What do you think?
Rate this book
Просто якась дурна історія кохання
Моллі пише сценарії до романтичних комедій, тому переконана: справжнє кохання — це міф, вигаданий для фільмів і книжок. Її історії успішні, а серце — неприступне.
Сет переконаний, що кохання здолає будь-які перешкоди, й вірить у любов і романтику, хоч і працює… одним із найкращих у Чикаго адвокатом із розлучень.
Колись вони навчалися в одному класі й навіть зустрічалися, але Моллі «продинамила» хлопця перед самим випускним, розбивши йому серце. Сет не встиг з’ясувати чому. За 15 років він нарешті дістає нагоду зробити це на зустрічі випускників…
Сет переконаний, що кохання здолає будь-які перешкоди, й вірить у любов і романтику, хоч і працює… одним із найкращих у Чикаго адвокатом із розлучень.
Колись вони навчалися в одному класі й навіть зустрічалися, але Моллі «продинамила» хлопця перед самим випускним, розбивши йому серце. Сет не встиг з’ясувати чому. За 15 років він нарешті дістає нагоду зробити це на зустрічі випускників…
480 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
782 people are currently reading
33108 people want to read
About the author
Katelyn Doyle
2 books355 followersKatelyn Doyle is the author of contemporary romances Just Some Stupid Love Story and Total Dreamboat. Her work has been called “fun and fresh as hell” by People and “a joy to read” by Kirkus. She also writes steamy, feminist, slightly outré historical romances as the saucy USA Today Bestselling novelist Scarlett Peckham.
Katelyn is a recovering crisis PR executive, a graduate of Columbia University, and a lifelong romance addict who got her start stealing her grandmother’s bodice rippers at the tender age of eleven. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and extremely small cat, and when not toiling away expanding her oeuvre, entertains herself with frivolities such as diamond painting, watching everything on Bravo, and consuming audiobooks at 1.6x speed.
You can follow her @greatlyn.
Katelyn is a recovering crisis PR executive, a graduate of Columbia University, and a lifelong romance addict who got her start stealing her grandmother’s bodice rippers at the tender age of eleven. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and extremely small cat, and when not toiling away expanding her oeuvre, entertains herself with frivolities such as diamond painting, watching everything on Bravo, and consuming audiobooks at 1.6x speed.
You can follow her @greatlyn.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,870 reviews
June 4, 2024
This is a SPICY DEBUT novel that was ORIGINAL and ENJOYABLE- BUT I would NOT call it swoon worthy!
Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—despite NOT believing in love. She KNOWS that romance is a genre with its own set of beats, though different from those of thrillers and detective novels. You start at the “meet cute” and END the story when things are finally going well. You NEVER continue on to the part where he cheats on her or the kids kill their sex life.
Seth Rubinstein believes in soulmates and “once in a lifetime” love, despite his job as one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he has tried to find “the one” often rushing into relationships in his zeal to find his “happily ever after”.
But so far, no one can compare to his high school girlfriend, Molly Marks-the first girl who broke his heart.💔
Molly hates weddings, and class reunions and usually RSVPs her regrets. ( she is my doppelgänger 🤣)
BUT this time her besties, Dez and Alysssa drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, and she finds herself seated with Seth.
After far too many “Signature Cocktails” and a drunken hookup -they find themselves making a bet to see which of them can correctly predict the fate of five couples.
Who will be together at their 20th reunion?
The catch? The fifth couple they are betting on is the two of them. Seth is confident she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him, and Molly assures him that there is no chance of that happening!
Who will end up victorious?
I loved the PREMISE but Seth was a very “different” LEADING man! Sure, he was REALLY, REALLY NICE, but he was also extremely GOOFY and NERDY, and I am personally NOT turned on by men who refer to body parts and sexual acts in CRUDE terms. I was not swooning over him.
Still, he doesn’t need to be MY soulmate, he needs to be Molly’s-and by the end, I was rooting for them!
⚠️ This book also includes some very descriptive open door scenes, which isn’t my thing, but will appeal to readers who like things spicy!!🌶️
Despite these two things, I did enjoy the story! Did DeAnn find Seth to be swoon worthy? Be sure to watch for her review!
You can pick this one up TODAY-just in time for beach 🏖️ bag season!
Blame your blush on sunburn!! 🤭
Thank You to FlatIron books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—despite NOT believing in love. She KNOWS that romance is a genre with its own set of beats, though different from those of thrillers and detective novels. You start at the “meet cute” and END the story when things are finally going well. You NEVER continue on to the part where he cheats on her or the kids kill their sex life.
Seth Rubinstein believes in soulmates and “once in a lifetime” love, despite his job as one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he has tried to find “the one” often rushing into relationships in his zeal to find his “happily ever after”.
But so far, no one can compare to his high school girlfriend, Molly Marks-the first girl who broke his heart.💔
Molly hates weddings, and class reunions and usually RSVPs her regrets. ( she is my doppelgänger 🤣)
BUT this time her besties, Dez and Alysssa drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, and she finds herself seated with Seth.
After far too many “Signature Cocktails” and a drunken hookup -they find themselves making a bet to see which of them can correctly predict the fate of five couples.
Who will be together at their 20th reunion?
The catch? The fifth couple they are betting on is the two of them. Seth is confident she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him, and Molly assures him that there is no chance of that happening!
Who will end up victorious?
I loved the PREMISE but Seth was a very “different” LEADING man! Sure, he was REALLY, REALLY NICE, but he was also extremely GOOFY and NERDY, and I am personally NOT turned on by men who refer to body parts and sexual acts in CRUDE terms. I was not swooning over him.
Still, he doesn’t need to be MY soulmate, he needs to be Molly’s-and by the end, I was rooting for them!
⚠️ This book also includes some very descriptive open door scenes, which isn’t my thing, but will appeal to readers who like things spicy!!🌶️
Despite these two things, I did enjoy the story! Did DeAnn find Seth to be swoon worthy? Be sure to watch for her review!
You can pick this one up TODAY-just in time for beach 🏖️ bag season!
Blame your blush on sunburn!! 🤭
Thank You to FlatIron books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
January 13, 2024
Yes! Another entertaining, hilarious enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract romance—my auto-approved tropes that I dive into without a second thought. The smart banter, high chemistry, and intriguing dating concept form the perfect recipe for my rom-com addict membrane! The character development, including supporting characters, is also well-executed and easy to connect with.
The only thing that held me back from giving it five stars is the story's longevity, reminiscent of Jason Segel and Emily Blunt’s five-year engagement movie concept. Although intelligent and well-written, the extended timeline made the overall process a bit blurry, leaving me questioning where the story was headed and when it would wrap up. I had a similar feeling while reading this book. The timeline felt too lengthy, and I wish it had been condensed to a two-year span to allow for tighter editing, ensuring I could fully enjoy the entire concept. The last third, while a bit dramatic and angsty, was still good and kept me engaged. Overall, it's a well-crafted rom-com that has earned the author a spot among my favorite romance authors, satisfying my craving for clever .
In this delightful reverse grumpy sunshine tale, our female protagonist, Molly, takes on the role of the pessimist, while Seth, the male lead, embodies the archetype of the "golden retriever boy." It's a refreshing twist on the grumpy sunshine trope, deviating from the typical dynamic and adding a layer of enjoyment to the story.
Molly and Seth's encounters after high school are marked by a sense of fate, yet various obstacles, often initiated by Molly, hinder their connection. Witnessing their characters evolve amid these challenges was thoroughly entertaining.
One of the standout aspects of this book is Seth's genuine care for Molly, a significant factor that elevated my appreciation for the story. Exploring his perspective added depth and richness to the narrative.
It admittedly took me a while to warm up to Molly, given her departure from the typical female protagonist mold I usually favor. However, by the end, she grew on me, showcasing her character's development.
The story unfolds at a high school reunion where a rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney, Molly and Seth, reunite and embark on a one-night stand. The twist is the screenwriter's grumpy disposition toward love, contrasting with the attorney's sunny demeanor—a truly iconic setup.
Before parting ways, they make a bet on understanding relationships better, questioning the existence of soulmates. Predicting the fate of five couples, including themselves, they plan to reconvene in five years at the next reunion to determine the winner.
This dual POV narrative delves into the evolving relationship over the years, portraying realistic flaws in the characters. Molly's trauma from her parents' divorce and her reluctance to commit, juxtaposed with Seth's idealized view of love and rushing into relationships, adds complexity.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this entertaining book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
The only thing that held me back from giving it five stars is the story's longevity, reminiscent of Jason Segel and Emily Blunt’s five-year engagement movie concept. Although intelligent and well-written, the extended timeline made the overall process a bit blurry, leaving me questioning where the story was headed and when it would wrap up. I had a similar feeling while reading this book. The timeline felt too lengthy, and I wish it had been condensed to a two-year span to allow for tighter editing, ensuring I could fully enjoy the entire concept. The last third, while a bit dramatic and angsty, was still good and kept me engaged. Overall, it's a well-crafted rom-com that has earned the author a spot among my favorite romance authors, satisfying my craving for clever .
In this delightful reverse grumpy sunshine tale, our female protagonist, Molly, takes on the role of the pessimist, while Seth, the male lead, embodies the archetype of the "golden retriever boy." It's a refreshing twist on the grumpy sunshine trope, deviating from the typical dynamic and adding a layer of enjoyment to the story.
Molly and Seth's encounters after high school are marked by a sense of fate, yet various obstacles, often initiated by Molly, hinder their connection. Witnessing their characters evolve amid these challenges was thoroughly entertaining.
One of the standout aspects of this book is Seth's genuine care for Molly, a significant factor that elevated my appreciation for the story. Exploring his perspective added depth and richness to the narrative.
It admittedly took me a while to warm up to Molly, given her departure from the typical female protagonist mold I usually favor. However, by the end, she grew on me, showcasing her character's development.
The story unfolds at a high school reunion where a rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney, Molly and Seth, reunite and embark on a one-night stand. The twist is the screenwriter's grumpy disposition toward love, contrasting with the attorney's sunny demeanor—a truly iconic setup.
Before parting ways, they make a bet on understanding relationships better, questioning the existence of soulmates. Predicting the fate of five couples, including themselves, they plan to reconvene in five years at the next reunion to determine the winner.
This dual POV narrative delves into the evolving relationship over the years, portraying realistic flaws in the characters. Molly's trauma from her parents' divorce and her reluctance to commit, juxtaposed with Seth's idealized view of love and rushing into relationships, adds complexity.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this entertaining book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 5, 2024
surprise! it sucked!
- - -
rolled my eyes, sighed, and added to my tbr, because i’m hopeless and everything about this appealing to me even though i know it will most definitely suck
- - -
rolled my eyes, sighed, and added to my tbr, because i’m hopeless and everything about this appealing to me even though i know it will most definitely suck
May 5, 2025
Just Some Stupid Love Story might seem like *any* other stupid love story out there but, to my utter surprise, for the better part was more focused on the difficulty of acknowledging your traumas and not making them the most important aspects of your relationship.
Overall, the romance was nice as much as the next love story: predictable, slightly off balance here and there, and sweet in its we’re-following-a-rom-com-script vibe.
But the real celebrity is the dual POV: not only because it lets us see their mistakes from more than one perspective, it was really embodied in the narration and felt pretty much essential — idk if it’s ever happened to you but sometimes I feel like it's not necessary, especially when it's pretty clear the story was “thought” from one specific character’s POV.
Back to the reason why I liked this: trauma is a bitch because it never really ends. As in, you may think your parents' divorce wasn't a big deal, but it was; it was such a big deal that, deep down, you're so scared of letting yourself be loved and reciprocate that feeling that you try to do anything to prevent it.
Or, on the other hand, you may have idolized the idea of the love you want, and you don't even realize you're not the only one in the relationship. Marriage, kids, the white fetch and a golden retriever aren't what everyone wants; sure, being sensitive and taking things slow is a good first step, but it's still not an assurance about what your partner might want in the future.
Molly and Seth’s story isn't extraordinary in any way; it's pretty normal, actually, and that's what made me cherish it even more.
↠ 3.2 stars
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Overall, the romance was nice as much as the next love story: predictable, slightly off balance here and there, and sweet in its we’re-following-a-rom-com-script vibe.
But the real celebrity is the dual POV: not only because it lets us see their mistakes from more than one perspective, it was really embodied in the narration and felt pretty much essential — idk if it’s ever happened to you but sometimes I feel like it's not necessary, especially when it's pretty clear the story was “thought” from one specific character’s POV.
Back to the reason why I liked this: trauma is a bitch because it never really ends. As in, you may think your parents' divorce wasn't a big deal, but it was; it was such a big deal that, deep down, you're so scared of letting yourself be loved and reciprocate that feeling that you try to do anything to prevent it.
Or, on the other hand, you may have idolized the idea of the love you want, and you don't even realize you're not the only one in the relationship. Marriage, kids, the white fetch and a golden retriever aren't what everyone wants; sure, being sensitive and taking things slow is a good first step, but it's still not an assurance about what your partner might want in the future.
Molly and Seth’s story isn't extraordinary in any way; it's pretty normal, actually, and that's what made me cherish it even more.
↠ 3.2 stars
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 4, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Florida & Illinois & California
Publication date ~ June 4, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 318 (42 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 31 minutes
Narrators ~ Christine Lakin, Tim Paige
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ debut, 9 parts, HS sweethearts, reverse grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, second chance, some steamage, side character infidelity
Molly & Seth
Molly is a rom com screenwriter that doesn't believe in love and marriage due to her father's example. Seth wants nothing more than to find 'the one' and live happily ever after. He thought he found that with Molly when they were in high school, but she left him and broke his heart. Now they're at their 15 year reunion and the attraction is still there. Can they easily find their way back to each other?
Oh Seth I felt so bad for him. He wears his heart on his sleeve and just wants someone to love him forever. He keeps getting his heart broken and his emotions clearly came through on the page, or in my ears rather.
Eh with Molly. I never really warmed up to her on the romance front, but she was a great friend to her bff's.
Overall, this is fine as a debut. There were enough funny bits to keep me entertained, but I just felt like so much time was wasted.
Side note ~ there are a lot of emails and text messages, which I wouldn't have minded if I was reading it, but to hear all the info following 'to..., from..., date..., time..., subject...' over and over and over again annoyed me.
Narration notes:
They both did fine. Tim still needs to work on his lady voice.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Florida & Illinois & California
Publication date ~ June 4, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 318 (42 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 31 minutes
Narrators ~ Christine Lakin, Tim Paige
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ debut, 9 parts, HS sweethearts, reverse grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, second chance, some steamage, side character infidelity
Molly & Seth
Molly is a rom com screenwriter that doesn't believe in love and marriage due to her father's example. Seth wants nothing more than to find 'the one' and live happily ever after. He thought he found that with Molly when they were in high school, but she left him and broke his heart. Now they're at their 15 year reunion and the attraction is still there. Can they easily find their way back to each other?
Oh Seth I felt so bad for him. He wears his heart on his sleeve and just wants someone to love him forever. He keeps getting his heart broken and his emotions clearly came through on the page, or in my ears rather.
Eh with Molly. I never really warmed up to her on the romance front, but she was a great friend to her bff's.
Overall, this is fine as a debut. There were enough funny bits to keep me entertained, but I just felt like so much time was wasted.
Side note ~ there are a lot of emails and text messages, which I wouldn't have minded if I was reading it, but to hear all the info following 'to..., from..., date..., time..., subject...' over and over and over again annoyed me.
Narration notes:
They both did fine. Tim still needs to work on his lady voice.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
May 9, 2024
Ooooof. I may have spoken too soon when I said 2024 would be the year of amazing romances because this one, similar to the last few I’ve read, was just not it. At this point I am 0/6 for my most recent romance reads, all 2024 titles.
It truly has me side eyeing authors, pubs, and editors who seem to have taken the grumpy x sunshine trope to the brink and expect us to eat it up when these characters become caricatures and embodiments of the most extreme and literal elements of the grumpy x sunshine trope instead of a character that you could see parts of yourself in or be friends with.
While HEAs are common if not guaranteed in most romances, they typically strive to give readers a HEA that feels achievable, hard won, realistic in some sense. Like it’s a true snapshot of the love story that will endure past the pages of the book and quite literally, be happy, ever after! Yet lately, and this book is no exception, these endings honestly fail to sell me on that HEA, it’s not even a ‘happy for now’ moment. I truly do not think Molly and Seth will make it past a year. Hell Jeramy and Sarah Ann from LIB would out last these two.
Molly and Seth felt like such a toxic, vapid, shallow, unnecessary romance with two characters that frankly come together in the most patently cringe of ways. Molly is meant to be the grumpy, bitchy, yet alluring lead, yet she’s essentially that chihuahua with a coyote spike vest on. She doesnt just push people away or run away from emotion, she categorically emotionally evicerates Seth, she essentially tazzes him time and again emotionally and then gets sad and cries when he in fact pulls back. She doesn’t just draw blood, she cuts arteries in her wake and then sells us on this sad narrative that using her words is so hard. But here’s the thing, she IS NOT in fact socially awkward or inept, her very job DEPENDS on her social skills and schmoozing. Maybe it’s not true emotion or vulnerability, but still, she’s plenty capable of communication, she just chooses to bury her head in the sand in the wake of each nuclear bomb she sets off. It was so ‘woe is me’ it was laughable and truly hard to care or root for her.
She’s genuinely just mean and why would I want her to get away with that? Putting the romance aside, how are we even supposed to care about her when she flat out states she writes rom com screenplays as a cash grab? She doesnt believe in love, she doesnt even want it. She makes a mockery of the true emotion and magic behind the genre, reducing it to its profitability so I was often quite pumped to see her shit screenplays fail. Why would audiences want to see a love story from someone who reduces their intellect and interest to dollars and doesn’t actually believe in lasting relationships at all? We have enough cynicism around us, we want romcoms for the escape and joy and celebration that love (in any form, many forms) can in fact win and survive.
As for Seth….well honestly he’s a very weird cocktail of Stockholm syndrome and golden retriever. His tit for tat with Molly is less ‘spicy tension’ foreplay and banter and more of an exercise in gaslighting, manipulation, and emotional abuse. The way Molly gives Seth — and readers, whiplash, is abusive. This isn’t about having Seth break past her defense mechanisms, at some point you just have to let that person go and be toxic and self destructive because it is not your job to fix them. She admits several times how happy it makes her to know Seth still carries a torch for her, even when she shuts him down unequivocally and brutally, just to then wonder why he doesn’t reach out and take her scraps. It was like seeing Seth get whipped and going for seconds, nothing about it was enjoyable to read and the fact that Seth was so attracted to this was concerning.
Add to this some fade to black scenes and truly embarrassing phone sex, and this was a complete hot mess.
I’m not sure when it become the new “it” thing to try and sell us on “damaged” and “messy” characters that instead of feeling more like real life people with real life experiences and trauma, are more akin to psychopaths, egomaniacs, and unhinged entitled villains. If you’re going to do the whole messy / imperfect characters thing, I need more than some bitter parental divorce when you were in high school, I need more than a character being a raging bitch and expecting people to look past that for no other reason other than just ~innately~ knowing the person has baggage.
While divorce certainly can be traumatic and damaging, it’s also quite common, and as a millennial, I can tell you I saw plenty of it growing up and somehow we’re surviving! Honestly often times parents divorcing was the highlight because it immediately deescalated a tenuous and stressful home life. Again, this isn’t to say divorce isn’t a big deal, but that can’t be the thing that’s shaping all these characters backstories and their inability to communicate or accept healthy love and affection or support. Authors need to dig deeper into the whys of their characters, these parental breakups are not always the seismic, life altering events they make them out to be and its feeling quite lazy that they can’t seem to draw from other types of experiences or emotions to build emotional arcs for their characters.
Anyway, part rant at several recent romances I have read, part review of this one poor romance in particular.
It truly has me side eyeing authors, pubs, and editors who seem to have taken the grumpy x sunshine trope to the brink and expect us to eat it up when these characters become caricatures and embodiments of the most extreme and literal elements of the grumpy x sunshine trope instead of a character that you could see parts of yourself in or be friends with.
While HEAs are common if not guaranteed in most romances, they typically strive to give readers a HEA that feels achievable, hard won, realistic in some sense. Like it’s a true snapshot of the love story that will endure past the pages of the book and quite literally, be happy, ever after! Yet lately, and this book is no exception, these endings honestly fail to sell me on that HEA, it’s not even a ‘happy for now’ moment. I truly do not think Molly and Seth will make it past a year. Hell Jeramy and Sarah Ann from LIB would out last these two.
Molly and Seth felt like such a toxic, vapid, shallow, unnecessary romance with two characters that frankly come together in the most patently cringe of ways. Molly is meant to be the grumpy, bitchy, yet alluring lead, yet she’s essentially that chihuahua with a coyote spike vest on. She doesnt just push people away or run away from emotion, she categorically emotionally evicerates Seth, she essentially tazzes him time and again emotionally and then gets sad and cries when he in fact pulls back. She doesn’t just draw blood, she cuts arteries in her wake and then sells us on this sad narrative that using her words is so hard. But here’s the thing, she IS NOT in fact socially awkward or inept, her very job DEPENDS on her social skills and schmoozing. Maybe it’s not true emotion or vulnerability, but still, she’s plenty capable of communication, she just chooses to bury her head in the sand in the wake of each nuclear bomb she sets off. It was so ‘woe is me’ it was laughable and truly hard to care or root for her.
She’s genuinely just mean and why would I want her to get away with that? Putting the romance aside, how are we even supposed to care about her when she flat out states she writes rom com screenplays as a cash grab? She doesnt believe in love, she doesnt even want it. She makes a mockery of the true emotion and magic behind the genre, reducing it to its profitability so I was often quite pumped to see her shit screenplays fail. Why would audiences want to see a love story from someone who reduces their intellect and interest to dollars and doesn’t actually believe in lasting relationships at all? We have enough cynicism around us, we want romcoms for the escape and joy and celebration that love (in any form, many forms) can in fact win and survive.
As for Seth….well honestly he’s a very weird cocktail of Stockholm syndrome and golden retriever. His tit for tat with Molly is less ‘spicy tension’ foreplay and banter and more of an exercise in gaslighting, manipulation, and emotional abuse. The way Molly gives Seth — and readers, whiplash, is abusive. This isn’t about having Seth break past her defense mechanisms, at some point you just have to let that person go and be toxic and self destructive because it is not your job to fix them. She admits several times how happy it makes her to know Seth still carries a torch for her, even when she shuts him down unequivocally and brutally, just to then wonder why he doesn’t reach out and take her scraps. It was like seeing Seth get whipped and going for seconds, nothing about it was enjoyable to read and the fact that Seth was so attracted to this was concerning.
Add to this some fade to black scenes and truly embarrassing phone sex, and this was a complete hot mess.
I’m not sure when it become the new “it” thing to try and sell us on “damaged” and “messy” characters that instead of feeling more like real life people with real life experiences and trauma, are more akin to psychopaths, egomaniacs, and unhinged entitled villains. If you’re going to do the whole messy / imperfect characters thing, I need more than some bitter parental divorce when you were in high school, I need more than a character being a raging bitch and expecting people to look past that for no other reason other than just ~innately~ knowing the person has baggage.
While divorce certainly can be traumatic and damaging, it’s also quite common, and as a millennial, I can tell you I saw plenty of it growing up and somehow we’re surviving! Honestly often times parents divorcing was the highlight because it immediately deescalated a tenuous and stressful home life. Again, this isn’t to say divorce isn’t a big deal, but that can’t be the thing that’s shaping all these characters backstories and their inability to communicate or accept healthy love and affection or support. Authors need to dig deeper into the whys of their characters, these parental breakups are not always the seismic, life altering events they make them out to be and its feeling quite lazy that they can’t seem to draw from other types of experiences or emotions to build emotional arcs for their characters.
Anyway, part rant at several recent romances I have read, part review of this one poor romance in particular.
dnf
June 26, 2024dnf @14%
yeah... no. i was so excited about this book because a hopeless-romantic divorce attorney MMC and a cynic rom-com screenwriter FMC pairing sounded like a dream but the writing ended up being super awkward 😕 the conversations and thoughts these characters had were so ?? weird (?) and the way things progressed until where i left it felt incredibly anti-climactic. idk, i tried pushing through all of it because of the premise but i've been reading this book for a whole week and have no desire to continue it.
yeah... no. i was so excited about this book because a hopeless-romantic divorce attorney MMC and a cynic rom-com screenwriter FMC pairing sounded like a dream but the writing ended up being super awkward 😕 the conversations and thoughts these characters had were so ?? weird (?) and the way things progressed until where i left it felt incredibly anti-climactic. idk, i tried pushing through all of it because of the premise but i've been reading this book for a whole week and have no desire to continue it.
June 4, 2024
This book?! This book right here?! This book has everything, and it made me feel all the feels. It has witty banter that will make you laugh out loud, the dirty talk and the sexy scenes will have you sweating and blushing, the pining and the heartache will have you swooning and crying. This book is top notch rom-com material and I loved every second of it. Seth is an emotionally mature king and Molly eventually gets there but the journey we get to go on with them is worth the pain and pleasure.
This was my first time reading Katelyn Doyle's work and to say I am delighted is an understatement. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Katelyn Doyle for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 6/4/24
This was my first time reading Katelyn Doyle's work and to say I am delighted is an understatement. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Katelyn Doyle for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 6/4/24
November 12, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Cute fluffy romcom filler 💕 delivered the exact vibes I was looking for
Cute fluffy romcom filler 💕 delivered the exact vibes I was looking for
September 8, 2024
Jest to tylko kwestia mojej preferencji ale nie lubię poruszanego tematu covida w książkach.
Odnosząc się do samej fabuły to bardzo mi się podobała
Odnosząc się do samej fabuły to bardzo mi się podobała
August 28, 2024
Girl, get a therapist and spare us the drama!
September 23, 2024
Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox so you know what that means . . . .
HAPPY MEG RYAN SEASON TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE!!!!!
Yes, it’s that magical time of year where Kelly comes out of her chrysalis (much to Mitchell’s despair) with the hopes of declaring . . . .
If you follow me you are well aware that approximately 97.8% of the time I fail at loving the romance novels everyone else has gone ga-ga for, but not only did Mother Nature smile upon me yesterday by going from literally 92 degrees the day before to low 60s with leaves beginning to instantly drop from the trees, but oh my word I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS.!!!!!!!!
The hubs and I dropped by the library to pick up one hold (the new Liane Moriarty, if you’re nosey like me) and this title caught my eye on the New and Notable rack (note to authors, it really IS all in the name sometimes). The story here is about Molly and Seth (I’ll pause for a moment to allow you to absorb the fact this author used completely normal human names). The two were high school sweethearts who had a painful split on prom night – never to speak again. Now it’s their 15-year reunion and sparks fly for a one-night stand and a friendly wager on which of five couples will still be together at their 20th class reunion – which just so happens to include the two of them. Obviously the rest of the story progression is the goings on of Molly and Seth over the next five years.
I’m giving this one every Star. The characters were great, the humor was great, the pacing was great, the smexies were juuuuuuuuust a little spicy, but didn’t go into page after page of squicky make me barf detail. Even the third act required break up/make up didn’t irritate me too much. If you love love, definitely check this one out!
HAPPY MEG RYAN SEASON TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE!!!!!
Yes, it’s that magical time of year where Kelly comes out of her chrysalis (much to Mitchell’s despair) with the hopes of declaring . . . .
If you follow me you are well aware that approximately 97.8% of the time I fail at loving the romance novels everyone else has gone ga-ga for, but not only did Mother Nature smile upon me yesterday by going from literally 92 degrees the day before to low 60s with leaves beginning to instantly drop from the trees, but oh my word I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS.!!!!!!!!
The hubs and I dropped by the library to pick up one hold (the new Liane Moriarty, if you’re nosey like me) and this title caught my eye on the New and Notable rack (note to authors, it really IS all in the name sometimes). The story here is about Molly and Seth (I’ll pause for a moment to allow you to absorb the fact this author used completely normal human names). The two were high school sweethearts who had a painful split on prom night – never to speak again. Now it’s their 15-year reunion and sparks fly for a one-night stand and a friendly wager on which of five couples will still be together at their 20th class reunion – which just so happens to include the two of them. Obviously the rest of the story progression is the goings on of Molly and Seth over the next five years.
I’m giving this one every Star. The characters were great, the humor was great, the pacing was great, the smexies were juuuuuuuuust a little spicy, but didn’t go into page after page of squicky make me barf detail. Even the third act required break up/make up didn’t irritate me too much. If you love love, definitely check this one out!
dnf
June 24, 2024DNF - 5%
So the MMC had his GF break up with him the night before, he sees his ex an their school reunion, and is instantly in lust with her. Thinking how he never actually got over her and how he wouldn't mind them hooking up and stuff.
- Oh and it's the 15-year reunion, so not like it's recent history either.
The FMC is apparently the school's b***h, she broke his heart with no explanation and is hiding something.
Everyone seemed to be fascinated by them, their past, their breakup, and anything relating to them being/having being involved.
So the MMC had his GF break up with him the night before, he sees his ex an their school reunion, and is instantly in lust with her. Thinking how he never actually got over her and how he wouldn't mind them hooking up and stuff.
- Oh and it's the 15-year reunion, so not like it's recent history either.
The FMC is apparently the school's b***h, she broke his heart with no explanation and is hiding something.
Everyone seemed to be fascinated by them, their past, their breakup, and anything relating to them being/having being involved.
May 28, 2024
I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. I think it was mostly because the FMC was terrible, in my opinion.
Seth wasn’t super ideal at first either but he actually had growth in this book. He recognized his issues and he addressed them. He worked on himself. I can’t say the same for Molly.
The first half of this book was pretty good. I was into it. Eventually though, I got tired of the fmc continuing to be a walking red flag. If I were Seth I don’t think I’d ever be able to trust her. Especially after only a month since she broke up with him. I get that she had actual trauma and it messed with her head but that doesn’t mean she didn’t treat Seth terribly. Over and over again.
With all that said, it was an okay book. There were some cute moments. The friend groups were nice. There’s a lot of examples of toxic relationships but also some nice relationships too. I liked the writing style. I just didn’t completely love the storyline. I’d be happy to read a different book by this author in the future though.
Seth wasn’t super ideal at first either but he actually had growth in this book. He recognized his issues and he addressed them. He worked on himself. I can’t say the same for Molly.
The first half of this book was pretty good. I was into it. Eventually though, I got tired of the fmc continuing to be a walking red flag. If I were Seth I don’t think I’d ever be able to trust her. Especially after only a month since she broke up with him. I get that she had actual trauma and it messed with her head but that doesn’t mean she didn’t treat Seth terribly. Over and over again.
With all that said, it was an okay book. There were some cute moments. The friend groups were nice. There’s a lot of examples of toxic relationships but also some nice relationships too. I liked the writing style. I just didn’t completely love the storyline. I’d be happy to read a different book by this author in the future though.
June 23, 2024
Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle
Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. Second chance. Dual POV.
Molly Marks decides to attend her fifteenth high school reunion and is seated with her high school boyfriend. Whom she had ghosted on the eve of graduation. They have a surprisingly good time together and he dares her, bet and all, that she would be calling on him before the next reunion.
Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the true fated kind, even though he’s a divorce attorney that has seen some of the worst between a couple. But no matter, which app, or how he finds a potential wife, every try has been a failure. No one can compare to how he felt about Molly.
As they leave the reunion, Molly knows she won’t be calling Seth. But Seth holds a spark of hope in his heart.
Years go by. Each has their own relationships. Molly finds herself thinking more and more about Seth and wanting to call him. Is Seth right? Molly was so sure she’d moved on. And certainly Seth’s family doesn’t want Molly around again. She destroyed him the first time around. Why let her have a second chance?
Dating apps and the stories everyone hears about their failed dates follow from both Molly and Seth’s POV, slowing turning Molly’s thoughts to “could he be right?”
Molly does call Seth and while it’s not then or even soon, they do get together before the five years to “try again” to get their fated HEA.
For me, it was too late. Seth goes through so much and Molly always seems to ride the surface. I’m sure other readers will love their eventual reconnection. I did love the epilogue and was happy they finally found their love, regardless of whom it was with.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. Second chance. Dual POV.
Molly Marks decides to attend her fifteenth high school reunion and is seated with her high school boyfriend. Whom she had ghosted on the eve of graduation. They have a surprisingly good time together and he dares her, bet and all, that she would be calling on him before the next reunion.
Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the true fated kind, even though he’s a divorce attorney that has seen some of the worst between a couple. But no matter, which app, or how he finds a potential wife, every try has been a failure. No one can compare to how he felt about Molly.
As they leave the reunion, Molly knows she won’t be calling Seth. But Seth holds a spark of hope in his heart.
Years go by. Each has their own relationships. Molly finds herself thinking more and more about Seth and wanting to call him. Is Seth right? Molly was so sure she’d moved on. And certainly Seth’s family doesn’t want Molly around again. She destroyed him the first time around. Why let her have a second chance?
Dating apps and the stories everyone hears about their failed dates follow from both Molly and Seth’s POV, slowing turning Molly’s thoughts to “could he be right?”
Molly does call Seth and while it’s not then or even soon, they do get together before the five years to “try again” to get their fated HEA.
For me, it was too late. Seth goes through so much and Molly always seems to ride the surface. I’m sure other readers will love their eventual reconnection. I did love the epilogue and was happy they finally found their love, regardless of whom it was with.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
May 13, 2024
Gut reaction: this will be a romcom you don't wanna miss this summer! Full review to come.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy!
What a fun ride this one was! I tore through this book in 3 days and that's not something I do often anymore. This was a good old fashioned rom com in so many ways. The wit, banter, and chemistry of Seth and Molly absolutely jumped off the page in such a fun, fresh way, and I really loved getting to know them. Molly is whip smart with her comebacks to comments and Seth is charismatic and adorable. They're a bit of an unlikely pairing, but that's what makes it so entertaining to read.
I enjoyed that, because the story took place over the course of several years, we got to see how each of them grew individually and grew together. They were in their 30's throughout the course of the story, and I also really loved that - I guess that's my old age coming through, because I think I'm entering my era of wanting to read books about people who are past their crazy 20's! I liked that they were both established in their careers and mostly confident in who they were and what their goals were in life.
Because most people that follow me here probably know that I don't seek out steamy books, I think it's worth mentioning that there is a lot of dirty talk in this book, a scene of graphic masturbation, and implied sex. If you are looking for a sweet/closed door romance, this isn't it. Other TWs include: swearing, mentions of the COVID19 pandemic, descriptions of panic attacks, alcohol, and infidelity.
Overall, I think this was a very fun read and I think a lot of people will be talking about it this summer!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy!
What a fun ride this one was! I tore through this book in 3 days and that's not something I do often anymore. This was a good old fashioned rom com in so many ways. The wit, banter, and chemistry of Seth and Molly absolutely jumped off the page in such a fun, fresh way, and I really loved getting to know them. Molly is whip smart with her comebacks to comments and Seth is charismatic and adorable. They're a bit of an unlikely pairing, but that's what makes it so entertaining to read.
I enjoyed that, because the story took place over the course of several years, we got to see how each of them grew individually and grew together. They were in their 30's throughout the course of the story, and I also really loved that - I guess that's my old age coming through, because I think I'm entering my era of wanting to read books about people who are past their crazy 20's! I liked that they were both established in their careers and mostly confident in who they were and what their goals were in life.
Because most people that follow me here probably know that I don't seek out steamy books, I think it's worth mentioning that there is a lot of dirty talk in this book, a scene of graphic masturbation, and implied sex. If you are looking for a sweet/closed door romance, this isn't it. Other TWs include: swearing, mentions of the COVID19 pandemic, descriptions of panic attacks, alcohol, and infidelity.
Overall, I think this was a very fun read and I think a lot of people will be talking about it this summer!
February 23, 2024
I wanted to read this because the synopsis says it’s “for fans of Emily Henry”, but I would never compare this book to any of Emily Henry’s. I was not a fan of the main characters in this book. There were a lot of things that just didn’t work for me with this book. I won’t list them all to be respectful, but know that I almost DNF’d multiple times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 14, 2024
3'5⭐ YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Una historia que se lee superrápido (menos de un día me duró), con ese puntito adictivo y que es ideal para pasar unas horas entretenida. No obstante, es cierto que cuanto más pienso en ella, más detallitos veo que no acaban de convencerme del todo.
El libro es un claro ejemplo de «persona correcta en el momento equivocado», que es un cliché que no suele hacerme mucha gracia, porque creo que si realmente la persona es la adecuada, hay formas de hacerlo funcionar en el 90% de los casos, aunque exija sacrificios. Pero bueno, esa es mi opinión y por tanto, creo que quizás el libro da más vueltas de las necesarias, porque es un que no que sí constante. Incluso cuando es que no y están con otras personas, siento que no es muy justo para esas otras personas porque piensan mucho el uno en el otro.
Pero bueno, al margen de eso, el libro presenta a una protagonista interesante, por su forma de enfocar ciertos temas, incluso el romántico, y me parece que se sale un poquitín de la norma (tampoco muchísimo, no exageremos). Pero, por ejemplo, en esta ocasión ella es la de las malas pulgas y él es el rayito de sol, y es ella la que más trabas pone a que la relación progrese debido a sus inseguridades y convicciones sobre las relaciones humanas.
Por otro lado, creo que no era necesario que la historia cubriera un periodo de cinco años, creo que con dos habría valido y habrían dado menos vueltas. Aunque ha sido curioso ver que se habla de la época de la pandemia y el confinamiento. Está claro que ahora, para que los libros sean realistas, si se ambientan en 2020 tienen que hablar del tema.
Sin embargo, lo positivo de que transcurran cinco años es que realmente los personajes tienen tiempo de vivir experiencias diversas que los hacen crecer como personajes, madurar y evolucionar hasta llegar al punto en el que necesitan estar para que haya final feliz. La verdad es que la autora los explora a ambos bastante a fondo y está bien no quedarse solo en la superficie. Pese a ello, a veces son treintañeros que se comportan como adolescentes y que maduran muy poco a poco, y eso puede ser frustrante para el lector.
Con un estilo narrativo bastante desenfadado, es un libro ligero que se deja leer muy bien, y que pese a que quizá no vaya a cambiarte la vida, es una buena apuesta para pasar un rato entretenido.
Una historia que se lee superrápido (menos de un día me duró), con ese puntito adictivo y que es ideal para pasar unas horas entretenida. No obstante, es cierto que cuanto más pienso en ella, más detallitos veo que no acaban de convencerme del todo.
El libro es un claro ejemplo de «persona correcta en el momento equivocado», que es un cliché que no suele hacerme mucha gracia, porque creo que si realmente la persona es la adecuada, hay formas de hacerlo funcionar en el 90% de los casos, aunque exija sacrificios. Pero bueno, esa es mi opinión y por tanto, creo que quizás el libro da más vueltas de las necesarias, porque es un que no que sí constante. Incluso cuando es que no y están con otras personas, siento que no es muy justo para esas otras personas porque piensan mucho el uno en el otro.
Pero bueno, al margen de eso, el libro presenta a una protagonista interesante, por su forma de enfocar ciertos temas, incluso el romántico, y me parece que se sale un poquitín de la norma (tampoco muchísimo, no exageremos). Pero, por ejemplo, en esta ocasión ella es la de las malas pulgas y él es el rayito de sol, y es ella la que más trabas pone a que la relación progrese debido a sus inseguridades y convicciones sobre las relaciones humanas.
Por otro lado, creo que no era necesario que la historia cubriera un periodo de cinco años, creo que con dos habría valido y habrían dado menos vueltas. Aunque ha sido curioso ver que se habla de la época de la pandemia y el confinamiento. Está claro que ahora, para que los libros sean realistas, si se ambientan en 2020 tienen que hablar del tema.
Sin embargo, lo positivo de que transcurran cinco años es que realmente los personajes tienen tiempo de vivir experiencias diversas que los hacen crecer como personajes, madurar y evolucionar hasta llegar al punto en el que necesitan estar para que haya final feliz. La verdad es que la autora los explora a ambos bastante a fondo y está bien no quedarse solo en la superficie. Pese a ello, a veces son treintañeros que se comportan como adolescentes y que maduran muy poco a poco, y eso puede ser frustrante para el lector.
Con un estilo narrativo bastante desenfadado, es un libro ligero que se deja leer muy bien, y que pese a que quizá no vaya a cambiarte la vida, es una buena apuesta para pasar un rato entretenido.
May 22, 2024
I really hesitate to give books this low of a rating, but there were a slew of issues for me here:
-Pacing/cadence was too slow
-Both main characters were insufferable and not in an endearing way. Both felt far too juvenile for being in their 30s
-Relationship felt very insta-lovey. I would've liked a lot more banter
-There was a LOT of spice that I was not anticipating early on
There are definitely readers who will like this, but I am not one of them.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!
-Pacing/cadence was too slow
-Both main characters were insufferable and not in an endearing way. Both felt far too juvenile for being in their 30s
-Relationship felt very insta-lovey. I would've liked a lot more banter
-There was a LOT of spice that I was not anticipating early on
There are definitely readers who will like this, but I am not one of them.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!
July 27, 2024
Kiek antrų ar trečių šansų duotum mylimam žmogui? Jei tikrai myli, panašu, kad ne vieną ❤️
• Ilgoje pažinčių ir draugysčių grandinėje jau pamiršau, kad žodis „patikti" lygiai taip pat svarbus kaip ir „mylėti".
• Ilgoje pažinčių ir draugysčių grandinėje jau pamiršau, kad žodis „patikti" lygiai taip pat svarbus kaip ir „mylėti".
September 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Tai greita knyga, kur jau nuo pirmų puslapių aišku, kaip viskas baigsis, tačiau vis tiek labai smalsu, kokį kelią veikėjai iki tos laimingos pabaigos turės praeiti. Patiko, kad istorija pasakojama tiek iš Seto, tiek ir iš Molės perspektyvos. Taip galėjau labiau juos suprasti ir geriau pažinti. Tik tas Molės neapsisprendimas, mėtymasis, tai jinai nenori, tai nori, tai myli ir "Mes viską ištversim", tai myli ir palieka, nes anksčiau ar vėliau vistiek tai įvyks, laikui bėgant pradėjo erzinti.
Tai greita knyga, kur jau nuo pirmų puslapių aišku, kaip viskas baigsis, tačiau vis tiek labai smalsu, kokį kelią veikėjai iki tos laimingos pabaigos turės praeiti. Patiko, kad istorija pasakojama tiek iš Seto, tiek ir iš Molės perspektyvos. Taip galėjau labiau juos suprasti ir geriau pažinti. Tik tas Molės neapsisprendimas, mėtymasis, tai jinai nenori, tai nori, tai myli ir "Mes viską ištversim", tai myli ir palieka, nes anksčiau ar vėliau vistiek tai įvyks, laikui bėgant pradėjo erzinti.
June 10, 2024
Our fmc hitting us with the "Im Molly. Class B***h" is a mood.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy of "Just Some Stupid Love Story!" and special shoutout to MacMillan audio for the audiobook. Doyle's debut into the rom-com world is out in the world now!
🎧 This is an audiobook must. Not only does Christine Lakin and Tim Paige absolutely crush their performance but added sprinkle of fun Lakin sounds freakishly like Selena Gomez and its a mood. Talking about setting the mood, nothing gets me more excited than the small tid-bits of music that are added before we get into the story and this book's music made me ready for the romance experience. Great listen. 10/10 must.
I was immediately drawn to this book because grumpy sunshine is my all-time favorite trope but... Molly's grumpy got dramatic towards the end (at least for me). She was H I L A R I O U S in the beginning. I snorted when she dropped the "I'm Molly. Class b****" casually into her conversation at her class reunion. What an icon. I just thought the way she handled the third act break-up was messy and made me roll my eyes. She's nearly thirty six and acted like a full-on teenage drama queen. (The Thanksgiving dinner moment? You know what I am talking about.)
I am going to hit you guys with a mega truth bomb. This was not my favorite. I hate to say it but I wasn't completely head over heels for our love interest Seth and it really affected how much I enjoyed the story. He just really made me feel icky... and that is putting it nicely. The things he said and some of his actions made me cringe. Calling Molly "kid" made me want to punch him right in the throat and I am sorry no one says "they're moved" when a woman sends a cell phone porno. I sincerely apologize, I had to say it and I still can not get over that scene.
I will say outside certain moments (*cough* Thanksgiving *cough*) I appreciate how open and honest the pair are. I love that they have a healthy way of airing out their frustrations and they're willing to work with one another to help feel the most happy.
I wish this book had a little more focus on the bet that the pair made at their class reunion! I thought the competitive vibes were really fun but it kind of got lost in the plot sauce until it was quickly mentioned in the epilogue.
POSITIVE NOTE! I thought that it was SUPER COOL that we got a five year timeline to explore. I loved being able to read about Molly and Seth growing outside from their romance. It was interesting to get a perspective where he was engaged and Molly was finally realizing her feelings. The moments where the pair are in different places in life is an interesting dynamic and feels realistic.
🧡 Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
🧡 Second Chance
🧡 Habanero Spiced
🧡 Opposites Attract
🧡 5 Year Timeline
🧡 Short Chapters
🧡 Dual POV
🧡 High School Soulmates
❔ #QOTD If you were to get a superlative in high school, what category would you fit? What if you were to get one now, what would it be?
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy of "Just Some Stupid Love Story!" and special shoutout to MacMillan audio for the audiobook. Doyle's debut into the rom-com world is out in the world now!
🎧 This is an audiobook must. Not only does Christine Lakin and Tim Paige absolutely crush their performance but added sprinkle of fun Lakin sounds freakishly like Selena Gomez and its a mood. Talking about setting the mood, nothing gets me more excited than the small tid-bits of music that are added before we get into the story and this book's music made me ready for the romance experience. Great listen. 10/10 must.
I was immediately drawn to this book because grumpy sunshine is my all-time favorite trope but... Molly's grumpy got dramatic towards the end (at least for me). She was H I L A R I O U S in the beginning. I snorted when she dropped the "I'm Molly. Class b****" casually into her conversation at her class reunion. What an icon. I just thought the way she handled the third act break-up was messy and made me roll my eyes. She's nearly thirty six and acted like a full-on teenage drama queen. (The Thanksgiving dinner moment? You know what I am talking about.)
I am going to hit you guys with a mega truth bomb. This was not my favorite. I hate to say it but I wasn't completely head over heels for our love interest Seth and it really affected how much I enjoyed the story. He just really made me feel icky... and that is putting it nicely. The things he said and some of his actions made me cringe. Calling Molly "kid" made me want to punch him right in the throat and I am sorry no one says "they're moved" when a woman sends a cell phone porno. I sincerely apologize, I had to say it and I still can not get over that scene.
I will say outside certain moments (*cough* Thanksgiving *cough*) I appreciate how open and honest the pair are. I love that they have a healthy way of airing out their frustrations and they're willing to work with one another to help feel the most happy.
I wish this book had a little more focus on the bet that the pair made at their class reunion! I thought the competitive vibes were really fun but it kind of got lost in the plot sauce until it was quickly mentioned in the epilogue.
POSITIVE NOTE! I thought that it was SUPER COOL that we got a five year timeline to explore. I loved being able to read about Molly and Seth growing outside from their romance. It was interesting to get a perspective where he was engaged and Molly was finally realizing her feelings. The moments where the pair are in different places in life is an interesting dynamic and feels realistic.
🧡 Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
🧡 Second Chance
🧡 Habanero Spiced
🧡 Opposites Attract
🧡 5 Year Timeline
🧡 Short Chapters
🧡 Dual POV
🧡 High School Soulmates
❔ #QOTD If you were to get a superlative in high school, what category would you fit? What if you were to get one now, what would it be?
July 10, 2024
"ᴄᴜ́ᴀɴᴅᴏ ᴛɪᴇɴᴇs ᴍɪᴇᴅᴏ, ᴅᴇʙᴇs ᴇsғᴏʀᴢᴀʀᴛᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀ sᴇʀ ᴠᴀʟɪᴇɴᴛᴇ"
✨ᴏᴛʀᴀ ᴛᴏɴᴛᴀ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀɪᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴀᴍᴏʀ 🎬
ᴀᴜᴛᴏʀᴀ: ᴋᴀᴛᴇʟʏɴ ᴅᴏʏʟᴇ
Molly y Seth sé vuelen a ver después de 15 años en una reunión de ex alumnos. Seth es un abogado especializado en divorcios y es un romántico. Molly es una guionista de películas románticas y no cree en el amor. Cuando estos sé ven terminan haciendo una apuesta de 5 parejas que podrían terminar juntas o separadas. Y la quinta son ellos. 🙈
ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏ́ɴ
Es la primera vez que leo a a Katelyn Doyle y me encantó. Los primeros capítulos eran muy cortos de 5 a 6 páginas pero conforme avanza la historia y te enganchas sé vuelven más largos.
La historia es adictiva y dividida en nueve partes con la perspectiva de Molly y Seth. 😊 Estos dos tienen mucho que superar juntos. 😬 Tienen un pasado y aunque vuelven a conectar ambos siguen su vida por su lado. Aunque sé unen poco a poco.
Aunque todo apunta que es una historia cliché la autora trata de mostrarnos una pareja más realista con problemas totalmente comprensibles, ya sean de los protagonistas o los personajes secundarios.
Admito que Molly me desesperó mucho, yo sólo quería que aceptara a Seth, sé casaran y tuvieran bebés. 🤭 Pero la verdad es que ambos son tercos ninguno sé salva. 😬 Ambos tienen un camino muy largo que recorrer. La autora trata de darnos ese lado romántico y realista a la vez con inseguridades y problemas de pareja.
Sin duda es una de mis novelas románticas favoritas, la recomiendo mucho. Tiene spicy 🔥 pero no demasiado
✨ᴏᴛʀᴀ ᴛᴏɴᴛᴀ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀɪᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴀᴍᴏʀ 🎬
ᴀᴜᴛᴏʀᴀ: ᴋᴀᴛᴇʟʏɴ ᴅᴏʏʟᴇ
Molly y Seth sé vuelen a ver después de 15 años en una reunión de ex alumnos. Seth es un abogado especializado en divorcios y es un romántico. Molly es una guionista de películas románticas y no cree en el amor. Cuando estos sé ven terminan haciendo una apuesta de 5 parejas que podrían terminar juntas o separadas. Y la quinta son ellos. 🙈
ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏ́ɴ
Es la primera vez que leo a a Katelyn Doyle y me encantó. Los primeros capítulos eran muy cortos de 5 a 6 páginas pero conforme avanza la historia y te enganchas sé vuelven más largos.
La historia es adictiva y dividida en nueve partes con la perspectiva de Molly y Seth. 😊 Estos dos tienen mucho que superar juntos. 😬 Tienen un pasado y aunque vuelven a conectar ambos siguen su vida por su lado. Aunque sé unen poco a poco.
Aunque todo apunta que es una historia cliché la autora trata de mostrarnos una pareja más realista con problemas totalmente comprensibles, ya sean de los protagonistas o los personajes secundarios.
Admito que Molly me desesperó mucho, yo sólo quería que aceptara a Seth, sé casaran y tuvieran bebés. 🤭 Pero la verdad es que ambos son tercos ninguno sé salva. 😬 Ambos tienen un camino muy largo que recorrer. La autora trata de darnos ese lado romántico y realista a la vez con inseguridades y problemas de pareja.
Sin duda es una de mis novelas románticas favoritas, la recomiendo mucho. Tiene spicy 🔥 pero no demasiado
November 28, 2024
Iš tokio pavadinimo knygos nieko gero nesitikėjau. Ir gerai! Nes likau maloniai nustebinta. Puikiai praleidau laiką su šia knyga. Nors labiau pavadinčiau "Tikrų kvailių meilės istorija" 🫣
Nieko įspūdingo šioje knygoje nebuvo. Bet kartais to ir nereikia. Tiesiog paprasta istorija apie du buvusius mokyklos laikų įsimylėjelius, kurie susitiko po 15 metų. Ir vėl įsimylėjo! Arba niekad nebuvo nustoję mylėti vienas kito.
Bet nėra viskas taip paprasta. Abu turi savų baimių ir iš dalies nepasitiki vienas kitu skirtingais santykių momentais, tačiau visos istorijos metu išlieka geri draugai. Tai ir svarbiausia. Ta draugystė mane labai džiugino ir dažnai juokino gerąja prasme.
Ir nors pabaigą nesunku nuspėti, nuobodu man nebuvo. Tad drąsiai rekomenduoju visiems prijaučiantiems linksmoms, smagioms romantinėms dramoms.
Nieko įspūdingo šioje knygoje nebuvo. Bet kartais to ir nereikia. Tiesiog paprasta istorija apie du buvusius mokyklos laikų įsimylėjelius, kurie susitiko po 15 metų. Ir vėl įsimylėjo! Arba niekad nebuvo nustoję mylėti vienas kito.
Bet nėra viskas taip paprasta. Abu turi savų baimių ir iš dalies nepasitiki vienas kitu skirtingais santykių momentais, tačiau visos istorijos metu išlieka geri draugai. Tai ir svarbiausia. Ta draugystė mane labai džiugino ir dažnai juokino gerąja prasme.
Ir nors pabaigą nesunku nuspėti, nuobodu man nebuvo. Tad drąsiai rekomenduoju visiems prijaučiantiems linksmoms, smagioms romantinėms dramoms.
June 1, 2024
I wanted to like this more than I did but I just didn't connect with the characters and I honestly didn't feel like our characters would have been good for one another in a romantic way. I really did not like the sex scenes in this book. Idk if it was the writing that made them feel awkward or just the lack of chemistry between the characters but it was an instant glance when they popped up. I also found out I really hate contemporary romances that include covid in it. I wasn't a huge fan with how the book handled the topic of divorce. I won't get into it too much since it is the majority of the plot point of the book tbh.
narration was fantastic, loved both the narrators a lot!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
narration was fantastic, loved both the narrators a lot!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
March 16, 2024
4.5 stars for this wonderfully fun story about two people destined for each other. Or are they? A high school 15th reunion brings two people back into each other’s lives and they make a bet about who will be (or not be) together at their 20th reunion. So cleverly written with chapters trading between Seth and Molly, I devoured this book. The eternal romanticist versus the permanent pessimist. Rooting for these two was so fun. If you want a great beach read where you giggle out look at times then this book is for you.
September 29, 2024
When I got this book, I believed the title. I thought this truly was just some stupid love story. I'd enjoy some spicy scenes and a cheesy happily ever after.
What I was not prepared for was a book that would rip my heart out of my chest and smash it into a thousand glittering pieces only to gently glue it back together into something new, something beautiful.
Just Some Stupid Love Story is not your regular romcom. It's a story of real love. It's a poignant reminder that real love is messy and painful and scary but so, so worth it.
What I was not prepared for was a book that would rip my heart out of my chest and smash it into a thousand glittering pieces only to gently glue it back together into something new, something beautiful.
Just Some Stupid Love Story is not your regular romcom. It's a story of real love. It's a poignant reminder that real love is messy and painful and scary but so, so worth it.
June 4, 2024
happy release day!! I am reposting this review because this book is officially released and available to read! (My review was first posted on 5/27/24)
★★★★✩«4.5 stars (rounded down)»
Molly Marks is a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in soulmates. She believes some lucky people can find love, but it will always end in disaster and heartbreak. Seth keeps jumping into new relationships hoping he will find the one, and who wholeheartedly believes in soulmates. After Molly broke Seth's heart, they reunite on their 15th high school reunion. They make a bet on if soulmates are real or not, and whoever can predict the most couples' futures wins. Except one of the couples is them.
➥things I liked
Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle was a spectacular romance novel, and this was probably my favorite ARC yet. I flew through this book and connected so deeply with all of the characters. This book made me audibly laugh, cry, gasp, and just filled me with joy. I could relate so easily to Seth and his yearning to be loved, and he was written so well. I also loved the right person wrong time trope, because it was the wrong time for them so many times. It made me so sad to read about, but also so ecstatic when they were able to reconnect.
ꨄthings I didn't like
The first things I didn't like has nothing to do with the novel itself or the writing. The way the audiobook was recorded was a little frustrating to listen to at some points. The male voice actor definitely needs to work on his woman voice, but that was pretty easy to get used to. I also didn't like that every email that was sent between Seth and Molly was completely spoken out (so for example the to Molly, date, RE, etc.). Additionally, I felt like the book got a little slow near the end, and there wasn't much plot progression for a while.
Overall, I loved this book! I would definitely recommend this to readers, especially those who like dual-pov, second chance romances. Such a fun book to read/ listen to! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me early access to this audiobook! My review is still my own.
✭favorite quote(s)
"And she was so smart, and she looked so pretty, I thought my heart was going to just melt out of my chest."
"I just wanna be with you Molls, any way you'll have me."
♫songs that remind me of this book
Exile - Taylor Swift:
"I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending. I'm not your homeland anymore, so who am I defending now?"
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez and Em Beihold:
"How could we ever just be friends? I would rather die than let you go, Juliet to your Romeo."
★★★★✩«4.5 stars (rounded down)»
Molly Marks is a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in soulmates. She believes some lucky people can find love, but it will always end in disaster and heartbreak. Seth keeps jumping into new relationships hoping he will find the one, and who wholeheartedly believes in soulmates. After Molly broke Seth's heart, they reunite on their 15th high school reunion. They make a bet on if soulmates are real or not, and whoever can predict the most couples' futures wins. Except one of the couples is them.
➥things I liked
Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle was a spectacular romance novel, and this was probably my favorite ARC yet. I flew through this book and connected so deeply with all of the characters. This book made me audibly laugh, cry, gasp, and just filled me with joy. I could relate so easily to Seth and his yearning to be loved, and he was written so well. I also loved the right person wrong time trope, because it was the wrong time for them so many times. It made me so sad to read about, but also so ecstatic when they were able to reconnect.
ꨄthings I didn't like
The first things I didn't like has nothing to do with the novel itself or the writing. The way the audiobook was recorded was a little frustrating to listen to at some points. The male voice actor definitely needs to work on his woman voice, but that was pretty easy to get used to. I also didn't like that every email that was sent between Seth and Molly was completely spoken out (so for example the to Molly, date, RE, etc.). Additionally, I felt like the book got a little slow near the end, and there wasn't much plot progression for a while.
Overall, I loved this book! I would definitely recommend this to readers, especially those who like dual-pov, second chance romances. Such a fun book to read/ listen to! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me early access to this audiobook! My review is still my own.
✭favorite quote(s)
"And she was so smart, and she looked so pretty, I thought my heart was going to just melt out of my chest."
"I just wanna be with you Molls, any way you'll have me."
♫songs that remind me of this book
Exile - Taylor Swift:
"I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending. I'm not your homeland anymore, so who am I defending now?"
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez and Em Beihold:
"How could we ever just be friends? I would rather die than let you go, Juliet to your Romeo."
March 27, 2025
J’ai adoré découvrir cette comédie romantique réconfortante, pleine d’humour et d’amour avec ce qu’il faut d’émotions.
Déjà, on a des tropes que j'adore : seconde chance (pas très populaire, mais je l'aime trop), grumpy x sunshine (inversé), les opposés s'attirent…
Seth est un véritable green flag ambulant. J'avoue qu'au début il m'a fait lever les yeux au ciel mais petit à petit je me suis attachée à lui, il est trop mims, il m'a tellement fait glousser ! Il est rêveur, optimiste, doux, attentionné et très romantique. On découvre également le passé de Molly à l’origine de sa carapace que Seth est prêt à creuser pour arriver à ses fins : la reconquérir !
C’est léger, sans trop l’être, c’est drôle sans être trop cliché, c’est rempli de tension (avec une bonne dose de smut), c’est addictif ( ça se lit tout seul) et c’est d’une profonde justesse quant à la psychologie des personnages et de leurs sentiments.
A travers leur histoire, on passe du rire aux larmes et on se pose des questions sur ce qu’est le véritable amour et s'il n'est pas finalement juste sous notre nez... Fonceeeeez !!
Livre offert et lu dans le cadre d'une collaboration avec les éditions Chatterley.
Déjà, on a des tropes que j'adore : seconde chance (pas très populaire, mais je l'aime trop), grumpy x sunshine (inversé), les opposés s'attirent…
Seth est un véritable green flag ambulant. J'avoue qu'au début il m'a fait lever les yeux au ciel mais petit à petit je me suis attachée à lui, il est trop mims, il m'a tellement fait glousser ! Il est rêveur, optimiste, doux, attentionné et très romantique. On découvre également le passé de Molly à l’origine de sa carapace que Seth est prêt à creuser pour arriver à ses fins : la reconquérir !
C’est léger, sans trop l’être, c’est drôle sans être trop cliché, c’est rempli de tension (avec une bonne dose de smut), c’est addictif ( ça se lit tout seul) et c’est d’une profonde justesse quant à la psychologie des personnages et de leurs sentiments.
A travers leur histoire, on passe du rire aux larmes et on se pose des questions sur ce qu’est le véritable amour et s'il n'est pas finalement juste sous notre nez... Fonceeeeez !!
Livre offert et lu dans le cadre d'une collaboration avec les éditions Chatterley.
May 1, 2024
Wow. This was such a good duet audiobook. The description may say for Emily Henry fans, but I honestly enjoyed this one more than any Emily Henry book to date.
Some of the reviews said this book is long. Yes, it is long, but it is because the character growth that Molly goes through is incredible. Molly’s journey to becoming the woman that deserves Seth is why I loved this book so much.
I wanted to sob, swoon, and then smile throughout this book. It made me feel ALLLLL the feels.
Thank you so much to the author and Netgallery for this ARC of the audiobook.
Some of the reviews said this book is long. Yes, it is long, but it is because the character growth that Molly goes through is incredible. Molly’s journey to becoming the woman that deserves Seth is why I loved this book so much.
I wanted to sob, swoon, and then smile throughout this book. It made me feel ALLLLL the feels.
Thank you so much to the author and Netgallery for this ARC of the audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,870 reviews