... As a Greek mythos nerd myself, this brought me back to the times I ranted to my friends about stuff they don't understand. Don't mind me sending this lovely quote to them to remind them to leave when it happens again haha
i agree with you on the ending not needing an extra page; i think achilles and patroclus' story was so well known and this whole greek tragedy, that keeping their reunion private allowed them to keep a piece of their story for themselves.
I love that 🥺
[[SOA spoiler alert]] As a lover of Greek mythology and SOA I appreciate that you recognized the excellent writing and I'm glad you liked the ending. Its the only lgbt book I've let myself read where they both die because in the end they are still able to be together 🥺
i love that they both died but COULD STILL BE TOGETHER!! SUCK ON THAT HATERS
I completely agree with you about the ending of The Song of Achilles. I think that ending was so much more satisfying than any kind of conversation could have been.
yay!! be careful tho or ellias will come for ur neck!
Love, Rosie is one of my favorite movies. I’ve seen it too many times to count. People We Meet on Vacation is one of the very few romances I have ever given 5 stars. Coincidence? I think not ma’am. Best-friends-to-lovers is top tier.
I definitely think there is a correlation here 👀
I'm so glad you said it! People keep recommending The Song of Achilles left and right, to anybody and everybody, and it always makes me a little bit skeptical, because like you said, not everybody cares or wants to care about Greek mythology! I personally adore it, I've literally studied ancient Greek and greek mythology in school, it's my jam, so that book was incredible to me! But I've seen people start this book thinking it was historical fiction? And I'm just like... this is what happens when you just listen to the hype and try to completely adhere to trends instead of just... going with your own taste...
Anyway I'm so glad for your review, I hope it will help people understand that recommendations should be tailored to the person you're making the recommendation to.
Thank u!! Glad I'm not alone in thinking this way when it comes to recommendations
I appreciate Cindy immensely for giving me recommendations on what not to read. If not for her, I probably would end up buying a bunch of terrible books. Instead, she has introduced me to multiple wonderful books and has steered me away from terrible ones. Thank you, Cindy, for sacrificing your sanity to spread bad book awareness.
The last two lines (paragraphs) of ASoA had me crying for so long, lol. And Patroclus was just.. ❤️😭
the last two lines were GREAT
i’m so happy to see so many people eager to travel! those trips are gonna be awesome, they both sound super fun! also, really wish i had studocu when i was in school - definitely would have been more motivated to study lmao
makes me happy too! :D
Let's hope a new variant doesn't spoil it....
While I love it when Cindy loses her mind over SJM's books and the like, her energy when talking about a book she rated 5* is really * chef's kiss * !
I'm don't really read romance, so I SHOCKED when People We Meet on Vacation made me ugly cry at the end. I could really relate to the very specific fears of intimacy with someone you care about... The fear of what happens if it doesn't work out and what comes after. It was done so well
Oh gosh I was listening to this while drawing and when cindy said “ferryman” I thought it was gonna be more fairy dk- 😭
i tried really hard not to pronounce it like FAIRY
Haven't found a comment about it yet so I apologize if this is redundant: the thing about Patroclus and Achilles being buried together is actually in a way based on the original text: Achilles says at some point and he wants his and Patroclus ashes to be "mingled together" after they both die. Madeline Miller just gave us the actual better version of it and fulfilled his wishes :'o
so happy you loved people we meet on vacation. emily henry is seriously the best contemporary romance author rn. also, absolutely love your yearning tee
she is fantastic!! i def gotta read Beach Read
6:58 was the moment I realized that the bar is so low when it comes to dating lmao 🤣 like is it that hard to find someone who has that mentality of "i love that you exist in the world, differences be damned". Damnit, gotta add this book to my to read list, I look forward to it 🙂
awww i hope u enjoy!!!
for the burial thing, i think (?) in The Odyssey which is like an official sequel to The Iliad, odysseus goes to the underworld and finds Achilles and Patroclus there. so officially they did meet in the underworld. i felt so satisfied when i found out about that.
we LOVE seeing the hype for friends to lovers finally resurfacing once again
it is SUPERIOR
I've been hesitant about reading "People We Meet on Vacation". I've just started reading romance books (more like listening to romance books they make great audiobooks), and I thought that this one will be your typical over-hyped romance where it reads more like subpar self-insert fanfiction. But with this high of a review I'd have to give it a shoot.
Hope u enjoy! It def felt better than other romance books I've tried out
The Song of Achilles has been my favorite book for about seven years now. I’m a super big Greek mythology person (thanks Percy Jackson) and while I know the book is basically fan fiction, it’s so beautifully written and the ending gets me every time. I can totally understand why the middle would be hard to get through though if you’re not interested in the mythology. Even I just skip over the longs names and things sometimes on re-reads.
Also I literally just finished People We Meet On Vacation today and yes! It was so good. As a writer her banter is what I aspire to be able to write. I only wish the climax of them in Croatia had been a little more drawn out and I agree that I wish they weren’t both blonde. But it gave me all the feels and I’ll def pick up another one of her books.
the song of achilles is just me sobbing whilst also being in love with the language like yes my little gaybies
they were indeeed gaybies
A bit late but yeah the song of Achilles definitely made me cry. I am a Greek mythology nerd, but I really enjoyed the ending that the author added, it seemed perfect for them. I also liked how, and this was in the Iliad as well, that the story continued even after Achilles' death, because the story isn't just about him and his love, but the legacy of his rage.
I personally never enjoyed the ancient Greek dramas that we had to read in school, so I was surprised when I read the Song of Achilles and actually enjoyed that aspect of the story. Otherwise the middle part would have been hard to get through. The author explained the mythology way better than my teachers. Still it helped that I knew at least a little bit about the world because of what teachers forced down our throats. Whenever a character that I'd heard of before was mentioned I got this little satisfying spark of recognition and felt like what I learned in school wasn't a complete waste of time.
Fun Fact (as fun as death can be): . In the Odyssey (playing after the Iliad), Odysseus sees Patroclus by Achilles’ side when he visits the underworld 😊
Girl I was already crying while reading the comments because I love that book so much AND NOW YOU KILLED ME 😭❤️
Auuwww. J just finished the book and this is so comforting
@@alicezanini6123 lllllllllllllñpllñl ooooo re areeesaesee3e rydytyurd e dsdttdaryats e s
Broo that is so cute
Them being buring together is actually part of the ancient texts. It's mentioned that they were buried together in a golden urn.
31 minutes of Cindy
The best way to end my day🥰
Awwww 🥺
Not Cindy mixing up Achilles and Odysseus 😂. Achilles wasn't there when the suitors came to Helen.
Oops--
When you compared “people we meet on vacation” to “love, Rosie” I was instantly sooooold 🥺🥰
Cindy's voice is honestly so therapeutic. I could literally listen to her all day.
So excited for this video! I listen to the audiobook for Song of Achilles each summer. We love the pain
the narrator does a great job!
I'm not a big romance reader, but I'm definitely checking People Who Meet On Vacation soon, it sounds right up my alley
And, as someone who loves Greek Mythology and The Song of Achilles, I think it says a lot about the story that you were able to enjoy it despite not knowing much about the actual myth!
I think Alex could be friends with Gus from Beach Read because they have pretty similar quotes about being happy that the female protagonist exists. My heart melts at these lines.❤
Of course, the ferryman had to be a handsome white guy. imagine if he looked like an ordinary guy...
like, I really want a YA book where the main characters are plain-looking but their journey and traits are not about their plain appearances. I want a book where it's not about loving yourself. Just an MC doing their thing
If you know any YA book like that, pls let me know
yes we need more ordinary looking people in books!!
I'm in the process of trying to get a book published. I made a point of writing ordinary-looking characters and my literary agent specifically criticised the descriptions of two of the main characters because he didn't find them sexy -_- so frustrating
i think it’s that we like looking at people who are attractive, and it makes characters easier to sympathise with if they’re hot?
@@NinjaTherapist your literary agent needs to chill lol
insta-bought ppl we meet on vacation!! hopeless romantic, banter, and YEARS OF PINING *chefs kiss*.
YESSSSSSSSS gimme gimme
there're many versions of achilles' death and burial and in some of them their bones (achilles' and patroclus') do end up mingled together (even in the odyssey)! In Plutarch' s retelling of the life of alexander the great there's this bit about how him and hephaestion (his "partner") went to commemorate patroclus and achilles' tomb together!!! i know you dont care but the cool thing about mythology is if that you want a particular ending for a story there always is and for its very nature is always "canon" lol
A cool idea I thought for ferryman, it would be cool like if she's falling for him because that's what she finds her "ideal " type, having a internal conflict of staying in limbo because it's comfy instead of going to the afterlife.
I love how start off Ferrymen by enticing people with a free book then proceed to advertise it in the worst way possible. It really does suck knowing what happened to it, I got massive Angel Beats vibes and could see it end in such a bittersweet way.
I feel like a lot of YA Fantasy Authors for the books who you gave 3 and 2 stars to could honestly benefit from writing short stories instead. The root of so many problems really do come from the fact that they have to fill in space to complete the 3 act structure.
It would be pretty cool if the industry switched things up a bit and have their authors (esp their debut ones) to release short stories in anthologies (kinda like how Japan does it with their manga) so the authors can experiment, people can get a taste of their style, and debut writers can get the experience they need to polish up their book. I've read several short stories with premises that could totally fit a whole novel be so much better in like 20 pages.
It really is worrying how a lot of debut authors (esp in YA Fantasy) have a meh release
This is the coolest idea I’ve ever read.
Friends to lovers supremacy. We got all the yearning, mutual pinings, and angsty slow burns in this household😌✨
*raises hand* A biracial mixie here with other mixie friends and we're always too white for the BIPOC kids and too BIPOC for the white kids (we're both half white - half smth else) and racism for mixed kids is NEVER the same as between white people and BIPOC directly. Theyre are different flavors of dislike 💖 and by that I mean I hate every single one 💖💖💖 but like yeah, thanks for saving me from a mediocre book Cindy its MUCH appreciated 💖💖💖💖
I love that Cindy is loving People We Meet on Vacation. that book took me on a mental vacation when I cant travel due to covid. also who doesnt want any Alex as a travel buddy?
I knew the “conflict” in People We Meet on Vacation would be anticlimactic but I was still disappointed.
Honestly at that point I just wanted them to get together already 🤣
“I love when fantasy has a romance because I’m a cheesy bitch” hahaha I felt this so much. This is me. Like seeing me in real life you would never think I’m a hopeless cheesy romantic but yep. Love me some romantic side plots.
yes! some ppl think i hate romance but that is false... i just want romance done well!!
@@withcindy yes! My favourite stories always have some romance side to it, but it has to be done well. (Or else, have some found family instead. A mix is best). I love how you answer almost every comment haha you're awesome :)
Cindy: *prefaces her SoA review with a detailed discussion about how recommending books because you like them doesn’t mean she will like them*
Me: Oh No! (*white knuckle grips the couch I’m sitting on because that was my favorite book that I read this year.*)
Cindy: Anyway I gave it 3.5 stars because it’s well written and the romance is good, I just don’t care for Greek Mythology :v
Me: Oh. Okay! : D
The comparison of Love, Rosie and People We Meet on Vacation is so spot on! I was literally thinking the same thing reading the book
"my main complaint about this book is that both of the characters are blonde."
this really took me back to when my blonde mother told me (blonde daughter) that 2 blonde people shouldn't be in a relationship cause they don't look good together
cindy, honeslty, your opinion is the only thing i take seriously when it comes to books like i literally discovered the best ones because of your reviews!!
Actually, in Greek mythology, when you die you don't get to enjoy the afterlife with those you love. Although you did go to Hades, you'd be just a shade, basically a shadow of yourself. It's the reason the heroes in the myths did grandiose acts, because once they died they wanted to have achieved immortality through fame, through the retelling of their deeds since once they were gone they would just exist as a meaningless shadow in Hades.
It's kind of depressing, but that's how my professor explained when we were discussing Achilles and the Trojan war in Uni.
Friends-to-lovers is iconic. Also can confirm as someone who has had to babysit coworkers decades older than me, can confirm age does not stop anybody from acting like a teenager
I also gave People We Meet on Vacation 5 stars! I was like "damn maybe the straights are (somewhat) okay after all"
YESSSS
The best friends to lovers- Aang and Katara from Avatar. People keep on saying Katara and Zuko, but Aangs yearning had me shipping them day 1.