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Mad Love
Alice Amorous, the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, has been living an agonizing lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. But her next book is well overdue and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother-and she needs one fast. That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid and insists that Alice must write the story of his tragic love affair with Psyche. Can Alice do double duty to help Errol and her mother without losing her own sanity?
329 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2010
37 people are currently reading
2071 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Selfors
67 books845 followersSuzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
March 6, 2012
A Week in YA Kissing Books - Haiku Mini Review #3
Cupid wearing black
Wants his true story written
Do I smell clam juice?
Well this was… not really what I expected.
I’ll freely admit that I picked this up because I was looking for brain-sugar. A pick-me up / temporary high after a mentally and emotionally gruelling week. I mean, look at that cover. I know I’m not supposed to judge, but doesn’t it shout “I AM FAIRY FLOSS!”, as if it’s so sweet it could rot your teeth? It’s about a girl that meets cupid, for crying out loud.
Interestingly, it turned out to be the second book I read this week that dealt (albeit more lightly, in this case) with the relationship between mental illness and creativity.
That’s not to say it’s not a light-hearted book, because it is. It’s a romantic comedy of sorts, that takes some liberties with the story of Cupid and Psyche, though not in the way you might expect.
It’s a sweet, touching and ridiculous – and I mean that in the nicest possible way – story about romance novels and lovesickness and family. And clam juice.
I like Selfor’s writing – it’s engaging and witty and it balances the whimsical content (it’s a story about a girl who’s writing a novel with the assistance of Cupid, after all - suspension of belief is required). Despite some of the cheesier moments, it’s also genuinely funny (tell me you don’t want to read a novel about a homicidal kitty called Death Cat) and quirky without being irritating.
Cupid wearing black
Wants his true story written
Do I smell clam juice?
Well this was… not really what I expected.
I’ll freely admit that I picked this up because I was looking for brain-sugar. A pick-me up / temporary high after a mentally and emotionally gruelling week. I mean, look at that cover. I know I’m not supposed to judge, but doesn’t it shout “I AM FAIRY FLOSS!”, as if it’s so sweet it could rot your teeth? It’s about a girl that meets cupid, for crying out loud.
Interestingly, it turned out to be the second book I read this week that dealt (albeit more lightly, in this case) with the relationship between mental illness and creativity.
That’s not to say it’s not a light-hearted book, because it is. It’s a romantic comedy of sorts, that takes some liberties with the story of Cupid and Psyche, though not in the way you might expect.
It’s a sweet, touching and ridiculous – and I mean that in the nicest possible way – story about romance novels and lovesickness and family. And clam juice.
I like Selfor’s writing – it’s engaging and witty and it balances the whimsical content (it’s a story about a girl who’s writing a novel with the assistance of Cupid, after all - suspension of belief is required). Despite some of the cheesier moments, it’s also genuinely funny (tell me you don’t want to read a novel about a homicidal kitty called Death Cat) and quirky without being irritating.
April 23, 2013
Mad Love's main character is Alice Amorous, and I thought she made a fine heroine. She was a good combination of sass and sweetness, and I thought she held her own very well against all the crazies around her. She's a character that really does seem to have it all together: when she makes a mistake or shows a lapse in good judgment, it's more because of her circumstances than who she is as a person. There was something very cheer-worthy about her, and I had a pretty easy time relating to her. Unfortunately, her story didn't seem all that realistic to me. I just had a hard time believing that any young adult other than, say, Christopher Paolini could write a book and have it be passed off as the product of a prolific bestselling author. My "Yeah Right" radar was buzzing all over the place. I guess the story elements were a little too "out there" for me. Like, nearly everybody is sick, or dying, or has something wrong with them (eating disorder, bipolar disorder, cancer, etc). In my opinion, very few books can get away with that much "drama" and it just seemed like with Mad Love, there were too many things going on.
As for the love story (Errol's story, that is)...I think I'm just getting tired of love stories that have to be so hard. So depressing. Not that I like the other extreme - where everything's butterflies, rainbows, and boy band songs - but...Errol's character and his story didn't work for me. He reminded me too much of this other guy in YA fiction that I kind of have an issue with (name rhymes with Mace Fayland). When it comes to love interests, I have two tolerable types: the genuinely good-natured, loyal, respectful/respectable, slightly-innocent guy, or the hardened-exterior, attitude-that-masks vulnerability brooder-with-a-heart-of-gold. And Errol wasn't either of those. Plus he really gave off a creepy vibe that I never really got over...
Above all, the premise of Mad Love is built around the idea that the traditional myth of Cupid and Psyche is wrong/not the whole story. See, I kind of loooove the myth of C&P, it's actually my favorite of the Greco-Roman myths, most of which, if you haven't noticed, are just bummer sad. I think that's why I loved the C&P story so much - it's one of the very few that has a happy ending. But see...in this story, that's kinda messed with. The story of Mad Love was definitely creative and interesting, but I guess I'm just too much a fan of the original myth. And in all honesty, that's probably why the story just didn't make a fan out of me. I mean, really! If you want a bummer-sad myth with unrequited love and dying and madness and sadness, there's a plethora of choices! Why mess with one of the happy ones?
The good news is, though, that most of you probably don't feel the same way I do. In that case, there's nothing keeping you from potentially loving this book :)
As for the love story (Errol's story, that is)...I think I'm just getting tired of love stories that have to be so hard. So depressing. Not that I like the other extreme - where everything's butterflies, rainbows, and boy band songs - but...Errol's character and his story didn't work for me. He reminded me too much of this other guy in YA fiction that I kind of have an issue with (name rhymes with Mace Fayland). When it comes to love interests, I have two tolerable types: the genuinely good-natured, loyal, respectful/respectable, slightly-innocent guy, or the hardened-exterior, attitude-that-masks vulnerability brooder-with-a-heart-of-gold. And Errol wasn't either of those. Plus he really gave off a creepy vibe that I never really got over...
Above all, the premise of Mad Love is built around the idea that the traditional myth of Cupid and Psyche is wrong/not the whole story. See, I kind of loooove the myth of C&P, it's actually my favorite of the Greco-Roman myths, most of which, if you haven't noticed, are just bummer sad. I think that's why I loved the C&P story so much - it's one of the very few that has a happy ending. But see...in this story, that's kinda messed with. The story of Mad Love was definitely creative and interesting, but I guess I'm just too much a fan of the original myth. And in all honesty, that's probably why the story just didn't make a fan out of me. I mean, really! If you want a bummer-sad myth with unrequited love and dying and madness and sadness, there's a plethora of choices! Why mess with one of the happy ones?
The good news is, though, that most of you probably don't feel the same way I do. In that case, there's nothing keeping you from potentially loving this book :)
September 7, 2016
I am an official fan of Selfors. She always write stories that have a magical element in them, but sets them with modern characters and/or settings. What's that genre called? Magical realism I think, well she is good at it.
Alice Amorous is the daughter of the Queen of the Romance, Belinda Amorous. She writes what people would call "trashy" romance novels, but she has a knack for it and has loads of fans. Her mom is successful, but there has always been something that has been odd about her. They find out what she has a bi-polar disorder. She is sent to a place so she can recover, while Alice has to keep things in order while she's gone. The problem is that it has to be kept a secret. The publishing house, her fans, and the public in general cannot know about it. Only a few trusted people know what is really going on. As the summer progresses Alice is having a hard time keeping up with the lies, and the ground falls from under her when her mom's publishing company threatens to withold the royalties and take back her advance if she doesn't write a book pronto. How can Alice tell her mom that? She can't, she has to get better and there is no way she can write a book now. In comes Errol, a dark strange weird guy that claims he is cupid and that Alice is destined to write his "real" story. She tries to steer clear of him, but this guy is persistent. Then there is this other guy she's been crushing on who she dubs, the Skateboard guy. Can she deal with a lunatic, a possible romance, and trying to salvage her mom's career and reputation?
Even though Alice has the brunt of all the responsibility, she has great adults that surround her. Then there is the annoying, but complicated Realm. She plays an odd, but important role in the story. She kind of forces Alice to come to terms with the truth. It was kind of funny, and sweet to see the interaction between Tony (skateboard guy) and Alice. I wish we could have seen more scenes between them, but it was understandable that we didn't because Alice had A LOT going on.
I was so excited to read this book, and the magic that was interwoven in it was so good. What bothered me some was Errol, though interesting he always came off to me as a little creepy and depressing. That aside though I thought it was a great story of how magic can be real, and that everybody has that special (I hate using that word but I think it fits here) something.
Alice Amorous is the daughter of the Queen of the Romance, Belinda Amorous. She writes what people would call "trashy" romance novels, but she has a knack for it and has loads of fans. Her mom is successful, but there has always been something that has been odd about her. They find out what she has a bi-polar disorder. She is sent to a place so she can recover, while Alice has to keep things in order while she's gone. The problem is that it has to be kept a secret. The publishing house, her fans, and the public in general cannot know about it. Only a few trusted people know what is really going on. As the summer progresses Alice is having a hard time keeping up with the lies, and the ground falls from under her when her mom's publishing company threatens to withold the royalties and take back her advance if she doesn't write a book pronto. How can Alice tell her mom that? She can't, she has to get better and there is no way she can write a book now. In comes Errol, a dark strange weird guy that claims he is cupid and that Alice is destined to write his "real" story. She tries to steer clear of him, but this guy is persistent. Then there is this other guy she's been crushing on who she dubs, the Skateboard guy. Can she deal with a lunatic, a possible romance, and trying to salvage her mom's career and reputation?
Even though Alice has the brunt of all the responsibility, she has great adults that surround her. Then there is the annoying, but complicated Realm. She plays an odd, but important role in the story. She kind of forces Alice to come to terms with the truth. It was kind of funny, and sweet to see the interaction between Tony (skateboard guy) and Alice. I wish we could have seen more scenes between them, but it was understandable that we didn't because Alice had A LOT going on.
I was so excited to read this book, and the magic that was interwoven in it was so good. What bothered me some was Errol, though interesting he always came off to me as a little creepy and depressing. That aside though I thought it was a great story of how magic can be real, and that everybody has that special (I hate using that word but I think it fits here) something.
February 23, 2011
This fantasy reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, "Don Juan DeMarco." As in the movie, a troubled legendary character comes to life seeking help from the main character, but really ends up helping the main character even more.
Errol, aka Eros, aka Cupid, was just too lovable. Sure he had a bad boy vibe that I rarely fall for, but he was just so tragic, I really wanted to help him. I loved Alice's relationship with Errol, it wasn't romantic, but there was chemistry bubbling under the surface. It was great to see how complex their friendship was and how much they cared about each other even though they weren't in love.
Tony couldn't be any more of my type of guy. A super hot, sweet guy, and he has glasses! The jealousy between Tony and Errol was cute and never over the top. I loved that ultimately he understood Alice's friendship with Errol and never got possessive or creepy.
Alice was a great lead character and she was so well written that you could really understand her feelings about protecting her mother and having to hold it all together. But she was never hopelessly alone because she always had the support of her neighbors who were basically her family.
I love a unique story and this one really fits the bill. The author knows how to make the fantasy world of Cupid believable while still dealing with real world problems and issues.
I loved this story and the characters really made this book a keeper for me.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
Errol, aka Eros, aka Cupid, was just too lovable. Sure he had a bad boy vibe that I rarely fall for, but he was just so tragic, I really wanted to help him. I loved Alice's relationship with Errol, it wasn't romantic, but there was chemistry bubbling under the surface. It was great to see how complex their friendship was and how much they cared about each other even though they weren't in love.
Tony couldn't be any more of my type of guy. A super hot, sweet guy, and he has glasses! The jealousy between Tony and Errol was cute and never over the top. I loved that ultimately he understood Alice's friendship with Errol and never got possessive or creepy.
Alice was a great lead character and she was so well written that you could really understand her feelings about protecting her mother and having to hold it all together. But she was never hopelessly alone because she always had the support of her neighbors who were basically her family.
I love a unique story and this one really fits the bill. The author knows how to make the fantasy world of Cupid believable while still dealing with real world problems and issues.
I loved this story and the characters really made this book a keeper for me.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
June 10, 2018
2.5**
From the book jacket: As the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life for sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous should be pretty good. But ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness, Alice has been forced to maintain a brave front – lying to her new crush, Tony; answering fan letters; forging her mother’s signature; telling the publisher that all is well. Now time is running out, and so is their money. The next book is overdue and the Queen can’t write it. Alice needs to deliver a new novel for her mother – and she needs to come up with one fast. That’s when she meets Errol, a strange guy claiming to be Cupid, who insists that Alice must write about his tragic romance with Psyche – the greatest love story of all time.
My reactions
Okay, I knew it was a YA romance going into it, and I definitely see the appeal for the target audience. You have cute guys, cute “meets,” a couple of surrogate parents in the neighbors, a nemesis in a troubled teenager who is visiting her grandmother for the summer, and more drama than you can shake a stick at. Add in the Greek mythology and a touch of magical realism and you have a pretty good idea for a successful teen romance.
But it’s not really my cup of tea. I have trouble suspending disbelief this far, and the teen angst just sets my teeth on edge. I’m clearly too old for this.
Still, there are moments in the story that really captured my attention and that kept me turning pages Selfors deals with some heavy issues here including mental illness, tolerance and anorexia. If only one kid gets the message that telling the truth and seeking help for problems is far better than trying to hide them, then I think that’s a success.
From the book jacket: As the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life for sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous should be pretty good. But ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness, Alice has been forced to maintain a brave front – lying to her new crush, Tony; answering fan letters; forging her mother’s signature; telling the publisher that all is well. Now time is running out, and so is their money. The next book is overdue and the Queen can’t write it. Alice needs to deliver a new novel for her mother – and she needs to come up with one fast. That’s when she meets Errol, a strange guy claiming to be Cupid, who insists that Alice must write about his tragic romance with Psyche – the greatest love story of all time.
My reactions
Okay, I knew it was a YA romance going into it, and I definitely see the appeal for the target audience. You have cute guys, cute “meets,” a couple of surrogate parents in the neighbors, a nemesis in a troubled teenager who is visiting her grandmother for the summer, and more drama than you can shake a stick at. Add in the Greek mythology and a touch of magical realism and you have a pretty good idea for a successful teen romance.
But it’s not really my cup of tea. I have trouble suspending disbelief this far, and the teen angst just sets my teeth on edge. I’m clearly too old for this.
Still, there are moments in the story that really captured my attention and that kept me turning pages Selfors deals with some heavy issues here including mental illness, tolerance and anorexia. If only one kid gets the message that telling the truth and seeking help for problems is far better than trying to hide them, then I think that’s a success.
March 2, 2017
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-
Well, that was certainly interesting. Suzanne Selfor's writing gets very mixed reviews, and I can honestly see why. Her stories are very strange indeed, setting fantasy or magical creatures and events in the real world, in very contemporary settings, yet in my opinion, it works. They are very plausible, which is always my biggest problem with reading stories like this: they aren't made plausible in the slightest.
Anyway, I really liked this. While it's not my favorite novel by her, it was still charming and I liked the ideas presented. As someone growing up with a very long history of mental illness in the family, and having a mom who suffers from two different mental disorders, it's very hard to deal with, and I felt the main character's struggles with that in this novel.
It's also a rarity to see novels featuring authors or writing, and I liked that glimpse into that kind of world.
At times the story felt sort of slow and dragged, and at other parts, it felt like it moved too fast, especially with the huge climax that happens near the end of the book.
Despite not having too much to say about it, I still enjoyed it and I'm glad I've finally read all of her YA novels, a goal I've had for a while!
Well, that was certainly interesting. Suzanne Selfor's writing gets very mixed reviews, and I can honestly see why. Her stories are very strange indeed, setting fantasy or magical creatures and events in the real world, in very contemporary settings, yet in my opinion, it works. They are very plausible, which is always my biggest problem with reading stories like this: they aren't made plausible in the slightest.
Anyway, I really liked this. While it's not my favorite novel by her, it was still charming and I liked the ideas presented. As someone growing up with a very long history of mental illness in the family, and having a mom who suffers from two different mental disorders, it's very hard to deal with, and I felt the main character's struggles with that in this novel.
It's also a rarity to see novels featuring authors or writing, and I liked that glimpse into that kind of world.
At times the story felt sort of slow and dragged, and at other parts, it felt like it moved too fast, especially with the huge climax that happens near the end of the book.
Despite not having too much to say about it, I still enjoyed it and I'm glad I've finally read all of her YA novels, a goal I've had for a while!
August 3, 2011
In a lot of ways, Mad Love surprised me. I was expecting a cutesy love story without much depth to it. Yet that is not what I got. Mad Love tells the tale of Alice and Errol. Alice is the daughter of the Queen of Romance. Whereas Errol is the original King of Romance, Cupid. And no, he is a little kid running around with a quiver of arrows. These two come together when Alice is forced to masquerade as the Queen of Romance while her mother is secretly seeking treatment for a mental illness.
Mad Love succeeds on a lot of levels. Alice probably being at the top of my list. She is easy to relate to. I loved her voice. And she was just a blast to read about. Another aspect that I loved was how the novel could be so lighthearted, but also switch over to the serious side. Last, but definitely not least is Errol. On certain points, Errol is a hard character to describe. Yes, I liked him. But I loved his background even more. Selfors tells his tale in such a heartwarming way that it simply just too hard not to love him.
Ultimately, Mad Love was a blast. True, I do have some unanswered questions that I wish could have been answered. But overall, Mad Love is a quirky, cute read that leaves you with a nice warm feeling.
Mad Love succeeds on a lot of levels. Alice probably being at the top of my list. She is easy to relate to. I loved her voice. And she was just a blast to read about. Another aspect that I loved was how the novel could be so lighthearted, but also switch over to the serious side. Last, but definitely not least is Errol. On certain points, Errol is a hard character to describe. Yes, I liked him. But I loved his background even more. Selfors tells his tale in such a heartwarming way that it simply just too hard not to love him.
Ultimately, Mad Love was a blast. True, I do have some unanswered questions that I wish could have been answered. But overall, Mad Love is a quirky, cute read that leaves you with a nice warm feeling.
February 17, 2013
No he dormido,pero lo terminé el mismo día. Un libro muy ameno y divertido. Me dió mucha pena con Alice y toda la situación que estaba viviendo con su mamá.
Una historia muy fantasiosa,divertida.refrescante y sobretodo muy juvenil,pero muy bien escrita. La autora tratò temas serios con el debido respeto y dignidad. Me reí en cantidad con varias situaciones del libro.Si quieres pasar un rato agradable con una lectura ligera y divertida;este es el libro!
Una historia muy fantasiosa,divertida.refrescante y sobretodo muy juvenil,pero muy bien escrita. La autora tratò temas serios con el debido respeto y dignidad. Me reí en cantidad con varias situaciones del libro.Si quieres pasar un rato agradable con una lectura ligera y divertida;este es el libro!
February 4, 2014
It is a nice story. A bit boring sometimes. I really think Alice was a re encarnation of Phyque but she wasn't :(
However, I like the couple that she and Tony made and although Errol dies everyone have their happily ever after.
After all, anyone knows that a happy end is the first rule when you write a romantic novel ;)
However, I like the couple that she and Tony made and although Errol dies everyone have their happily ever after.
After all, anyone knows that a happy end is the first rule when you write a romantic novel ;)
February 28, 2020
Fun fact - this book was originally published on my birthday (November 18th)!
July 2, 2011
Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/
If i had to sum up this book in one word, it would be FUN. The book is sort of magical realism, real characters, magical element. It's completely different to every other magical book out there because it's magic in the real world, not magic in a new world or a parallel world like in urban fantasy, as well as this, the main characters doesn't have any powers or anything, which is good.
This book is really cute, I knew it would be from the front cover because it's pink and love hearty and that just screams CUTE! at me. I mean, a daughter of a romance writer meets Cupid? that's just adorable! I just loved the cute aspect, it's the type of book you can just sit down with any time because it doesn't really take a lot of preparing for like a lot of 'dark' young adult and teen books out there anymore, I mean, it's the type of book I could give to a thirteen year old and not have to worry about being shouted at by her mum. That's not to say that this book is happy! happy! happy! because there are some sad aspects which I won't get too deep into now, but compared to the majority of books for this age group out it's very, very tame.
So yeah, I'm doing squeeing over how cute this book is, I should do some real reviewing right? Okay, the characters were great, Selfor's doesn't go too deep with the characterisation and the book is very much a show and don't tell book, as in Selfor's gives us information through actions rather than paragraph after paragraph of explanation and this means that we get all the information we need without having to hear loads and loads about Alice's looks or her Mom's illness but you still don't feel like there is any information missing.
There is a wide range of characters from our 'main' characters Alice and Errol, to the background but still important characters, tony, Mrs Bobot, The Reverand and Archibald are all amazing characters. The character of Alice is lovely, we see her thoughts, which are quite often humorous and because she is just a normal teenage girl it's easy to relate to her which I suppose is always a good thing. Errol is like the typical angsty YA boy toned down, he has issues, and he has a past but can still be funny and lovely and likeable and I really liked Errol. Tony was adorable, I keep using that word! But yeah, Tony...EEEEEE!! He is just the cutest boy ever, extremely likeable, totally sweet and the perfect match for Alice! Then, there is Alice's tenants, Mrs Bobot, the mother hen with a big crush on the Reverand, Archibald, the reverand's gay roomate, Realm, Mrs Bobot's emo granddaughter all supply laughs and gasps to the book and these keep the book as cute as it is!
There is a really sweet love story there as well, despite the main plot being Errol and his story there is also Alice's budding romance with Tony, the new guy in town which is developed perrrrrfectly! We see the crush stage, the nervous stage, the awkward stage and all of it is just sweet! It develops just like a real life crush that any teenage girl can relate to!
If I had any issues with this story it was the pacing, I never wanted to put it down, but it did have some slow points, the beginning half of the book is sort of still establishing whats going on and most of the events don't actually happen until the second half which may make it difficult for some readers to get into, I also think that the love story should have been developed more. Some readers may have liked Tony popping up at some points but I think that for a book about the true meaning of love,w e should have seen Tony more! (Plus I love Tony!).
I think this book is suitable for readers of any age and because of this the content may not be interesting for older readers, however I personally very much enjoyed this book. Despite this book being cute, it touches on some powerful issues and has a very strong meaning which is executed almost flawlessly!
Overall rating: A-
If i had to sum up this book in one word, it would be FUN. The book is sort of magical realism, real characters, magical element. It's completely different to every other magical book out there because it's magic in the real world, not magic in a new world or a parallel world like in urban fantasy, as well as this, the main characters doesn't have any powers or anything, which is good.
This book is really cute, I knew it would be from the front cover because it's pink and love hearty and that just screams CUTE! at me. I mean, a daughter of a romance writer meets Cupid? that's just adorable! I just loved the cute aspect, it's the type of book you can just sit down with any time because it doesn't really take a lot of preparing for like a lot of 'dark' young adult and teen books out there anymore, I mean, it's the type of book I could give to a thirteen year old and not have to worry about being shouted at by her mum. That's not to say that this book is happy! happy! happy! because there are some sad aspects which I won't get too deep into now, but compared to the majority of books for this age group out it's very, very tame.
So yeah, I'm doing squeeing over how cute this book is, I should do some real reviewing right? Okay, the characters were great, Selfor's doesn't go too deep with the characterisation and the book is very much a show and don't tell book, as in Selfor's gives us information through actions rather than paragraph after paragraph of explanation and this means that we get all the information we need without having to hear loads and loads about Alice's looks or her Mom's illness but you still don't feel like there is any information missing.
There is a wide range of characters from our 'main' characters Alice and Errol, to the background but still important characters, tony, Mrs Bobot, The Reverand and Archibald are all amazing characters. The character of Alice is lovely, we see her thoughts, which are quite often humorous and because she is just a normal teenage girl it's easy to relate to her which I suppose is always a good thing. Errol is like the typical angsty YA boy toned down, he has issues, and he has a past but can still be funny and lovely and likeable and I really liked Errol. Tony was adorable, I keep using that word! But yeah, Tony...EEEEEE!! He is just the cutest boy ever, extremely likeable, totally sweet and the perfect match for Alice! Then, there is Alice's tenants, Mrs Bobot, the mother hen with a big crush on the Reverand, Archibald, the reverand's gay roomate, Realm, Mrs Bobot's emo granddaughter all supply laughs and gasps to the book and these keep the book as cute as it is!
There is a really sweet love story there as well, despite the main plot being Errol and his story there is also Alice's budding romance with Tony, the new guy in town which is developed perrrrrfectly! We see the crush stage, the nervous stage, the awkward stage and all of it is just sweet! It develops just like a real life crush that any teenage girl can relate to!
If I had any issues with this story it was the pacing, I never wanted to put it down, but it did have some slow points, the beginning half of the book is sort of still establishing whats going on and most of the events don't actually happen until the second half which may make it difficult for some readers to get into, I also think that the love story should have been developed more. Some readers may have liked Tony popping up at some points but I think that for a book about the true meaning of love,w e should have seen Tony more! (Plus I love Tony!).
I think this book is suitable for readers of any age and because of this the content may not be interesting for older readers, however I personally very much enjoyed this book. Despite this book being cute, it touches on some powerful issues and has a very strong meaning which is executed almost flawlessly!
Overall rating: A-
December 22, 2010
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Coffeehouse Angel by Selfors so I was excited to read Mad Love. I just had to see what else Suzanne had in store for us. We are introduced to Alice who is a famous author's daughter. She hides tons of secrets about her mother. Everyone thinks her mother is off working on her latest novel while Alice and the people who live in her building know the truth. The truth is that The Queen Of Romance is having mental problems. Alice goes to her mom's signing in her place and meets a guy named Errol who claims he's cupid. He wants Alice to write his story, the story of him and Psyche. First off, I'll say that I didn't know much about this story going in which is ironic because I'm such a believer in love and all things having to do with love. Alice also meets another guy Tony, aka skateboard guy. She admires him from a far through her window for a few weeks than finally bumps into him. Fate?
We are taken down the long winding road of Alice helping Errol write his story and Alice getting to know Tony. I kind of felt Errol was a jerk at first to Alice making her do what he wanted but I kind of understood since he didn't have much time left and he wanted his story written. I instantly liked Tony. I laughed out loud when he said he liked cereal too during a conversation with Alice.
I enjoyed watching Alice begin to learn how serious her mom's condition is, and how to grow up and be responsible. She was just so young trying to juggle all the problems of a household on her own and that broke my heart.
Selfors knows how to make me laugh, smile, cry for Alice, and have a good time getting to know the characters. I also liked all the other characters throughout the book.
Overall: I really liked Mad Love! It was a sweet wonderful story!
Cover: Love the cover! It's so simple but neat. I love the heart and I love the words inside it.
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
We are taken down the long winding road of Alice helping Errol write his story and Alice getting to know Tony. I kind of felt Errol was a jerk at first to Alice making her do what he wanted but I kind of understood since he didn't have much time left and he wanted his story written. I instantly liked Tony. I laughed out loud when he said he liked cereal too during a conversation with Alice.
I enjoyed watching Alice begin to learn how serious her mom's condition is, and how to grow up and be responsible. She was just so young trying to juggle all the problems of a household on her own and that broke my heart.
Selfors knows how to make me laugh, smile, cry for Alice, and have a good time getting to know the characters. I also liked all the other characters throughout the book.
Overall: I really liked Mad Love! It was a sweet wonderful story!
Cover: Love the cover! It's so simple but neat. I love the heart and I love the words inside it.
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
February 18, 2011
QUICK OVERVIEW:
If you're looking for a cute read that touches on serious topics then you need look no further, Mad Love is the book for you.
REVIEW:
I really enjoyed Mad Love. It was a very cute read, but it definitely wasn't the fluffy type of cute. It touched on some very serious issues and I thought it had a great underlying theme.
The characters were pretty okay in this book. I didn't love them all the time, but they all kind of grew on me. You don't get too developed in the characters lives though, but at the same time you do. I could tell you how the characters felt about something happening during the book, but they weren't developed enough that I could tell you how they felt about un-book related things.
The plot remained steady throughout the book. I found myself wanting a little more to happen during certain points, but as soon as I felt that, a little something would happen to keep me satisfied.
All in all, this book was a great mood lifter. It puts a different spin on Cupid and his love story. I even found myself tearing up at points. If you're looking for something light and fun but with a good message pick up Mad Love!
FIRST LINE:
"When you're sixteen, summer is supposed to spread before you like a magic carpet, waiting to carry you to new, exciting places."
-Page One
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Plot: 17/20
Characters: 17/20
Creativity: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
=82/100, B
If you're looking for a cute read that touches on serious topics then you need look no further, Mad Love is the book for you.
REVIEW:
I really enjoyed Mad Love. It was a very cute read, but it definitely wasn't the fluffy type of cute. It touched on some very serious issues and I thought it had a great underlying theme.
The characters were pretty okay in this book. I didn't love them all the time, but they all kind of grew on me. You don't get too developed in the characters lives though, but at the same time you do. I could tell you how the characters felt about something happening during the book, but they weren't developed enough that I could tell you how they felt about un-book related things.
The plot remained steady throughout the book. I found myself wanting a little more to happen during certain points, but as soon as I felt that, a little something would happen to keep me satisfied.
All in all, this book was a great mood lifter. It puts a different spin on Cupid and his love story. I even found myself tearing up at points. If you're looking for something light and fun but with a good message pick up Mad Love!
FIRST LINE:
"When you're sixteen, summer is supposed to spread before you like a magic carpet, waiting to carry you to new, exciting places."
-Page One
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Plot: 17/20
Characters: 17/20
Creativity: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 6/10
=82/100, B
August 3, 2011
Romantic and fun, Mad Love warms you’re heart with it’s touching mood and story of love, regret, and hope. There was the ups and downs but overall, it was filled with fun and intensity.
Mad Love starts out slow; the fact that it took some time for the main character to get convinced that someone is a cupid was a bit wearisome. Although, the pace of the plot picks up and we’re introduced to even more characters and more problems are thrown in, keeping the tension at the right level.
Throughout the novel, even though Alice had two hitches at hand to balance; her first love and covering up her mother’s secret, she was able to stay grounded and strong. I was always rooting for Alice because life for her was not always easy. Her being a realistic sixteen year old, problems were always on the line. Although, sweet and trust-worthy Alice had her friends and family at her back, which I really loved. Errol, on the other hand was optimistic and funny. It took some time for their relationship to get on speed but it did get there.
Seemingly fluffy and light-hearted, Mad Love is not. I mean, partly is just you’re cloudy-romantic-light read but Selfors did touch on serious issues that are important in real life.
Even though it has past, Mad Love is absolutely a perfect to read on Valentines day with a warm cup of coffee. I am very much looking forward to other novels by Selfors, as she has impressed me with Mad Love.
Mad Love starts out slow; the fact that it took some time for the main character to get convinced that someone is a cupid was a bit wearisome. Although, the pace of the plot picks up and we’re introduced to even more characters and more problems are thrown in, keeping the tension at the right level.
Throughout the novel, even though Alice had two hitches at hand to balance; her first love and covering up her mother’s secret, she was able to stay grounded and strong. I was always rooting for Alice because life for her was not always easy. Her being a realistic sixteen year old, problems were always on the line. Although, sweet and trust-worthy Alice had her friends and family at her back, which I really loved. Errol, on the other hand was optimistic and funny. It took some time for their relationship to get on speed but it did get there.
Seemingly fluffy and light-hearted, Mad Love is not. I mean, partly is just you’re cloudy-romantic-light read but Selfors did touch on serious issues that are important in real life.
Even though it has past, Mad Love is absolutely a perfect to read on Valentines day with a warm cup of coffee. I am very much looking forward to other novels by Selfors, as she has impressed me with Mad Love.
February 25, 2011
I'll start off by saying that I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't.
Part of my dislike for MAD LOVE may be my own fault. I think I was expecting a bit more from this novel, but it's really quite fluffy and juvenile, which may have caught me off guard.
Secondly, I did not like Alice. At all. Her character personality grated on my nerves. I wanted to feel sympathetic towards her situation, but she seemed too self-centered for me to do so. Yes, her life is a bit of a mess and it's unfair for any kid to have to deal with their mother's mental illness, but she doesn't seem at all grateful for those that are there for her, like her neighbors. I would have liked to see a bit more maturity from her character.
The idea behind this novel is interesting and cute, but it just didn't seem to go anywhere. I felt like the same scene kept repeating over and over again with the same results. I simply lost patience.
This novel seems to be reasonably well-liked, so don't let this review stop you from checking it out if the story interests you... I just wanted - and needed - more.
Part of my dislike for MAD LOVE may be my own fault. I think I was expecting a bit more from this novel, but it's really quite fluffy and juvenile, which may have caught me off guard.
Secondly, I did not like Alice. At all. Her character personality grated on my nerves. I wanted to feel sympathetic towards her situation, but she seemed too self-centered for me to do so. Yes, her life is a bit of a mess and it's unfair for any kid to have to deal with their mother's mental illness, but she doesn't seem at all grateful for those that are there for her, like her neighbors. I would have liked to see a bit more maturity from her character.
The idea behind this novel is interesting and cute, but it just didn't seem to go anywhere. I felt like the same scene kept repeating over and over again with the same results. I simply lost patience.
This novel seems to be reasonably well-liked, so don't let this review stop you from checking it out if the story interests you... I just wanted - and needed - more.
June 4, 2011
Although Alice's life might seem normal from the outside, she has a secret - her mother, the famous romance novelist Belinda Amorous, is undergoing treatement for bipolar disorder. Alice has gotten used to taking care of herself while her mother's in the hospital, but when she meets a guy who tries to convince her that he's Cupid (yes, THAT Cupid...), and who asks her to write his life story, she begins to worry she may have inherited her mother's madness.
Self-aware and kind of meta (for example, the characters' names are totally Betty Neels-esque), but ultimately Mad Love is just a romance novel. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, and girls who want a clean love story that touches on both serious issues and paranormalcy will probably adore it, but when the main character started lamenting the constraints of the genre, I'll admit it made me hope that Selfors wouldn't stick to the formula. Unfortunately, she did, and what could have been a really cool story ends up being merely conventional.
Self-aware and kind of meta (for example, the characters' names are totally Betty Neels-esque), but ultimately Mad Love is just a romance novel. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, and girls who want a clean love story that touches on both serious issues and paranormalcy will probably adore it, but when the main character started lamenting the constraints of the genre, I'll admit it made me hope that Selfors wouldn't stick to the formula. Unfortunately, she did, and what could have been a really cool story ends up being merely conventional.
February 21, 2011
3.5 out of 5 rating
This was a pretty okay book. It wasn't super great, but it wasn't horrible either. I think it did have a very important underlying theme though. And it's in an interesting category: YA Contemporary with a little bit of mythology thrown in.
As for the characters, I liked them but I didn't really connect with them. They seemed a little distant. I felt so bad for Alice. Trying to be the parent while keeping her mother's secret from the rest of the world. And Errol was off and on for me (although I think he was supposed to be). At times I felt so bad for him and why he was running out of time to tell his story, and other times I wanted to tell him to chill and that Alice had her own problems to deal with. But I really liked Tony. He was such a sweet character!
The underlying theme was dealing with a family member with a mental illness. I think it was such a strong message that Alice got when she finally realized that she had to be true to herself and that she shouldn't be ashamed of her mother's disease.
This was a pretty okay book. It wasn't super great, but it wasn't horrible either. I think it did have a very important underlying theme though. And it's in an interesting category: YA Contemporary with a little bit of mythology thrown in.
As for the characters, I liked them but I didn't really connect with them. They seemed a little distant. I felt so bad for Alice. Trying to be the parent while keeping her mother's secret from the rest of the world. And Errol was off and on for me (although I think he was supposed to be). At times I felt so bad for him and why he was running out of time to tell his story, and other times I wanted to tell him to chill and that Alice had her own problems to deal with. But I really liked Tony. He was such a sweet character!
The underlying theme was dealing with a family member with a mental illness. I think it was such a strong message that Alice got when she finally realized that she had to be true to herself and that she shouldn't be ashamed of her mother's disease.
June 23, 2011
Sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous is dealing with things that a girl her age shouldn't have to deal with. Her mother, famous romance writer Belinda "Queen of Romance," is bipolar and in treatment, but she doesn't want anyone to know, so Alice must lie to keep the secret. She lives alone with the support of neighbors in her apartment building, and she forges her mother's signature for book signings and tries to communicate for her with the publisher. When the publisher threatens to take back an advance if they don't see a book by the end of the summer, Alice knows she's in trouble.
While at a book signing, a teen named Errol shows up saying he has a great love story: his, and he'd like Alice to write it. Problem is, Errol claims he's Cupid, THE Cupid, and when he tries to prove it to her, Alice things she's getting symptoms of her mother's mental illness.
Overall, I liked it. The end was wrapped up a little too neatly for me, but I like the gentle integration of the myth and the extended apartment "family" that rallies around Alice.
While at a book signing, a teen named Errol shows up saying he has a great love story: his, and he'd like Alice to write it. Problem is, Errol claims he's Cupid, THE Cupid, and when he tries to prove it to her, Alice things she's getting symptoms of her mother's mental illness.
Overall, I liked it. The end was wrapped up a little too neatly for me, but I like the gentle integration of the myth and the extended apartment "family" that rallies around Alice.
July 5, 2011
Belinda Amorous writes romance books some days. A lot of romance books. Other days, she settles into a deep sadness. Those days, she doesn't move around very much. Alice is her daughter trying to pay the bills and keep her mother's bipolar disorder away from the press. But the publishing company is waiting for a book that hasn't been written, and Alice needs to come up with a new novel - soon. In comes Errol, also known as Cupid, asking for his love story to be told. As Alice writes down Errol's story, she falls into her own, crushing on Skateboard Guy, coming to terms with her mother's disorder, and coming to terms with herself. I fell in love with this book right away. It falls into a very rare category, where I believe it can be classified as both a life lesson and an fun read. I really love how she doesn't just use romantic love, which seems to dominate a lot of literature. There's also an emphasis on relationships with friends and family. I'm looking forward to a long relationship with Suzanne Selfors and her books.
June 10, 2015
This book started out with a great concept, the daughter of a famous romance writer trying to cover for her mentally ill mother and write a new romance novel in her name, whilst trying not to fall apart. A girl discovering love for the first time.
But it ended up pretty shallow & mushy. The cupid character it inserted was really lame and boring. The way the myth was told was just... it was supposed to be a new "spin" on the version the "gods" falsely spread, but there was absolutely nothing exciting about it. No real romance, no actual details.
And Alice's romance was the same. Girl meets guy, then gets completely distracted by some crazy cupid guy and forgets about her romantic interest except to have one kiss, let him get shot by an arrow and have an allergic reaction to prove cupid is real, and use him to drive her around everywhere.
Just... lame. Which is a shame, because this story could have been really amazing if the writer had just given it more depth and creativity.
But it ended up pretty shallow & mushy. The cupid character it inserted was really lame and boring. The way the myth was told was just... it was supposed to be a new "spin" on the version the "gods" falsely spread, but there was absolutely nothing exciting about it. No real romance, no actual details.
And Alice's romance was the same. Girl meets guy, then gets completely distracted by some crazy cupid guy and forgets about her romantic interest except to have one kiss, let him get shot by an arrow and have an allergic reaction to prove cupid is real, and use him to drive her around everywhere.
Just... lame. Which is a shame, because this story could have been really amazing if the writer had just given it more depth and creativity.
July 21, 2012
This book was nothing how I imagine it to be...
At first it was a pleasant surprise, then It just went down hill from there, rather disappointing really. This book was less modernization of the "Greek myth" (from what was advertised) to be more of "a young girl dealing with a bipolar mom" kind of book. The mythology itself played less of a story arc in the overall plot (to me) it just hung around in the background.
At first it was a pleasant surprise, then It just went down hill from there, rather disappointing really. This book was less modernization of the "Greek myth" (from what was advertised) to be more of "a young girl dealing with a bipolar mom" kind of book. The mythology itself played less of a story arc in the overall plot (to me) it just hung around in the background.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2011
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors was a quick, cute read. A good mix of mystery, romance and real life issues with a little mythology mixed in. The book held my interest through out but I never really connected with the characters.
I like how this book tackles the real life problem of bipolar depression. Alice has been dealing with her mother's depression and erratic behavior for years. Her mother is now secretly staying in a mental institution and her next book is overdue. Enter Errol who has a story that he wants told. Can they work together to get a book published in time?
I would recommend this book to those who are looking for an sweet, imaginative romance story with quirky characters and a good message.
Content: a couple swear words but otherwise clean
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Source: From Publisher for Review
I like how this book tackles the real life problem of bipolar depression. Alice has been dealing with her mother's depression and erratic behavior for years. Her mother is now secretly staying in a mental institution and her next book is overdue. Enter Errol who has a story that he wants told. Can they work together to get a book published in time?
I would recommend this book to those who are looking for an sweet, imaginative romance story with quirky characters and a good message.
Content: a couple swear words but otherwise clean
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Source: From Publisher for Review
July 29, 2017
Mad Love es mi ultimo libro del reto que me propuse este año. Así que se merece una buena critica.
No es mal libro, pero no es el mejor. Pensé que cupido iba a quedar con ella, pero esta fue la historia con un final triste. Alice vivió una vida dura, por la enfermedad que sufre su madre, es una chica fuerte, y obsesionada con un chico como la común adolescente. Pero falto algo mas, algo que hiciera saltar las chispa, Errol me parecio perfecto; me encanto la parte que le tiro una flecha a Alice y ella pensando que se volvio loca como su mama, para mi fue lo mas emocionante y cómico del libro. Es un libro lleno de sufrimiento, ya que los dos tiene su propia bolsa llena de problema. Que bueno que Errol pudo ir en paz cuando conto la verdadera historia de Cupido.
xxJekaAVargas
No es mal libro, pero no es el mejor. Pensé que cupido iba a quedar con ella, pero esta fue la historia con un final triste. Alice vivió una vida dura, por la enfermedad que sufre su madre, es una chica fuerte, y obsesionada con un chico como la común adolescente. Pero falto algo mas, algo que hiciera saltar las chispa, Errol me parecio perfecto; me encanto la parte que le tiro una flecha a Alice y ella pensando que se volvio loca como su mama, para mi fue lo mas emocionante y cómico del libro. Es un libro lleno de sufrimiento, ya que los dos tiene su propia bolsa llena de problema. Que bueno que Errol pudo ir en paz cuando conto la verdadera historia de Cupido.
xxJekaAVargas
August 14, 2012
i thought this book was super good!!!!! it has susppence and romance and i just couldnt put it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it took me less than 24 hours to read, i read till 3 in the morning then started reading again at 5:15 in the morning!!!!!!
February 18, 2013
This book is AWESOME. By all means i recommend it. If you are a person who likes romance stories, you will find this book ideal for your taste. The period of time of the story is modern days and it places you in a world of fantasy but reality at the same time.
October 28, 2022
This is honestly my favorite book. I've read it at least 4 times and have just started rereading it again.
May 21, 2012
Selfors, S. (2011). Mad Love. New York: Walker & Company.
323 pages.
Appetizer: Alice has been telling a lot of lies lately. She's had to. The biggest lie is that her mom, a semi-famous romance author, is "overseas," researching her next book. The reality is far less glamorous, and despite being tired of the lies, Alice does everything she can to maintain her family's secrets. This becomes almost impossible though, when the family savings are close to gone, her mom's publisher is demanding the next book and Alice speaks on her mother's behalf at a book event and a strange young man in the audience insists Alice tell his story.
The possibly crazy/super attractive/vaguely stalkery guy always wears a black hoodie and claims to be Cupid. Yes, The Cupid. But he goes by Errol now.
When Alice refuses to write "Errol's" story, he begins to make her romantic life (or lack there of) complicated. The skateboarding boy--Tony--who Alice has been admiring from afar is suddenly in her life adding just enough stress that Alice might go crazy (one of her biggest fears).
I know it may seem like it took me over a month to read this book, but don't take that as a judgment on Mad Love. Blame moving across the country and starting a new job.
I wanted to sit around and read this book.
What a breath of fresh air!
If you may remember, few but dear readers, I complained during my Starcrossed review that I was stuck reading a string of mediocre books that were related to Dudley the Dissertation's topic, the gods and creatures of myth. Mad Love has cut the string! It felt sooooo good to dip into a book by someone who can string a bunch of words together in a way that is clever, amusing and tells an engaging story.
This book is well-written and funny. I liked the exploration of Alice struggling to write a romance novel. I actually wound up reading a portion aloud to my writing class (When Alice looks at writing guides and lists the rules for writing a romance: pp. 82-85.)
Although, by mid-novel, I did wish things would speed up plot-wise and that there'd be a little less random craziness and some more clear direction of where the story was going (and that Alice would make more progress on her goals). That feeling didn't leave as I continued to read. (Random horrible storm that Alice must go out in to rescue someone at the end? Whattheheck?!) In the Author's Note, Suzanne Selfors noted that she had to revise this story extensively. Frankly, I thought it could have used another revision or two. It felt like there were a lot of wonderful pieces that just didn't quite fit together. My head was left feeling a little crowded by the book's end. Crowded, but also amused.
Dinner Conversation:
"When you're sixteen, summer is supposed to spread before you like a magic carpet, waiting to carry you to new, exciting places. Paperback novel in hand, bare feet buried in speckled sand, long kisses with a boy in a kayak--that's what it's supposed to be about. Summer, with its coconut and pineapple flavors, with its reggae rhythms, with its endless possibilities for adventure and romance.
But if you asked me on that Monday in July, I'd tell you that there was nothing exciting about my summer forecast. My magic carpet looked more like a plain, beige indoor-outdoor kind of thing and it was nailed solidly to the ground" (p. 3).
"It's easier to tell lies when there are no loving eyes staring back at you.
I told lots of lies.
Deception had become my life. It wasn't a compulsion. I didn't do it for some sort of thrill. I lied constantly because I'd promised my mother that I'd never tell anyone the truth about our situation. Lie upon lie upon lie, heaped into a great big pile. Like a dung beetle, I maneuvered that pile everywhere I went. And I was sick of it" (p. 9).
"The guy stood. "I have a question for Alice."
I tapped my flip-flops against the floor. Though his eyes were somewhat shaded by the rim of his hood, his gaze was intense. "Yes?" I asked.
"I have a love story to tell," he said. "And I need you to write it for me. When can you get started?"
A few women chuckled, then a long span of silence followed as the guy continued to stare at me. Was this a joke?
Tom cleared his throat. "You mean you want Alice's mother to write it? Alice is the Queen of Romance's daughter. Maybe you didn't hear my introduction."
"I know who Alice is," the guy said. "I want her to write my story."
The word "want hung in the air, adding an eerie note to the atmosphere. I shifted in my seat. "Well, that's very nice and everything, but it's your story so you should write it yourself."
"I'm not a writer," he said. "But I lived the story, so I remember every single detail. All you have to do is read through my notes, then write it" (p. 15).
"My name is Errol, but I used to be called Eros. Most know me as Cupid." He continued to stare out the window. "I wasn't named after Cupid. I am Cupid. The original, one and only Cupid."
Music and customer chatter competed with his statement, so no one turned to gawk or snicker. But I'd heard him. A pained smile spread across my face as I pretended to be interested. My suspicions were proven. Something was wrong with him and the last thing I needed was to be on his radar.
"There's only on thing I want," he continued. "And that is to tell my love story to the world. Not the version you find in mythology books, but the real story. The true story. I'm the only person who can tell it and I want you to write it" (p. 55).
"Why couldn't I write Untitled Work in Progress for my mother?
Being the Queen of Romance's daughter made me the Princess of Romance. I may not have inherited her Nordic bone structure, her sexy figure, or her naturally plump lips, but surely I'd inherited something. And maybe that something was the knack for storytelling. I'd gotten Bs in English. I'd been raised on the romance genre. It was such an obvious answer. And what else was I doing with my summer?
Nothing!
I could devote every minute of every day to the project. It didn't have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner, just something that Heartstrings Publishers would accept. This could work. It would work. It had to work." (pp. 81-82)
"Someone was watching me.
Errol.
He stood across the street, looking right at me. Foreboding rolled over me, dark and sinister. If ever there was a time to run, it was then. But I didn't run. I couldn't. Like in a nightmare I stood rooted to the spot.
"Alice?" Tony touched my arm.
Errol's hood concealed most of his face, but his mouth was tight with determination. He held his left arm straight out. Then he pulled his right hand to his chest. Something was going to happen. Something bad. I felt as helpless as a small creature caught in headlights.
And then, BAM!
Something collided with my chest. A jolt shot through my body, electrifying the tips of my fingers and toes" (pp. 87-88).
"In an odd way I suddenly felt better, because of the two of us standing in that bedroom, Errol was clearly the crazier. He thought he was the Roman god Cupid. Sure, I might have heard a voice in my head; sure, I might have gone a bit wacko for a few hours, but I had no delusions about my identity. I wasn't Isis, or Supergirl, or Bella Swan. I was Alice Amorous, daughter of a semifamous, mentally ill romance writer, who would soon be getting food stamps if her mother didn't turn in another book. Which I was supposed to be writing." (p. 137)
323 pages.
Appetizer: Alice has been telling a lot of lies lately. She's had to. The biggest lie is that her mom, a semi-famous romance author, is "overseas," researching her next book. The reality is far less glamorous, and despite being tired of the lies, Alice does everything she can to maintain her family's secrets. This becomes almost impossible though, when the family savings are close to gone, her mom's publisher is demanding the next book and Alice speaks on her mother's behalf at a book event and a strange young man in the audience insists Alice tell his story.
The possibly crazy/super attractive/vaguely stalkery guy always wears a black hoodie and claims to be Cupid. Yes, The Cupid. But he goes by Errol now.
When Alice refuses to write "Errol's" story, he begins to make her romantic life (or lack there of) complicated. The skateboarding boy--Tony--who Alice has been admiring from afar is suddenly in her life adding just enough stress that Alice might go crazy (one of her biggest fears).
I know it may seem like it took me over a month to read this book, but don't take that as a judgment on Mad Love. Blame moving across the country and starting a new job.
I wanted to sit around and read this book.
What a breath of fresh air!
If you may remember, few but dear readers, I complained during my Starcrossed review that I was stuck reading a string of mediocre books that were related to Dudley the Dissertation's topic, the gods and creatures of myth. Mad Love has cut the string! It felt sooooo good to dip into a book by someone who can string a bunch of words together in a way that is clever, amusing and tells an engaging story.
This book is well-written and funny. I liked the exploration of Alice struggling to write a romance novel. I actually wound up reading a portion aloud to my writing class (When Alice looks at writing guides and lists the rules for writing a romance: pp. 82-85.)
Although, by mid-novel, I did wish things would speed up plot-wise and that there'd be a little less random craziness and some more clear direction of where the story was going (and that Alice would make more progress on her goals). That feeling didn't leave as I continued to read. (Random horrible storm that Alice must go out in to rescue someone at the end? Whattheheck?!) In the Author's Note, Suzanne Selfors noted that she had to revise this story extensively. Frankly, I thought it could have used another revision or two. It felt like there were a lot of wonderful pieces that just didn't quite fit together. My head was left feeling a little crowded by the book's end. Crowded, but also amused.
Dinner Conversation:
"When you're sixteen, summer is supposed to spread before you like a magic carpet, waiting to carry you to new, exciting places. Paperback novel in hand, bare feet buried in speckled sand, long kisses with a boy in a kayak--that's what it's supposed to be about. Summer, with its coconut and pineapple flavors, with its reggae rhythms, with its endless possibilities for adventure and romance.
But if you asked me on that Monday in July, I'd tell you that there was nothing exciting about my summer forecast. My magic carpet looked more like a plain, beige indoor-outdoor kind of thing and it was nailed solidly to the ground" (p. 3).
"It's easier to tell lies when there are no loving eyes staring back at you.
I told lots of lies.
Deception had become my life. It wasn't a compulsion. I didn't do it for some sort of thrill. I lied constantly because I'd promised my mother that I'd never tell anyone the truth about our situation. Lie upon lie upon lie, heaped into a great big pile. Like a dung beetle, I maneuvered that pile everywhere I went. And I was sick of it" (p. 9).
"The guy stood. "I have a question for Alice."
I tapped my flip-flops against the floor. Though his eyes were somewhat shaded by the rim of his hood, his gaze was intense. "Yes?" I asked.
"I have a love story to tell," he said. "And I need you to write it for me. When can you get started?"
A few women chuckled, then a long span of silence followed as the guy continued to stare at me. Was this a joke?
Tom cleared his throat. "You mean you want Alice's mother to write it? Alice is the Queen of Romance's daughter. Maybe you didn't hear my introduction."
"I know who Alice is," the guy said. "I want her to write my story."
The word "want hung in the air, adding an eerie note to the atmosphere. I shifted in my seat. "Well, that's very nice and everything, but it's your story so you should write it yourself."
"I'm not a writer," he said. "But I lived the story, so I remember every single detail. All you have to do is read through my notes, then write it" (p. 15).
"My name is Errol, but I used to be called Eros. Most know me as Cupid." He continued to stare out the window. "I wasn't named after Cupid. I am Cupid. The original, one and only Cupid."
Music and customer chatter competed with his statement, so no one turned to gawk or snicker. But I'd heard him. A pained smile spread across my face as I pretended to be interested. My suspicions were proven. Something was wrong with him and the last thing I needed was to be on his radar.
"There's only on thing I want," he continued. "And that is to tell my love story to the world. Not the version you find in mythology books, but the real story. The true story. I'm the only person who can tell it and I want you to write it" (p. 55).
"Why couldn't I write Untitled Work in Progress for my mother?
Being the Queen of Romance's daughter made me the Princess of Romance. I may not have inherited her Nordic bone structure, her sexy figure, or her naturally plump lips, but surely I'd inherited something. And maybe that something was the knack for storytelling. I'd gotten Bs in English. I'd been raised on the romance genre. It was such an obvious answer. And what else was I doing with my summer?
Nothing!
I could devote every minute of every day to the project. It didn't have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner, just something that Heartstrings Publishers would accept. This could work. It would work. It had to work." (pp. 81-82)
"Someone was watching me.
Errol.
He stood across the street, looking right at me. Foreboding rolled over me, dark and sinister. If ever there was a time to run, it was then. But I didn't run. I couldn't. Like in a nightmare I stood rooted to the spot.
"Alice?" Tony touched my arm.
Errol's hood concealed most of his face, but his mouth was tight with determination. He held his left arm straight out. Then he pulled his right hand to his chest. Something was going to happen. Something bad. I felt as helpless as a small creature caught in headlights.
And then, BAM!
Something collided with my chest. A jolt shot through my body, electrifying the tips of my fingers and toes" (pp. 87-88).
"In an odd way I suddenly felt better, because of the two of us standing in that bedroom, Errol was clearly the crazier. He thought he was the Roman god Cupid. Sure, I might have heard a voice in my head; sure, I might have gone a bit wacko for a few hours, but I had no delusions about my identity. I wasn't Isis, or Supergirl, or Bella Swan. I was Alice Amorous, daughter of a semifamous, mentally ill romance writer, who would soon be getting food stamps if her mother didn't turn in another book. Which I was supposed to be writing." (p. 137)
April 4, 2017
Mad Love
4/5 stars
This book was so cute. And obviously perfectly appropriate for the Valentines season.
The Plot:
Was very well put together, it took a while before stuff really started happening but eventually once the ball got rolling it was very exciting to follow.
I loved getting both the story in present day and the past and felt like all the characters were really fleshed out.
Characters:
Alice-
I don't know why but I didn't really care for Alice the first half of the book, even though she was written as really relatable I just couldn't find myself connecting to her. (Like I got so frustrated with her in the arrow lovesick story even though I know she couldn't help herself) But as the story went on she actually really grew on me.
Realm-
It's kind of the same situation with her as it is with Alice, except you're supposed to hate Realm at first, and she gets a lot of sad depth.
Errol-
I adored him, he was mysterious and I loved getting to hear his story and and he's funny and attractive and even though Alice kept saying they were just friends I really felt a vibe between the two of them.
Tony-
Was a little cinnamon roll and I wish I got to see more of him.
(All secondary characters including the mom and neighbors)-
We're so well formed and sometimes frustrating in terms of their reacting to Errol, but ultimately like able.
Overall:
I was pleasantly surprised and completely flew through this book.
4/5 stars
This book was so cute. And obviously perfectly appropriate for the Valentines season.
The Plot:
Was very well put together, it took a while before stuff really started happening but eventually once the ball got rolling it was very exciting to follow.
I loved getting both the story in present day and the past and felt like all the characters were really fleshed out.
Characters:
Alice-
I don't know why but I didn't really care for Alice the first half of the book, even though she was written as really relatable I just couldn't find myself connecting to her. (Like I got so frustrated with her in the arrow lovesick story even though I know she couldn't help herself) But as the story went on she actually really grew on me.
Realm-
It's kind of the same situation with her as it is with Alice, except you're supposed to hate Realm at first, and she gets a lot of sad depth.
Errol-
I adored him, he was mysterious and I loved getting to hear his story and and he's funny and attractive and even though Alice kept saying they were just friends I really felt a vibe between the two of them.
Tony-
Was a little cinnamon roll and I wish I got to see more of him.
(All secondary characters including the mom and neighbors)-
We're so well formed and sometimes frustrating in terms of their reacting to Errol, but ultimately like able.
Overall:
I was pleasantly surprised and completely flew through this book.
June 12, 2020
I don't understand. This book is very adorable and nice and heartwarming but why do I didn't see people talking about this book? This book deserves lots of more attention. It's perfect light reading about love, family, friendship, neighbourhood. Though I have to admit that for some reason I cried a lot during reading this book. I'm so weak when it's talking about mental health.
The book talking about Alice, a daughter of super famous romance writer, Belinda. Apparently Belinda suffered Bipolar Disorder and treated on a private mental hospital. That's become a secret since Belinda doesn't want the public to know about this. In the other side, Alice met a guy called Errol who claimed himself as Cupid/Eros and he said he wants Alice to wrote his love story.
Alice might not be the nicest girl. I think some other reader might find her but annoying at the beginning but the character development slowly take impact on her. I always ok when the main character got a nice character development.
This book is really sweet, it excites me in many ways. I really like how Errol is here. Even though sometimes he is so hopeless or just too bossy but there's something that I can't hate nor dislike him. The story has nice combination of contemporary with bit sparks of Greek/Roman mythology.
The book talking about Alice, a daughter of super famous romance writer, Belinda. Apparently Belinda suffered Bipolar Disorder and treated on a private mental hospital. That's become a secret since Belinda doesn't want the public to know about this. In the other side, Alice met a guy called Errol who claimed himself as Cupid/Eros and he said he wants Alice to wrote his love story.
Alice might not be the nicest girl. I think some other reader might find her but annoying at the beginning but the character development slowly take impact on her. I always ok when the main character got a nice character development.
This book is really sweet, it excites me in many ways. I really like how Errol is here. Even though sometimes he is so hopeless or just too bossy but there's something that I can't hate nor dislike him. The story has nice combination of contemporary with bit sparks of Greek/Roman mythology.
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