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A review by jellichor
Lovestruck by Laura Jane Williams
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I own quite a few of Laura Jane William's books but I have only read a few of her fiction novels... I often like the idea of them when I'm in the mood for a meetcute romcom (which is her typical genre) but struggle a little with her writing style. It can feel too forced, like all the characters are constantly on 'cheeky but self important banter' setting, which means a lot of the interactions come across as unrealistic. I find myself rolling my eyes and wondering if people actually talk like this? Am I the only one?
In saying that, I fancied a light romance, can rely on LJW for well rounded characters, and was intrigued by the 'sliding doors' reference to the story. Becca is 35 and looking for The One to start a family with - she is a business owner and is lucky to work with her best friends. It's time. One evening after a manifestation event, Becca receives a timely text from The Ex who she has not spoken to in 5 years, and from this point on we follow 2 paths - one where she does text back... and one where she doesn't...
LJW doesn't always follow the predictable path of a romcom so I wasn't sure where this would go at first, but I soon saw the angle she was going for and guessed the ending quite quickly. There are multiple love interests, quirky friends (I was a big fan of Jia Li), and supportive parents. And as to be expected we experience lots of dates, mild spice levels, and some emotional drama. I'm not 100% sure on the title as its very vague and not really relevant but the one thing I can say is - as a person who has been with their person for 11 years - I found myself massively reminiscing about the very first stage of dating. All the flirting, the firsts, the dinner dates, the anticipation. And the romantic in me liked the phrase 'last first kiss' very much.
Did I like it? Mostly yes. Did it satisfy the #moodreader in me? Yes. Would I recommend it to someone looking for a light romantic page turner? Probably. Not a fan of the book cover though...
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In saying that, I fancied a light romance, can rely on LJW for well rounded characters, and was intrigued by the 'sliding doors' reference to the story. Becca is 35 and looking for The One to start a family with - she is a business owner and is lucky to work with her best friends. It's time. One evening after a manifestation event, Becca receives a timely text from The Ex who she has not spoken to in 5 years, and from this point on we follow 2 paths - one where she does text back... and one where she doesn't...
LJW doesn't always follow the predictable path of a romcom so I wasn't sure where this would go at first, but I soon saw the angle she was going for and guessed the ending quite quickly. There are multiple love interests, quirky friends (I was a big fan of Jia Li), and supportive parents. And as to be expected we experience lots of dates, mild spice levels, and some emotional drama. I'm not 100% sure on the title as its very vague and not really relevant but the one thing I can say is - as a person who has been with their person for 11 years - I found myself massively reminiscing about the very first stage of dating. All the flirting, the firsts, the dinner dates, the anticipation. And the romantic in me liked the phrase 'last first kiss' very much.
Did I like it? Mostly yes. Did it satisfy the #moodreader in me? Yes. Would I recommend it to someone looking for a light romantic page turner? Probably. Not a fan of the book cover though...
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.