A guide to dealing with hyperfixation as an avid reader
I apologize if the title was misleading, I don’t actually have advice on overcoming hyperfixation. I happen to lean very deep into mine, which often leads to reading every single book that an author publishes. Between Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez – I’ve devoured dozens of books just for the simple reason of enjoying the specific writing style that the author encapsulates.
Knowing what I’m about to get myself into, the pattern of writing, the voice that’s going to be portrayed, the familiar conflicts and resolutions, brings me a lot of ease going into reading that book. As an anxiety riddled human, sometimes the predictability of the familiar pits and falls of a book is all I need.
I have to admit…Christina Lauren is slowly becoming one of those authors, although I primarily hate-read her books, due to the sheer unrealistic plots and quite frankly, extremely white characters.
That said, here’s my honest reviews of three of the authors I’ve been hyper fixating on lately: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez.
The Taylor Jenkins Reid Conversation
Before I get into what I love (or don’t love) about each of these authors, I want to acknowledge the controversy surrounding Taylor Jenkins Reid. As a white, straight woman, many of her stories center on queer women of color, which has led to criticism about her taking up space that could be filled by BIPOC voices. There’s an ongoing conversation about whether authors outside of certain identities can or should write these stories, and I think it’s important to reflect on that.
When I picked up my first Reid book, I knew nothing about her or her background. Little did I know that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would become one of the most influential books I’ve ever read. And trust me – I’ll get into exactly why later. But now, seven books later, I find myself reflecting on the implications of reading and supporting her work.
On the flip side, isn’t it significant that one of Reid’s most popular books centers around a strong queer woman of color? I know all too well that these conversations are rarely black and white, and although there should absolutely be more space for women of color authors in the industry, would we rather Reid stick to only white, straight characters?
So, where does that leave me?
Despite my awareness of these nuances, I can’t deny the deep enjoyment I’ve previously found in these books. Some have stuck with me for years, while others were quick, forgettable reads. That said, it does make me pause and reflect on whether I want to continue supporting certain authors, especially with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new release on the horizon. Reading is heavily political and engaging critically while still enjoying a book is an ongoing practice for me. I won’t lie and say that it’s been easy, especially with Reid’s books having profound impacts on me, it’s something that still gives me ongoing mental dilemmas.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of every book I’ve read from each of these authors.
Emily Henry: Who Doesn’t Love a Pure Love Story?
Book Lovers ⭐ 3.7/5 ⭐
For those who love an unapologetic cliche rom-com.This is your very typical story of ‘big city girl visits small town and falls in love with local beloved boy.’ Nora is the typical cut throat editor, who lives in NYC and gets convinced by her younger sister to travel to, yes you guessed it, Sunshine Falls, for the summer. Charlie is the local bookstore owner and well, once again, you guessed it, they both share their love of books with one another, and ultimately find their love of each other. This book was super entertaining, silly goofy, but be warned, cliches have nothing on Emily Henry.
People we Meet on Vacation ⭐ 3/5 ⭐
For those who will die on the “friends-to-lovers is the superior trope” hill.
Since college, Poppy and Alex have religiously taken a yearly vacation together, and somehow, they are not in love with each other. Until, of course, they are. If you love a friends-to-lovers trope, this might be for you, but personally, it was a little meh.
Beach Read ⭐ 4/5 ⭐
For the ones (like me) who thrive off an enemies-to-lovers energy. January and Augustus have been rivals since college, always trying to one-up each other. When January, in the middle of a personal crisis, retreats to a beach house to write, she finds out Augustus is literally her next-door neighbor. They push each other to be better writers, sparks fly, and you can probably guess the rest. A fun, slightly spicy read that kept me entertained the whole way through.
Happy Place ⭐ 4.8/5 ⭐
For anyone navigating the complexities of evolving friendships and relationships in adulthood. Emily Henry dives a little deeper with this book, which I actually thoroughly enjoyed. Harriet and Wyn are a part of the same friend group and have been since college. Wyn is pursuing woodworking and Harriet is in medical school. This story tells the deep intricacies of change in friendships, especially in adulthood, a theme that particularly hit deep for me. Henry explores what the meaning of happiness is, and what, if anything, is worth sacrificing happiness for. I do think there was a lot more character development in this book, which I loved.
Funny Story ⭐ 4.2/5 ⭐
For those who root for the “underdogs” in tragic love stories. When it comes to childhood best friends figuring out that they are actually in love with each other and run away together, usually the story of the significant others that got discarded are never really in the picture. Or are heavily villainized for standing in the way of the true desisted lovers. Funny Story explores the other set of stories: what happens to the ex’s? What happens when Daphne needs to move out of her and her ex-fiance’s house with no where to go. Well, what happens to Miles, and his need for a new roommate now that his ex-girlfriend moved out. A match made in heaven. Daphne moves in with Miles and they heal together, and find out that they actually have more in common than they were led to believe.
Abby Jimenez: The Best Things Come in Threes
(The Friend Zone Series)
The Friend Zone ⭐ 2.8/5 ⭐
For those who don’t mind a little (or a lot) of emotional cheating in their romance plots. Mmmmm.. I honestly was really disappointed with this book. I read the Part of Your World series first, so my expectations were slightly higher. I was thoroughly let down. Kristen and Josh teetered on the cheating trope, which I adamantly hate and don’t think there is any need or purpose for that. And yes, emotional cheating is still cheating. I also didn’t love that Kristen was not the one to break up with her boyfriend, when clearly she was the one who had feelings for Josh. Another thing, and maybe this is just a personal preference, I do not find it hot or cute or sexy when a man just carries around a gun to protect their women. Like… what in the American? The one thing I enjoyed about this was the real discussions of infertility that are important to highlight. However, I gotta be honest, I felt more emotion with the personal story that Jimenez shared after the book ended, than anything that happened in the book itself.
The Happy Ever After Playlist ⭐ 3/5 ⭐
For those who like their romance with a side of grief.
SPOILER: Sloan loses her fiancé in book #1, and is reeling from this loss in this book. She experiences deep depression given this large grief, going through the motions after such an unexpected loss. And then, she falls in love with none other than the famous Jax Waters. She knows him as Jace Waters, and falls in love with his dog first. Yup, you read that right. Jimenz takes such a large and heavy topic, and dilutes it slightly by showing how life can still be joyful. I did appreciate many aspects of this book, but be warned, it could have been a lot deeper.
Life’s Too Short ⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐
For those who want a romance novel layered with health trauma. Oof, this book was a wild and strange journey. A lot of family trauma, a lot of loss, a lot of discussion on your own mortality. Vanessa takes care of her family, and quite literally has to step in and take care of her younger sister’s new born baby after she relapses. Her very wealthy, very successful, very attractive next door neighbor, Adrian, just so happens to have a soft spot for Vanessa and her new baby. She doesn’t want to fall in love, but inevitably does. I honestly enjoyed this one a lot more than the first two in the series.
(The Part of Your World Series)
Part of Your World ⭐ 2.8/5 ⭐
For those that enjoy watching white women learn how to exist in the common world in their late 30s. As my very wise roommate once said, “A 38 year old white woman learns how to do laundry for the first time in her life.” And that pretty much sums up the basis of the book. An unlikely pairing, Alexis faces the strings that come with being the daughter of world renowned doctors. Daniel is just his small towns mayor that also owns a beautiful bed and breakfast. He’s worked for everything he has in his life. Oh and he’s 28. A little ridiculous, but fairly enjoyable nonetheless.
Yours Truly ⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
For those that like a slow-burn romance with depth and emotional growth. I actually really enjoyed this one. This is probably my favorite of Jimenez’s books. Dr. Briana and Dr. Jacob find each other in the midst of a chaotic series of their own personal short comings. Jacob is extremely socially anxious, but has a wildly extroverted family, while Briana is the caretaker of her small tribe and has always wanted to be a part of a big family. The fake dating - to really being in love trope usually isn’t my cup of tea, but somehow this one hits the mark.
Just for the Summer ⭐ 4.2/5 ⭐
For those that want witty romance with a realistic outlook on healing. I think the way Jimenez ties this book back into the same world as the first two in the series, was quite creative. The banter was funny and witty – Emma and Justin meet on reddit, of all places. I enjoyed the true responsibilities of what it means to step up and take care of your family, contrasted by finding the joys in life whenever you can. This book does dig deeper in trauma, what that looks like, and the work and therapy that you need to put in to overcome it.
Taylor Jenkins Reid: The Heartbreak Chronicles
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ⭐ 5/5 ⭐
For those that love complex queer female protagonists and stories about power, love, and reinvention. I may make a solo post on this book one day. All I can say for now is that this book spoke to me on various levels. I. Loved. It. I loved everything about it, I loved how it transported me into this world that I seriously found myself googling who these characters were at the end. Just to realize that I was being a dumbass, and that of course, they are all fictional. With everything I said before kept in mind, this book is truly one of my favorites of all time.
Maybe in Another Life ⭐ 4/5 ⭐
For those who think that every single decision they make is a life changing decision, this is the book for you. And personally, as someone who is also still figuring out what I want to do with my life, this book was a great read and still fairly relatable three years ago. We are shown two pathways of Hannah’s life, based on one different decision made. A millisecond of a decision. The rest of the book shows these two lives in parallel, and how differently they turn out. But also, how happy Hannah still ends up being despite how wildly different they are. Truly a fascinating concept and a beautiful read.
Malibu Rising ⭐ 4/5 ⭐
For those that love to read about complex family dynamics. Something that Reid does fairly well, is create a large ecosystem within her books, one that blends across many of her novels. Malibu Rising is really just a story of a family navigating their different careers, love life, and.. their famous father. All the good and pretty much all the bad that comes with it. Set in the 80s, we see what LA was like in the height of rockstar fame.
After I do ⭐ 3/5 ⭐
For those that want a more slow pace romance dedicated to falling back in love. One of Reid’s earlier books, wasn’t particularly my favorite. A college sweetheart couple face a breaking point after years of marriage. This book essentially shows how much it takes for a couple to navigate the real hardships of life together. How much one has to actually fight for their loved ones, even if that means taking some time apart first. An interesting concept, but slightly..mundane?
One True Loves ⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
For those that need permission to start over, and reinvent themselves after a loss. This book broke my heart and pieced it back together again, just to break it once more. So, imagine your husband, who you thought was dead, comes back years later (and no, not a ghost story) – just as you’re about to remarry. Yeah. Wild. Explores how someone can change after years of grief, and how it is okay to change and not want the same things you’ve always wanted.
Daisy Jones and the Six ⭐ 4.8/5 ⭐
For those that relish on old 70s rock and are semi-obsessed with Stevie Nicks. I LOVED this book. Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, this book was written in a style of interviews, which was very unique. Despite the style of writing, I really really believed that we got to understand the deep love and loss and heartbreak of each of the characters. One of the few books that portrays addition in a realistic manner, and shows how much sacrifice love takes. And P.S. one of the only times I will say this, but the TV show was just as good.. if not better than the book. And, I can shamelessly say that the soundtrack is on repeat.
Carrie Soto is Back ⭐ 4/5 ⭐
For tennis fans that love to see a female in the center! A very different type of book for Reid, but interesting nonetheless. Carrie Soto is a renowned tennis player, one that comes out of retirement out of pure ego. What does legacy mean? How much do you have to succeed in order to leave a legacy? Or will it always be overshadowed by the next big thing?
Hyperfixation is a Blessing and a Curse
On one hand, it’s comforting to dive into an author’s work, knowing exactly what kind of experience you’re in for. On the other hand, it forces you to confront the ethical dilemmas of the publishing world, the limitations of certain storytelling choices, and your own evolving tastes.
Also.. thoughts on a full post on The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo?
If you have any book review requests, let me know!!