Member Reviews

I read this as I was in a slump and wanted something short and easy. It really helped with that. Both stories are gorgeous, predictable but so so lovely. The first was my favourite, I loved the idea of every New Years Eve being each chapter, I adored the characters. The second although not my favourite, I still loved. Again, fantastic characters. The best thing about this book is the illustrations. I'm not usually one for artwork in books, but this added so much to it even on kindle. I can't imagine how lovely it would be in print! Loved it.

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I can just say I LOVED IT! I read several books of Rainbow Rowell in German and really liked them as well. I‘m glad I had the opportunity to read this book!

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When I saw this title as a one day only wish on Netgalley I just had to go for it. I’m so happy I did because my wish got granted! I thought both of these stories were absolutely adorable. The characters in both short stories were so relatable. In one you have the love you don’t want to admit for fear of losing a best friend. The other you have the girl the boy knows, but is invisible to the girl.
I thought they were unique takes on stories that could have been very “the same”. I loved the illustrations, they added so much to each story. It helped me feel more part of each story.
I highly recommend this book to any Rainbow Rowell fan, or someone wanting to just give her a try. I think if you are a fan of contemporary books you will not be disappointed with this one.

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Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell Illustrations by Simini Blocker
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Midnights
Is a wonderfully charming story that will fit within a tube ride if you time it right. You can see where it’s going before the characters do, and this one does leave you wanting more.
I could see this being an individual story, showing a development over time. However, the snapshot of this one evening every year works well and will leave a smile on your face.

Kindred Spirits
This is my favourite of the two; it is relatable, nostalgic and totally sweet. Taking place in the run up to 2015’s release of Force Awakens the main character explores Geekdom and managing expectations.
I was a romance like the one that appears in this second short story. It’s not a sweeping gesture, but a warmth and comfort that comes with trusting a person.

This book will make a perfect Christmas gift for any fan of Rowell’s previous work.

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This was my first adventure with Rainbow Rowell and it was delightful. I adore the way she writes - and I don't know how else to describe why other than by saying that it's so real. The character dialogue was so believable, and often (particularly in the second story) I would think of something in my mind and the character would then do or say it. It's brilliant, true to life and just plain cute.

This collection features two short stories - one is about a New Years kiss that's been a long time coming and the other is about making the most of experiences told through the eyes of three people in the queue for a new Star Wars film.

The first story is a cute romance; short and sweet and written really nicely. It's the shorter of the two stories but has the perfect amount of sweet-natured goodness to tick all the boxes for anyone who likes a little love story. The second perhaps has more to it in terms of reading between the lines. I loved the characters in both stories, but this second one had more of an unspoken message which was nice - and it was funny!

The reason I've only awarded it three stars is simple: it was difficult to connect with the characters in such a short amount of time (unavoidable in a short story when you're not familiar with the characters already) and because both were very specific story-lines they were quite predictable.

Regardless - two cute, funny and really warm stories, perfect for a quick read and a great introduction to Rainbow Rowell for me!

ARC provided free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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