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Lovestruck #1
Lovestruck in London
Lizzie Medina went to London to reinvent herself. Tired of being the quiet baby sister, and in no hurry to settle into a boring existence in surburbia, she escapes from home at the first opportunity. When she settles in London for a year of post-graduate studies, Lizzie is sure she’ll be able to start a whole new life. Immerse herself in the books she loves. Explore a new country. Work on her dream of writing a novel. She might even be able to find a little bit of excitement for once.
But falling unexpectedly in love with up-and-coming actor Thomas Harper causes Lizzie to re-think… everything. Just as she’s convinced herself this small-town girl from the Midwest can handle this great adventure, Thomas’s career suddenly explodes to superstar levels, and Lizzie finds herself forced to navigate the fame game of red carpets, catty co-stars, gossip magazines, and paparazzi. When she wished for a new life, she had no idea it would be anything like this!
Lizzie must now determine if her love—and her confidence—are strong enough to get her through the complications of dating a movie star. Even if she and Thomas are able to pull through before she has to leave London, how will she deal with the inevitability of returning to a life at home that no longer feels like her own? Will she follow her family’s wishes or follow her heart? Will the Lizzie she discovered in London be strong enough to help her pursue her dreams?
But falling unexpectedly in love with up-and-coming actor Thomas Harper causes Lizzie to re-think… everything. Just as she’s convinced herself this small-town girl from the Midwest can handle this great adventure, Thomas’s career suddenly explodes to superstar levels, and Lizzie finds herself forced to navigate the fame game of red carpets, catty co-stars, gossip magazines, and paparazzi. When she wished for a new life, she had no idea it would be anything like this!
Lizzie must now determine if her love—and her confidence—are strong enough to get her through the complications of dating a movie star. Even if she and Thomas are able to pull through before she has to leave London, how will she deal with the inevitability of returning to a life at home that no longer feels like her own? Will she follow her family’s wishes or follow her heart? Will the Lizzie she discovered in London be strong enough to help her pursue her dreams?
273 pages, ebook
First published May 19, 2013
396 people are currently reading
2497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
February 22, 2015
If you're looking for a cute, fluffy romance to lift your spirits, then Lovestruck in London is a good fit. However, I can't rate it more than two stars. One thing this book gets major props for is featuring a Latina character in a main, romantic role. It doesn't happen often. The rest of her family, though, came across as stereotypes and charicatures.
What I felt were major moments in Lizzie's life - standing up to her family, losing her virginity - things that were built up in the text as being important, were completely glossed over. This really bothered me, because we were treated to sweeping descriptions of her spa treatments. Plus I seem to remember her not being willing to show him anything she'd written, yet later he has read her book? When did that happen?
The British characters didn't seem very British. All of the conflict seemed forced simply for the sake of having conflict. Do a shot every time Thomas winks. Lizzie's secret burning desire to be a writer was something that felt like it was added an afterthought. The ending is completely implausible - I'm willing to buy a celebrity meeting and falling in love with a non-famous person, but work permits and temporary visas are a thing. There is no way Lizzie could just up and move to London.
Also, I'm very tired of novels where the main characters are considered different and weird because they read. Lots of people read. Literature wouldn't be a popular major if people in this country didn't read.
What I felt were major moments in Lizzie's life - standing up to her family, losing her virginity - things that were built up in the text as being important, were completely glossed over. This really bothered me, because we were treated to sweeping descriptions of her spa treatments. Plus I seem to remember her not being willing to show him anything she'd written, yet later he has read her book? When did that happen?
The British characters didn't seem very British. All of the conflict seemed forced simply for the sake of having conflict. Do a shot every time Thomas winks. Lizzie's secret burning desire to be a writer was something that felt like it was added an afterthought. The ending is completely implausible - I'm willing to buy a celebrity meeting and falling in love with a non-famous person, but work permits and temporary visas are a thing. There is no way Lizzie could just up and move to London.
Also, I'm very tired of novels where the main characters are considered different and weird because they read. Lots of people read. Literature wouldn't be a popular major if people in this country didn't read.
September 20, 2014
Page One: (talking about Coronation Street - a British soap opera set in Manchester.)
'I loved the accent. It was so romantic and refined.'
Rolling about on the floor with laughter here. Refined?? The Manchester accent? Honestly?
Then we have the coordinator at the English college, (in London) saying - '...this lovely fall day.'
NO. It's AUTUMN. NO American would say.. '..this lovely autumn day.' Would they? Research?? Why did the editor not pick that up?
I lost all serious interest at this point. There was little that was original to the story, there was virtually no tension or character development and a lot of it seemed to be nothing more than a travel guide to London and Edinburgh.(believe me - there are better travel guides out there) The ending was far too 'pat' - I don't know how easy it is right NOW to get a work permit for the UK, but about 5 years ago a friend from America who was engaged to a Brit, (and had considerable savings and excellent qualifications) was not allowed to do any work of any nature - not even voluntary work.
Not one to keep.
'I loved the accent. It was so romantic and refined.'
Rolling about on the floor with laughter here. Refined?? The Manchester accent? Honestly?
Then we have the coordinator at the English college, (in London) saying - '...this lovely fall day.'
NO. It's AUTUMN. NO American would say.. '..this lovely autumn day.' Would they? Research?? Why did the editor not pick that up?
I lost all serious interest at this point. There was little that was original to the story, there was virtually no tension or character development and a lot of it seemed to be nothing more than a travel guide to London and Edinburgh.(believe me - there are better travel guides out there) The ending was far too 'pat' - I don't know how easy it is right NOW to get a work permit for the UK, but about 5 years ago a friend from America who was engaged to a Brit, (and had considerable savings and excellent qualifications) was not allowed to do any work of any nature - not even voluntary work.
Not one to keep.
July 13, 2013
Adorable! Heroine is a duck out of water from Detroit who dreams of going to London, England, which she does for a year in order to get her masters in teaching. She meets an up and coming actor who is a big part of a very popular vampire movie series (think Twilight). Hottie actor is more interested in doing indie movies. They both hit it off and start to date. This has a very New Adult type feel, but doesn't have any of those eye rolling, annoying familiar NA tropes. This was a breath of fresh air and I was hooked from beginning to end.
The romance is uber sweet and it's very subtle in regards to the sensual nature. I would say it's more PG-13 with kisses shown and anything more is fade to black.
A much recommended book read!
The romance is uber sweet and it's very subtle in regards to the sensual nature. I would say it's more PG-13 with kisses shown and anything more is fade to black.
A much recommended book read!
July 27, 2013
What I can say about this book? I was looking for something like this for such a long time that it was a relief to find a story where feelings and old school romanticism were still alive! I have to confess that I had a lot of connections with Lizzie and the plot in general. I was an exchange student overseas and I felt that I could never be in home again - I will always miss the other part. I fell for one person along the way, so it was as reading my own story (not exactly, but you get the point) and I think that it is fantastic that the story was so realistic that I inmediatelly related to it!
It's a light book, a book to read between difficult readings and to enjoy on a summer afternoon (even though it is set in the winter mostly).
I'd recommend it to all the dreamers still looking for that perfect and true love - there is hope out there!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's a light book, a book to read between difficult readings and to enjoy on a summer afternoon (even though it is set in the winter mostly).
I'd recommend it to all the dreamers still looking for that perfect and true love - there is hope out there!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2024
I love London more than Lizzie, just saying. 🤷
Why did no one's review warn me this was a clean romance? Even when it was mentioned that they spent the night together, there was no mention of sex. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought all they had done was kiss.
Even though the book had no sex, I appreciated how much they talked to each other, especially at the beginning of the book.
This book was so me-coded (ugh, hate Gen Z-speak). First off, I'm also twenty-three like Lizzie, and my parents and family want me to be a teacher, but I want to write and live in London.
Moving to London was a bigger deal for Lizzie than me because she had only been out of the state once and her parents opposed her studying abroad to get a master's.
Lizzie's character wasn't unique at all: a shy girl who loves classic literature, dreams of writing a novel, and is pretty but doesn't think she is, though she must be to have gotten the hero so interested in her. She reminded me of Bella Swan from Twilight. I liked Thomas more.
Good for Lizzie having a big family and all, but I wished I could have skipped all the scenes with her family in Detroit over the holidays because there were too many people to keep track of.
I lived for the London references. There were a lot at the beginning of the story, and they made me so happy. I'm familiar enough with London to know that Lizzie attended a fake university (Score 1 for Audrey). I also know London enough to know that Lizzie didn't seem to see much of it, or at least sightsee much. She seemed to just be familiar with restaurants and café. She saw Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Islington, St. Pancras Train Station, and Camden, but there's so much more to London. What about Brixton (my guy lives there so I'm biased) or East London? Walthamstow? South London?
I also thought Lizzie was stupid regarding the third-act separation. Here Thomas was, giving her a solid chance to stay in a foreign country she loved, and she was like no, I have to go home to a career I don't want to do because I'm too afraid to tell my family no? Honey, it's easier to tell your parents no from a foreign country than from their house. And not to mention cheaper too!
Quotes I loved:
"And now, at the age of twenty-three, my dream of living in London was about to come true."
"For as long as I could remember, I’ve wanted to live in London. I’m not exactly sure what the draw was, specifically. I had always felt drawn to the city, to England in general."
"Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. Get Oyster cards at the underground and take the Circle line to King’s Cross. From there, switch lines to Angel station and take a taxi to Fulton Street."
“Did she call this a lovely day? It’s about forty degrees out here and cloudy.”
“It kind of reminds me of home,” she said wistfully, looking around, and I knew she meant London.
I got emotional at their goodbye party. Finishing this book made me really sad I'm not in London right now and made me miss it so much more.
Why did no one's review warn me this was a clean romance? Even when it was mentioned that they spent the night together, there was no mention of sex. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought all they had done was kiss.
Even though the book had no sex, I appreciated how much they talked to each other, especially at the beginning of the book.
This book was so me-coded (ugh, hate Gen Z-speak). First off, I'm also twenty-three like Lizzie, and my parents and family want me to be a teacher, but I want to write and live in London.
Moving to London was a bigger deal for Lizzie than me because she had only been out of the state once and her parents opposed her studying abroad to get a master's.
Lizzie's character wasn't unique at all: a shy girl who loves classic literature, dreams of writing a novel, and is pretty but doesn't think she is, though she must be to have gotten the hero so interested in her. She reminded me of Bella Swan from Twilight. I liked Thomas more.
Good for Lizzie having a big family and all, but I wished I could have skipped all the scenes with her family in Detroit over the holidays because there were too many people to keep track of.
I lived for the London references. There were a lot at the beginning of the story, and they made me so happy. I'm familiar enough with London to know that Lizzie attended a fake university (Score 1 for Audrey). I also know London enough to know that Lizzie didn't seem to see much of it, or at least sightsee much. She seemed to just be familiar with restaurants and café. She saw Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Islington, St. Pancras Train Station, and Camden, but there's so much more to London. What about Brixton (my guy lives there so I'm biased) or East London? Walthamstow? South London?
I also thought Lizzie was stupid regarding the third-act separation. Here Thomas was, giving her a solid chance to stay in a foreign country she loved, and she was like no, I have to go home to a career I don't want to do because I'm too afraid to tell my family no? Honey, it's easier to tell your parents no from a foreign country than from their house. And not to mention cheaper too!
Quotes I loved:
"And now, at the age of twenty-three, my dream of living in London was about to come true."
"For as long as I could remember, I’ve wanted to live in London. I’m not exactly sure what the draw was, specifically. I had always felt drawn to the city, to England in general."
"Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. Get Oyster cards at the underground and take the Circle line to King’s Cross. From there, switch lines to Angel station and take a taxi to Fulton Street."
“Did she call this a lovely day? It’s about forty degrees out here and cloudy.”
“It kind of reminds me of home,” she said wistfully, looking around, and I knew she meant London.
I got emotional at their goodbye party. Finishing this book made me really sad I'm not in London right now and made me miss it so much more.
July 15, 2021
Lovestruck in London is a sweet romance about a young woman who finds herself and love in London, England. I enjoyed this story but at times, it seemed unbelievable. The writing was good while the characters were a little off. If you want to be swept away to England, read this book.
My Rating: 4 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
May 9, 2018
Such a sweet story! I loved getting to know Thomas and Elizabeth. And I really enjoyed exploring the UK along with them throughout the book. As certain places were mentioned I'd look them up on Google maps and do my best to follow along. It actually made me miss the parts of Europe I have been too and to long for the ones I haven't.
The descriptions were spot on and enjoyable to read. Thomas was truly a sweetheart and I'm happy that the ending was the way it was.
Rating: PG-13
Language: some profanity and use of deity
Recommend: Absolutely
The descriptions were spot on and enjoyable to read. Thomas was truly a sweetheart and I'm happy that the ending was the way it was.
Rating: PG-13
Language: some profanity and use of deity
Recommend: Absolutely
July 25, 2013
I've touched on this in other reviews, but for a long time I thought the chick lit genre was kind of dead, or at least it was dead for me. But recently I've made some discoveries, like Over the Edge, Why Can't I Be You, and this book, that are making me rethink my earlier assessment.
The book starts off with graduate student Lizzie heading to London with a friend to study for nine months. Lizzie's never been to London or even out of the country. As a bit of a bibliophile Lizzie is really excited to go to a country with such a rich literary history. She's also excited to get away from her large, controlling family (more on them later) and to break out of her quiet, shy shell. Her first night out in London she meets Thomas, a not so much struggling actor, but an actor on the verge of his big break, and there's an immediate connection.
The main thing this book had working for me was the relationships between the characters. I thought overall that character development was somewhat lacking, but thankfully the relationships were really strong. I loved reading about the beginning of Lizzie and Thomas' romance. They were incredibly cute together, but they're also real in their expectations of their relationship and very respectful of each other. I also liked how they have similar, very compatible personalities, but were also able to complement each other where they were lacking. The relationship between Lizzie and her friend who accompanied her to London was also strong. So often best friends drive me nuts, but this was a good one.
Part of me wants to fault this book for having Lizzie fall so in love with Thomas that he becomes her whole life, but in this situation it doesn't bother me as much as it normally would. After a quick reality check Lizzie realizes that she needs to still devote a big chunk of herself to school and really, besides the friend she came with, Lizzie doesn't have any other friends in London. Maybe she missed out on an opportunity to make more friends in London, but she did become friends with Thomas' group of friends and I think that counts for something.
This is a book that features celebrity culture pretty heavily. Lizzie and Thomas meet at a play where a famous now grown up child actor is appearing nude, Thomas is currently one of the co-stars in a Twilight-esque francise, and as Thomas becomes more and more well known Lizzie is forced to deal with paparazzi and unflattering press coverage. I don't want to say that this is a large part of the book, Thomas' extreme fame only comes towards the end, but it's something to be aware of. I'm not someone who follows celebrity culture, but I (think I) got all the references here and it was believable to me.
Let's talk about the people I hated. Lizzie's family. God they drove me nuts! I'm not saying this as a negative against the book, I actually think the author did a great job of portraying an overbearing family, I just hated the family. They pushed Lizzie into a job she doesn't want, they discourage her from going out into the world and experiencing new things, and they constantly make her feel guilty for pretty much existing. These types of families drive me nuts in real life and that annoyance definitely translated here. My family has its faults, but thank god they ultimately just want me to be happy, no matter what.
Bottom Line: I'm happy to say that this is another strong entry in the category formally known as "chick lit." It's a fun, enjoyable book that strikes a good balance between a sweet romance and serious issues around forming a connection with someone who lives far away and also controlling families. I want to say it would be a great beach read, but it takes place mostly over the winter in rainy London so it feels a little weird to recommend it for the beach! But it has that type of feeling.
I received an electronic review copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The book starts off with graduate student Lizzie heading to London with a friend to study for nine months. Lizzie's never been to London or even out of the country. As a bit of a bibliophile Lizzie is really excited to go to a country with such a rich literary history. She's also excited to get away from her large, controlling family (more on them later) and to break out of her quiet, shy shell. Her first night out in London she meets Thomas, a not so much struggling actor, but an actor on the verge of his big break, and there's an immediate connection.
The main thing this book had working for me was the relationships between the characters. I thought overall that character development was somewhat lacking, but thankfully the relationships were really strong. I loved reading about the beginning of Lizzie and Thomas' romance. They were incredibly cute together, but they're also real in their expectations of their relationship and very respectful of each other. I also liked how they have similar, very compatible personalities, but were also able to complement each other where they were lacking. The relationship between Lizzie and her friend who accompanied her to London was also strong. So often best friends drive me nuts, but this was a good one.
Part of me wants to fault this book for having Lizzie fall so in love with Thomas that he becomes her whole life, but in this situation it doesn't bother me as much as it normally would. After a quick reality check Lizzie realizes that she needs to still devote a big chunk of herself to school and really, besides the friend she came with, Lizzie doesn't have any other friends in London. Maybe she missed out on an opportunity to make more friends in London, but she did become friends with Thomas' group of friends and I think that counts for something.
This is a book that features celebrity culture pretty heavily. Lizzie and Thomas meet at a play where a famous now grown up child actor is appearing nude, Thomas is currently one of the co-stars in a Twilight-esque francise, and as Thomas becomes more and more well known Lizzie is forced to deal with paparazzi and unflattering press coverage. I don't want to say that this is a large part of the book, Thomas' extreme fame only comes towards the end, but it's something to be aware of. I'm not someone who follows celebrity culture, but I (think I) got all the references here and it was believable to me.
Let's talk about the people I hated. Lizzie's family. God they drove me nuts! I'm not saying this as a negative against the book, I actually think the author did a great job of portraying an overbearing family, I just hated the family. They pushed Lizzie into a job she doesn't want, they discourage her from going out into the world and experiencing new things, and they constantly make her feel guilty for pretty much existing. These types of families drive me nuts in real life and that annoyance definitely translated here. My family has its faults, but thank god they ultimately just want me to be happy, no matter what.
Bottom Line: I'm happy to say that this is another strong entry in the category formally known as "chick lit." It's a fun, enjoyable book that strikes a good balance between a sweet romance and serious issues around forming a connection with someone who lives far away and also controlling families. I want to say it would be a great beach read, but it takes place mostly over the winter in rainy London so it feels a little weird to recommend it for the beach! But it has that type of feeling.
I received an electronic review copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 20, 2018
4 Sweet Brave Cinderella story Stars
This was a nice in-depth without any spelled out sexy times parts book. We got deep character development and no one was too whiny. The MC had to grow a pair and did. It was at the very end. So of course it felt rushed. And I’m not a huge fan of telling me things that happened versus just letting the reader experience it with the character. But the flash back parts worked for this book.
Good writing. A few typos but nothing too distracting and it’s a good story. You get the movie star modern day fall in love with an unknown and he’s perfect. But I like book boyfriends to be a little perfect sometimes. And Thomas was just that. Did the right things.
Looking forward to the next.
This was a nice in-depth without any spelled out sexy times parts book. We got deep character development and no one was too whiny. The MC had to grow a pair and did. It was at the very end. So of course it felt rushed. And I’m not a huge fan of telling me things that happened versus just letting the reader experience it with the character. But the flash back parts worked for this book.
Good writing. A few typos but nothing too distracting and it’s a good story. You get the movie star modern day fall in love with an unknown and he’s perfect. But I like book boyfriends to be a little perfect sometimes. And Thomas was just that. Did the right things.
Looking forward to the next.
June 26, 2015
A cute and romantic story. Of course the love interest is a handsome, British, sweet, and thoughtful guy who is also a movie star. Haha. I'm pretty sure he has no flaws. Lol. Lizzie is a book-nerd who has different dreams than what her parents want for her. She can be a little judgmental and indecisive at times.
I loved the setting in London. I thought the romance was super sweet. How they met and their first dates were cute. Some parts felt a bit rushed it it wasn't too bad. I loved their friends but I wish they had bigger parts. Sometimes I felt they were there but they never had too much depth. Besides for a few scenes which were good. Sometimes I felt like Lizzie took Callie for granted. Like how Lizzie always needs help or advice but never really gives much to Callie. They never talk about what Callie has been doing or hanging out with when Lizzie is with Thomas. I really enjoyed the story even if it was mainly for the romance. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series because I actually like where this book ended.
I loved the setting in London. I thought the romance was super sweet. How they met and their first dates were cute. Some parts felt a bit rushed it it wasn't too bad. I loved their friends but I wish they had bigger parts. Sometimes I felt they were there but they never had too much depth. Besides for a few scenes which were good. Sometimes I felt like Lizzie took Callie for granted. Like how Lizzie always needs help or advice but never really gives much to Callie. They never talk about what Callie has been doing or hanging out with when Lizzie is with Thomas. I really enjoyed the story even if it was mainly for the romance. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series because I actually like where this book ended.
October 5, 2014
If you can handle the typos of common words, and the complete lack of tension in this YA novel, you'll like this very simple story that seems to be about fulfilling every 13-year-old's Fangirl dreams.
It's supposed to have British people speaking but mostly they speak like Americans with an occasional Brit word thrown in willy nilly.
And while I love the idea of a Latina girl branching away from her family to be a writer, since not many Latinas are represented in stories, the focus seems to be more about her insecurities than her strengths and doesn't really delve into what it means to make that choice of family or career.
It's supposed to have British people speaking but mostly they speak like Americans with an occasional Brit word thrown in willy nilly.
And while I love the idea of a Latina girl branching away from her family to be a writer, since not many Latinas are represented in stories, the focus seems to be more about her insecurities than her strengths and doesn't really delve into what it means to make that choice of family or career.
June 23, 2015
Free book. I liked this book, it was a cute and easy to read romance...kind of reminded me of "Anna and the French Kiss". I love the London setting of course! It made me add Edinburgh to my Must Visit cities!
July 13, 2015
Painful
Painful to read. The main character had a hard time sticking to her decisions. The plot was dumb and boring. So many things were written but didn't contribute to the storyline.
Painful to read. The main character had a hard time sticking to her decisions. The plot was dumb and boring. So many things were written but didn't contribute to the storyline.
August 27, 2017
Lovestruck in London is a sweet romance novel just like Goodreads and Amazon say it is. Maybe even slightly too sweet. It's mostly well-written and talks about a young American woman who goes abroad to London to study for one year and unexpectedly finds herself in love with an English actor, BUT it wasn't quite the thing I was looking for.
I unexpectedly found a NA romance novel that doesn't show the characters having sex even once or thinking about the fact how hot the other lead is. Although Lizzie made a rather big deal of the fact that she was a virgin before meeting Thomas ... I simply don't know why the fact that she lost her virginity was simply glossed over and forgotten. Although the book is quite refreshing in that aspect that the most PDA you get are kisses and hand holding, it actually needed something more.
I honestly expected something slightly different because the writing style, while simple and lovely, failed to engage me fully. I didn't get a real feel for the heroine other than the fact that I grew tired of her being so sick of famous people and how she kept repeating it over and over again.
I didn't get a real feeling for the male lead Thomas either other than the fact that he's a complete gentleman and wants to pay for their dates and open the car doors, etc. I wanted to get a better feel so that I could understand why Lizzie fell for Thomas, but unfortunately I didn't get it because Thomas was too goody two-shoes.
I also really, really disliked the reason Lizzie was so hesitant about her relationship with Thomas and I liked her reason for the huge fight in the end even less. She seemed like a grown woman most of the time, but for some odd reason she behaved like a small child for a part of the novel ...
Also, what's with the TWO sequels? I thought the story ended with a rather nice note - why mess it up? Drama for the sake of drama? Thanks, but no thanks. I'm ending my relationship with this series right here.
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I unexpectedly found a NA romance novel that doesn't show the characters having sex even once or thinking about the fact how hot the other lead is. Although Lizzie made a rather big deal of the fact that she was a virgin before meeting Thomas ... I simply don't know why the fact that she lost her virginity was simply glossed over and forgotten. Although the book is quite refreshing in that aspect that the most PDA you get are kisses and hand holding, it actually needed something more.
I honestly expected something slightly different because the writing style, while simple and lovely, failed to engage me fully. I didn't get a real feel for the heroine other than the fact that I grew tired of her being so sick of famous people and how she kept repeating it over and over again.
I didn't get a real feeling for the male lead Thomas either other than the fact that he's a complete gentleman and wants to pay for their dates and open the car doors, etc. I wanted to get a better feel so that I could understand why Lizzie fell for Thomas, but unfortunately I didn't get it because Thomas was too goody two-shoes.
I also really, really disliked the reason Lizzie was so hesitant about her relationship with Thomas and I liked her reason for the huge fight in the end even less. She seemed like a grown woman most of the time, but for some odd reason she behaved like a small child for a part of the novel ...
Also, what's with the TWO sequels? I thought the story ended with a rather nice note - why mess it up? Drama for the sake of drama? Thanks, but no thanks. I'm ending my relationship with this series right here.
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September 25, 2022
Lengvas meilės romanas, kur vaikinas kino žvaigždė, kai netikėtai jie susipažįsta, ji jo neatpažįsta ir taip pradeda bendrauti, įsimyli ir t.t. bet dėl ko man jis toks artimas pasirodė? LONDONAS!
Ir po visų sunkių, žiaurių ir 🔥🔥🔥 romanų, ši knyga pasirodė tokia lengva, švelni, ko ir reikėjo atsipūsti nuo visko 😊
Ir po visų sunkių, žiaurių ir 🔥🔥🔥 romanų, ši knyga pasirodė tokia lengva, švelni, ko ir reikėjo atsipūsti nuo visko 😊
April 19, 2018
Very cute story. Very clean except for a few words.
April 26, 2020
As cute as a Hallmark movie, and just perfect if you want something light to read. I enjoyed it.
June 7, 2015
A Latina girl in America has studied hard as her family wishes and wants another year of college before applying for teaching jobs. She takes a course in London, to everyone's surprise.
The story is very slow to get under way and we meet many family members who are going to be left behind; more of them have long phone conversations with our heroine. But by halfway through the book we realise that the story is actually all about breaking away from the family mould, so we are going to meet them again and their influence is considerable.
The heroine enjoys English literature so is keen to start on her course; she takes an inordinately long time however to go out and sightsee in London, but maybe she was just nervous to do this on her own in a strange country. She meets a lad at the theatre who is a small part actor in a Twilight-alike series filmed in the UK. His parts have been increasing but he is more interested in arty films. Cue the involvement of various young media darlings and some sniping from female stars. Is our heroine out of her depth, as she believes? Could the budding romance ever be made to work? And what happens when she has to go home?
I liked a lot about this tale, such as the descriptions of the film makers' lives, the historic sights of London and Edinburgh and the way that the girl is not pressured to go to bed with the new guy. She understands that she is falling behind on her course, but somehow her romance comes first. This kind of tension, and interpersonal stress, creates the dramas rather than any action. By the end I really did get a good understanding of the family life and expectations of this young lady. I could not see her finding time to write a book as well as adhering to an English Lit course even to scrape a pass, not to mention all the gallivanting. But maybe she doesn't need to sleep.
I was amused that the character says she thinks the longrunning Manchester working class soap-opera 'Coronation Street' demonstrates posh accents; however as the matter did not arise again I have to wonder if the author gets the joke. Another speech oddity is a British college official using terms like 'fall' and 'semester' which would never be used in England. But mainly I am sorry to have to explain that an American could not take an administrative job in Britain. Only if she had some skill that it was impossible to source in Britain and a company needed her to fill a role, could she get a work permit.
I enjoyed the story overall and would read more by this author.
The story is very slow to get under way and we meet many family members who are going to be left behind; more of them have long phone conversations with our heroine. But by halfway through the book we realise that the story is actually all about breaking away from the family mould, so we are going to meet them again and their influence is considerable.
The heroine enjoys English literature so is keen to start on her course; she takes an inordinately long time however to go out and sightsee in London, but maybe she was just nervous to do this on her own in a strange country. She meets a lad at the theatre who is a small part actor in a Twilight-alike series filmed in the UK. His parts have been increasing but he is more interested in arty films. Cue the involvement of various young media darlings and some sniping from female stars. Is our heroine out of her depth, as she believes? Could the budding romance ever be made to work? And what happens when she has to go home?
I liked a lot about this tale, such as the descriptions of the film makers' lives, the historic sights of London and Edinburgh and the way that the girl is not pressured to go to bed with the new guy. She understands that she is falling behind on her course, but somehow her romance comes first. This kind of tension, and interpersonal stress, creates the dramas rather than any action. By the end I really did get a good understanding of the family life and expectations of this young lady. I could not see her finding time to write a book as well as adhering to an English Lit course even to scrape a pass, not to mention all the gallivanting. But maybe she doesn't need to sleep.
I was amused that the character says she thinks the longrunning Manchester working class soap-opera 'Coronation Street' demonstrates posh accents; however as the matter did not arise again I have to wonder if the author gets the joke. Another speech oddity is a British college official using terms like 'fall' and 'semester' which would never be used in England. But mainly I am sorry to have to explain that an American could not take an administrative job in Britain. Only if she had some skill that it was impossible to source in Britain and a company needed her to fill a role, could she get a work permit.
I enjoyed the story overall and would read more by this author.
September 30, 2016
3.5 Stars. Sweet as candy. And again, one of many books that inspired by Pride and Prejudice. But just inspired, the story line was very different. The heroine, Elizabeth Medina (yes, she named after Elizabeth Bennet) is the youngest from Medina family. As a latina family that immigrated to US, Lizzie learnt from very beginning that they had to struggle, hard. That's why she couldn't say no to what her family said. They wanted her to be a teacher, just like her sisters. Getting a job, got married and settled. That's what her parents want her to be.
But for once in her life, Lizzie doing something what she wants to do, going to London for a year and write a novel. But in London, she met Thomas Harper, a rising star and a very talented actor. With Thomas, Lizzie felt like herself and she fell in love with Thomas, hard. But Thomas carrier as an actor had made him someone on the spotlight and like it or not, as her girlfriend, Lizzie had to accept the fact that she also now on the spotlight and worse, being chased by paparazzi. Lizzie starts to doubt her relationships with Thomas and in fact, she had to return to US and become a teacher. And it means a long distance relationships with Thomas.
Could Lizzie tell her parents the truth? And could she get what she really wants and be with Thomas?
I did enjoy reading this book, but I'm not sure that I would continue to read the second and third installment. In fact, I'm very interesting about Sofia, Lizzie's cousin and Jackson Coles, the Hollywood it boy.
But there's something in this book that I couldn't agree more, what Lizzie's mother said to her ;
"Elizabeth Bennet was a strong woman. She was intelligent and mature and could laugh at the silliness of the world around her. She was a good and a loyal daughter, yes. But she stood up for herself. She did not settle. She went after what she wanted, even when her parents disagreed. Elizabeth knew that love was more important than security, more important than money, and yes, even more important than the desires of her mother." A MILLION YES!!
But for once in her life, Lizzie doing something what she wants to do, going to London for a year and write a novel. But in London, she met Thomas Harper, a rising star and a very talented actor. With Thomas, Lizzie felt like herself and she fell in love with Thomas, hard. But Thomas carrier as an actor had made him someone on the spotlight and like it or not, as her girlfriend, Lizzie had to accept the fact that she also now on the spotlight and worse, being chased by paparazzi. Lizzie starts to doubt her relationships with Thomas and in fact, she had to return to US and become a teacher. And it means a long distance relationships with Thomas.
Could Lizzie tell her parents the truth? And could she get what she really wants and be with Thomas?
I did enjoy reading this book, but I'm not sure that I would continue to read the second and third installment. In fact, I'm very interesting about Sofia, Lizzie's cousin and Jackson Coles, the Hollywood it boy.
But there's something in this book that I couldn't agree more, what Lizzie's mother said to her ;
"Elizabeth Bennet was a strong woman. She was intelligent and mature and could laugh at the silliness of the world around her. She was a good and a loyal daughter, yes. But she stood up for herself. She did not settle. She went after what she wanted, even when her parents disagreed. Elizabeth knew that love was more important than security, more important than money, and yes, even more important than the desires of her mother." A MILLION YES!!
August 28, 2016
This book deserves far more than the three stars I'm giving it. Or it will if it's ever edited.
There isn't a tsunami of punctuation and grammar errors in this one, though a few do show up here and there. What stops what was an otherwise well crafted and entertaining read from getting more stars is a lack of consistency and continuity mixed with dire need for a Brit-picker.
Psst. Why does Thomas talk about his "mum" one minute, but then refer to his "mom" the next? Why does "Sofia" suddenly become "Sophia" in at least one reference?
And since for the people around Thomas's parents' and brother's ages, it's "university", not "school" – never "school" –, why do they keep telling Bryony she needs to to school once she leaves school? (At least the author doesn't have her "graduating" from high school.) And most undergraduate degrees take three years to complete. Certianly Bryony's dramma course would.
But aside from that nonsense, the book is enjoyable. It's got a typical NA plot but is filled with characters who deal with their issues using far more maturity (and logic and believable behaviour) than many NA characters would.
Refreshing.
There isn't a tsunami of punctuation and grammar errors in this one, though a few do show up here and there. What stops what was an otherwise well crafted and entertaining read from getting more stars is a lack of consistency and continuity mixed with dire need for a Brit-picker.
Psst. Why does Thomas talk about his "mum" one minute, but then refer to his "mom" the next? Why does "Sofia" suddenly become "Sophia" in at least one reference?
And since for the people around Thomas's parents' and brother's ages, it's "university", not "school" – never "school" –, why do they keep telling Bryony she needs to to school once she leaves school? (At least the author doesn't have her "graduating" from high school.) And most undergraduate degrees take three years to complete. Certianly Bryony's dramma course would.
But aside from that nonsense, the book is enjoyable. It's got a typical NA plot but is filled with characters who deal with their issues using far more maturity (and logic and believable behaviour) than many NA characters would.
Refreshing.
October 8, 2014
Cute was NOT what I expected.
This book isn't bad. Well written. But, this is in no way adult contemporary fiction. Youth fiction at least. Lizzie and Callie talk like teenagers, not young women traveling 1/2 way around the world, going for their masters degree. Everything is awesome, this coming from a literature major??
The main character, Lizzie, comes across as childish and self absorbed. She acts like she's 15. I couldn't put together these characters and the fact they were drinking in pubs, gin no less. They came across as kids stealing liquor from their parents, not young adults. I probably would have given the book another star if it were categorized appropriately, maybe even Christian romance??
If you like light, sweet, innocent romance, then this is a good book.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not low marking because it's not filled with steamy sex scenes. Explicit sex isn't necessary in a really good romance novel. I'm marking it low because of how it is inaccurately categorized.
This book isn't bad. Well written. But, this is in no way adult contemporary fiction. Youth fiction at least. Lizzie and Callie talk like teenagers, not young women traveling 1/2 way around the world, going for their masters degree. Everything is awesome, this coming from a literature major??
The main character, Lizzie, comes across as childish and self absorbed. She acts like she's 15. I couldn't put together these characters and the fact they were drinking in pubs, gin no less. They came across as kids stealing liquor from their parents, not young adults. I probably would have given the book another star if it were categorized appropriately, maybe even Christian romance??
If you like light, sweet, innocent romance, then this is a good book.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not low marking because it's not filled with steamy sex scenes. Explicit sex isn't necessary in a really good romance novel. I'm marking it low because of how it is inaccurately categorized.
May 28, 2013
I absolutely adored this book. I loved that it's set in the one place in the world I've ALWAYS wanted to visit. That as Lizzie is walking through London it's all described so well, that I felt like I was there, learning that a car trunk is called a boot and getting so confused by all the new and unique terms. I loved that the hero is so down to earth, even though he is a HUGE movie star in one of the world's biggest movie franchiese's (sp?). That the whole twilight movie knock off is handled in such a tongue in cheek fashion, I just loved this book. It's sweet, romantic, and toe-curling. There is no sex, which means this book is safe for your thirteen year old daughter. It's just a wonderful read and written so well that I was completely immersed in this story and only came up for air when absolutely necessary.
I would urge anyone looking for something fun and cute to read this. I think you'll really enjoy it.
I would urge anyone looking for something fun and cute to read this. I think you'll really enjoy it.
July 31, 2015
This book I have to say is quite fascinating, I have to admit though the plot did not seem very captivating as it falls along the line of girl meets hollywood star and fall in love. What I did like in this story line was how supportive and caring Tom was and how he didn't let the spotlight or fame affect him. However, I did think the plot could have used a bit more originality as the problems Lizzie faces have been used many times before (the family wanting Lizzie to stay home and work as a teacher instead of allowing her to pursue her dreams). I also thought it was showing women in a stereotypical way whereby the women stay home and cook and clean for their husbands since that was were her 'sisters' were doing and it provided stability. I did love the Lizzie' s mother though, she was very supportive to Lizzie's dreams and always stood by her side. Overall a great read, I can't wait to read the sequel
July 4, 2015
I gave this romance novel 5 stars because it is exactly the kind of coming of age story I love. At first I wasn't sure I would connect with a 23 year old, but when she does something I would have loved do myself, i.e., move to London after college for a year to study, I was hooked. It reminded me of Notting Hill in reverse, in this case Lizzie falls in love with Thomas, a movie star on the verge of fame. This unlikely love seems doomed to fail. Lizzie's family, a close-knit Latina family in Detroit, wants her to return to a life of teaching school, while Thomas's fame threatens to tear them apart. But it ends well as all good romances must. The story will continue in two more books. My one complaint is that they weren't combined into one longer Maeve Binchey type novel!
August 1, 2013
"4 out of 5 stars!! This sweet, enthralling, fun novel lets you enjoy the historical aspects of England, while capturing you in an intense romance involving its main characters. I really wish I could be Lizzie."
Read more of this review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/08/feasted-on-lovestruck-in-london-by.html
Read more of this review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/08/feasted-on-lovestruck-in-london-by.html
June 27, 2015
lightweight, cutesy story - I did feel like there were a lot of unrealistic details. He's traumatized by a past relationship, but after their brief interaction at the play, he's basically head over heels and wants to spend all weekend with her? And when she tells him what she REALLY wants to do is write romances, he thinks it's lovely.
I appreciate a story with a "nice guy" lead - but seriously, how about a bit more personality!
I appreciate a story with a "nice guy" lead - but seriously, how about a bit more personality!
April 22, 2016
My main thoughts on reading this was that it strongly gave the impression of a RPF complete with the obligatory Mary Sue character. Cue obligatory eyeroll. The last few chapters were the only ones I really enjoyed so my rating is based on those. I normally steer well clear of RPF as I have no interest in it, it's simply not my cup of tea.
Oh please, don't let your main character drink drive. Don't know how acceptable it is in the US but in the UK it is a no no.
Oh please, don't let your main character drink drive. Don't know how acceptable it is in the US but in the UK it is a no no.
October 24, 2014
This was adorable and sooooooo cuteeeeeee. It was a freakin fairytale like come on that only happens in movies ughhhh why can't I find some famous actor in a theater... For a while I thought they weren't gonna end up and together God that would have been AWFUL COMPLETELY AWFUL... Thank goodness she grew a back bone and stood up for herself I mean it was about time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2016
I'm pretty sure just moving back to London to work for your famous boyfriend's agent wouldn't be that easy, because there are things like work visas involved, but mostly, this was cute! It's a pretty decent not-famous person falls for a famous person book. I don't really have any interest in the sequels, though.
June 19, 2015
This is a fun, quick, light read. It deals with some family, cultural and identity issues, but is mostly just a friendship/romance. It is a PG romance, which is a pleasant change of pace. I like the characters enough to want to read the other books in the series.
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