How to Judge a Book by its Lover

by Jessica Jiji

A big dream, wrapped in a comedy, inside an unexpected romance....

Lucien Brosseau: those blue eyes, that thick hair, his messy shirts - Laurel Linden dreams of the chance to kiss a guy as sophisticated as he's sexy. But while Lucien is a Belgian art critic raised in Nicaragua, Laurel barely escaped the suburbs of Long Island with dreams of publishing her hilariously messy, 600-page historical novel about Napoleon Bonaparte’s hairdresser. At least she loves her day job walking adorable puppies, and when she finds Vanessa - a wise mentor - they're off on a wild ride through New York City's hottest clubs and coolest boutiques. Along the way, Laurel's dreams start to come true but she's shocked by just how. That's when she gets an even bigger prize: the one truth that always brings happiness in life, but only if you earn it.

Genres: Romance

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2020

About the author

I. Love. Readers! You are part of an awesome tribe. And I am one of you. My mother always told me we could travel far with books. Long before there were virtual tours and Google Earth, she introduced me to books that transported me across seas and centuries. One of my favorites is “The Alexandria Quartet,” a set of four linked novels set in Egypt. If you haven’t read them, that’s at least one recommendation I can offer by way of thanks for visiting this website.

Like parents everywhere, my father used to tell me bedtime stories. Being Iraqi, he made up tales about a brave girl named Cassima. Instead of starting with “Once Upon a Time…” he would open with the line, “I was a cook for the Queen of Iraq…” The cook was never much good at fighting off bandits or protecting the palace but Cassima would swoop in and save the day. I was mesmerized.

Somewhere between being raised on the power of reading and those imaginative tales, I started writing. As a die-hard fan of rom-coms, I try to capture the heartache and the happiness, the meaning and the madness of life. Sometimes, I cross continents and decades to write about the Arabic culture I was raised to revere. Other times, I stick with here and now, where contemporary love meets timeless desire . Either way, it’s a journey we’re on together.

To readers everywhere, I offer my gratitude, solidarity and allegiance. You rock.

Reviews

[rayna ♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this writer does not know how to show or tell in writing. this is the only book that would load while i was trapped on the subway waiting for the train to move and honestly? i would have been better off staring blankly into space while internally raging at the idiot that wore their mask under their nose instead of over it. it was that ridiculously outlandish. that terrible.

[Cindy Roesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurel Linden is an unlucky at love, miserable dog-walker trying to make it as an author in Manhattan. In HOW TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS LOVER (StoneTiger) she strikes gold when at a college alumnae meeting, she gets a “big sister” who is determined to turn Laurel’s life around and push her towards the life she wants. Soon she has a well-known intellectual boyfriend who does nothing but makes her feel inferior, she’s spending money on designer clothes she can’t afford, has a publishing contract, and all of it adds up to the image she wants to portray, as an up and coming world-famous author.

Then everything goes to hell and she’s living back home with her parents on Long Island after losing her boyfriend and apartment. She still has her book contract but starts waking up to the fact the manuscript is pretty awful. What’s a girl to do? Well, first of all, she has to take her head out of the clouds and stop thinking her life is miraculously going to turn into Celebrity Style magazine.

In HOW TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS LOVER, we take a romp through Manhattan with twenty-something, Laurel who is looking for everything we all want when in our twenties, but some of us need to read the tea leaves and slow down. Laurel is lucky to have a friend named Trish that she grew up with and keeps Laurel in reality. Trish introduces her to a dentist who lives and works in Massapequa. He couldn’t be more different than the city guys Laurel is always looking for. But sometimes serendipity magically happens and changes what you think you wanted all along.

Laurel’s experience isn’t all flowers and sunshine, she hits some storms, but overall she keeps her positive attitude and is open to new experiences. Something we all might be open to.

[Anna Stewart McCall · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows Laurel Linden, a Vasser grad from Long Island trying to make it as a novelist in Manhattan. She meets Vanessa, a fellow Vasser grad that becomes her mentor, and that's when things start happening for her, in both the career and romance departments.

This one was just okay. It was kind of all over the place, never really deciding exactly what to do with some of the characters or parts of the plot. Are her parents clueless and neglectful or supportive? Is her sister a narcissistic mega-bitch or just misguided in her "support" of Laurel? Is her book good or does it suck? Is Irwin a good guy or just Lucien 2.0? See what I mean? It was just kind of all over the place. It was also looooong. On top of all that, Laurel wasn't especially likable. Neither of her love interests was especially likable either, even the "good guy" she ends up with. Overall, it was sort of a "meh" experience.

[Lorraine Anton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep positive, believe in yourself.

Laurel wants to be a writer and a boyfriend she has neither.
She gets a "big sister", who helps her get back on track.
Of course, not all goes as planned.
Read it.
Some characters are better than others.😊
The plot was written OK. It was a little slow here and there. The parents were a little annoying.
I did like The dentist, (but not his name),Laurel and the big sister.
I probably should have given this a three star instead but it wad like I always try to be generous.

[Michelle L. E. Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I didn’t know that I needed to read!

I didn’t know how much I missed going out until I started reading this!!! NYC has never been more fun. This funny, and thoughtful, story was so much more than just boy meets girl... it was more of a girl meets herself. I adored the quick pace and the overly dramatic heroine, especially given how much growth we get to watch. It simply hit all the right notes, and made me actually smile and laugh out loud while reading! Such a treat.

[Anne Turnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is a late bloomer

Laurel longs to be a published writer and have an interesting boyfriend. She lives in a tiny New York apartment and walks dogs for a living. This book tells of her gaining confidence and discovering what she really wants.

[Viola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Employment Issues

Tale of growth and realization. From obscurity to the chance to succeed, the author remains true to her independence and utter unique charms.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐️

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked it. It's cute and sweet.