I was so confused by how this would turn into a novel after reading the first chapter, but it came together in an unexpected way that was satisfying in the end. The depth of the main characters truly helped to make the story even more impactful.

“I want the nights and the days and the weekends and the holidays and I want you at my side and in my bed and in my life. I want to meet your parents and I want to take you to a sheep farm in fucking Ireland and my dad's place in Boston. I want to see what kind of person you are when you're eighty. I want to do this for real, and I want to call you mine so badly…”

I absolutely LOVED this debut novel from Yulin Kuang. It was smart and fresh and sexy as hell. Grant really was charming, funny, and lovable, and Helen really was beautiful, brilliant and closed off. But they were also so much more. I think the two of them were both a little lost until they came back into each other’s lives. The way they grew and helped one another heal was beautiful. And their chemistry? INSANE. Grant may go down in history as one of the hottest book boyfriends of all time. His ability to be so open and vulnerable was 🤌🏻. It’s no wonder why Yulin Kuang is the screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and the director of the upcoming film adaptation of Emily Henry’s Beach Read. Because she is amazingly talented! I can’t wait to see what she does next because I will be consuming her work in any and all forms possible!

How to End a Love Story releases April 9th, 2024 and you are definitely going to want to pre-order this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

How to End a Love Story is a heart wrenching debut romance. The story follows Helen Zhang, a bestselling YA novelist who is in need of inspiration and asks to be a writer on the tv show adaptation of her books. When she arrives in Hollywood, she is shocked to find that one of the writers on the show is someone she knew very well in high school - Grant Shepard. Grant was the golden boy of her hometown. He was also the driver of the car Helen’s sister intentionally jumped in front of thirteen years ago. Helen’s family has never forgiven Grant for being the unwilling cause of their daughter’s death. Helen and Grant must overcome their difficult history to work together, but what happens when they begin having feelings for each other?

This was one dark premise for a romance. The subject matter is very tough, but I did love the characters. It is such a tragic love story that you need to see have a happy ending. Kuang’s debut novel definitely makes me excited for her take on the Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation movie adaptations!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of Yulin Kuang’s debut novel How to End a Love Story after hearing about her connection to the screen adaptations of Emily Henry’s Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation! It is no wonder Kuang was tapped to spearhead these projects as How to End a Love Story carries the same emotional weight and romantic turbulence that fans of Emily Henry adore.

Bound by an unspeakable tragedy from their youth, bestselling author Helen Zhang and hotshot screenwriter Grant Shepard reunite as adults to adapt Helen’s hit book series for television. The two haven’t spoken in thirteen years but there is no space for old wounds and past hurts when you’re working together in a writers room. When indifference starts to spark into something more, Helen and Grant have to confront ghosts of the past in order to move forward in the present.

It is clear that Yulin Kuang understands the nuances of storytelling. Her characters emerge vividly through crisp dialogue and complicated perspectives. Helen’s intense relationship with grief and Grant’s lengthy battle with anxiety are handled with raw believability and I was able to sympathize with many aspects of their journeys. The secondary cast of characters also added necessary levity that expanded and grounded certain scenes.

The romance at the center of the story is one that I will be thinking about for a long time. The spicy scenes were off the charts and the emotional depth that Helen and Grant achieve while believing themselves undeserving of love was heartbreaking and moving to witness. There is a massive focus on self identity and how it can affect romantic partnerships. Complexities that accompany familial affection (or lack thereof) play a huge part in Helen’s story. It was remarkable to watch her courageously set boundaries and let go of aspects from her childhood that no longer served her.

This is an incredibly special story and if this book is any indication, Kuang is set to become a formative voice in romance.

TW: This book deals with topics such as death of a sibling, suicide, mental illness, and grief.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Two people with a truly tragic event linking them together; this forbidden lovers story shouldn’t have worked but absolutely did! I was emotionally invested in this book and the characters from the start (I even really enjoyed many of the side characters). Good plot, dialogue, and spice! If you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s books, this one is definitely worth the read (make sure to check the trigger warnings first).

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

I am a big Emily Henry fan so when I found out the screenwriter of her book’s movie adaptations wrote a book herself, I had to read it. I am grateful to have been approved for an advanced copy via Netgalley. This book did not disappoint! Yulin Kuang is a master of details and setting the scene. Many readers would not know what the culture of a writers room is like, but Yulin masterfully sets up a scene where each writer shares their deepest, darkest secrets rather than a “fun fact” to get to know each other. In any other setting this might be jarring but in the writers room this was par for the course. I loved this scene because it really made you understand the setting and the characters better. I also enjoyed that while this is a rom-com, the book is more realistic in that it embraces the imperfections of real life. The main character has some disagreements with her parents that never fully get resolved. In a traditional rom com, the main character might have a perfect ending, where the parents ultimately embrace her love interest. Instead, the relationship improves but never to the point of getting their full stamp of approval.
Initially, I was annoyed with Helens insistence on hating Grant, thinking that it wasn’t fair to Grant, but her character redeemed herself by the end. Overall, this book was a joy to read and I will definitely be recommending it when it comes out!

What a beautiful journey through grief, healing and love this book took me on! This is the mature and emotionally compelling love story I have been waiting for. I loved Helen and Grant - I could see this book being a hit when it comes out in April. Thank you Avon Books for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy,

This book needs to come with a warning sticker: CAUTION - Will clamp onto your heart and not let go. I'm not sure how Yulin Kuang did it, but she wrote a book that I delayed myself from finishing. I simultaneously didn't want it to end and feared that the ending would scar my heart. WOW! How to End a Love Story checked all the boxes for me. It is a stunner.

Ms. Kuang gives us two deeply flawed main characters. They are scarred and scared; neither believing they are deserving of being loved. Their relationship is rooted in a shared trauma that overshadows every aspect of their lives. This is a love story that takes its time developing and the outcome isn't certain until the very end. I think I held my breath for the final 10% of this book; terrified that it would leave my shattered heart in pieces with no hope of repair.

Yulin Kuang is adapting two of Emily Henry's books for the screen which should tell you that she understands what works in this genre. Like Emily Henry, she has created characters that you genuinely care about. I remain fully invested in Helen and Grant's love story after the final page.

How to End a Love Story will be published on April 2, 2024. Pre-order a copy, place a hold at the library, be at the bookstore on release day - Do whatever you have to do to get your hands and your heart on this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

hello new favorite romance of 2024! once I heard Yulin Kuang was involved in the PWMOV and Beach Read adaptations, I knew I needed to pick this book up and boy did it not disappoint. the writing was beautiful, I loved Helen's own personal journey and growth in LA, and her romance with Grant was next level. I especially appreciated how Kuang wrote about the first generation experience. Helen was Asian and that is a fact of her life without being the plot of the book. this was the type of book where I didn't want to put it down to the point where I carried my kindle around with me in case I got time to read a few pages. I finished it and remembered it only comes out in April and it was disappointing to realize I would have to wait for both a physical copy and more writing from Kuang.

the one gripe I have with this is the way Michelle's death was handled. I appreciate that Kuang had a sensitivity reader and nothing specific felt problematic to me (I would say that it should be disclosed in the synopsis but I'm glad there was a warning before the story started). but I don't know, I felt like for such a serious topic and block in their relationship, it was pushed aside for most of the middle of the book. I don't think anything should've really changed in their relationship but at the same time, it was a huge factor in their main conflict so it felt a little strange. I don't know, it didn't stop me from giving this one a high rating but I'm curious how other people will feel.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Yulin. I’m excited to see how she adapts Emily Henry’s novels in the near future. Trigger warnings for death of a sibling, suicide, panic attacks, anxiety. Years after tragedy have connected Grant and Helen, they come into each other’s lives for Helen’s tv adaptation of her popular YA series. With their history, can they learn how to work with each other?
I was unsure of the premise of this book in the first couple of chapters, but once I got into the world I found myself rooting for Helen and Grant. One piece I strongly appreciated was the point of view of Helen as a second generation Chinese immigrant family. The details of how love is expressed in their home, parental/child interactions, and expectations made me very reminiscent of what I also experienced as a second generation of an immigrant family. Details that I don’t commonly see in other romance novels, hit me unexpectedly hard. Hearing the ins and outs of a writers room was interesting and fun.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the last act of the book, everything leading up to it had been refreshing but then some common tropes were used. Overall I enjoyed myself and would recommend the book to others. Excited to see more from Yulin.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity of this ARC review.


Mild Spoiler: I wish we had seen more of Helen writing her TV episode when adapting her book. It was mentioned a few times but never fleshed out so I thought that was a missed opportunity. Would’ve loved to see more of her thoughts on the process outside of the writers room, like the casting process

Actual perfection.

I preordered this when it was titled “Good In A Room” and have eagerly been awaiting its publication ever since. I was delighted to get an ARC and even more thrilled that it absolutely excited the hype.

I’m not even sure how to sum up how I feel. Every line was perfect. Every feeling evoked was so visceral, so moving and so human. I laughed, I cried, I learned a lot about myself and gained empathy towards I was previously missing out on.

This relationship is raw and real and seems impossible from page one, but it is so beautiful and redeeming. I also can’t get over Helen’s relationship with her friends, parents, sister - and how she learns to reconcile it all, not solve it but live with it and ultimately learn to love from it.

I will 100% be rereading my physical copy and looking back at my highlights and dreaming of these characters and absorbing these words forever. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Kuang (at least guaranteed two more books and two Emily Henry screen adaptations which has me SO EXCITED).

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise of How to End a Love Story is so different to what I’ve ever read before.

Helen Zhang is a YA author whose book series are being adapted to TV. Grant Shepherd is a screenwriter working on the show. The two are entangled in a shared past experience that messes with the both of them yet their chemistry is inescapable, surprising to the both of them.

This book explores themes of grief, shared trauma, complex parental dynamics and the feeling of not being loved and not knowing how to love as a result.

Stories like these that explore complex human characteristics is right up my street so I really enjoyed reading this. Our two protagonist had undeniable chemistry and witty (and at times dark) banter which I loved. This book genuinely made me laugh out loud and blush.

Added bonus? There’s a character with my name so that was fun to read.

Looking forward to see what Yulin Kuang writes next.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. This is Yulin Kuang’s debut novel but she is also a seasoned screenwriter and is responsible for the writing for both the People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read adaptations (plus, she’s directing Beach Read). From the very first page I knew that my favorite book and my favorite characters, Gus and January, are in good hands. In How to End a Love Story, Yulin Kuang blends humor, sadness, heart, and the most tender romance.

Like Emily Henry, while this is a romance book, it also has deep emotional depth, specifically regarding the concept of grief as our two main characters Helen and Grant are tethered together (by an invisible string?) by a tragedy. I was literally moved to tears (in public!) multiple times. Unlike an Emily Henry novel, this book is told from both Grant and Helen’s perspectives, which I loved. Both characters were so deeply human and relatable. The kind of characters that reflect some of the most vulnerable parts of your soul back at you.

I can not recommend this book enough. For the rest of my life, I will pick up any book Yulin Kuang writes. Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good RomCom after some heavy fantasy reads... this one left me wanting more. It seemed rushed with some pretty unlikeable characters. It did have some good points on suicide and how it can affect loved ones, and I did like some of the plot. Overall though the story seemed really rushed at the end and it left me feeling like I had some whiplash.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book from the moment I heard about it. I couldn’t fathom rooting for a romance under these circumstances. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. The story that unfolded was raw and painful and pushed me emotionally. It opened discussions within my own family and I’m still thinking about these characters (who are 100% fictional my husband likes to remind me LOL).

The angst was almost too much for me at times, but there were sweet and tender moments too. I don’t agree with all the choices Helen and Grant made, but I think the beauty of their love is in the mess. These two are forever tied by tragedy and share a pain so similar, but from two different sides. It’s incredibly messy and complex, but I don’t think love is ever neat and tidy. Yes, the progression of feelings felt a bit fast, but given the atmosphere and vacuum of the writer's room, I can see how things could unfold that way. I also felt that sometimes Helen was too cold or that the relationship was one sided, but I think (hope) that that was all part of their character arcs. The spice was a great surprise and I truly didn’t think the book would be as steamy as it was. I’m still a bit stunned that the author got me invested in this romance at all.

How to End a Love Story is a romance, but it’s also a story of family, forgiveness, acceptance, and healing. I think that part of the story is what will really stick with me. Helen’s relationship and struggles with her family, especially her mother, resonated with me so much. I saw many of my own life experiences on the page and I don’t think I can fully articulate what a chokehold those scenes with Helen’s family had on me. I could feel the weight of familial respect, responsibility, guilt, and disappointment so profoundly. Normally the third act conflict frustrates me, but this time, Helen’s decisions felt very in line with her upbringing and character.

The ending felt a bit rushed after all that angst, but I appreciated that both characters acknowledged that they weren’t 100% healed and that was OK. There isn’t a pretty bow for every plot point, but I think that was more realistic. I'm still not sure I could have made the same decisions as Helen and Grant, but I really enjoyed the final chapter (the montage/highlight reel all our hearts needed LOL) and I can’t wait to see what Yulin Kuang writes next.

CW (from the author): This story contains on-the-page discussions of complicated grief, suicide loss, and the death of a sibling.
Other CW's encountered: panic attacks (on page), strained relationship with parents, car accident and hospitalization/injury (on page)

OW/OM notes: FMC goes on a date with an OM after things have started with the MMC. MMC has an old hometown hookup/friend and is also friendly with an ex. No OW/OM during the separation.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a huge fan of Emily Henry and when I saw that Yulin Kuang was writing and directing the upcoming screen adaptations, I couldn’t wait to read her debut novel. This was so well written and everything I want in a romance. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Kuang for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was a little hesitant about this book - a plot that involves the MMC being the driver of the car that killed the FMC's sister when they were all in high school definitely takes deft handling. However, I thought the author did a pretty good job overall handling it. Obviously this is a Serious Situation that causes heart ache throughout the book, and my biggest concern is that it would go overboard and feel maudlin and melodramatic, which I think a lot of modern romances tend to do when trying to be serious. And I do think at times, probably more so toward the end, it does start feeling a little maudlin. But it never felt ridiculous - it fit with the story line. And thank goodness for characters who do at least talk about things! Ridiculous miscommunication never plays a role.

The other thing I did really enjoy was the chemistry between the two! Ooh, talk about steamy. The first half of the book, that tension is jumping off the pages. It does kinda die down, unfortunately, once they're in a relationship and the focus goes onto the Serious Situation, so the ending wasn't as good for me. But overall an enjoyable book.

wow, wow, wow. first of all - Yulin, please buy yourself a bottle of champagne and celebrate, because this was an incredible debut novel and I feel so privileged to have gotten to read it early - thank you Avon Publishing and NetGalley! I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy day of release!

this story isn't your normal "happy go lucky" romance and it was so refreshing to have something that was so multi-faceted and complicated. these two people are working through their grief in their own unique ways and obviously that can create some tension. I love it when one catches feelings sooner than the other but is so patient and understanding... I guess it's nice to see someone who may have extreme anxiety, but also is confident in their own feelings. and goes to therapy and works through their shit!? YES PLEASE SIGN ME UP.

I loved the chemistry between Grant & Helen... obviously with Yulin's background with screenwriting, it came through very clearly to me. I was hooked as soon as the writer's room left for their little "bonding retreat". The banter, the friendships, the glimpse into how a tv show is made... it just did it for me.

Loved the romance, spice, angst, ALL of it. This was the perfect rom-com, and the characters were wonderful. I adored Grant and Helen, and I was thought Helen's character development was really well done. Her inner monologue and road to forgiveness/acceptance surrounding their shared trauma seemed very authentic. Kuang knocked it out of the park with this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC!

HOW TO END A LOVE STORY is pitched as romance, but I'd more describe it as literary fiction with a heavy romance plot. It's not so much focused on the relationship between Helen and Grant as it is about Helen herself and how she's dealing with the grief of losing her sister to suicide. (I'm using "dealing" here loosely—every piece of her is affected but she chooses to ignore it.) A lot of what happens in this book reveals to us more and more who Helen is as a person, and I think there was more emphasis on this than building up the love between her and Grant. She went from, "you need to quit this show," to sniffing his blanket, to "I am overwhelmingly and utterly in love with this man." WHERE DID THE ANGST COME FROM!!! I love pain, but not when I'm told to feel it from out of nowhere. So ultimately, this failed as a romance for me because I was unconvinced of their love for each other. I can maybe connect the dots in Helen's mind but for how desperately Grant loved Helen and how he'd "rather have a fraction of [her] than all of someone else," I really didn't know why.

And because this felt more literary fiction to me, I wish there was more nuance in the mother-daughter conflict. That could've been so good, especially with Helen being the eldest daughter. Being Asian myself, I deeply understand that a part of Helen refused to pursue anything further with Grant because of her parents, but I don't think that came across in the writing. The passive dad, however ... that is as real as real gets lol.

I think this one could be for all the sexy-but-make-it-sad girlies ... like fans of THE ROUGHEST DRAFT by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, and HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD by Ava Wilder. It was easy to sink into and even though this didn't sweep me off my feet, I'm looking forward to seeing Yulin Kuang grow as a writer!