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Love and Other Puzzles
Following the clues doesn't always lead you where you might expect ...A witty, warm-hearted and appealing novel about how stepping out of our comfort zones can sometimes be the best – and worst – thing that can ever happen to us.Rory's life is perfectly predictable, ordered and on track – just the way she likes it. She walks her 12,000 steps a day, writes her to-do list, and each night she prepares her breakfast chia pods and lays out her clothes for the next day. She's doing everything right. So why does everything feel so wrong?Deep down, she knows her life and career – not to mention her relationship – are going nowhere, and so Rory, in a moment of desperation, takes an uncharacteristic letting the clues of The New York Times crossword puzzle dictate all her decisions for a week. Just for a week, she reasons. Just to shake things up a bit. What could possibly go wrong?A delightfully witty, deliciously original and astringently refreshing romcom that reads like you're inhaling a zingy citrus cocktail made by Nora Ephron, at a party thrown by Dolly Alderton and Beth O'Leary.
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First published February 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 17, 2022
I judge books by their covers. I liked this one, although it's becoming cliche.
Twenty-something, Rory, creates puzzles for a TV magazine. She really wants to be a proper journalist but there are no opportunities. Her long term relationship is stale.
There are all sorts of mini-dramas.
I know I'm not the target audience for this novel, that never stopped me from enjoying a book before.
The novel is narrated by Rory. I found her a bit too earnest and infuriating. There was too much overexplaining and too many thought bubbles that weren't that interesting to me. This novel is rich in dialogue. Unfortunately, on many occasions, I thought to myself, "this is not how people talk".
I also felt like I'd read this novel before. I only finished it because I didn't want to DNF yet another novel (and it was quite short).
Twenty-something, Rory, creates puzzles for a TV magazine. She really wants to be a proper journalist but there are no opportunities. Her long term relationship is stale.
There are all sorts of mini-dramas.
I know I'm not the target audience for this novel, that never stopped me from enjoying a book before.
The novel is narrated by Rory. I found her a bit too earnest and infuriating. There was too much overexplaining and too many thought bubbles that weren't that interesting to me. This novel is rich in dialogue. Unfortunately, on many occasions, I thought to myself, "this is not how people talk".
I also felt like I'd read this novel before. I only finished it because I didn't want to DNF yet another novel (and it was quite short).
April 27, 2022
This was actually kind of fun and really silly but I cannot in good faith recommend it because the dialogue was SO BAD.
The premise of Love and Other Puzzles is excellent - a woman lets the NYT crossword dictate her life choices for a week - but the execution was sadly a let down. It was almost ridiculous enough to come back around to being good, but never quite struck the right level of ludicrous and ended up just sitting in a strange mix between farce and contemporary that was a bit off putting.
That being said there were some enjoyable bits, and though I did consider putting this one down halfway through, I was drawn back by the curiosity of what happens next. But every time I got to a point of enjoying this book, a conversation would happen and remind me why I wasn’t enjoying this read. The dialogue was so unreal and managed to make me feel like the characters had less going on in their heads than when they weren’t speaking. Has this author ever actually heard a conversation take place? It’s hard to tell.
Overall not the best read of the year but I can see what’s in it for others. If you find this book for free, you’re a big rom-com fan, and you don’t sweat characterisation too much, then give it a crack. Otherwise it’s one to pass on.
The premise of Love and Other Puzzles is excellent - a woman lets the NYT crossword dictate her life choices for a week - but the execution was sadly a let down. It was almost ridiculous enough to come back around to being good, but never quite struck the right level of ludicrous and ended up just sitting in a strange mix between farce and contemporary that was a bit off putting.
That being said there were some enjoyable bits, and though I did consider putting this one down halfway through, I was drawn back by the curiosity of what happens next. But every time I got to a point of enjoying this book, a conversation would happen and remind me why I wasn’t enjoying this read. The dialogue was so unreal and managed to make me feel like the characters had less going on in their heads than when they weren’t speaking. Has this author ever actually heard a conversation take place? It’s hard to tell.
Overall not the best read of the year but I can see what’s in it for others. If you find this book for free, you’re a big rom-com fan, and you don’t sweat characterisation too much, then give it a crack. Otherwise it’s one to pass on.
March 24, 2022
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Love and Other Puzzles by Kimberley Allsopp was a hoot! If you need a book with a lot of wit and warm and fuzzy vibes this is a book for you.
I read this book as part of a fun readalong with Tandem Collective Global and a team of wonderful bookstagrammers!
Love And Other Puzzles is a charming romance and Rory’s character fits perfectly. Her life is falling apart so she decides to let The York Times Crossword puzzle dictate her decisions for a week - and doesn’t that go well!
Rory usually likes everything in order and diarised, she’s regimental and not good at being spontaneous.
Her relationship is stuck in a rut and her career is not taking off, she’s no closer to reaching her five year goals which of course she has laminated.
There are many rom-com references throughout the story which I enjoyed although I’m embarrassed to say some just went over my head, I obviously don’t watch enough rom-coms.
I giggled at Rorys’ boyfriend niche artwork of gastronomical creations with titles like Beetroot Potter, seriously! 😂🤣
Publication date 02 February 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Many thanks to Harper Collins Australia for sending out a copy of the book.
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Love and Other Puzzles by Kimberley Allsopp was a hoot! If you need a book with a lot of wit and warm and fuzzy vibes this is a book for you.
I read this book as part of a fun readalong with Tandem Collective Global and a team of wonderful bookstagrammers!
Love And Other Puzzles is a charming romance and Rory’s character fits perfectly. Her life is falling apart so she decides to let The York Times Crossword puzzle dictate her decisions for a week - and doesn’t that go well!
Rory usually likes everything in order and diarised, she’s regimental and not good at being spontaneous.
Her relationship is stuck in a rut and her career is not taking off, she’s no closer to reaching her five year goals which of course she has laminated.
There are many rom-com references throughout the story which I enjoyed although I’m embarrassed to say some just went over my head, I obviously don’t watch enough rom-coms.
I giggled at Rorys’ boyfriend niche artwork of gastronomical creations with titles like Beetroot Potter, seriously! 😂🤣
Publication date 02 February 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Many thanks to Harper Collins Australia for sending out a copy of the book.
AD-PR PRODUCT
March 5, 2022
Rory is a journalist working at a Sydney newspaper who, after a couple of years on the job, has never managed to find a story to promote her further than compiling the classifieds and the weekly tv guide crossword. Her relationship with her boyfriend too has hit a bump in the road and, in a bit of a crazy and desperate moment, Rory decides to let her personal and professional life be directed by the NY Times crossword and the answers to its clues.
Although it is not specified, Rory most likely has undiagnosed autism. At the very least she has OCD and her reliance on routine is so strong that the mere idea of acting spontaneously and following wherever the clues lead her is, therefore, an extremely big deal and shows how hopeless she’s feeling.
The romance part of the book was very contemporary. There were parts which I found distressing in relation to the representation of psychological domestic abuse. Luckily Allsopp managed to balance this out with some sweet, more traditional romcom scenes.
I must point out that if you’re not a huge romance fan, I think you’d still enjoy this book. The plot, its conflict and resolution does not rely completely on the romance at all and there is lots more humour, poignancy and heartwarming moments to enjoy.
I loved all the pop references. I’m not 100% sure that the intended audience, twenty somethings, would have watched or be familiar with all the 80s romcom classics but I appreciated their inclusion anyway.
I’d also like to congratulate Allsopp for not adding endlessly unnecessary scenes just to increase the word count. I am so over 400 plus words for the sake of it.
4 ½ out of 5
Although it is not specified, Rory most likely has undiagnosed autism. At the very least she has OCD and her reliance on routine is so strong that the mere idea of acting spontaneously and following wherever the clues lead her is, therefore, an extremely big deal and shows how hopeless she’s feeling.
The romance part of the book was very contemporary. There were parts which I found distressing in relation to the representation of psychological domestic abuse. Luckily Allsopp managed to balance this out with some sweet, more traditional romcom scenes.
I must point out that if you’re not a huge romance fan, I think you’d still enjoy this book. The plot, its conflict and resolution does not rely completely on the romance at all and there is lots more humour, poignancy and heartwarming moments to enjoy.
I loved all the pop references. I’m not 100% sure that the intended audience, twenty somethings, would have watched or be familiar with all the 80s romcom classics but I appreciated their inclusion anyway.
I’d also like to congratulate Allsopp for not adding endlessly unnecessary scenes just to increase the word count. I am so over 400 plus words for the sake of it.
4 ½ out of 5
February 1, 2022
“Don’t just tune out after the first sentence.”
I took this advice as I read this book. I was puzzled by this book, and by the main character, Rory: was she anxious? Regimented? Afraid of change? None of the above? Was this a comedy? Was this a sad diary of a young woman who didn’t know how to cope? So many movie and celebrity references and name dropping and product p[acement throughout this book, I almost thought it was an Instagram influencer’s account or a guide for IMDB. That part was a little cringeworthy, and for an up and coming wannabe journalist (just like her grandfather). I was rather surprised that these were her comfort zones.
Rory seemed to have a lot of questions and never seemed happy with anything. She believes what she wants to hear, and doesn’t really listen – and this advice she also gets from her grandmother. Rory decides to rely on her daily crossword fix to provide her with proverbs for life. Eat icecream (I agree with that one), raise your hand (you need crossword advice to speak up?), doors opening opportunities, and Harry. I must admit that it is clever to use the cryptic clues as lifelines for Rory, wanting more from life. Rory’s attitude infuriated me, and Lucas her boyfriend was just as grating.
The moments with Kitt, her girlfriend, her grandmother and mother seemed to be more deeper in connection , and said a lot without saying much, quite good highlights of this book. It was the actual conversations with Rory and other characters and Rory inside her own head that seem to lose me. It was hard to find the right position to balance Rory’s planning and itemized life with her need to trust herself and take risks; was there was no perfect balance for Rory? Thanks NetGalley for the e-ARC.
I took this advice as I read this book. I was puzzled by this book, and by the main character, Rory: was she anxious? Regimented? Afraid of change? None of the above? Was this a comedy? Was this a sad diary of a young woman who didn’t know how to cope? So many movie and celebrity references and name dropping and product p[acement throughout this book, I almost thought it was an Instagram influencer’s account or a guide for IMDB. That part was a little cringeworthy, and for an up and coming wannabe journalist (just like her grandfather). I was rather surprised that these were her comfort zones.
Rory seemed to have a lot of questions and never seemed happy with anything. She believes what she wants to hear, and doesn’t really listen – and this advice she also gets from her grandmother. Rory decides to rely on her daily crossword fix to provide her with proverbs for life. Eat icecream (I agree with that one), raise your hand (you need crossword advice to speak up?), doors opening opportunities, and Harry. I must admit that it is clever to use the cryptic clues as lifelines for Rory, wanting more from life. Rory’s attitude infuriated me, and Lucas her boyfriend was just as grating.
The moments with Kitt, her girlfriend, her grandmother and mother seemed to be more deeper in connection , and said a lot without saying much, quite good highlights of this book. It was the actual conversations with Rory and other characters and Rory inside her own head that seem to lose me. It was hard to find the right position to balance Rory’s planning and itemized life with her need to trust herself and take risks; was there was no perfect balance for Rory? Thanks NetGalley for the e-ARC.
January 31, 2022
Set in the hustle and bustle of Sydney, Kimberley Allsopp's fast-paced, quirky, and unapologetically Australian debut is one for the romcom lovers. Packed with all the romcom and Hollywood references you could ask for, Love and Other Puzzles follows the life of Rory - a young 'journalist' wanting more from life. With a Moira Rose-eqsue mother and a Cruella di Vill mother-in-law, Rory - or Aurora as her mother persistently calls her - wants nothing more than to run away from her problems and hope that her Sunday crosswords have all the answers she's looking for. The Allsopp's prose is hilariously tragic and filled with everything you could ask for from an Australian novel: everything from KT Tunstall through to the classic choc tops. I spent most of my time absolutely furious with Rory's decisions and inability to commit herself to any cause, but was able to forgive her in the end as a fellow hopeless romantic still in search of one's true calling in life. If you're looking for a fun and refreshing Australian romcom, look no further.
Thanks to HarperCollins for this ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks to HarperCollins for this ARC via NetGalley.
February 22, 2022
I think this book has potential but feels under-done to me. The story lacks any depth and the characters are, in my opinion, one-dimensional. The writer defines the characters using narration and so it can be hard to set them apart when the are talking because they all seem to speak in the same way. In a good book the characters are so clear and individual without the use of narration. I understand the references to movies and rom-coms but the overuse of them seems to take away the sense of reality and also the relatability of the characters. It’s a short novel, probably the fastest I’ve ever finished a book because of that reason.
October 20, 2021
Allsopp KNOWS her rom-coms and the references throughout this book of joy and hope are a pure delight. Regimented Rory has a very bad, no good week where she tries to loosen up and her life falls apart, or maybe, just maybe, it all falls into place. This is firmly in Nancy Meyers and Nora Ephron territory and brought to mind another recent Australian rom-com, Love in Theory. It’s charming and ultimately cheerful as it explores what it means to throw the pieces of life into the air and see where they land (or where you might nudge them). Delightful.
May 10, 2022
This was… fine? I loved the concept but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I didn’t love Rory our protagonist so I wasn’t really rooting for her or her situation. She was quite annoying & pretentious at times. The writing was easy to read & fun but the dialogue felt unrealistic & unemotional to me. Sometimes I wasn’t sure what the tone of a scene was meant to be. This one just wasn’t for me!
February 12, 2022
no i did not relate to the hopeless main character who is bad at their job and hates living in sydney and loves the new york times daily crossword and is constantly thinking they're in a nora ephron movie nope did not relate at all no way
May 8, 2022
Love and other puzzles follows Rory after she decides her life is too stagnant and similar to what it was 5 years ago. In the name of spontaneity, she will be going where her crossword clues lead her. On this journey of self discovery to carve out a life separate from family legacies and strict daily plans, she’s faced with the consequences of indecision and impulsivity, all over a span of a week.
The title is love and other puzzles but you get 5% of the romance and about 5% of the puzzles as well. Being tagged as contemporary romance, I was expecting wayyyyy more of a romance plot. When you finally meet the love interest it’s sweet but too short. You only get 4 interactions of Rory and him in total which was disappointing. This is more of a coming of age, character study of Rory than it is a romance. I wish the use of the puzzles clues was done more frequently and in a more clever way. The puzzles felt like they were in the background.
The beginning was long and dense. It was hard to get thru all the inner monologue and explanations. The writing is too much “telling/explaining” rather than “showing”. It felt unnecessary some of the things that were talked about in detail. I can see how the paragraphs and long sentences reflect the character and how in her head she is, but I don’t think the execution of it was effective at all.
I also have a hard time reading English dialects that aren’t North American. Something about the sentences and rhythms of speech were too abstracted for me to be fully immersed. I ended up having to reread parts many times to grasp what was being said.
I think I would have liked this more if it had more dialogue and less exposition. She barely spoke to anyone who she has favourable relationships with and when she did it was always too short. For all the thinking she does of her grandma or mom, she has about 2 conversations with them! The conversation with her grandma was important and really nice to read through and there should have been more of that. I wish she spoke more with Harry and Kitt and said things of actual substance. Maybe this shows how much of a background character Rory is in her own life but, it was really frustrating.
The title is love and other puzzles but you get 5% of the romance and about 5% of the puzzles as well. Being tagged as contemporary romance, I was expecting wayyyyy more of a romance plot. When you finally meet the love interest it’s sweet but too short. You only get 4 interactions of Rory and him in total which was disappointing. This is more of a coming of age, character study of Rory than it is a romance. I wish the use of the puzzles clues was done more frequently and in a more clever way. The puzzles felt like they were in the background.
The beginning was long and dense. It was hard to get thru all the inner monologue and explanations. The writing is too much “telling/explaining” rather than “showing”. It felt unnecessary some of the things that were talked about in detail. I can see how the paragraphs and long sentences reflect the character and how in her head she is, but I don’t think the execution of it was effective at all.
I also have a hard time reading English dialects that aren’t North American. Something about the sentences and rhythms of speech were too abstracted for me to be fully immersed. I ended up having to reread parts many times to grasp what was being said.
I think I would have liked this more if it had more dialogue and less exposition. She barely spoke to anyone who she has favourable relationships with and when she did it was always too short. For all the thinking she does of her grandma or mom, she has about 2 conversations with them! The conversation with her grandma was important and really nice to read through and there should have been more of that. I wish she spoke more with Harry and Kitt and said things of actual substance. Maybe this shows how much of a background character Rory is in her own life but, it was really frustrating.
October 4, 2023
The book goes off on random tangents about “paper mache” memories, “ma jong” memories and in summary, is very slow moving and long winded. Rory over explains, seems to lack development and control of her life, can’t stand up for herself, doesn’t really seem happy, complains about everything and does erratic things. The boyfriend Lucas, seems like a loser and rude. Harry, the bar tender, pops up randomly in places that people don’t ‘bump into each other’. It’s like the author could figure out a more realistic way for Rory and Harry to meet coincidentally. Didn’t finish the book as was bored of all the references, tangents and over explanations. The romance wasn’t a focus of the book - the main focus was being inside Rory’s head thinking her erratic, random, crazy, meaningless thoughts.
September 24, 2022
Fine read. Inoffensive and sometimes funny! The exact same “quirky” way of speaking was used for every single character which I found a bit off-putting because it was so unrealistic. But otherwise I have no concrete reasons as to why I wouldn’t rate it higher! Missing some depth! Anyway, an alright lazy read.
February 28, 2023
DNF
The premise for this book is interesting, but the book failed to pull me in. I found the pace incredibly slow and the characters felt pretty two dimensional.
The premise for this book is interesting, but the book failed to pull me in. I found the pace incredibly slow and the characters felt pretty two dimensional.
March 8, 2022
This novel was an absolute delight. Witty, relatable, and so life affirming. I loved the references to rom com movies, particularly the Meg Ryan ones, of which I am a huge fan, and could recognise them all. It really took me back and now I’m filled with this need to start watching them all over again. It’s been too long. While I’m not one for a crossword, I still enjoyed the way in which they were woven into the story. The whole notion of using crossword clues to determine your own destiny was fresh and unique. I could also appreciate how crosswords had become akin to a security blanket for Rory and how something another person might regard as bonkers (using clues to make life decisions) would actually make perfect sense to her.
‘For every 24-hour period, I’m going to base my decisions on a maximum of three answers in The New York Times crossword. They won’t all be life changing. It could be about what to have for lunch. It could be about whether I go to a gallery opening that wasn’t already in my diary. It could be about whether or not I fudge the truth slightly, in order to be taken more seriously at work…’
Rory’s need for an ordered universe struck a chord with me. I am very much the same, I’d like to think I have a bit more flexibility in me than Rory did, but those who are close to me might beg to differ. As far as character’s go, Rory is pretty memorable and one of my favourites out of a book in a long time. I loved her internal thoughts; they were so entertaining and on point. This really is an excellent novel and there’s nothing whatsoever that I didn’t like about it. I think I just found my go to book for present giving this year.
‘A shoe basket signalled an organised life. A permanence and sense of order. The only thing I hadn’t consistently been able to get from my two homes growing up.’
Thanks to my lovely fellow book blogger, Great Reads and Tea Leaves, who recommended this one to me.
*Book 3 in my 22 in 2022 challenge*
‘For every 24-hour period, I’m going to base my decisions on a maximum of three answers in The New York Times crossword. They won’t all be life changing. It could be about what to have for lunch. It could be about whether I go to a gallery opening that wasn’t already in my diary. It could be about whether or not I fudge the truth slightly, in order to be taken more seriously at work…’
Rory’s need for an ordered universe struck a chord with me. I am very much the same, I’d like to think I have a bit more flexibility in me than Rory did, but those who are close to me might beg to differ. As far as character’s go, Rory is pretty memorable and one of my favourites out of a book in a long time. I loved her internal thoughts; they were so entertaining and on point. This really is an excellent novel and there’s nothing whatsoever that I didn’t like about it. I think I just found my go to book for present giving this year.
‘A shoe basket signalled an organised life. A permanence and sense of order. The only thing I hadn’t consistently been able to get from my two homes growing up.’
Thanks to my lovely fellow book blogger, Great Reads and Tea Leaves, who recommended this one to me.
*Book 3 in my 22 in 2022 challenge*
January 19, 2022
In the delightful romcom, Love and Other Puzzles from debut Australian novelist Kimberley Allsopp, Rory Byrnes impulsively turns to the New York Times crossword puzzle for inspiration to change her life.
7A A bovine Baskin treat = icecream
With her career stalled and her relationship failing, Rory, who has always relied on order and routine, decides that three times a day for the next week she’ll let the answers to The New York Times crossword puzzle guide her decisions.
34A What do you do before you speak in class = raise your hand
To revitalise her journalistic career at ‘The Connect’ Rory, raises her hand, and volunteers to arrange an interview with elusive newsreader, Elle Chambers, who is rumoured to be launching a bid for a political seat. The only problem is Rory has no idea how to deliver on it.
12D A 2010 Steve Martin novel = An Object of Beauty
The first step Rory takes to reconnect with her live in boyfriend, artist Lucas, is to agree to attend a gallery opening, despite generally avoiding such events, where she ends up spending most of her time talking with the bartender, Harry, and goes home alone.
As the week progresses, the crossword inspires a little more chaos than Rory expects but she’s determined to follow through.
Allsopp’s protagonist is easy to like. Rory is sweet and warm-hearted, just a little lost amid her quarter-life crisis. Her need for order is mostly a form of self defence, the result of a somewhat chaotic upbringing with her free spirited single mother, which her grandparents did their best to ameliorate.
I was also a fan of Rory’s loyal and funny best friend, Kitt, and charmed by several of the other characters, including Rory’s mentor Dave, and bus driver, Ted. Rory’s boyfriend, on the other hand, is a jerk, but this is a romcom so there is a worthy man waiting in the wings.
The writing is witty and sharp. I loved the many pop culture references, most of which relate to Hollywood romcoms.
Love and Other Puzzles is a captivating uplifting read, sure to satisfy any hopeless romantic.
7A A bovine Baskin treat = icecream
With her career stalled and her relationship failing, Rory, who has always relied on order and routine, decides that three times a day for the next week she’ll let the answers to The New York Times crossword puzzle guide her decisions.
34A What do you do before you speak in class = raise your hand
To revitalise her journalistic career at ‘The Connect’ Rory, raises her hand, and volunteers to arrange an interview with elusive newsreader, Elle Chambers, who is rumoured to be launching a bid for a political seat. The only problem is Rory has no idea how to deliver on it.
12D A 2010 Steve Martin novel = An Object of Beauty
The first step Rory takes to reconnect with her live in boyfriend, artist Lucas, is to agree to attend a gallery opening, despite generally avoiding such events, where she ends up spending most of her time talking with the bartender, Harry, and goes home alone.
As the week progresses, the crossword inspires a little more chaos than Rory expects but she’s determined to follow through.
Allsopp’s protagonist is easy to like. Rory is sweet and warm-hearted, just a little lost amid her quarter-life crisis. Her need for order is mostly a form of self defence, the result of a somewhat chaotic upbringing with her free spirited single mother, which her grandparents did their best to ameliorate.
I was also a fan of Rory’s loyal and funny best friend, Kitt, and charmed by several of the other characters, including Rory’s mentor Dave, and bus driver, Ted. Rory’s boyfriend, on the other hand, is a jerk, but this is a romcom so there is a worthy man waiting in the wings.
The writing is witty and sharp. I loved the many pop culture references, most of which relate to Hollywood romcoms.
Love and Other Puzzles is a captivating uplifting read, sure to satisfy any hopeless romantic.
February 14, 2022
Good, but filled with too many pop culture references as well as perhaps too many Aussie references lmao
July 28, 2025
2.75
A fun, very well written, story of a disastrous main character navigating life and making mistakes along the way. I just found that I didn’t really vibe with it, mostly I think that’s just a personal issue where it just wasn’t for me, but also at times the main character could be completely insufferable and the romance element of it felt a little under developed. Overall a light, fun read
A fun, very well written, story of a disastrous main character navigating life and making mistakes along the way. I just found that I didn’t really vibe with it, mostly I think that’s just a personal issue where it just wasn’t for me, but also at times the main character could be completely insufferable and the romance element of it felt a little under developed. Overall a light, fun read
February 2, 2022
I loved this book. It truly spoke to me. Go read it. The end.
No, seriously, this is an amazing read and I have completely used up all my tabs and highlighters for the words of wisdom and clever quips that had me totally enthralled.
I have a reasonable level of self-awareness. I know that I like to plan, that checking items off lists fills me with joy and a sense of achievement. I know that not everyone likes mapping out their hours, days, weeks, lives. Kitt was being kind using the word regimented instead of rigid. But having everything in order and diarised wasn’t working for me anymore.
This is full of Australianisms that made me either smirk or laugh out loud. Yes, this is a romcom that has all the necessary ingredients - a cast of cringeworthy characters, embarrassing moments and a journey that is well worth it. It’s clever, it's quick witted and it is highly entertaining. Finding yourself stuck in life, turning to the crossword to look for direction is sure to make for many an amusing moment.
Why not let the creators of the black-and-white grid guide me for a week? Let its themes be my themes. A week wasn’t long enough to do any lasting damage and if it wasn’t working, I would just find something else or resign myself to a lifetime of chickpea salads on a Monday. A life that I didn’t mind. I just didn’t love. The crossword was my constant ... Where was the harm in instilling a modicum of power in the grid, in the hope that it might empower me?
Yet, when you pause long enough, you realise how Kimberley has really captured some awesome memories and reflective themes. Firstly I just loved how I was taken back to being a little girl and watching my Mum sitting there doing the daily crossword from the newspaper, or the reference to the Hagar comic, which was my Dad’s favourite and we often shared a giggle over. But then, when I stopped to look at my highlights, it became obvious how Kimberley was right on point about so many things. Here was a woman just searching for consistency after a childhood of inconsistencies due to her mothers absences.
The true constant in my life – that I couldn’t control – was violently missing her when she was gone and then internally sighing with relief and exhaustion the moment she was back. But always love. Every shade of it.
So, when you realise that life is not what you want or wish it to be … how does one change? Looking to your reliable, regular puzzle is not so zany but still too confining as Rory’s friend tries to point out:
‘Rory, I love this crossword experiment. I do. It’s great to see you doing something fun. But I wonder if you’re relying on it, possibly, a little too much at the moment? You’re allowed to have your own agency. I mean you’re the one choosing which meaning you divine from what clues. You can take it easier on yourself.’
Love and Other Puzzles is totally awesome. It’s full of wit and charm, it's refreshing and never dull with a perfect combination of humour and hindsight:
I had to let people be human. I couldn’t live up to this fictionalised version
Stop pushing yourself to have it all worked out now. It’s okay to spend some time getting things wrong before you get them right.
You’ve never been about the journey. It has always been the destination that’s mattered to you, but that’s just not how the universe works.
It sure works Kimberley, this was such an enlightening journey. Thank you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
No, seriously, this is an amazing read and I have completely used up all my tabs and highlighters for the words of wisdom and clever quips that had me totally enthralled.
I have a reasonable level of self-awareness. I know that I like to plan, that checking items off lists fills me with joy and a sense of achievement. I know that not everyone likes mapping out their hours, days, weeks, lives. Kitt was being kind using the word regimented instead of rigid. But having everything in order and diarised wasn’t working for me anymore.
This is full of Australianisms that made me either smirk or laugh out loud. Yes, this is a romcom that has all the necessary ingredients - a cast of cringeworthy characters, embarrassing moments and a journey that is well worth it. It’s clever, it's quick witted and it is highly entertaining. Finding yourself stuck in life, turning to the crossword to look for direction is sure to make for many an amusing moment.
Why not let the creators of the black-and-white grid guide me for a week? Let its themes be my themes. A week wasn’t long enough to do any lasting damage and if it wasn’t working, I would just find something else or resign myself to a lifetime of chickpea salads on a Monday. A life that I didn’t mind. I just didn’t love. The crossword was my constant ... Where was the harm in instilling a modicum of power in the grid, in the hope that it might empower me?
Yet, when you pause long enough, you realise how Kimberley has really captured some awesome memories and reflective themes. Firstly I just loved how I was taken back to being a little girl and watching my Mum sitting there doing the daily crossword from the newspaper, or the reference to the Hagar comic, which was my Dad’s favourite and we often shared a giggle over. But then, when I stopped to look at my highlights, it became obvious how Kimberley was right on point about so many things. Here was a woman just searching for consistency after a childhood of inconsistencies due to her mothers absences.
The true constant in my life – that I couldn’t control – was violently missing her when she was gone and then internally sighing with relief and exhaustion the moment she was back. But always love. Every shade of it.
So, when you realise that life is not what you want or wish it to be … how does one change? Looking to your reliable, regular puzzle is not so zany but still too confining as Rory’s friend tries to point out:
‘Rory, I love this crossword experiment. I do. It’s great to see you doing something fun. But I wonder if you’re relying on it, possibly, a little too much at the moment? You’re allowed to have your own agency. I mean you’re the one choosing which meaning you divine from what clues. You can take it easier on yourself.’
Love and Other Puzzles is totally awesome. It’s full of wit and charm, it's refreshing and never dull with a perfect combination of humour and hindsight:
I had to let people be human. I couldn’t live up to this fictionalised version
Stop pushing yourself to have it all worked out now. It’s okay to spend some time getting things wrong before you get them right.
You’ve never been about the journey. It has always been the destination that’s mattered to you, but that’s just not how the universe works.
It sure works Kimberley, this was such an enlightening journey. Thank you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
March 14, 2022
Rory likes her routine - she does the daily crossword, walks her 12,000 steps a day, makes lists and organises her clothes the night before. So why are things not going well for her? Deciding she needs to shake up her life, Rory makes the decision to let the NY Times Crossword dictate her life for a week. The answers to the crossword are what Rory will spend her time doing.
Filled with romcom and pop culture references, this book was witty and heartwarming. Rory is incredibly likable and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. Another great Aussie gem of a debut! I look forward to seeing what Kimberley Allsopp comes out with next.
Filled with romcom and pop culture references, this book was witty and heartwarming. Rory is incredibly likable and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. Another great Aussie gem of a debut! I look forward to seeing what Kimberley Allsopp comes out with next.
June 1, 2022
Took a long time to get into, couldn’t get past all the romcom cliques, but it turned out to be a feel good read.
May 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a romance novel that didn’t feel sappy but left my heart feeling warm. I liked the characters and the whole premise of the story… who doesn’t love a good crossword.
February 11, 2025
3.5
Cute and witty, last 15 minutes were packed with plot ties. And as expected, all ends well.
Cute and witty, last 15 minutes were packed with plot ties. And as expected, all ends well.
January 11, 2024
DNF - this one really failed to grab me. I found it all a bit bland and slow. I have to stop choosing books simply because they have chic, colourful covers.
January 19, 2025
Woman uses puzzle for inspiration. Very slow moving, and the main character frustrating = not willing to help herself!
March 31, 2022
Love and Other Puzzles is the story of a quirky girl who loves routine & rigidity that dares to mix things up. She begins to realise that most things in her life are going nowhere and so she decides to take guidance from the NYT crossword clues.
Our main character, Rory, is messy and uninspiring but she’s still loveable in some ways. She is well characterised and she definitely seems like she’s been written as the lead in a rom com.
Overall the story is cute and you’ll get lots of laughs without it being a super sappy romance. It’s filled with coincidences but isn’t entirely predictable. It was an enjoyable read but I’m only giving it 3 stars as it didn’t blow me away. I loved all the crossword references but I didn’t fully get all of it as I don’t think I have much rom com pop culture knowledge lol
Thank you @harpercollins & @tandemcollectiveglobal for the review copy!
Our main character, Rory, is messy and uninspiring but she’s still loveable in some ways. She is well characterised and she definitely seems like she’s been written as the lead in a rom com.
Overall the story is cute and you’ll get lots of laughs without it being a super sappy romance. It’s filled with coincidences but isn’t entirely predictable. It was an enjoyable read but I’m only giving it 3 stars as it didn’t blow me away. I loved all the crossword references but I didn’t fully get all of it as I don’t think I have much rom com pop culture knowledge lol
Thank you @harpercollins & @tandemcollectiveglobal for the review copy!
February 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Not least because I am also a 20something who moved to sydney from brisbane ~5 years ago.
I have been a little tired of romcoms lately, and I think this book has pulled me out of my slump. It was really well written, punchy, and full of references to all of the rom coms. I loved that the book was written from Rory’s perspective of love and work, and focused on her own personal growth rather than being “saved” by a man.
My only minor issue with the book is that none of the places in it were real. Main St should have been King St, imo, and a shoutout to one of the many wonderfully weird bookstores in the inner west in favour of a fake store seemed amiss.
I have been a little tired of romcoms lately, and I think this book has pulled me out of my slump. It was really well written, punchy, and full of references to all of the rom coms. I loved that the book was written from Rory’s perspective of love and work, and focused on her own personal growth rather than being “saved” by a man.
My only minor issue with the book is that none of the places in it were real. Main St should have been King St, imo, and a shoutout to one of the many wonderfully weird bookstores in the inner west in favour of a fake store seemed amiss.
February 20, 2022
The writing was fun and quirky and I would check out something else by this writer for sure, but ultimately the characters in this one - specifically Rory, who is the POV character - didn’t work for me.
My personal opinion is that if you are going to have your rom com heroine be this much of a chaotic disaster magnet, the story needs to be about her growing and making changes to course correct where she needs to even if she remains a disaster magnet.
It just doesn’t work for me to have all the supporting characters tell her what needs to change and for the main character to just go “yep, ok. Probably you are right” and then have to do zero work or personal development to figure out where life goes next.
The story could also be Exhibit A in the court case about my longstanding beef with the limits of first person storytelling. Rory acts like such a bonehead through 98% of this that having the relief of an alternative point of view would have opened the story up in so many fun ways. The premise was so good, I wish it had lived up to it.
My personal opinion is that if you are going to have your rom com heroine be this much of a chaotic disaster magnet, the story needs to be about her growing and making changes to course correct where she needs to even if she remains a disaster magnet.
It just doesn’t work for me to have all the supporting characters tell her what needs to change and for the main character to just go “yep, ok. Probably you are right” and then have to do zero work or personal development to figure out where life goes next.
The story could also be Exhibit A in the court case about my longstanding beef with the limits of first person storytelling. Rory acts like such a bonehead through 98% of this that having the relief of an alternative point of view would have opened the story up in so many fun ways. The premise was so good, I wish it had lived up to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2022
2.5 rounded up to 3.
I feel like this book had so much potential and it just didn’t reach it for me. There were little nuggets that I truly enjoyed buried amongst a lot that I could have done without.
I think if you enjoyed Normal People by Sally Rooney, or similar books, then you’d enjoy this one, and I know I’m in the minority that didn’t love Normal People, so I imagine I’m in the minority here, too!
I think my main problem is I was expecting a romance. It’s being marketed as a romance/romcom. It had an element of that, but I would have thought it to be more in the literary fiction genre. The romance wasn’t a key plot. It didn’t take centre stage, nor did it feel developed. And it didn’t feel like it was supposed to, either. It felt like it was written exactly how it should be. The book focussed far more on Rory and her life, and a side romance just happened to be a part of her life.
I still think this is a great debut novel and I would love to see what this author does next.
I feel like this book had so much potential and it just didn’t reach it for me. There were little nuggets that I truly enjoyed buried amongst a lot that I could have done without.
I think if you enjoyed Normal People by Sally Rooney, or similar books, then you’d enjoy this one, and I know I’m in the minority that didn’t love Normal People, so I imagine I’m in the minority here, too!
I think my main problem is I was expecting a romance. It’s being marketed as a romance/romcom. It had an element of that, but I would have thought it to be more in the literary fiction genre. The romance wasn’t a key plot. It didn’t take centre stage, nor did it feel developed. And it didn’t feel like it was supposed to, either. It felt like it was written exactly how it should be. The book focussed far more on Rory and her life, and a side romance just happened to be a part of her life.
I still think this is a great debut novel and I would love to see what this author does next.
January 29, 2022
I very much enjoyed this debut novel by Allsopp. It's probably a little different than my usual reading fare. And though Rory is a couple of decades (at least two, maybe three) younger than me, I could kinda relate to the messiness of her life and the denial in which she's wrapped herself... assuming that all will work out and she's on the right track.
Rory's internal dialogue - as well as the conversations with her bestie Kitt, boss Dave and a guy called Harry - reminded me of The Gilmore Girls. (And I LOVE the dialogue in that show, as well as The Marvellous Mrs Maisel - which has the same writer/creator.)
This is a very cleverly written and entertaining debut by Allsopp. The characters are all likeable and engaging and Rory in particular is disarmingly honest.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Rory's internal dialogue - as well as the conversations with her bestie Kitt, boss Dave and a guy called Harry - reminded me of The Gilmore Girls. (And I LOVE the dialogue in that show, as well as The Marvellous Mrs Maisel - which has the same writer/creator.)
This is a very cleverly written and entertaining debut by Allsopp. The characters are all likeable and engaging and Rory in particular is disarmingly honest.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
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