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The Girl Who Invented Romance
Sixteen-year-old Kelly creates a board game designed to capture the rules and behavior patterns of romance, but she soon discovers that love cannot be governed by a strict set of rules
176 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1988
14 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,767 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 10, 2009
Though it was hard to really get into, this was a really cute book. The characters were all diverse and enjoyable, the plots and issues flowed together really well, and the humor will have you giggling on every page.
I like how nothing ended up how it started. Towards the beginning, there was a lot of foreshadowing when it came to the relationship of certain characters, but it switches up and for that, I was very thankful. There isn’t too much to the plot, so you end up depending on the characters for substance, which is fortunately given.
The game is hard to imagine, hard to picture in your head. Luckily for me, the copy I got from the library had the actual game attached the back. It’s an awesome visual and helps you appreciate the story a lot more, so try to get a hold of that if you plan on reading!
Overall, it was very adorable. Well written and humorous, this book will have you planning your very own party- complete with snacks and the romance game. If I could’ve taken the game out of the book, I probably would’ve gathered some friends and played myself. I definitely recommend checking it out!
I like how nothing ended up how it started. Towards the beginning, there was a lot of foreshadowing when it came to the relationship of certain characters, but it switches up and for that, I was very thankful. There isn’t too much to the plot, so you end up depending on the characters for substance, which is fortunately given.
The game is hard to imagine, hard to picture in your head. Luckily for me, the copy I got from the library had the actual game attached the back. It’s an awesome visual and helps you appreciate the story a lot more, so try to get a hold of that if you plan on reading!
Overall, it was very adorable. Well written and humorous, this book will have you planning your very own party- complete with snacks and the romance game. If I could’ve taken the game out of the book, I probably would’ve gathered some friends and played myself. I definitely recommend checking it out!
December 29, 2009
Things I Thought While Reading:
1. Uggh. Kelly is WAY too obsessed with romance and love and boys. Can you say unhealthy?
2. Ah, Megan. She's that character that you subconsciously and simultaneously hate, envy and adore.
3. Aww, Faith is so sweet and pure (the name is extremely cheesy but fits, so, yeah).
4. Ditto for Parker, Kelly's brother.
5. Wendy!! What a bitch. Okay, I have to start a sub-list for her bitchiness later.
6. This game...sounds pretty freakishly awesome. Even though it is all about "romance" quote unquote. All the characters in this book have a warped sense of love/romance/whatever, except for Will and Parker, who are AWESOME.
7. Hmm...Kelly is actually *not* the boy crazy and seriously annoying one. That's Megan. She's the one that's telling Kelly she needs a romance guide dog or some other crap. What a Wendy (you may substitute Wendy for bitch if you prefer).
8. What happened to the romance game? It just, like, disappeared into the shadows. Isn't the whole book supposed to be based on it?
9. Oh, there it is.
10. AHAHAHAH...a romance game party!! I would so go to that. Sounds pretty awesome, no? And where are all these random characters coming from, the high school kids that magically appear as soon as Kelly needs party guests? Did they spring out of thin air as soon as the need arose?
11. Screw Wendy. Stupid boyfriend Jeep. Why must Wendy be such a BITCH, especially to Parker the Ex-Boyfriend? Parker, who is being such a nice boy when she swings by during the party?
12. Of course. The book must end with the male and female lead together, otherwise what kind of book would it be?? (note: I know this is a romance book. But still. It's annoying.)
13. Last thing...Parker+Faith=Awesome Couple! Love that foreshadowing of Parker hugging her, and driving them to the movies (with Kelly and Will).
Okay, yeah. The Girl Who Invented Romance is cute but not amazing. The writing needs work but the idea is clever, and it moves fast once you get into it. Overall, not bad.
Oh yeah. Wendy The Bitch's sub-list...
1. She broke up with Parker by leaving his car and calling her old boyfriend to pick her up while Parker was still there. Enough said.
2. She writes a soap opera and announces it over the PA system every day during school. This in it of itself is not bitchy; however, she bases the soap opera on other people's secrets that she just happens to overhear, like Kelly's "intimacy" score.
3. She shows up uninvited at Kelly's romance game party, while her ex-boyfriend and heartbroken Parker is there, and she obviously knew he was going to be there, because he's Kelly's brother for God's sake! Insensitive bitch!
There's some more but really that's all you need to know...:P
1. Uggh. Kelly is WAY too obsessed with romance and love and boys. Can you say unhealthy?
2. Ah, Megan. She's that character that you subconsciously and simultaneously hate, envy and adore.
3. Aww, Faith is so sweet and pure (the name is extremely cheesy but fits, so, yeah).
4. Ditto for Parker, Kelly's brother.
5. Wendy!! What a bitch. Okay, I have to start a sub-list for her bitchiness later.
6. This game...sounds pretty freakishly awesome. Even though it is all about "romance" quote unquote. All the characters in this book have a warped sense of love/romance/whatever, except for Will and Parker, who are AWESOME.
7. Hmm...Kelly is actually *not* the boy crazy and seriously annoying one. That's Megan. She's the one that's telling Kelly she needs a romance guide dog or some other crap. What a Wendy (you may substitute Wendy for bitch if you prefer).
8. What happened to the romance game? It just, like, disappeared into the shadows. Isn't the whole book supposed to be based on it?
9. Oh, there it is.
10. AHAHAHAH...a romance game party!! I would so go to that. Sounds pretty awesome, no? And where are all these random characters coming from, the high school kids that magically appear as soon as Kelly needs party guests? Did they spring out of thin air as soon as the need arose?
11. Screw Wendy. Stupid boyfriend Jeep. Why must Wendy be such a BITCH, especially to Parker the Ex-Boyfriend? Parker, who is being such a nice boy when she swings by during the party?
12. Of course. The book must end with the male and female lead together, otherwise what kind of book would it be?? (note: I know this is a romance book. But still. It's annoying.)
13. Last thing...Parker+Faith=Awesome Couple! Love that foreshadowing of Parker hugging her, and driving them to the movies (with Kelly and Will).
Okay, yeah. The Girl Who Invented Romance is cute but not amazing. The writing needs work but the idea is clever, and it moves fast once you get into it. Overall, not bad.
Oh yeah. Wendy The Bitch's sub-list...
1. She broke up with Parker by leaving his car and calling her old boyfriend to pick her up while Parker was still there. Enough said.
2. She writes a soap opera and announces it over the PA system every day during school. This in it of itself is not bitchy; however, she bases the soap opera on other people's secrets that she just happens to overhear, like Kelly's "intimacy" score.
3. She shows up uninvited at Kelly's romance game party, while her ex-boyfriend and heartbroken Parker is there, and she obviously knew he was going to be there, because he's Kelly's brother for God's sake! Insensitive bitch!
There's some more but really that's all you need to know...:P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Honestly, I thought the book itself was ok, but I felt the main character learned nothing throughout the entire book. She was really all about falling in love and she seriously didnt care who fell in love with her as long as they loved her. I was a bit shocked at how naive and ignorant this character was and was so hoping that she would learn something or grow as a character, but she most certainly did not learn anything. Of course the book IS about Romance and not love, but I was still disappointed. I wanted her to love romance but also want a healthy relationship, but no, all this character wanted was the romance part of a relationship. Oh, well, as someone who has read so as many romance stories she cant even count how many, this romance story was extremely lacking in maturity and overall disappointing, but thats just me, some of you may really like the WAY too overly cheesy romance stories, but I do not. Two stars, because the concept was new and not something I had ever read about before but also because there was really no emotional depth to this story despite being a romance story. Shelves: very teenish romance (the story was so teeny-bopper) and to never read again (I'm sorry, but I like more emotional depth and maturity from my characters or at least becoming more mature throughout the bookinstead of more ignorant).
November 25, 2012
Plot Summary
Kelly Williams is a young girl who is looking for love in her life. She goes to school with a lot of students who fit in many categories such as Jocks, Popular, Nerds, etc., etc. She lives with her parents who have a great relationship, along with her brother. Kelly's sociology teacher assigned each class member to create some question that they could get a statistic. They could chose any topic. This works great for Kelly because is tired of being alone and decides to create the "Romance" game, using the idea of Monopoly. One of her best friends, Faith, gets dumped by her boyfriend and vents to Kelly. This also motivated Kelly to create the game. Kelly invites her classmates over to play the game. Kelly's parents are also experiencing difficulties because they received a letter from the dad's high school sweat heart and the mom is stressed and insecure about it.
Personal Reaction
This book was ok. I did not enjoy it that much. I think it did not have much depth to it.
Critical Insight
I think the author tried to hard to create something out of nothing. The idea that a game would help move the plot forward, there was not a whole lot of action in it. So I felt it was just surface.
Suggested Age
+10
Kelly Williams is a young girl who is looking for love in her life. She goes to school with a lot of students who fit in many categories such as Jocks, Popular, Nerds, etc., etc. She lives with her parents who have a great relationship, along with her brother. Kelly's sociology teacher assigned each class member to create some question that they could get a statistic. They could chose any topic. This works great for Kelly because is tired of being alone and decides to create the "Romance" game, using the idea of Monopoly. One of her best friends, Faith, gets dumped by her boyfriend and vents to Kelly. This also motivated Kelly to create the game. Kelly invites her classmates over to play the game. Kelly's parents are also experiencing difficulties because they received a letter from the dad's high school sweat heart and the mom is stressed and insecure about it.
Personal Reaction
This book was ok. I did not enjoy it that much. I think it did not have much depth to it.
Critical Insight
I think the author tried to hard to create something out of nothing. The idea that a game would help move the plot forward, there was not a whole lot of action in it. So I felt it was just surface.
Suggested Age
+10
January 20, 2009
OK, so before you look at my star rating and think I'm silly (well I am), let me explain. I currently still have Norma's copy of this book that I read at least 15 years ago if not more (I just felt really old saying that...) and loved. Obviously a YA novel, geared towards the fairer sex, about a girl who invents a board game and calls it Romance. What other name would be so perfect? Very cute, very fun, and I still pick it up every once in a while. :)
January 19, 2011
Very cute idea for a book. A girl in highschool does a sociology project on a board-game she invents to try and stimulate a dating life for herself. A quick read, clean, no steamy/intense scenes. Great for younger readers and adults who just want a little break for romance.
Currently reading
December 15, 2012i think the book is awsome !!!!! i need to finish my book report on this book by monday so i have to read it in 2 days and om the 14 pg yet soo yee i like it soo far :D :D
December 14, 2023
This book is a 10/10 for me.
I love that the main character's name was Kelly, I think every (likable) main character should be named Kelly, to be honest.
I got a little annoyed/angry at the people who reviewed this saying things like there's barely any plot or that Kelly didn't learn anything. You plot-whores, go read some Dan Brown, then, if you're so keen on plot.
And this book is MEANT FOR TEENAGERS. I don't know what you're expecting.
But despite that, I thought it sounded very mature. Caroline B. Cooney did a great job of capturing the essence of a 16 year old girl whilst giving her depth and a sensitivity for philosophical thinking.
Kelly's thoughts are punctuated with excellent philosophical questions:
"I wonder why we always deny love."
"How long does love have to last to be real?"
I laughed and cried reading this book; Cooney has an amazing sense of humor and she also knows how to get me to sympathize with the characters (even ones who don't share my name).
Everyone who didn't like this book can suck it.
I love that the main character's name was Kelly, I think every (likable) main character should be named Kelly, to be honest.
I got a little annoyed/angry at the people who reviewed this saying things like there's barely any plot or that Kelly didn't learn anything. You plot-whores, go read some Dan Brown, then, if you're so keen on plot.
And this book is MEANT FOR TEENAGERS. I don't know what you're expecting.
But despite that, I thought it sounded very mature. Caroline B. Cooney did a great job of capturing the essence of a 16 year old girl whilst giving her depth and a sensitivity for philosophical thinking.
Kelly's thoughts are punctuated with excellent philosophical questions:
"I wonder why we always deny love."
"How long does love have to last to be real?"
I laughed and cried reading this book; Cooney has an amazing sense of humor and she also knows how to get me to sympathize with the characters (even ones who don't share my name).
Everyone who didn't like this book can suck it.
April 19, 2025
3.5 stars. But I'll round it up to 4💫😊
Entirely, it's a cute light read. Is it perfect? nah. But I find the outdated 80's charm of it to be quite enjoyable and interesting to read. I really lik old media and found this book randomly. I was intrigued by the cover. (the original cover from the 1980s, not the 2000s version you see here on goodreads) I found the original cover and name of the book so silly and outdated looking that I just had to buy it.
If you're looking for a light read as a hopeless romantic, then you'd most likely like this book. Happy reading if so! 🩷📖
Entirely, it's a cute light read. Is it perfect? nah. But I find the outdated 80's charm of it to be quite enjoyable and interesting to read. I really lik old media and found this book randomly. I was intrigued by the cover. (the original cover from the 1980s, not the 2000s version you see here on goodreads) I found the original cover and name of the book so silly and outdated looking that I just had to buy it.
If you're looking for a light read as a hopeless romantic, then you'd most likely like this book. Happy reading if so! 🩷📖
January 7, 2019
Probably would have liked this better if I read it when I bought it back in 2004......
June 18, 2019
It was cute. Caroline B. Cooney has this odd old-school writing style that makes everything delicate and adorable. It was a fast and simple read albeit the ending being abrupt
June 26, 2019
Although the board game was cute, the characters are vapid and the plot is dull. This is the most boring teen romance I’ve ever read.
April 1, 2020
It was a cute book. A bit immature at some points due to the heroine's own lack of experience in romance. Overall decent.
October 29, 2025
fun read for teens about crushes and romance
July 5, 2010
this book was different than i thought it would be. i got sucked in while i was reading it on the way back from Michigan yesturday. i just couldn't put it down. This is about a girl named Kelly who got an idea for a board game which her friends, Faith and Megan, didn't like. She kept building it in secret and when she went to school the next day and she rolled a dice that determined who she would get together with in the end. She got Will, who she thought was a conceited selfish basketball player, but than a romance springs up between these two while her friend Faith is trying to get together with a boy named Angie, her brother , Parker, is dumped by his girlfriend ,Wendy, who loves the sound of her own voice, for her past boyfriend, and her mother and father are fighting about her fathers reunion where her fathers 8-year high school ex-girlfriend will be at. in the end she invites many people over to try the game, Romance, which was shaped during the whole book. It turns out that it is a huge accomplishment. i really liked the whole feel of the book and i will re-read it any time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2016
I read this for the first time when I was 15. I loved this story. I even read it twice. I was intrigued by the romance between serious Will and petite Kelly. I loved how she had randomly picked a guy in her sociology class to have a crush on. HS me could totally relate.
Now, almost 10 years later I re-read it for old time's sake. For me this is now a 3-star book and not a 4-star book. However, I won't change my star rating because this book is meant for the HS demographic and when I read it back then I thought it deserved 4-stars.
Now that I'm older I see that the story and the dialogue is a little stiff. Will doesn't appeal to me as much any more. What I found most interesting were Kelly's problems at home. I actually paid attention to the story's message that there is a difference between love and romance
Overall, this books is a light-hearted read that you can finish in a few hours.
Now, almost 10 years later I re-read it for old time's sake. For me this is now a 3-star book and not a 4-star book. However, I won't change my star rating because this book is meant for the HS demographic and when I read it back then I thought it deserved 4-stars.
Now that I'm older I see that the story and the dialogue is a little stiff. Will doesn't appeal to me as much any more. What I found most interesting were Kelly's problems at home. I actually paid attention to the story's message that there is a difference between love and romance
Overall, this books is a light-hearted read that you can finish in a few hours.
September 14, 2017
I read this book in Middle school YEARS ago but it has always stuck with me through life! I remember picking this book in hardcover off the shelf in our school library and being in love with it as soon as I started into the first chapter. Years later I bought this edition and I have re read this book several times in the past and it always brings me back to that time first reading and really feeling the book. I really enjoy the new edition because it comes with what the board game was supposed to look like from the book, although I will never use it or take it out I think that's awesome! I highly recommend this book especially if you are in 5th - 9th grade. I hope it stays with you too as you grow older. I fully expect to save this for my future daughter one day for her to read to experience this book once more. HIGHLY recommended!!!
March 12, 2012
I think this book is fantastic. From the very beginning, I thought it was very interesting. The book was a very easy read. I would recommend this to all my friends. Okay, so Kelly is tired of watching everyone in her life experience romance. She wants some of her own, so she invents a romance game. They start out by picking guys from their sociology class by random. As the book progresses, Kelly discovers that romance can't always be a fairytale and that not everyone reaches "Happily Ever After".
May 20, 2008
Part of my young adult fiction kick. This was one of my favorite books when I was in middle/high school. The plot follows a junior, Kelly, who is obsessed with romance -- her parents' relationship, her brother's relationship, and her lack of relationship. I rooted for Kelly throughout her journey towards figuring it out and getting her very first boyfriend. The author captures teenage girls' hopes, fears, and dreams perfectly, which makes for a very relatable book!
March 17, 2012
This was a really cute read. I was looking for books for my teen daughter (thanks for the recommendation, Sheila!) and read this before handing it over. I expected mostly fluff - which there was some of - but it also had some unexpected depth. It got me thinking about the difference between love and romance and how much of one is in the other. I love a book that has me still thinking about things the next day! It also made me giggle out loud, and that is always a big plus!
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April 15, 2012This is a short story about a girl who can't get any guy interested in her, and therefore is very interested in romance in all its aspects. The characters are cute. The story is cute. The game is cute. It doesn't take long to read, but a lot of the narrative is taken up by the details of the "game of romance" as it's being created. I just wasn't terribly interested in the details of the game. I wanted her to get back to the story.
January 30, 2014
I remember reading this book in Elementary school… I've graduated from college now. Ahhhhh…. the memories of my youth. This is an okay book… not SPECTACULAR… but okay. Clean, good fun about a young lady that invents a board game and an adolescent crush. Recommended for anyone in the 8-14 age group (for any other youth leaders or parents out there previewing for their kids). There's a few couple discussion points in there regarding sibling bonding and how to address your first puppy-love.
October 24, 2008
I liked the idea of this book more than the reality of it. It was fun that she invented a game of romance and then got caught up in it herself. You know, it was OK. Caroline Cooney is a really good writer, though.
October 29, 2012
This book is rather unexceptional - your standard teen fare. VERY light on any actual content, characters are 2D... it's not a good sign when I don't actually know the main character's name halfway through the book, and possibly a worse sign that it's inconsequential.
February 20, 2011
this book was amazing well in my opinion. the author really seemed to grasp the truth about how some girls feel and this book shows that in life there are happy endings only that we have make them happen.
April 5, 2011
Not my favorite romance book. It was not interesting and it was not fun. It was hard to relate to because it seemed that what was happening in her novel was unlikely in real life. I would not recommend this book to boys for sure, but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone...
July 31, 2013
I was in hysterics for a good part of it! I needed something light after reading a depressing book and it delivered! My main critique would be: though the protagonist is supposed to be 16 years old, she comes across as a middle-schooler.
January 21, 2016
This was a very fast and easy read. I wasn't really intrigued by it at all. Towards the end especially it felt like there was a lot of characters introduced that weren't really important. The game of romance sounded interesting though. I won't be reading this one again.
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April 4, 2016This book wasnt bad but it wasn't the best either. I only enjoyed the romantic parts and I think it was hard to understand how the game worked. 3/5. But hey, if you wanna read about the difference between love and romance, then i say go for it!
January 14, 2008
I have read this book countless times, and I still don't seem to have gotten tired of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews