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Unlikely Romance
Hi, I'm Kate Bjorkman. What do you do if you've lived a real romance with a great guy and he loves you as much as you love him? Simple, I wrote a romance novel with help from THE ROMANCE WRITER'S PHRASE BOOK. Nothing is made up. I want truth and conflict even in romance. I'm betting you'll want the same.
Hardcover
First published March 1, 1995
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1126 people want to read
About the author
Louise Plummer
13 books34 followersLouise Plummer is a noted author young-adult fiction and a retired associate professor of English for Brigham Young University. She lives in New York, New York with her writer/professor husband Tom. Together they have four sons.
The Plummers moved from Boston to Minnesota in 1971 when Tom took a position at the University of Minnesota. While there, Louise earned a master’s degree in English. They both took positions at BYU in 1985, the same year her first novel, The Romantic Obsessions and Humiliations of Annie Sehlmeier, received the the Delacorte Press First Young Adult Novel Contest, leading to its publication. The book later became a children's choice book with both the New York Public Library and the International Reading Association.
Awards received by subsequent books include Her second novel, ALA Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, Utah Arts Council Best Young Adult Novel, Association for Mormon Letters Best Young Adult Novel, and another New York Public Library Children's Choice Book for her second novel, My Name is Sus5an Smith. The 5 is Silent. The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman was also an ALA Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an Association for Mormon Letters Best Young Adult Novel. Her A Dance For Three was also an ALA Best Book.
She has also written nonfiction books specifically for the Mormon audience and is a popular LDS lecturer.
--Bio courtesy of Wikipedia
The Plummers moved from Boston to Minnesota in 1971 when Tom took a position at the University of Minnesota. While there, Louise earned a master’s degree in English. They both took positions at BYU in 1985, the same year her first novel, The Romantic Obsessions and Humiliations of Annie Sehlmeier, received the the Delacorte Press First Young Adult Novel Contest, leading to its publication. The book later became a children's choice book with both the New York Public Library and the International Reading Association.
Awards received by subsequent books include Her second novel, ALA Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, Utah Arts Council Best Young Adult Novel, Association for Mormon Letters Best Young Adult Novel, and another New York Public Library Children's Choice Book for her second novel, My Name is Sus5an Smith. The 5 is Silent. The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman was also an ALA Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an Association for Mormon Letters Best Young Adult Novel. Her A Dance For Three was also an ALA Best Book.
She has also written nonfiction books specifically for the Mormon audience and is a popular LDS lecturer.
--Bio courtesy of Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
August 9, 2007
Gawky Kate Bjorkman has a rapier wit, genius IQ, and coke-bottle glasses. She’s been in love with Richard, her former neighbor and brother’s best friend, since they were kids, and she describes their budding romance by poking fun at Harlequin novel conventions, which take the lovers into bliss, betrayal, and back again.
I was completely charmed by this intelligent, witty, romantic anti-romance and wish I had discovered it in high school, as I share not only the narrator’s name but her geeky non-heroine qualities. If only I had been able to see that my quirks and smarts were cause for confidence as clearly as my doppelganger does!
I think many young women who are off the beaten track of teenage expectations but still yearn (there's one of those romance novel words) for stories about connection will find a kindred spirit in Kate and comfort in her family and friends, especially Fleur. I also enjoyed how the book was constructed as an "unedited" work in progress, with Kate’s revision notes serving as supplemental information about her life and inner workings.
I was completely charmed by this intelligent, witty, romantic anti-romance and wish I had discovered it in high school, as I share not only the narrator’s name but her geeky non-heroine qualities. If only I had been able to see that my quirks and smarts were cause for confidence as clearly as my doppelganger does!
I think many young women who are off the beaten track of teenage expectations but still yearn (there's one of those romance novel words) for stories about connection will find a kindred spirit in Kate and comfort in her family and friends, especially Fleur. I also enjoyed how the book was constructed as an "unedited" work in progress, with Kate’s revision notes serving as supplemental information about her life and inner workings.
February 23, 2016
This book had the potential to be a five star,...until the end. It is extremely well written and I found myself smiling or laughing during every single chapter. The chapter revisions and phrases from the Romance guide were hysterical and filled in missing pieces. I loved the gawky, too tall, not as pretty heroine from the start, and could feel her pain and joy at all her awkward experiences. *Here come the spoilers* What on earth was the moral of the story?
1) Kate was right, she wasn't pretty or exciting enough to get a guy over foxy Ashley?
2) All men are cheating scum. Even when someone loves you, they just won't be able to help themselves when a hot chick pursues them?
3) With a little groveling, you should put away all your (understandable) insecurities and forgive someone who admitted that Ashley was creepy and nuts, but he kissed her because, "at the time I wanted to"? Come on! His girlfriend was at the same party and they had a date to hold each other as soon as they could get away from their awful dates!
Seriously. This was no Edward/Jacob I love them both thing! This was an I love Kate, am finally happier than I've ever been before, can't let her out of my arms for a second,...but I think I'll cheat on her with the slutty, gross friend I really can't stand. Had she dumped his booty and realized she could do better, I would have given this book 5 stars. What are we teaching our girls here?
Seriously.
1) Kate was right, she wasn't pretty or exciting enough to get a guy over foxy Ashley?
2) All men are cheating scum. Even when someone loves you, they just won't be able to help themselves when a hot chick pursues them?
3) With a little groveling, you should put away all your (understandable) insecurities and forgive someone who admitted that Ashley was creepy and nuts, but he kissed her because, "at the time I wanted to"? Come on! His girlfriend was at the same party and they had a date to hold each other as soon as they could get away from their awful dates!
Seriously. This was no Edward/Jacob I love them both thing! This was an I love Kate, am finally happier than I've ever been before, can't let her out of my arms for a second,...but I think I'll cheat on her with the slutty, gross friend I really can't stand. Had she dumped his booty and realized she could do better, I would have given this book 5 stars. What are we teaching our girls here?
Seriously.
January 2, 2020
This was the book I read with my daughter for December. I don't think she appreciated it quite as much as I did. I think it's a riot and enjoy reading it at Christmas time.
Original Review: I give this book five stars simply because I absolutely love reading it. It is not destined for the classics list or anything, but it can put a smile on my face and make me laugh every time I read it. It seems that every winter when I get that inevitable cold and feel miserable I turn to this book for a quick pick me up.
I was first introduced to this book in my college Young Adult Lit class. The author, Louise Plummer, visited our class (she was friends with my professor, Ann Cannon (or A.E. Cannon as she goes by with her novels)). Ms. Plummer was just as hilarious in person as her writing in this book is. Since that time, this book has remained a favorite of mine and my copy has become well worn.
I would recommend this to any of my friends who like a quick, funny, lighthearted, young adult, chick lit read. What I have learned about myself is that I love to feel good and have a smile on my face when I'm reading. This book does that for me!
Original Review: I give this book five stars simply because I absolutely love reading it. It is not destined for the classics list or anything, but it can put a smile on my face and make me laugh every time I read it. It seems that every winter when I get that inevitable cold and feel miserable I turn to this book for a quick pick me up.
I was first introduced to this book in my college Young Adult Lit class. The author, Louise Plummer, visited our class (she was friends with my professor, Ann Cannon (or A.E. Cannon as she goes by with her novels)). Ms. Plummer was just as hilarious in person as her writing in this book is. Since that time, this book has remained a favorite of mine and my copy has become well worn.
I would recommend this to any of my friends who like a quick, funny, lighthearted, young adult, chick lit read. What I have learned about myself is that I love to feel good and have a smile on my face when I'm reading. This book does that for me!
September 15, 2021
Kate Bjorkman has a romantic Christmas. And six weeks into her relationship, she decides to write it as a romance novel.
The premise is clever and cute, and I'll admit, the book made me crack up a few times. The narrator is a high schooler writing a novel and she includes a lot of meta comments about the writing of the book. Additionally, every few chapters, she includes a page of revision notes that can be pretty funny.
The problem is, just because the premise is that it's a high school novelist doesn't mean I wanna read a book that feels like it was written by a high school novelist. Unfortunately, this book is incredibly amateur from its lack of good line editing to its underdeveloped characters and relationships. Not to mention the fact that the revision notes feel like an excuse to let bad writing slide. But beyond the poor writing, this book is also filled with girl hate, slut shaming, breast obsessions, body shaming, ageism, and glasses hate (like seriously - WHAT eye doctor is gonna tell you you should get contacts so you don't have to wear "those coke bottles" anymore?).
Last but not least, Kate has more romantic chemistry with Fleur than she ever had with Richard, and Kate ogles Ashley's boobs more than she ever ogles Richard's anything. But of course Kate is straight. Of course. This book is so achingly heteronormative that it couldn't be any other way.
The premise is clever and cute, and I'll admit, the book made me crack up a few times. The narrator is a high schooler writing a novel and she includes a lot of meta comments about the writing of the book. Additionally, every few chapters, she includes a page of revision notes that can be pretty funny.
The problem is, just because the premise is that it's a high school novelist doesn't mean I wanna read a book that feels like it was written by a high school novelist. Unfortunately, this book is incredibly amateur from its lack of good line editing to its underdeveloped characters and relationships. Not to mention the fact that the revision notes feel like an excuse to let bad writing slide. But beyond the poor writing, this book is also filled with girl hate, slut shaming, breast obsessions, body shaming, ageism, and glasses hate (like seriously - WHAT eye doctor is gonna tell you you should get contacts so you don't have to wear "those coke bottles" anymore?).
Last but not least, Kate has more romantic chemistry with Fleur than she ever had with Richard, and Kate ogles Ashley's boobs more than she ever ogles Richard's anything. But of course Kate is straight. Of course. This book is so achingly heteronormative that it couldn't be any other way.
February 9, 2023
Full Review on The Candid Cover
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman is a cute and festive romance, and I found it so interesting how the book is written as though the main character is writing it. It tells the story of a girl who falls in love with her brother’s best friend, and it is still relatable despite being written in the 90s. I personally thought the book went a bit overboard as Kate tries to describe events happening in her life just as a cringey romance author would. The first few lines were funny, but once every paragraph is filled with bad descriptions and cheesy metaphors, the story becomes a cringey romance itself. I just wish there was a bit more to the plot than the main character writing her book.
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman is a cute and festive romance, and I found it so interesting how the book is written as though the main character is writing it. It tells the story of a girl who falls in love with her brother’s best friend, and it is still relatable despite being written in the 90s. I personally thought the book went a bit overboard as Kate tries to describe events happening in her life just as a cringey romance author would. The first few lines were funny, but once every paragraph is filled with bad descriptions and cheesy metaphors, the story becomes a cringey romance itself. I just wish there was a bit more to the plot than the main character writing her book.
September 16, 2011
This charming book is really a book-within-a-book, as Kate both regales you with the story of her Christmas romance and comments on her own writing in between chapters. More than anything, I enjoyed the characters, who were not only delightful, but also discussed at length by Narrator Kate, making them all the more real. A very fun book for teens, but especially those who like writing.
November 15, 2019
It was 5 stars till the end, so I’m going with 3-3.5 stars.
It is snarky, feminist af, funny, and sweet. Loved the heroine and all 6 ft of her nerdiness! Her family was the epitome of wholesome. Fleur, one of the secondary characters, is who I wish I was. And Mr. Midgely was definitely one of the best teachers ever, but wish we had gotten a tiny bit more about him at the end. I also loved the organization by starting at the end, and how the main character interrupts her own story with revisions. I giggled and mentally high-fived
Kate so many time in this book!
I was cruising high till the end.
It is snarky, feminist af, funny, and sweet. Loved the heroine and all 6 ft of her nerdiness! Her family was the epitome of wholesome. Fleur, one of the secondary characters, is who I wish I was. And Mr. Midgely was definitely one of the best teachers ever, but wish we had gotten a tiny bit more about him at the end. I also loved the organization by starting at the end, and how the main character interrupts her own story with revisions. I giggled and mentally high-fived
Kate so many time in this book!
I was cruising high till the end.
January 11, 2019
"I'm giving this my best shot. I've got The Romance Writer's Phrase Book right next to the word processor in case I'm at a loss for words, as they say. If you are jaded about romance or have PMS or are on the downside of manic depression and can't stand to read about other people's happiness, then get real. This book is not for you."
A Christmas tradition. Kate is snarky, sweet, funny and a joy to read about. I love how it lampoons and celebrates romance novels all at once. How can you not love a witty and owly six foot tall heroine with a rather geeky love of linguistics? And oh, how I wish The Romance Writer's Phrase Book actually existed! *g*
A Christmas tradition. Kate is snarky, sweet, funny and a joy to read about. I love how it lampoons and celebrates romance novels all at once. How can you not love a witty and owly six foot tall heroine with a rather geeky love of linguistics? And oh, how I wish The Romance Writer's Phrase Book actually existed! *g*
August 3, 2016
I smiled the whole time. This is an example of voice, my friends. Plummer's voice is so clear and likable, that I kid you not, I'd buy a book she wrote about a day at the DMV. This will go on my shelf and not in the goodwill bag.
Laugh out loud funny parts. Parts that made me get out of my chair, hunt my husband down and make him listen as I read said parts to him through snorts and tears.
And so fun that this book was written in 1995- the heroine was a junior in high school and I was a junior in 1995. Like a walk down memory lane with the movie and fashion references.
Laugh out loud funny parts. Parts that made me get out of my chair, hunt my husband down and make him listen as I read said parts to him through snorts and tears.
And so fun that this book was written in 1995- the heroine was a junior in high school and I was a junior in 1995. Like a walk down memory lane with the movie and fashion references.
January 21, 2013
Originally reviewed on Rather Be Reading Blog
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman is actually one of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I’m not sure when I initially read it, but if I had to guess I would say it was around eighth grade. I was really like Kate back then — I wore glasses, I wasn’t exactly Miss Popular, and I was pining away for the most unattainable guy on the planet.
I know it gave me hope that a girl like me — bookish and all — could have her love story too.
Now almost 15 years later (ack! I am having a mini heart attack typing that), my original copy is long gone (be careful about lending your books out, people!) and I am out of college, working, and married. When I saw this book mentioned somewhere last year, I was automatically hit by how much it meant to me back then and I ordered a used copy.
Did it hold up?
From the very beginning, we know that Kate has somehow reached her own happy ending. The fun part for the readers is piecing together how all of that came together, and Kate helps us out by using her handy-dandy romance novel-writing guide to tell us how it really went down. The style isn’t perfect (it gets a bit clunky at times) but it’s definitely refreshing to experience a new style in young adult every now and then. Kate is also sure to include “revisions” to further explain some of the characters and talk through some of the plot and characterization problems. This is where she was at her funniest, and we got to learn more about Kate as a character.
So basically it’s the most romantic time of the year, her best friend has a boyfriend, and Kate’s brother comes home from school with his wife (they married young), Richard (her brother’s best friend who she has loved forever), and Fleur (who she assumes to be Richard’s beautiful girlfriend but instead turns out to be pretty awesome). Will Richard ever see Kate than more than just his best friend’s kid sister? As a leading guy, we don’t get to know Richard all that well… in fact I kind of picture of him as a classic stud, sort of like a young JFK Jr. He’s smart, accomplished, handsome, and funny.
What I love about Kate is that she is completely real. She’s definitely self-conscious but she knows who she is. And while she watches Ashley repeatedly throw herself at Richard (despite that boyfriend of hers), Kate is also left to question the worth of their friendship and if Ashley has ever had her best interest at heart.
Like any teenage romance, there is plenty of drama to go around and while Louise Plummer may let some people off a bit too easily at the end, it’s nice to see the too-tall girl with the bad eyesight win out and not feel like she has to be big-boobed, overly made up to find happiness.
Even after all these years, The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman still holds up as one of my favorite holiday reads. It has the quirky family, the swoony romance, and the perfect dose of Christmas spirit.
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman is actually one of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I’m not sure when I initially read it, but if I had to guess I would say it was around eighth grade. I was really like Kate back then — I wore glasses, I wasn’t exactly Miss Popular, and I was pining away for the most unattainable guy on the planet.
I know it gave me hope that a girl like me — bookish and all — could have her love story too.
Now almost 15 years later (ack! I am having a mini heart attack typing that), my original copy is long gone (be careful about lending your books out, people!) and I am out of college, working, and married. When I saw this book mentioned somewhere last year, I was automatically hit by how much it meant to me back then and I ordered a used copy.
Did it hold up?
From the very beginning, we know that Kate has somehow reached her own happy ending. The fun part for the readers is piecing together how all of that came together, and Kate helps us out by using her handy-dandy romance novel-writing guide to tell us how it really went down. The style isn’t perfect (it gets a bit clunky at times) but it’s definitely refreshing to experience a new style in young adult every now and then. Kate is also sure to include “revisions” to further explain some of the characters and talk through some of the plot and characterization problems. This is where she was at her funniest, and we got to learn more about Kate as a character.
So basically it’s the most romantic time of the year, her best friend has a boyfriend, and Kate’s brother comes home from school with his wife (they married young), Richard (her brother’s best friend who she has loved forever), and Fleur (who she assumes to be Richard’s beautiful girlfriend but instead turns out to be pretty awesome). Will Richard ever see Kate than more than just his best friend’s kid sister? As a leading guy, we don’t get to know Richard all that well… in fact I kind of picture of him as a classic stud, sort of like a young JFK Jr. He’s smart, accomplished, handsome, and funny.
What I love about Kate is that she is completely real. She’s definitely self-conscious but she knows who she is. And while she watches Ashley repeatedly throw herself at Richard (despite that boyfriend of hers), Kate is also left to question the worth of their friendship and if Ashley has ever had her best interest at heart.
Like any teenage romance, there is plenty of drama to go around and while Louise Plummer may let some people off a bit too easily at the end, it’s nice to see the too-tall girl with the bad eyesight win out and not feel like she has to be big-boobed, overly made up to find happiness.
Even after all these years, The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman still holds up as one of my favorite holiday reads. It has the quirky family, the swoony romance, and the perfect dose of Christmas spirit.
December 6, 2019
Reread this afternoon for the millionth time. I adore this book!
12/13/18: yesterday's snowstorm put me in a Kate Bjorkman mood. I love this book!
12/6/19: Kate was screaming to be read again. She never disappoints.
12/13/18: yesterday's snowstorm put me in a Kate Bjorkman mood. I love this book!
12/6/19: Kate was screaming to be read again. She never disappoints.
January 4, 2024
I reread this book during the holidays every year. So good.
November 12, 2019
Super cute, snarky, meta YA romance.
January 1, 2022
Lots of fun, and I will always cheer for the tall girl with glasses. Loved the Minnesota setting and the Bjorkman family domestic details. I haven't read many (any?) 1990s YA novels, so the mid-90s vibe was also a delight. Disappointed, though, about what happened on New Year's Eve. Yes, we needed a rift, but did we need *that* rift?
July 30, 2010
Kate likes romance novels. But not the kind that are sappy and unrealistic. And since most romance novels are this way, she sets out to write a real-life romance, using her own life as the story. So with The Romance Writers Phrasebook as her guide, Kate begins writing her own novel, trying to leave the majority of clichés behind. She even admits herself that with her non-silky legs, her coke-bottle glasses, her gangly height, and her geeky tendencies, she’s not the ideal heroine anyway. It all starts a few days before Christmas, when Kate meets her brother Bjorn and his best friend Richard. It’s been four years since she’s seen him last, but she’s more in love than ever. The only problem: Fleur St. Germaine. A name too good to be made up by Kate, and whom may be in fact Richard’s very real girlfriend.
When I read this book a few years ago, it was an amusing experience. You forget it’s a story within a story until Kate interrupts the narrative with her struggles finding the right authorly description for her characters and situations. It’s difficult not to laugh at her blunt honesty. We’re reading the very rough, very raw draft of her novel, where we are party to her self-editing and indecision. I like the internal dialogue going on when Kate’s introducing the hero:
And that’s the beauty of The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman. The story may be slightly dated and the cover of the original edition (which I read) awful, but it’s a quick, tongue-and-cheek read that had me laughing out loud due to both the novelty of the execution and the feistiness of Kate. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and it’s a fun ride watching her poke fun at the stereotypical romance novel. Bjorn, Richard, Fleur, and the other characters don’t seem cookie cutter either and will surprise you. Don’t miss the hilarious Revision Notes throughout the book and the epilogue, in which Kate reads the novel to a certain someone.
When I read this book a few years ago, it was an amusing experience. You forget it’s a story within a story until Kate interrupts the narrative with her struggles finding the right authorly description for her characters and situations. It’s difficult not to laugh at her blunt honesty. We’re reading the very rough, very raw draft of her novel, where we are party to her self-editing and indecision. I like the internal dialogue going on when Kate’s introducing the hero:
“You mean me?” Richard Bradshaw filled the doorway.
Okay, a flourish of trumpets here. The hero has arrived. And because he was my hero long before I began writing this novel, ever since I can remember, in fact, my face grew hot. He was four years older now, of course, and shorter than I remembered, but I wasn’t six feet tall four years ago either. His eyes – I need the help of The Romance Writers Phrasebook Guide to describe those eyes:
–unfathomable in their murky depths?
No!
–shades of amber and green?
Maybe.
–dark gray-green-flecked eyes?
I don’t know. Maybe.
–hooded like those of a hawk?
Absolutely not! The hell with it. They were warm eyes. They were Richard’s eyes. I wouldn’t care if they were cone-shaped.
And that’s the beauty of The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman. The story may be slightly dated and the cover of the original edition (which I read) awful, but it’s a quick, tongue-and-cheek read that had me laughing out loud due to both the novelty of the execution and the feistiness of Kate. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and it’s a fun ride watching her poke fun at the stereotypical romance novel. Bjorn, Richard, Fleur, and the other characters don’t seem cookie cutter either and will surprise you. Don’t miss the hilarious Revision Notes throughout the book and the epilogue, in which Kate reads the novel to a certain someone.
December 7, 2020
re-read in 2020. Still delightful!
review from 2008:
a old favorite published in 1995. kate bjorkman is not a typical romance heroine: six feet tall, bespectacled, a grammar & dialect afficianado...now crushing on her older brother's childhood friend richard, who has come to visit for the holidays along with said older brother, his wife, and a beautiful, mysterious stranger named fleur.
kate's selfish friend ashley also has eyes for richard and manages to invite herself along to all of the family holiday functions, even after kate tries to explain her own feelings. ashley flirts and she flirts dirty, but richard seems to be into kate...until a new year's eve mishap sends kate into a spiral of confusion.
this is a really clever, sweet christmas story for girls who like their romances thoughtful and clever, and their heroines strong and smart. (and don't mind that the book is 13 years old, although the most dated thing about it is the cover). the background of a traditional swedish christmas complete with a romantic dinner dance and a snowstorm is completely delightful.
review from 2008:
a old favorite published in 1995. kate bjorkman is not a typical romance heroine: six feet tall, bespectacled, a grammar & dialect afficianado...now crushing on her older brother's childhood friend richard, who has come to visit for the holidays along with said older brother, his wife, and a beautiful, mysterious stranger named fleur.
kate's selfish friend ashley also has eyes for richard and manages to invite herself along to all of the family holiday functions, even after kate tries to explain her own feelings. ashley flirts and she flirts dirty, but richard seems to be into kate...until a new year's eve mishap sends kate into a spiral of confusion.
this is a really clever, sweet christmas story for girls who like their romances thoughtful and clever, and their heroines strong and smart. (and don't mind that the book is 13 years old, although the most dated thing about it is the cover). the background of a traditional swedish christmas complete with a romantic dinner dance and a snowstorm is completely delightful.
April 25, 2012
How can you not love Kate Bjorkman? I love the play on structure and spoof on romance novels, without being to esoteric and mature for teens. I picked this book up as a comtemporary companion to read with Othello in my classroom, but in the end decided both texts were too challenging for struggling middle school readers. But, if I ever teach high school...
December 26, 2025
sempre una piacevole rilettura
***
Una lettura che faccio tradizionalmente ogni anno, sotto Natale, da quando ho 12 anni. Ormai sono fuori target per questa storia: lo avessi letto all'età che ho oggi lo avrei probabilmente odiato. Ma l'atmosfera natalizia è la cosa migliore di questo piccolo libro e lo rende eleggibile a lettura a tema per il mese di dicembre
***
Una lettura che faccio tradizionalmente ogni anno, sotto Natale, da quando ho 12 anni. Ormai sono fuori target per questa storia: lo avessi letto all'età che ho oggi lo avrei probabilmente odiato. Ma l'atmosfera natalizia è la cosa migliore di questo piccolo libro e lo rende eleggibile a lettura a tema per il mese di dicembre
December 15, 2023
Laugh out loud funny in several spots, this is a quick Christmas romance that breaks the fourth wall and leaves the reader wanting more time with the Bjorkman family.
Read
August 6, 2008This book was refreshing for having a loving family with actually nice parents.
April 4, 2023
This was a SUPER cute story I didn't see coming, but my review comes with fair warning to Prudie readers who may have heard this one is a choice title for very young readers!
Tidbits that misled me about this book before I read it:
-It was published in '95 and won A School Library "Best Book of the Year" Award, and won additional awards in certain states in the late 90s.
-My used copy was withdrawn from an intermediate school library.
-When I was a middle school ELA teacher, it was recommended to me as a book I could put in my classroom library that girls (even those who were reluctant readers) would love.
Tbh, I'm regularly thrown for a loop by how often people who claim to be looking after children's best interests can be so far off the mark with their recommendations, and this was one of those instances. Instead of just taking the word of someone else, I wish I had read this book PRIOR TO putting it in my middle school classroom years ago! Why? Because it's not really appropriate for that age group. Not that there was tons of foul language or overt sexual stuff, but there was enough innuendo and such that I was giving myself mental slaps on the wrist for having had it in my library, especially remembering that several of my 7th and 8th grade girls borrowed it!
Anyway, reading this book in 2023 as a 30+ year old, I figured it would be dated in a way that was less charming than lame, but it was certainly the former. From the first page, I was hooked by the storytelling of the spunky and relatable MC, Kate. The narrative voice felt ahead of its time and was just so winsome, and the concept of the story being "written by" the MC and how that was executed was really cute and fun, was done with flair and humor, and not something I've seen in a long time (if ever). The family dynamics between the characters were so entertaining with their clever banter, and felt refreshing after being inundated these days with more "edgy" characters and their sad, heavy home lives. I especially loved that they didn't rely on profanity in order to be funny or expressive. The MC was 6-feet tall and wore thick glasses, which made a unique heroine IMO. Her family's heritage is Scandinavian, and they celebrate Christmas with a lot of interesting traditions that were cool to read about.
The main thing I didn't care for was the ending. I'd seen one other reader post something about it but they were vague, and since the likability of story content can be so subjective from reader to reader, I always take such controversy with a grain of salt. But in this case, I do get it -- the climax event came out of nowhere and was TOO bad. In sweet little romances, what went down seemed out of place, more like something you'd see in a psychological domestic thriller or some other genre where it's acceptable for a character to turn out to be a horrible person -- a murderer, a lying spy, a two-timing home-wrecker, a psychopath, or something like that. The event was really out of character for the MC's love interest, and had me questioning everything he'd said and done up to then, feeling as if I didn't know him at all and like he couldn't be trusted. On the one hand, that's exactly how the MC felt toward him at that point, so the writing had me in the same headspace as her and that's A+ work. On the other hand, it just rubbed me the wrong way, like it undid everything the story had created leading up to that moment. The resolution was just okay, and while I'm all for fiction having threads that are not escapist but instead resemble real life, even the gritty bits, this particular choice just didn't sit right with me. It seemed like a disservice to an otherwise adorable and amusing story.
All in all, this is a sweet, compulsively readable story with a less-than-stellar ending, best suited to mature female readers over the age of 15.
Prudie Breakdown
(0 is none to speak of, 10 is atomic bomb)
Language -> 2/10
"Small" words like "h-ll" and "d--m", probably fewer than 10 uses. Possibly some mildly rude words, but likely outdated.
Sexual content -> 3/10
Zero sex! However, there is brief and very surface-level mention of virginity of multiple occasions, there are sultry lines quoted from "The Romance Writer's Phrase Book" (which are always hilarious but not appropriate for young readers, even in jest), references to women's boobs and legs and such many times, some implied making out and "pressing together", hugs and holding hands and other tame touches, one character coerces another character to kiss them and is not subtle about the use of their body in that moment, the MC makes it seem like her dad is passively lusting after a young woman who isn't his wife (which he later calls out when he reads the MC's novel).
Political correctness -> 3/10
Heteronormative (no LGBT characters or references), unmarried characters of opposite sex don't share a room, only one character seems a bit promiscuous, one character's parent is constantly divorcing and remarrying but everyone else's parents are married, not much talk of politics except for a moment where two characters discuss "feminist criticism", the MC doesn't want her mom to sound like a "housewife" in her novel, in some ways the parents of the MC give her and her love interest a little too much freedom, there's a reference to a couple of characters wanting to attend Christmas Eve mass and convincing some other characters to go (though I'm not sure they actually go).
Substances -> 1/10
A teen character references their parent occasionally sneaking into the basement to smoke a cigarette in secret, there is a NYE party that families attend and there is mention of many adults being drunk.
Positive themes -> 7/10
The bonds of family, found family, friendship, the wisdom of knowing when to move on from a toxic friendship, forgiveness, nobody's perfect, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, the importance of being yourself rather than putting on a front to impress someone, family tradition, cultural tradition, education.
Violence and gore -> 1/10
A character hits another character very hard in the chest/shoulder, the family tells a story about how one character once had to kill a bunch of baby mice with a tennis racket (extenuating circumstances) and there's some gross description.
Tidbits that misled me about this book before I read it:
-It was published in '95 and won A School Library "Best Book of the Year" Award, and won additional awards in certain states in the late 90s.
-My used copy was withdrawn from an intermediate school library.
-When I was a middle school ELA teacher, it was recommended to me as a book I could put in my classroom library that girls (even those who were reluctant readers) would love.
Tbh, I'm regularly thrown for a loop by how often people who claim to be looking after children's best interests can be so far off the mark with their recommendations, and this was one of those instances. Instead of just taking the word of someone else, I wish I had read this book PRIOR TO putting it in my middle school classroom years ago! Why? Because it's not really appropriate for that age group. Not that there was tons of foul language or overt sexual stuff, but there was enough innuendo and such that I was giving myself mental slaps on the wrist for having had it in my library, especially remembering that several of my 7th and 8th grade girls borrowed it!
Anyway, reading this book in 2023 as a 30+ year old, I figured it would be dated in a way that was less charming than lame, but it was certainly the former. From the first page, I was hooked by the storytelling of the spunky and relatable MC, Kate. The narrative voice felt ahead of its time and was just so winsome, and the concept of the story being "written by" the MC and how that was executed was really cute and fun, was done with flair and humor, and not something I've seen in a long time (if ever). The family dynamics between the characters were so entertaining with their clever banter, and felt refreshing after being inundated these days with more "edgy" characters and their sad, heavy home lives. I especially loved that they didn't rely on profanity in order to be funny or expressive. The MC was 6-feet tall and wore thick glasses, which made a unique heroine IMO. Her family's heritage is Scandinavian, and they celebrate Christmas with a lot of interesting traditions that were cool to read about.
The main thing I didn't care for was the ending. I'd seen one other reader post something about it but they were vague, and since the likability of story content can be so subjective from reader to reader, I always take such controversy with a grain of salt. But in this case, I do get it -- the climax event came out of nowhere and was TOO bad. In sweet little romances, what went down seemed out of place, more like something you'd see in a psychological domestic thriller or some other genre where it's acceptable for a character to turn out to be a horrible person -- a murderer, a lying spy, a two-timing home-wrecker, a psychopath, or something like that. The event was really out of character for the MC's love interest, and had me questioning everything he'd said and done up to then, feeling as if I didn't know him at all and like he couldn't be trusted. On the one hand, that's exactly how the MC felt toward him at that point, so the writing had me in the same headspace as her and that's A+ work. On the other hand, it just rubbed me the wrong way, like it undid everything the story had created leading up to that moment. The resolution was just okay, and while I'm all for fiction having threads that are not escapist but instead resemble real life, even the gritty bits, this particular choice just didn't sit right with me. It seemed like a disservice to an otherwise adorable and amusing story.
All in all, this is a sweet, compulsively readable story with a less-than-stellar ending, best suited to mature female readers over the age of 15.
Prudie Breakdown
(0 is none to speak of, 10 is atomic bomb)
Language -> 2/10
"Small" words like "h-ll" and "d--m", probably fewer than 10 uses. Possibly some mildly rude words, but likely outdated.
Sexual content -> 3/10
Zero sex! However, there is brief and very surface-level mention of virginity of multiple occasions, there are sultry lines quoted from "The Romance Writer's Phrase Book" (which are always hilarious but not appropriate for young readers, even in jest), references to women's boobs and legs and such many times, some implied making out and "pressing together", hugs and holding hands and other tame touches, one character coerces another character to kiss them and is not subtle about the use of their body in that moment, the MC makes it seem like her dad is passively lusting after a young woman who isn't his wife (which he later calls out when he reads the MC's novel).
Political correctness -> 3/10
Heteronormative (no LGBT characters or references), unmarried characters of opposite sex don't share a room, only one character seems a bit promiscuous, one character's parent is constantly divorcing and remarrying but everyone else's parents are married, not much talk of politics except for a moment where two characters discuss "feminist criticism", the MC doesn't want her mom to sound like a "housewife" in her novel, in some ways the parents of the MC give her and her love interest a little too much freedom, there's a reference to a couple of characters wanting to attend Christmas Eve mass and convincing some other characters to go (though I'm not sure they actually go).
Substances -> 1/10
A teen character references their parent occasionally sneaking into the basement to smoke a cigarette in secret, there is a NYE party that families attend and there is mention of many adults being drunk.
Positive themes -> 7/10
The bonds of family, found family, friendship, the wisdom of knowing when to move on from a toxic friendship, forgiveness, nobody's perfect, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, the importance of being yourself rather than putting on a front to impress someone, family tradition, cultural tradition, education.
Violence and gore -> 1/10
A character hits another character very hard in the chest/shoulder, the family tells a story about how one character once had to kill a bunch of baby mice with a tennis racket (extenuating circumstances) and there's some gross description.
December 14, 2021
If I could, I would give it one and a half stars. Despite the Christmas timing and relatively short length, I still couldn't bring myself to finish this book. Not only did I dislike the stream of consciousness style, but it was just so BORING. I get what the author was going for, but there's a difference between realistic fiction and mundane babbling. My advice: skip this book and stick with whatever yuletide stories you really enjoy.
April 15, 2017
I loved it! Really fun and cute! I hate Ashley, I must say.
March 16, 2017
This was such a fun read. It is a story I relate to on a very personal level, as I'm sure it does with many others who have shared Kate's predicament. One of the things I liked most about this story is its simplicity. There is no huge event or goal to be reached, it's just about a girl trying to figure out her relationships. Because there is no world-saving or high stakes adventure, you get to take a closer look at the very realistic interpersonal relationships the characters have with each other. The author writes with such honesty about flaws and strengths, and it just really hits close to home.
April 16, 2023
The “writing a romance novel” was a clever format for the book. Acknowledging I’m not the ideal audience, I didn’t find it all that funny, but I know others have. The chatty voice she uses doesn’t work for me at all these days.
I did appreciate how Plummer described the difference between romance and building a relationship.
I did appreciate how Plummer described the difference between romance and building a relationship.
December 31, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman was published in 1995, and not long after that, I borrowed it from the Wallkill Public Library. Within two years, I owned a copy, and within ten more years, I had to replace that copy because the binding was broken and the pages were falling out. I LOVE this book.
The premise of the story is that Kate, who is very tall and wears very thick glasses, is writing a romance novel based on a real-life romance that happened to her at Christmas. Referring to the standard structure for a romance novel, as well as The Romance Writers' Phrase Book, she relates the events leading up to her falling in love with Richard Bradshaw, her older brother's best friend from childhood, who has come home to Minnesota for the holidays. But despite the fact that this is a romance novel, with all the sugary sweetness and cheesiness associated with that genre, it's also a well-written book with a strong female protagonist and lots of wonderful cultural references that taught me about everything from linguistics to classical music to the poetry of Dylan Thomas.
Also involved in the story are Kate's parents, Nels and Becca Bjorkman, and her brother Bjorn, as well as Bjorn's wife, Trish, his friend Fleur, and Kate's selfish, backstabbing best friend, Ashley. There is also Midgely, Kate's former English teacher, who is dying of cancer. The cast of characters really serves to flesh out the novel and make it a really strong contemporary YA novel, with or without the romance angle.
These are just some of the ways in which this book has influenced and connected with my life:
Because Kate's father is a linguistics professor and could detect Fleur's city of origin just by her accent, I made sure to take a linguistics class in college. I don't use it for anything now, but I loved the class and did well in it, and it was partly because I wanted to understand this book better.
I had a pretty crappy best friend when I was 14 and 15, but I don't think I realized it until I saw the way Ashley treated Kate in this book. The school year after I read this book was the year I ditched said terrible friend - I don't think that was entirely a coincidence.
Fleur's feminist critique of Hamlet in this book has come to my mind every single time I've been assigned to read the play. I was never smart enough to actually borrow her argument and use it for an assignment, but I think I understand the play better because I've read this book.
I can quote Dylan Thomas. I don't have the need to do so very often, but I know it this book that first introduced me to "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."
Kate's family is Swedish. My fiance's family is also Swedish. This really has nothing to do with the book per se, but it makes me happy to continue finding connections even 15 years later.
This book taught me a lot about writing. Midgely, Kate's teacher, gave me my favorite writing mantra, "Write it and see how it feels," and he also taught me that what happens in real life might not always work in fiction, without some changes.
I bought and still have The Romance Writers Phrase Book. I deem anything associated with this book worth exploring.
Like I said, I LOVE this book. And though there is one reference to living in the 90's that might date it for some teen readers, it is still in print! I really recommend it to teen girls in high school who are skeptical of romance - and Christmas magic - but still want a little bit for themselves.
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman was published in 1995, and not long after that, I borrowed it from the Wallkill Public Library. Within two years, I owned a copy, and within ten more years, I had to replace that copy because the binding was broken and the pages were falling out. I LOVE this book.
The premise of the story is that Kate, who is very tall and wears very thick glasses, is writing a romance novel based on a real-life romance that happened to her at Christmas. Referring to the standard structure for a romance novel, as well as The Romance Writers' Phrase Book, she relates the events leading up to her falling in love with Richard Bradshaw, her older brother's best friend from childhood, who has come home to Minnesota for the holidays. But despite the fact that this is a romance novel, with all the sugary sweetness and cheesiness associated with that genre, it's also a well-written book with a strong female protagonist and lots of wonderful cultural references that taught me about everything from linguistics to classical music to the poetry of Dylan Thomas.
Also involved in the story are Kate's parents, Nels and Becca Bjorkman, and her brother Bjorn, as well as Bjorn's wife, Trish, his friend Fleur, and Kate's selfish, backstabbing best friend, Ashley. There is also Midgely, Kate's former English teacher, who is dying of cancer. The cast of characters really serves to flesh out the novel and make it a really strong contemporary YA novel, with or without the romance angle.
These are just some of the ways in which this book has influenced and connected with my life:
Because Kate's father is a linguistics professor and could detect Fleur's city of origin just by her accent, I made sure to take a linguistics class in college. I don't use it for anything now, but I loved the class and did well in it, and it was partly because I wanted to understand this book better.
I had a pretty crappy best friend when I was 14 and 15, but I don't think I realized it until I saw the way Ashley treated Kate in this book. The school year after I read this book was the year I ditched said terrible friend - I don't think that was entirely a coincidence.
Fleur's feminist critique of Hamlet in this book has come to my mind every single time I've been assigned to read the play. I was never smart enough to actually borrow her argument and use it for an assignment, but I think I understand the play better because I've read this book.
I can quote Dylan Thomas. I don't have the need to do so very often, but I know it this book that first introduced me to "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."
Kate's family is Swedish. My fiance's family is also Swedish. This really has nothing to do with the book per se, but it makes me happy to continue finding connections even 15 years later.
This book taught me a lot about writing. Midgely, Kate's teacher, gave me my favorite writing mantra, "Write it and see how it feels," and he also taught me that what happens in real life might not always work in fiction, without some changes.
I bought and still have The Romance Writers Phrase Book. I deem anything associated with this book worth exploring.
Like I said, I LOVE this book. And though there is one reference to living in the 90's that might date it for some teen readers, it is still in print! I really recommend it to teen girls in high school who are skeptical of romance - and Christmas magic - but still want a little bit for themselves.
January 8, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it had a really good theme and it kept me interested the whole time. Of course, I’m a teenage girl, and this book is as “chick flick” as it can get! However, it's really well written. It frequently deals with serious subjects or issues, but these issues are always resolved with the characters having learned something about both life and themselves. Which I thought was nice. And, fiction almost always ends on a hopeful, good note; not necessarily a happily-ever-after ending… but definitely hopeful. The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman meets all of these criteria, and is a dang good read as well! What happens is, a high-school senior (Kate Bjorkman) doesn't like romance novels. She thinks they are "disgusting, with kisses that last three paragraphs and make you want to put your finger down your throat to induce projectile vomiting." But she has her own little romantic story to tell, a real romance story. Something wonderful that happened to her last Christmas, so she sits down with a copy of The Romance Writer's Phrase Book to try and draft something that will be a little more like "real life." This book is both hilarious and touching. Kate's got the perfect set of characters to work with. There's the hero, Richard, who is her older brother’s best friend (convenient right?). Richard is kind, charming, and good-looking. So in other words, the perfect guy. Kate's had a crush on him for FOREVER! But sadly, she hasn't seen him lately. She sees him for the first time again during the Christmas season and instantly falls for him again. The best thing about this book is way she made the characters. Each character has a specific stereotype. Not one of them seems the least bit cardboardy. Kate is a very appealing heroine. She's smart, she's confident, and she's even comfortable with her non-romance-novel appearance. This is how she describes herself: “I know I mentioned my height-six feet-but did I mention the glasses? It's a rhetorical question. I didn't mention them on purpose, because I wanted you to imagine me looking like Cindy Crawford. I have worn glasses since I was three years old, and even when I have cool Giorgio Armani frames, my eyes are magnified about three times their size with these plate glass lenses.I know this is a disappointment in someone who is supposed to be the romantic heroine of this book, but unless you're one of those really shallow readers, you'll continue.” One of the best things about Kate is that she knows herself...and she's really proud of herself and who she has become. She's unwilling to change to attract her so called “hero”. The other characters are just as well appealing, and they aren't exactly what you might think them to be. This is fun while you’re reading this book! Kate observes both her parents' and her brother's relationships, and the conclusions she draws helps her to make her own decisions about what a love relationship should be. I really liked these people. They seemed so down-to-earth and normal, but not in the least way boring or predictable. I had such a great time reading this book. Louise Plummer has written several teenage books that I have liked, but this one is my favorite. For those of you who have yet to try these types of books, I would strongly recommend that you give it a chance. The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman would be an excellent place to start.
December 17, 2016
"Unlikely" romance is right.
This book came up in a Google search I did of "YA books set at Christmas" - otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked it up.
It's about a girl named Kate who is 17 and has a crush on her older brother's best friend. I found it quite implausible that he liked her back and had in fact had a crush on her for years! That seemed pretty ridiculous. Also - his personality changed drastically at the end into a womanizing tool. He kissed Kate's frenemy Ashley (who was selfish, stuck up and all around unpleasant) and then Kate casually mentions that in addition to her he's seeing two other girls at the same time! And she's okay with this!!! Whaaaat?!? She's basically like, "yeah it's the 90s and this is how dating is so I need to deal with it." Really???
Also - what happened to Fleur and Bjorn? It was setting up that he was controlling but nothing ever happened to either prove or disprove that point.
I appreciate that the author was trying to make this "real life" and pointedly NOT a romance novel, but the problem is that the day ins and day outs of real life are pretty boring to read about. Do I care that Kate was so self conscious around her crush that she couldn't pee when he was in the room next door and had to go to the bathroom in the cellar? Not really.
It had the potential to be cute - if the author had amped up the "family coming together for Christmas" aspect and toned down the "girl falls in love with a tool" aspect.
1.5
This book came up in a Google search I did of "YA books set at Christmas" - otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked it up.
It's about a girl named Kate who is 17 and has a crush on her older brother's best friend. I found it quite implausible that he liked her back and had in fact had a crush on her for years! That seemed pretty ridiculous. Also - his personality changed drastically at the end into a womanizing tool. He kissed Kate's frenemy Ashley (who was selfish, stuck up and all around unpleasant) and then Kate casually mentions that in addition to her he's seeing two other girls at the same time! And she's okay with this!!! Whaaaat?!? She's basically like, "yeah it's the 90s and this is how dating is so I need to deal with it." Really???
Also - what happened to Fleur and Bjorn? It was setting up that he was controlling but nothing ever happened to either prove or disprove that point.
I appreciate that the author was trying to make this "real life" and pointedly NOT a romance novel, but the problem is that the day ins and day outs of real life are pretty boring to read about. Do I care that Kate was so self conscious around her crush that she couldn't pee when he was in the room next door and had to go to the bathroom in the cellar? Not really.
It had the potential to be cute - if the author had amped up the "family coming together for Christmas" aspect and toned down the "girl falls in love with a tool" aspect.
1.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2010
YA. "The night felt magical. There must have been some foreshadowing in the air." Hee! Kate Bjorkman, high school senior, writes a romance novel about the Christmas she became Richard Bradshaw's girlfriend. First person narrative, with fourth-wall-breaking author's notes sprinkled between chapters.
Despite its format, this is your basic YA romance, though Kate's not your average romance novel heroine. She wears glasses, but they're not there just to make her look dumpy so she can take them off at the end; she's legally blind without them. I liked that. It subverts the cliche and gives us a protagonist with a disability that's just a part of her. It isn't ignored, but it's not a big deal either.
I loved Fleur, the potential rival for Richard's affections, and Kate's parents are great too. Richard is a friend of Kate's older brother, and when they all come home for the holidays, there's a coziness to their shared history. They feel like a big family -- complete with arguments and sulking.
Three stars. This is cute and funny, and has a surprisingly realistic ending for a romance between a high school senior and a college student.
Despite its format, this is your basic YA romance, though Kate's not your average romance novel heroine. She wears glasses, but they're not there just to make her look dumpy so she can take them off at the end; she's legally blind without them. I liked that. It subverts the cliche and gives us a protagonist with a disability that's just a part of her. It isn't ignored, but it's not a big deal either.
I loved Fleur, the potential rival for Richard's affections, and Kate's parents are great too. Richard is a friend of Kate's older brother, and when they all come home for the holidays, there's a coziness to their shared history. They feel like a big family -- complete with arguments and sulking.
Three stars. This is cute and funny, and has a surprisingly realistic ending for a romance between a high school senior and a college student.
December 29, 2020
One of my favorite Christmas traditions. <3 Kate and Richard 4ever!
""I'm giving this my best shot. I've got The Romance Writer's Phrase Book right next to the word processor in case I'm at a loss for words, as they say. If you are jaded about romance or have PMS or are on the downside of manic depression and can't stand to read about other people's happiness, then get real. This book is not for you."
A Christmas tradition. Kate is snarky, sweet, funny and a joy to read about. I love how it lampoons and celebrates romance novels all at once. How can you not love a witty and owly six foot tall heroine with a rather geeky love of linguistics? And oh, how I wish The Romance Writer's Phrase Book actually existed! *g*"
""I'm giving this my best shot. I've got The Romance Writer's Phrase Book right next to the word processor in case I'm at a loss for words, as they say. If you are jaded about romance or have PMS or are on the downside of manic depression and can't stand to read about other people's happiness, then get real. This book is not for you."
A Christmas tradition. Kate is snarky, sweet, funny and a joy to read about. I love how it lampoons and celebrates romance novels all at once. How can you not love a witty and owly six foot tall heroine with a rather geeky love of linguistics? And oh, how I wish The Romance Writer's Phrase Book actually existed! *g*"
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