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The Romantics
Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents’ painful separation. Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right—but she doesn’t anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love’s plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael’s hot-sauce-wielding “dream girl.” The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules—and in order to set Gael’s fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
Leah Konen
14 books771 followersLeah Konen is the author of Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics. Her books have been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and The NY Post, among others. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, New York, with her husband; their daughters, Eleanor and Mary Joyce; and their dog, Farley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews
February 15, 2018
2.5*
This was cute and fun, but I found the characters to be extremely annoying and the storyline was consequently not something I was really invested in. It was a super quick read though, and had a very unique concept!
This was cute and fun, but I found the characters to be extremely annoying and the storyline was consequently not something I was really invested in. It was a super quick read though, and had a very unique concept!
August 12, 2016
Love takes center stage in this sweet story about first love.
Love (a cupid-like figure) intervenes when 17 year-old Gael Brennan gets his heartbroken by the girl he thought to be his first love. A hopeless romantic, Gael has put all of his energy into his relationship with Anika. After dating for a whole month, Gael tells Anika that he loves her. Anika reacts by having an affair with Gael’s best friend, Mason. Gael, who is already struggling with the fallout from his parent’s separation, falls for the next girl he meets, Cara, which causes him to potentially miss out on starting a relationship with his first true love, Sammy. This is where Love steps-in.
The Romantics is narrated by Love, which provided a different spin on this story. It’s a cute read that put a smile on my face!
Love (a cupid-like figure) intervenes when 17 year-old Gael Brennan gets his heartbroken by the girl he thought to be his first love. A hopeless romantic, Gael has put all of his energy into his relationship with Anika. After dating for a whole month, Gael tells Anika that he loves her. Anika reacts by having an affair with Gael’s best friend, Mason. Gael, who is already struggling with the fallout from his parent’s separation, falls for the next girl he meets, Cara, which causes him to potentially miss out on starting a relationship with his first true love, Sammy. This is where Love steps-in.
The Romantics is narrated by Love, which provided a different spin on this story. It’s a cute read that put a smile on my face!
November 10, 2016
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Romantics by Leah Konen
Publisher: Abrams
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents’ painful separation. Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right—but she doesn’t anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love’s plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael’s hot-sauce-wielding “dream girl.” The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules—and in order to set Gael’s fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
What I Liked:
I was sent an unsolicited galley of The Romantics from the publisher (and this in no way affected my review). I say this because it was sent unsolicited, and I rarely read unsolicited galleys. But I decided to give this book a chance. YA contemporary is not something I usually seek out and/or enjoy, but I was delighted to find that I liked this book.
This book is told from Love's narration. It's the story of Gael, after his heart is broken. He tells his girlfriend he loves her... but then finds out that she has been cheating on him with his best friend. The poor guy can't seem to catch a break! Now he has no girlfriend and no best friend. This is the "aftermath", how Gael navigates the maze that is Love.
I thought I might not enjoy this book, because I had a feeling that the romance wouldn't be for me. But I was surprised. Technically there is no love triangle or anything like that, though there are multiple love interests. Gael's girlfriend - ex-girlfriend within the first few chapters - could be considered one, though he never tries to get her back. A new girl that Gael meets is the second, and a girl that Gael has known for years is the third. The new girl, Cara, is the love interest that catches Gael's interest but he's not sure he actually likes her (she's represents the Rebound). The true love interest is the third girl, and this is quite evident, in the story.
One thing I liked about this book is how raw and emotional it is. We all know the phrase "get hit by the feels"? Or in the feels? Well, this book does that, though in a very subtle way. It's written in a humorous way, but it catches you off-guard with the depth of emotion conveyed in the story.
For example, some of my favorite scenes with a lot of emotions were when Gael was feeling angry towards Anika and Mason for cheating behind his back. I LOVE how Gael held on to this anger. I love how he threw this in Anika's face, Mason's face, etc. This is good, typical post-breakup behavior from someone whose been cheated on. Good for Konen for fleshing these emotions out, the hurt and anger and betrayal.
On that note, I also liked how while Gael definitely had to work to get over Anika, he wasn't trying to get her back or anything. He accepted the fact that she cheated, he was very mad about it, and he wasn't trying to get her back (and didn't forgive her immediately).
I also liked how Konen doesn't just explore explore romantic love. One could argue that what Gael felt towards Anika was fictitious, fairy-tale love. A significant part of this story was Gael's somewhat broken relationship with his parents. The author shows Gael a different type of love, as Gael works through the issues he has with his father, and then his mother. And then there is Gael's bond with his eight-year-old sister - the sibling love is real and constant and I loved that.
The romantic love is solid too. Gael thought he loved Anika, but realizes that he never did, and that what he felt for her was a fantasy. He tries to go out with Cara but realizes that she doesn't hold his interest. The third girl, the one that he's known forever, he doesn't realize that he likes her... until more than halfway through the book. Which was adorable to watch.
To sum things up, this wasn't just a cute and hilarious story about Gael finding his soulmate (or thereabout). There were so many fleshed-out relationships that were positive, some that were negative (and deservedly so). I found the authenticity of love and emotions in this book so real. Konen captured them really well!
I would love to read a companion novel that follows this one! The end of the book leaves a secondary and unimportant character potentially heartbroken - why not give him a story? I would read it!
What I Did Not Like:
The only thing that I personally didn't love - and this isn't a fault of the author's - is that Gael eventually forgave Mason. Anika, probably as well, but definitely Mason. I get that it's difficult to throw away a friendship over a girl, but cheating is pretty serious, and a horrendous breach of trust. I wouldn't forgive either of them. BUT. This shows how much Gael grows and develops in this book. Good for him!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like YA contemporary, this is for you. I was apprehensive about it, because I don't really like YA contemporary, and because I knew there would be ex-girlfriend drama and new-love-interest drama, but I was surprised by how much the drama didn't bother me, and how much I was enjoying it unfold. This book was one that I got rooted in, one that I couldn't help but cheer for Gael, be angry for Gael, clap my hands for Gael in the end.
Rating:
4 stars. Worth the read, if you enjoy YA contemporary. I can't speak for the author's other books, but this one was not bad. There were a lot of positive messages that I think the author did a great job of transmitting through this story!
The Romantics by Leah Konen
Publisher: Abrams
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents’ painful separation. Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right—but she doesn’t anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love’s plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael’s hot-sauce-wielding “dream girl.” The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules—and in order to set Gael’s fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
What I Liked:
I was sent an unsolicited galley of The Romantics from the publisher (and this in no way affected my review). I say this because it was sent unsolicited, and I rarely read unsolicited galleys. But I decided to give this book a chance. YA contemporary is not something I usually seek out and/or enjoy, but I was delighted to find that I liked this book.
This book is told from Love's narration. It's the story of Gael, after his heart is broken. He tells his girlfriend he loves her... but then finds out that she has been cheating on him with his best friend. The poor guy can't seem to catch a break! Now he has no girlfriend and no best friend. This is the "aftermath", how Gael navigates the maze that is Love.
I thought I might not enjoy this book, because I had a feeling that the romance wouldn't be for me. But I was surprised. Technically there is no love triangle or anything like that, though there are multiple love interests. Gael's girlfriend - ex-girlfriend within the first few chapters - could be considered one, though he never tries to get her back. A new girl that Gael meets is the second, and a girl that Gael has known for years is the third. The new girl, Cara, is the love interest that catches Gael's interest but he's not sure he actually likes her (she's represents the Rebound). The true love interest is the third girl, and this is quite evident, in the story.
One thing I liked about this book is how raw and emotional it is. We all know the phrase "get hit by the feels"? Or in the feels? Well, this book does that, though in a very subtle way. It's written in a humorous way, but it catches you off-guard with the depth of emotion conveyed in the story.
For example, some of my favorite scenes with a lot of emotions were when Gael was feeling angry towards Anika and Mason for cheating behind his back. I LOVE how Gael held on to this anger. I love how he threw this in Anika's face, Mason's face, etc. This is good, typical post-breakup behavior from someone whose been cheated on. Good for Konen for fleshing these emotions out, the hurt and anger and betrayal.
On that note, I also liked how while Gael definitely had to work to get over Anika, he wasn't trying to get her back or anything. He accepted the fact that she cheated, he was very mad about it, and he wasn't trying to get her back (and didn't forgive her immediately).
I also liked how Konen doesn't just explore explore romantic love. One could argue that what Gael felt towards Anika was fictitious, fairy-tale love. A significant part of this story was Gael's somewhat broken relationship with his parents. The author shows Gael a different type of love, as Gael works through the issues he has with his father, and then his mother. And then there is Gael's bond with his eight-year-old sister - the sibling love is real and constant and I loved that.
The romantic love is solid too. Gael thought he loved Anika, but realizes that he never did, and that what he felt for her was a fantasy. He tries to go out with Cara but realizes that she doesn't hold his interest. The third girl, the one that he's known forever, he doesn't realize that he likes her... until more than halfway through the book. Which was adorable to watch.
To sum things up, this wasn't just a cute and hilarious story about Gael finding his soulmate (or thereabout). There were so many fleshed-out relationships that were positive, some that were negative (and deservedly so). I found the authenticity of love and emotions in this book so real. Konen captured them really well!
I would love to read a companion novel that follows this one! The end of the book leaves a secondary and unimportant character potentially heartbroken - why not give him a story? I would read it!
What I Did Not Like:
The only thing that I personally didn't love - and this isn't a fault of the author's - is that Gael eventually forgave Mason. Anika, probably as well, but definitely Mason. I get that it's difficult to throw away a friendship over a girl, but cheating is pretty serious, and a horrendous breach of trust. I wouldn't forgive either of them. BUT. This shows how much Gael grows and develops in this book. Good for him!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like YA contemporary, this is for you. I was apprehensive about it, because I don't really like YA contemporary, and because I knew there would be ex-girlfriend drama and new-love-interest drama, but I was surprised by how much the drama didn't bother me, and how much I was enjoying it unfold. This book was one that I got rooted in, one that I couldn't help but cheer for Gael, be angry for Gael, clap my hands for Gael in the end.
Rating:
4 stars. Worth the read, if you enjoy YA contemporary. I can't speak for the author's other books, but this one was not bad. There were a lot of positive messages that I think the author did a great job of transmitting through this story!
October 13, 2016
This book wasn't on my radar until I received a mailing from Amulet, complete with matching candy.
Love love loved that it was narrated by Love. That alone made it unique, but being able to get various backstories and footnotes was a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed Gael and his family, especially his little sister, Piper. The family unit is having some problems, but they were supportive and present and I always love to see that.
Overall, it was a quirky and cute read with a fabulous ending.
**Huge thanks to Amulet for providing the arc free of charge**
Love love loved that it was narrated by Love. That alone made it unique, but being able to get various backstories and footnotes was a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed Gael and his family, especially his little sister, Piper. The family unit is having some problems, but they were supportive and present and I always love to see that.
Overall, it was a quirky and cute read with a fabulous ending.
**Huge thanks to Amulet for providing the arc free of charge**
March 9, 2018
“I'm asking you to forget everything you know about True Love. The real kind doesn't make you selfish and shortsighted. Real love makes you better than you ever knew you could be.”
September 1, 2021
Full review to come :)
July 5, 2017
Este libro me re gusto, me encantó que un personaje masculino sea el personaje principal de una historia de amor, sobretodo porque Gael es re hopeless romantic.
Pero lo que más me gusto, es que el libro está narrado por "Cupido" o "el amor", que va a haciendo intervenciones a medida que narra la historia (lo cual es una de mis cosas favoritas en cualquier tipo de historias).
Una lectura divertida.
Pero lo que más me gusto, es que el libro está narrado por "Cupido" o "el amor", que va a haciendo intervenciones a medida que narra la historia (lo cual es una de mis cosas favoritas en cualquier tipo de historias).
Una lectura divertida.
October 22, 2016
3.5 stars. Really cute story! If you like romantic comedies, then you'll most certainly find this book to be a solid read.
July 20, 2016
* I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley *
All right. This book is absolutely adorable. I haven't had much luck with contemporaries this year, but the summary was too good to pass up.
The Romantics is narrated by Love, as in the emotion not a character name. Our main character, Gael, has had his heart broken in the worst way. His breakup has been preceded by the separation of his parents. He's starting to feel as though love may not be worth it after all.
But Love has plans for him.
While he is wallowing, she's ready to push him toward who he's meant to be with. She is thwarted many times for her efforts and it's actually quite comedic. I love her categories for the types of people and their explanations. I also loved the unique narrative voice we get. There is something special and fun being the one to know everything. And while we watch Gael fumble through a possible Rebound, it's clear as day (to us and others around him) who he should be with. But like many of us, he questions himself, what he thinks he knows, and talks himself into the wrong girl.
I felt EVERY character was relatable in The Romantics. At some point, we've all done something they have, or felt the way they have. Or heck, had our hearts broken by those who are supposed to protect us. It really brought me back to my own high school days and I loved and appreciated that, too.
This book will suck you in from the very first page. The way Konen wove this tale was nothing short of brilliant. Mixed in with the silly and fun aspects are many real and heartbreaking ones. I really fell in love with Gael and his family. And I admit, I was hoping for happiness for all.
If you've struggled to find a great contemporary they way I have this year, take my advice and DO NOT PASS THIS ONE UP.
All right. This book is absolutely adorable. I haven't had much luck with contemporaries this year, but the summary was too good to pass up.
The Romantics is narrated by Love, as in the emotion not a character name. Our main character, Gael, has had his heart broken in the worst way. His breakup has been preceded by the separation of his parents. He's starting to feel as though love may not be worth it after all.
But Love has plans for him.
While he is wallowing, she's ready to push him toward who he's meant to be with. She is thwarted many times for her efforts and it's actually quite comedic. I love her categories for the types of people and their explanations. I also loved the unique narrative voice we get. There is something special and fun being the one to know everything. And while we watch Gael fumble through a possible Rebound, it's clear as day (to us and others around him) who he should be with. But like many of us, he questions himself, what he thinks he knows, and talks himself into the wrong girl.
I felt EVERY character was relatable in The Romantics. At some point, we've all done something they have, or felt the way they have. Or heck, had our hearts broken by those who are supposed to protect us. It really brought me back to my own high school days and I loved and appreciated that, too.
This book will suck you in from the very first page. The way Konen wove this tale was nothing short of brilliant. Mixed in with the silly and fun aspects are many real and heartbreaking ones. I really fell in love with Gael and his family. And I admit, I was hoping for happiness for all.
If you've struggled to find a great contemporary they way I have this year, take my advice and DO NOT PASS THIS ONE UP.
April 30, 2018
Първото, което ми направи впечатление в кигата, бе интересната идея на авторката да разкаже историята от името на Любовта. Самият сюжет на романа обаче беше предвидим - нещо, което исках и очаквах от книгата. А тя беше симпатично написана, романтична и забавна и единственото, което на моменти помрачаваше удоволствието ми от четенето ѝ, бяха някои от действията на героите в нея. Но като цяло, ако си търсите бързо четиво от YA contemporary жанра, няма да сгрешите, ако заложите на "Романтиците".
July 25, 2016
This book seemed like it was going to be so interesting because it has a unique narrator--Love. Love goes on to explain the different types of people there are out there, including romantics like main character Gael. Love explains that she can't be in all places at once and, sometimes, when she's distracted by putting one couple together, another will fall apart and get divorced. That's what happens to Gael's parents and he's in so much pain after their separation that he wants to throw himself into love as soon as possible. Love knows that isn't what's best for him--somehow she can actually see what will happen in his future depending on what relationships he has.
It was kind of interesting to see a YA guy dating a "college girl". It's a dynamic you don't usually see. But, based on growing up in a college town, I know the odds of this kind of romance happening aren't so great to begin with, unless the relationship started when both parties were in high school. But that's just a side note.
For the most part, the writing was fairly dry and forgettable. Terrible things would happen to Gael, literally in front of his parents, and it didn't seem like they were doing much to try to help him out. It got to the point where they talked so little to Gael about important things that, of course, he started to make all the wrong assumptions about his parents and why they divorced.
For all of the build-up that happens in the book, the ending just isn't satisfying. It comes too abruptly, after everything Gael's been through in his various relationships, and I really wanted more. After all, Love herself has been spouting about how great this will be for Gael if he could just reach that point in life, but we get . . . nothing.
I don't think I'll be recommending this book, but I know there are people out there who would really enjoy it if they like contemporary romance and want the experience of a unique narrator.
It was kind of interesting to see a YA guy dating a "college girl". It's a dynamic you don't usually see. But, based on growing up in a college town, I know the odds of this kind of romance happening aren't so great to begin with, unless the relationship started when both parties were in high school. But that's just a side note.
For the most part, the writing was fairly dry and forgettable. Terrible things would happen to Gael, literally in front of his parents, and it didn't seem like they were doing much to try to help him out. It got to the point where they talked so little to Gael about important things that, of course, he started to make all the wrong assumptions about his parents and why they divorced.
For all of the build-up that happens in the book, the ending just isn't satisfying. It comes too abruptly, after everything Gael's been through in his various relationships, and I really wanted more. After all, Love herself has been spouting about how great this will be for Gael if he could just reach that point in life, but we get . . . nothing.
I don't think I'll be recommending this book, but I know there are people out there who would really enjoy it if they like contemporary romance and want the experience of a unique narrator.
October 18, 2017
I fully expected to enjoy this YA novel more than I did. It never quite grabbed my attention and then the plot went down some predictable paths but the ending was what really killed it for me.
However, I must say it was interesting for Love (yes, Love) to be the narrator and I really liked the descriptions of people's relationship style (i.e. The Romantic.)
However, I must say it was interesting for Love (yes, Love) to be the narrator and I really liked the descriptions of people's relationship style (i.e. The Romantic.)
May 12, 2017
I want to thank my friend Valerie for going to Library Conventions & bringing back boxes of books for me to read. The Romantics was a fun easy read. I gave it 5 stars not because it was the best book ever written but because I enjoyed it so much. I recommend all my GR friends add to their TBR list & in November when it comes out immediately go out & get it.
September 8, 2016
Finished with a happy grin on my face. It's a simple story, but a fun one. You'll delight in the time you spend with Love.
December 29, 2016
Read full review HERE
Well, this was unexpectedly fun… The writing of this book might me my favorite thing about it! The book’s narrator is LOVE, yeah, you read that right… LOVE. Love is telling a story mostly about Gael, but also about a few other people, and it keeps making these side comments that are the most hilarious things. I loved it.
I actually loved the story as well, because timing is everything, and there are so many kinds of love, even of the romantic kind, and we are all different and have different ways of looking at it. I could have lived without some stuff in the plot, mainly the things about Anika and their group of friends, because how could they not understand that their behaviour was hurting Gael even more?
Gael was actually a great character, but I wanted to slap him a few times. Dude, I get it, your parents divorcing is hard AF, believe me, I KNOW, but the way he was acting towards his parents for a good portion of the book was so not ok… But overall, the behaviours and actions fitted the ages, and I think they were a good representation of our youth, eheh.
This was a fun and fast read, it made me laugh while in the urgent care waiting room in the hospital, so, the author did something right. I would definitly recommend it if you’re into YA romances with a little twist.
Well, this was unexpectedly fun… The writing of this book might me my favorite thing about it! The book’s narrator is LOVE, yeah, you read that right… LOVE. Love is telling a story mostly about Gael, but also about a few other people, and it keeps making these side comments that are the most hilarious things. I loved it.
I actually loved the story as well, because timing is everything, and there are so many kinds of love, even of the romantic kind, and we are all different and have different ways of looking at it. I could have lived without some stuff in the plot, mainly the things about Anika and their group of friends, because how could they not understand that their behaviour was hurting Gael even more?
Gael was actually a great character, but I wanted to slap him a few times. Dude, I get it, your parents divorcing is hard AF, believe me, I KNOW, but the way he was acting towards his parents for a good portion of the book was so not ok… But overall, the behaviours and actions fitted the ages, and I think they were a good representation of our youth, eheh.
This was a fun and fast read, it made me laugh while in the urgent care waiting room in the hospital, so, the author did something right. I would definitly recommend it if you’re into YA romances with a little twist.
February 8, 2017
*I received an eArc of this book from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
Full detailed Review on my blog: Word Wonders
Who could resist a love story told by Love herself? You would? All I know, is that I for one, can’t. And if you love contemporary as much as I do, I know you won’t be able either. I was so curious and excited to read this one when I got my hands on it. It sounded so light and quirky and it really was. But even though I enjoyed it and it made me laugh at times, it failed to deliver in some aspects of the story, some really important aspects to me. More into that further down, but for now, let’s dive in.
The writing is so fun and what I mean by that is that Love’s way of narration is very perky and interactive. The best way I can think of describing reading this book is that it feels like watching a documentary with Love as the voice over, bouncing from relevant event to the next. What other thing was also very well done in “The Romantics” is how present Social Media means are which most authors tend to forget about, even though they’re a very big part of our lives now.
So, the book follows Love’s debacles as she tries to fix a boy’s –Gael– love life, that she messed up in the first place, which was really fun to read about because it didn’t portray Love as this almighty being that could make anything work (it is symbolic if you ask me). And oh my god! the comments Love makes about events gave me life, she’s so funny and miscalculates her moves quite a lot which more often than not make the things go in the opposite direction of what she intended to.
That being said, for all the build-up that happened the ending left me wanting more. I was disappointed by how things were left off, it just felt incomplete to me. Until the last few pages, aside from an issue I’ll talk about in a bit, I really liked the book and was set on 4 stars but with how things were wrapped up, I was forced to let go of that 4th star.
The characters are all likeable and all have their little quirks and flaws but none of them are quite memorable to be honest, which isn’t necessarely bad as they were good characters. Aside from little Piper who is Gael’s little sister, I loved her SO MUCH. She was so funny and such a sweet girl, very mature for her age I must add, which made for some pretty interesting scenes where she was playing the big sister.
The other main issue I had with this book is the family dynamic. The parents were there just as decor if you ask me, not as authority figures, and even less so as actual caring parents. Gael was going through a hard time and neither his mom nor his dad were able to get their heads out of their butts and actually communicate with him and deal with the problems he had, which again they were the main cause of. YOU. DON’T. DO. THAT. It’s yet ANOTHER alternative for the “absent parents trope” that I am so tired of seeing.
All in all, this was a very cute and quick read (I read it in less than 24 hours) but it sadly didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it. I would definitely recommend it for someone coming out of a slump or someone who feels one coming because it doesn’t take a lot of effort to read it and it still is a nice story.
Full detailed Review on my blog: Word Wonders
Who could resist a love story told by Love herself? You would? All I know, is that I for one, can’t. And if you love contemporary as much as I do, I know you won’t be able either. I was so curious and excited to read this one when I got my hands on it. It sounded so light and quirky and it really was. But even though I enjoyed it and it made me laugh at times, it failed to deliver in some aspects of the story, some really important aspects to me. More into that further down, but for now, let’s dive in.
The writing is so fun and what I mean by that is that Love’s way of narration is very perky and interactive. The best way I can think of describing reading this book is that it feels like watching a documentary with Love as the voice over, bouncing from relevant event to the next. What other thing was also very well done in “The Romantics” is how present Social Media means are which most authors tend to forget about, even though they’re a very big part of our lives now.
So, the book follows Love’s debacles as she tries to fix a boy’s –Gael– love life, that she messed up in the first place, which was really fun to read about because it didn’t portray Love as this almighty being that could make anything work (it is symbolic if you ask me). And oh my god! the comments Love makes about events gave me life, she’s so funny and miscalculates her moves quite a lot which more often than not make the things go in the opposite direction of what she intended to.
That being said, for all the build-up that happened the ending left me wanting more. I was disappointed by how things were left off, it just felt incomplete to me. Until the last few pages, aside from an issue I’ll talk about in a bit, I really liked the book and was set on 4 stars but with how things were wrapped up, I was forced to let go of that 4th star.
The characters are all likeable and all have their little quirks and flaws but none of them are quite memorable to be honest, which isn’t necessarely bad as they were good characters. Aside from little Piper who is Gael’s little sister, I loved her SO MUCH. She was so funny and such a sweet girl, very mature for her age I must add, which made for some pretty interesting scenes where she was playing the big sister.
The other main issue I had with this book is the family dynamic. The parents were there just as decor if you ask me, not as authority figures, and even less so as actual caring parents. Gael was going through a hard time and neither his mom nor his dad were able to get their heads out of their butts and actually communicate with him and deal with the problems he had, which again they were the main cause of. YOU. DON’T. DO. THAT. It’s yet ANOTHER alternative for the “absent parents trope” that I am so tired of seeing.
All in all, this was a very cute and quick read (I read it in less than 24 hours) but it sadly didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it. I would definitely recommend it for someone coming out of a slump or someone who feels one coming because it doesn’t take a lot of effort to read it and it still is a nice story.
September 19, 2016
I received a copy of the book from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's been a long time since I finished a book in less than 24 hours but I finished this book in less than a day... and I also sacrificed my sleep for it.
This book is a cute, fun, and light read. I absolutely adore this book and I enjoyed it a lot.
So this book is narrated by Love and our "lovely" narrator narrates us the story of Gael - a senior at High School - who is at the worst time of his life. His parents are separating and the girl who he thought was the one has broken his heart. He's hopeless and the only things he wants to do is to stay shut in his room and watch movies while eating snickers. Now, love is trying all it can to mend the broken heart but love's nemesis "The Rebound" is trying to meddle with Gael's life as well.
This book is so freaking relatable. I felt like almost every character was relatable in one way or another. We all have felt broken and crushed like Gael at some point and we all have felt like the world ending because of a single heartbreak. However, The Romantics gives you a message that regardless of how depressed you are or how hopeless you feel, these emotions are temporary and all of this will pass because every cloud has a silver lining. Oh, and there were some characters I wanted to punch in the face.
Leah Konen possesses an exquisite writing style. This book didn't bore me for even a second. Love, as a narrator, is hilarious with puns, jokes and side comments while at the same time giving us various messages about love. Love also explains to us the various types of people giving an insight on "Romantics", "Serial Monogamists" etc in short, terms you'll understand thoroughly after reading this book. This book is not like unpredictable or anything because like me, you'll probably guess who he'll end up with but it's the adventures and the journey he goes through that makes the book worthwhile. One of my most favourite messages that Love in this book gives us is:
Love doesn't make you selfish but it makes you a better person.
I wish I read this book before writing my contemporary recommendation/favorite post this week because this one totally would've made it on that list. So, needless to say, I highly recommend this book to you.
It's been a long time since I finished a book in less than 24 hours but I finished this book in less than a day... and I also sacrificed my sleep for it.
This book is a cute, fun, and light read. I absolutely adore this book and I enjoyed it a lot.
So this book is narrated by Love and our "lovely" narrator narrates us the story of Gael - a senior at High School - who is at the worst time of his life. His parents are separating and the girl who he thought was the one has broken his heart. He's hopeless and the only things he wants to do is to stay shut in his room and watch movies while eating snickers. Now, love is trying all it can to mend the broken heart but love's nemesis "The Rebound" is trying to meddle with Gael's life as well.
This book is so freaking relatable. I felt like almost every character was relatable in one way or another. We all have felt broken and crushed like Gael at some point and we all have felt like the world ending because of a single heartbreak. However, The Romantics gives you a message that regardless of how depressed you are or how hopeless you feel, these emotions are temporary and all of this will pass because every cloud has a silver lining. Oh, and there were some characters I wanted to punch in the face.
Leah Konen possesses an exquisite writing style. This book didn't bore me for even a second. Love, as a narrator, is hilarious with puns, jokes and side comments while at the same time giving us various messages about love. Love also explains to us the various types of people giving an insight on "Romantics", "Serial Monogamists" etc in short, terms you'll understand thoroughly after reading this book. This book is not like unpredictable or anything because like me, you'll probably guess who he'll end up with but it's the adventures and the journey he goes through that makes the book worthwhile. One of my most favourite messages that Love in this book gives us is:
Love doesn't make you selfish but it makes you a better person.
I wish I read this book before writing my contemporary recommendation/favorite post this week because this one totally would've made it on that list. So, needless to say, I highly recommend this book to you.
October 22, 2016
It’s true that this book will charm readers of all ages. And this book got me out of my reading slump. From the first chapter, I got hooked already because of the wit and sass of the narrator.
See, this book is about love and is narrated by Love itself so it got really funny and quirky, yet serious at the same time which is why I loved it so much.
Gael Brennan is a total romantic. I think readers can pick it up early on and I really found it adorable. Romantics are my kind of people because I am one too, although I could say that I’m sort of cynical from time to time. When he got his heart broken, Love helped him but as Love meddled, some things got out of hand as The Rebound came in the picture.
The narration is one of my favorite aspects of the book. It’s so on point and hilarious! This book is like watching your favorite romantic-comedy movie, snuggled under covers while eating popcorn or drinking cocoa or whatever your favorite beverage is. This book is exactly the one you should read on a Friday night when you just want to chill.
I also enjoyed how this book celebrated different kinds of love: from romantic, platonic, familial, and even pragmatic. I love contemporary books that not only focuses on romance but also, does not shy away from friendships and family relationships. Honestly, this book reminded me of a lot of YA contemps that I read and rom-coms that I watched before, so I think I’m probably going to catch some flicks or two because this book left me wanting more love stories!
So listen, this book needs to be read by any contemporary lovers out there. It’s full of cliches but it was presented amazingly, in a way that will make readers agree and realize that cliches aren’t as bad as we all think. Besides, don’t we all get a little bit cliche when it comes to love? I’m definitely impressed with Leah Konen’s writing style and I’m sure as hell looking forward to more of her works in the future!
See, this book is about love and is narrated by Love itself so it got really funny and quirky, yet serious at the same time which is why I loved it so much.
Gael Brennan is a total romantic. I think readers can pick it up early on and I really found it adorable. Romantics are my kind of people because I am one too, although I could say that I’m sort of cynical from time to time. When he got his heart broken, Love helped him but as Love meddled, some things got out of hand as The Rebound came in the picture.
The narration is one of my favorite aspects of the book. It’s so on point and hilarious! This book is like watching your favorite romantic-comedy movie, snuggled under covers while eating popcorn or drinking cocoa or whatever your favorite beverage is. This book is exactly the one you should read on a Friday night when you just want to chill.
I also enjoyed how this book celebrated different kinds of love: from romantic, platonic, familial, and even pragmatic. I love contemporary books that not only focuses on romance but also, does not shy away from friendships and family relationships. Honestly, this book reminded me of a lot of YA contemps that I read and rom-coms that I watched before, so I think I’m probably going to catch some flicks or two because this book left me wanting more love stories!
So listen, this book needs to be read by any contemporary lovers out there. It’s full of cliches but it was presented amazingly, in a way that will make readers agree and realize that cliches aren’t as bad as we all think. Besides, don’t we all get a little bit cliche when it comes to love? I’m definitely impressed with Leah Konen’s writing style and I’m sure as hell looking forward to more of her works in the future!
April 27, 2017
Here is a summary of what the book is about. Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents' painful separation.
Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right- but she doesn't anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love's plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael's hot- sauce- wielding " dream girl."
The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules- and in order to set Gael's fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
I found this book very interesting because it is not narrated by a person. The story is told by a feeling. Yes you heard me right the story is told by Love.
I absolutely loved this book. I felt a little silly because I never knew what Rom- Com stood for until this book. Do you guy's know what it means? I will tell you Rom- Com is short for Romantic Comedy.
I would recommend this book. You guy's will fall in love with it.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right- but she doesn't anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love's plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael's hot- sauce- wielding " dream girl."
The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules- and in order to set Gael's fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
I found this book very interesting because it is not narrated by a person. The story is told by a feeling. Yes you heard me right the story is told by Love.
I absolutely loved this book. I felt a little silly because I never knew what Rom- Com stood for until this book. Do you guy's know what it means? I will tell you Rom- Com is short for Romantic Comedy.
I would recommend this book. You guy's will fall in love with it.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Happy Reading Everyone!
June 8, 2022
Read if you like:
- unique plots
- friends-to-lovers
- unexpected romance
- high-school setting
- short chapters
My thoughts: To say the least, this book was very interesting. It was primarily told in third-person, but it would frequently switch to first-person whenever love was telling the story. At times it could be hard to keep up with, but since the concept of the book was interesting, I kept reading. I should note that the story itself was very, very, VERY basic in idea. If you think of a typical high-school romance, this is it. The only thing that makes this stand out from other books is the fact that love is the one narrating the story. Even that took some getting used to.
- unique plots
- friends-to-lovers
- unexpected romance
- high-school setting
- short chapters
My thoughts: To say the least, this book was very interesting. It was primarily told in third-person, but it would frequently switch to first-person whenever love was telling the story. At times it could be hard to keep up with, but since the concept of the book was interesting, I kept reading. I should note that the story itself was very, very, VERY basic in idea. If you think of a typical high-school romance, this is it. The only thing that makes this stand out from other books is the fact that love is the one narrating the story. Even that took some getting used to.
February 16, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5
'Romantics' is a love story told by love himself. It is an adorable rom-com with too much quirk. Though a predictable plot but still a heart warming and lit read to have spent reading this Valentine's eve.
'Romantics' is a love story told by love himself. It is an adorable rom-com with too much quirk. Though a predictable plot but still a heart warming and lit read to have spent reading this Valentine's eve.
November 8, 2016
Okay, I just reread the blurb and I so didn’t read Love as a girl. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure the book never specifies Love’s sex which was good since Love doesn’t have a gender! Leah Konen, why is Love a girl? If I’m being honest, I actually read Love’s narration as a disembodied voice that probably leaned toward male-ish tones. Now the blurb says Love is a she, so is it horrible how I’m slightly turned off by that? Love was written as the first person narrator, was there was no need to even use a pronoun? I’m making grumbly face.
Trying my hardest to set that aside, overall I thought The Romantics was a cute book. I thought having Love narrate the story was ingenious and that it brought something new to a cute little YA romance. I’m not knocking YA Romance, I like them, but like Gael would say – they can be a little predictable. Having Love narrate the story gave it that extra quirk, that thing that we can all talk about. Even if they did attempt to assign Love a gender. (Still making grumbly face.)
The romance itself wasn’t anything special, you could see it coming from a mile away, which is why the story didn’t get 4 full stars from me. The characters also weren’t so standout they made up for missing chemistry. All of that was just okay. If it wasn’t for Love itself, the book probably would have been bland. Instead we got insights like this one:
Right! That is not love, as much as many novels want to convince you it is. Love is not removing the motor from your car under the guise of keeping you safe. Love is respect, and building each other up. That is what this book gets right. That’s what made this book so good; good enough I read it in one day. It was Love that made me hope for a sequel, possibly even two. I’d love to see John’s story, but even more, I’m hoping we get to see how Love handles the differing romantic types. Gael/John are Romantics. How about a book for Cara, the Serial Monogamist? I’d like that book.
Lastly, before I bring this review to an end, I will say that I wish we’d gotten more between Mason and Gael. I actually liked the idea of the Bromance. I kinda think that Love should have focused more on that relationship than romantic love. Love points out that there are many types of love, but yet the story was a traditional romance. Remember what made Frozen so good? The idea that True Love doesn’t have to be romantic. Knowing that, believing that, I would have enjoyed reading a book about best friends.
It’s just this girls opinion though, and we know what those are like.
Thank you to Amulet Books, via NetGalley, for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, visit Badass Book Reviews!
Trying my hardest to set that aside, overall I thought The Romantics was a cute book. I thought having Love narrate the story was ingenious and that it brought something new to a cute little YA romance. I’m not knocking YA Romance, I like them, but like Gael would say – they can be a little predictable. Having Love narrate the story gave it that extra quirk, that thing that we can all talk about. Even if they did attempt to assign Love a gender. (Still making grumbly face.)
The romance itself wasn’t anything special, you could see it coming from a mile away, which is why the story didn’t get 4 full stars from me. The characters also weren’t so standout they made up for missing chemistry. All of that was just okay. If it wasn’t for Love itself, the book probably would have been bland. Instead we got insights like this one:
Rule Number One:
I will never ask you to ingest poison, fall on your lover’s sword, become a subhuman species, wage war, or generally cause yourself or others bodily harm. That’s the stuff of books and stories, not the real deal.
Right! That is not love, as much as many novels want to convince you it is. Love is not removing the motor from your car under the guise of keeping you safe. Love is respect, and building each other up. That is what this book gets right. That’s what made this book so good; good enough I read it in one day. It was Love that made me hope for a sequel, possibly even two. I’d love to see John’s story, but even more, I’m hoping we get to see how Love handles the differing romantic types. Gael/John are Romantics. How about a book for Cara, the Serial Monogamist? I’d like that book.
Lastly, before I bring this review to an end, I will say that I wish we’d gotten more between Mason and Gael. I actually liked the idea of the Bromance. I kinda think that Love should have focused more on that relationship than romantic love. Love points out that there are many types of love, but yet the story was a traditional romance. Remember what made Frozen so good? The idea that True Love doesn’t have to be romantic. Knowing that, believing that, I would have enjoyed reading a book about best friends.
It’s just this girls opinion though, and we know what those are like.
Thank you to Amulet Books, via NetGalley, for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, visit Badass Book Reviews!
February 13, 2021
✨Alexa, play ‘New Romantics’ by Taylor Swift✨
Honestly, just kidding this book is far from a Taylor Swift song, on either end of the spectrum. It was both flimsy as a break-up book and as a love story. I enjoyed the vantage point from the perspective of Love, I mean, I too am a hopeless romantic and like to think Love with a capital “L” exists. I just wasn’t a fan of the characters and despite the ample amount of relationships in this book, none of them made my lovey-dovey soul sing.
The basic plot is that Gael gets cheated on by his girlfriend, Anika, with his best friend, Mason. Then Gael has a rebound meet cute with Cara, all while missing that Sammy (his younger sister, Piper’s, babysitter) is the one for him. Love tries to meddle with these affairs in order to get Gael’s life and love life back on track. Further, his need for love stems from his parents’ recent divorce—which was also Love’s fault. The entire book is Gael haphazardly finding his way to Sammy, while just being a typical 18 year old dude—misunderstood and annoying.
Piper and Mason were okay and Sammy too I suppose, but even the way she was described was just annoying. Gael was a twerp and fashioned himself holier-than-thou because he revered Wes Anderson films and spurned romantic comedies. His evolution as a character wasn’t great and I still am not convinced I like him. I didn’t really see how he was a hopeless romantic. He felt way more comfortable placing the women in his life on shiny pedestals than actually taking the time to listen to them. To me that’s not romance, rather it’s just misdirected adoration. If anything, I’d like this book to be about Mason but to not include Anika. Plus I also have absolutely no clue what Gael looks like. Or how to pronounce his name. Is it like ‘Gail’ or ‘Jial’ because I’m stumped.
This also wasn't much of a rom-com? I suppose Love’s narration was supposed to be witty and tongue-in-cheek, but most times it felt too forced and obvious. It also wasn’t really funny seeing Gael make frustrating decisions. I wanted him to be happy but I also wanted to slap him. I did find similarities to my high school experience, which made me cringe in a good, all-too-relatable way.
Was this a Valentine’s Day read? Uh, no. Seeing as it takes place around Halloween and wasn’t very romantic, I think I misjudged the cover. I’ve had this book for a long while and I took a chance by finally reading it now. It also feels way more dated than 2017. While I don’t necessarily ✨regret✨ it, I really don’t recommend it. I enjoyed moments and the premise of Love, but the execution wasn’t sparkly or fun or even very compelling.
⭐️⭐️.75/5
Honestly, just kidding this book is far from a Taylor Swift song, on either end of the spectrum. It was both flimsy as a break-up book and as a love story. I enjoyed the vantage point from the perspective of Love, I mean, I too am a hopeless romantic and like to think Love with a capital “L” exists. I just wasn’t a fan of the characters and despite the ample amount of relationships in this book, none of them made my lovey-dovey soul sing.
The basic plot is that Gael gets cheated on by his girlfriend, Anika, with his best friend, Mason. Then Gael has a rebound meet cute with Cara, all while missing that Sammy (his younger sister, Piper’s, babysitter) is the one for him. Love tries to meddle with these affairs in order to get Gael’s life and love life back on track. Further, his need for love stems from his parents’ recent divorce—which was also Love’s fault. The entire book is Gael haphazardly finding his way to Sammy, while just being a typical 18 year old dude—misunderstood and annoying.
Piper and Mason were okay and Sammy too I suppose, but even the way she was described was just annoying. Gael was a twerp and fashioned himself holier-than-thou because he revered Wes Anderson films and spurned romantic comedies. His evolution as a character wasn’t great and I still am not convinced I like him. I didn’t really see how he was a hopeless romantic. He felt way more comfortable placing the women in his life on shiny pedestals than actually taking the time to listen to them. To me that’s not romance, rather it’s just misdirected adoration. If anything, I’d like this book to be about Mason but to not include Anika. Plus I also have absolutely no clue what Gael looks like. Or how to pronounce his name. Is it like ‘Gail’ or ‘Jial’ because I’m stumped.
This also wasn't much of a rom-com? I suppose Love’s narration was supposed to be witty and tongue-in-cheek, but most times it felt too forced and obvious. It also wasn’t really funny seeing Gael make frustrating decisions. I wanted him to be happy but I also wanted to slap him. I did find similarities to my high school experience, which made me cringe in a good, all-too-relatable way.
Was this a Valentine’s Day read? Uh, no. Seeing as it takes place around Halloween and wasn’t very romantic, I think I misjudged the cover. I’ve had this book for a long while and I took a chance by finally reading it now. It also feels way more dated than 2017. While I don’t necessarily ✨regret✨ it, I really don’t recommend it. I enjoyed moments and the premise of Love, but the execution wasn’t sparkly or fun or even very compelling.
⭐️⭐️.75/5
June 14, 2019
http://www.writingis.fun/%d0%b7%d0%b0...
Здравейте, книголюбители!
Избрах този петък от всички предишни дни, за да ви поднеса моето мнение за едно леко стара книга, която много харесах, но незнайно защо – така и не писах за нея. Досега.
По-лошото е, че има доста такива книги. След прочит просто искаш да си ги запазиш за себе си, все едно като пишеш за тях вече няма да са само твои. Може и да е глупаво, но понякога се чувствам така.
Предлагам направо да започваме.
Нека започна от това, че бях малко критична и реших на първо око да преценя книгата по корицата. Четох книгата миналата година в период, в който стила contemporary (по-леки четива) не беше моето нещо. Гледам на този период с насмешка, защото сега съм тотално зарибена по такива книги.
Историята в книгата бързо ме спечели и в един момент без да се усетя вече беше свършила. Още нещо хубаво на такива книги е, че са самостоятелни. Мисля, че времето на поредиците скоро няма да отмине, но предпочитам всичко друго пред тях.
Нашата история проследява живота на Гейл и разбира се, Гейл е романтик. Само че не е намерил правилния човек до себе си. След като неговата приятелка Аника му изневерява с негов приятел, той сериозно се замисля дали тази работа с любовта е за него. Само че Любовта, с главно Л – защото тя е разказвача на тази история – се опитва да опази нашия Гейл от следващото разочарование. Мисля че е доста на място изказването любовта е сляпа. Е, нашият герои ще открие неговото момиче, но ще трябва да мине през много яд и приемане на ситуацията, за да стигне до този момент.
Книгата е повече от сладка и героя на Гейл е толкова добре описан и достъпен за читателя. И под това имам предвид, че още от първите страници веднаха се поставих на неговото място и бях ядосана с него на всичко скапано, което му се случваше. Още повече ми напълни сърцето, когато щастието го намира.
„Романтиците“ е кратка история, за това, че дори и след когато една връзка стигне края си и се разбие на парчета, като паднал самолет от небето – има изход в края на тунела.
Препоръчвам книгата на хората със слаби сърца и романтици до последната кост в тялото си.
Оценявам читателското си преживяване като 4/5 звезди.
Благодаря на издателството за копието за прочит, което ми предоставиха!
Здравейте, книголюбители!
Избрах този петък от всички предишни дни, за да ви поднеса моето мнение за едно леко стара книга, която много харесах, но незнайно защо – така и не писах за нея. Досега.
По-лошото е, че има доста такива книги. След прочит просто искаш да си ги запазиш за себе си, все едно като пишеш за тях вече няма да са само твои. Може и да е глупаво, но понякога се чувствам така.
Предлагам направо да започваме.
Нека започна от това, че бях малко критична и реших на първо око да преценя книгата по корицата. Четох книгата миналата година в период, в който стила contemporary (по-леки четива) не беше моето нещо. Гледам на този период с насмешка, защото сега съм тотално зарибена по такива книги.
Историята в книгата бързо ме спечели и в един момент без да се усетя вече беше свършила. Още нещо хубаво на такива книги е, че са самостоятелни. Мисля, че времето на поредиците скоро няма да отмине, но предпочитам всичко друго пред тях.
Нашата история проследява живота на Гейл и разбира се, Гейл е романтик. Само че не е намерил правилния човек до себе си. След като неговата приятелка Аника му изневерява с негов приятел, той сериозно се замисля дали тази работа с любовта е за него. Само че Любовта, с главно Л – защото тя е разказвача на тази история – се опитва да опази нашия Гейл от следващото разочарование. Мисля че е доста на място изказването любовта е сляпа. Е, нашият герои ще открие неговото момиче, но ще трябва да мине през много яд и приемане на ситуацията, за да стигне до този момент.
Книгата е повече от сладка и героя на Гейл е толкова добре описан и достъпен за читателя. И под това имам предвид, че още от първите страници веднаха се поставих на неговото място и бях ядосана с него на всичко скапано, което му се случваше. Още повече ми напълни сърцето, когато щастието го намира.
„Романтиците“ е кратка история, за това, че дори и след когато една връзка стигне края си и се разбие на парчета, като паднал самолет от небето – има изход в края на тунела.
Препоръчвам книгата на хората със слаби сърца и романтици до последната кост в тялото си.
Оценявам читателското си преживяване като 4/5 звезди.
Благодаря на издателството за копието за прочит, което ми предоставиха!
January 26, 2023
I just want to point out that this book has been on my TBR since 2016 so it's crazy I'm finally getting to it now. But better late than never! I initially went into this book assuming I was about to read your typical teen cute rom-com. But not exactly. The story is narrated by Love itself. This reminded me of Aphrodite's narration in Lovely War by Julie Berry which I LOVED (no pun intended). To be completely honest, I did not much like any of the characters in this book. They were not likeable and often downright annoying. BUT despite this I actually really enjoyed the book and found myself continuously wanting to read more. I think the characters were unlikeable because they were so realistic, going through real world situations with personalities so authentic I was turned off sometimes because I know people exactly the way these characters were described, that it was almost too real sometimes. But I think this was perfect for the story Konen was trying to tell. You'd expect a story told by Love to portray love as this beautiful, romantic, magical thing that we all see in rom-coms, but it was quite the opposite. It was fully truthful in its analysis on what love truly is, and though it may be sad that it's not always as wonderful as it is in the movies, it can still be unexpectedly beautiful.
I also loved Gael's and Sammy's love for movies, even if they had very different opinions ;) I am thankful I saw When Harry Met Sally before reading this, but I REALLY need to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and educate myself on some Wes Anderson films beyond Fantastic Mr. Fox.
//Playlist//
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1oz...
There is also a Lauv song I think is PERFECT for this book but it is unreleased as of yet :( but here it is on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRsdGGwX/
//Mood Board//
https://pin.it/5dCTiS6
I also loved Gael's and Sammy's love for movies, even if they had very different opinions ;) I am thankful I saw When Harry Met Sally before reading this, but I REALLY need to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and educate myself on some Wes Anderson films beyond Fantastic Mr. Fox.
//Playlist//
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1oz...
There is also a Lauv song I think is PERFECT for this book but it is unreleased as of yet :( but here it is on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRsdGGwX/
//Mood Board//
https://pin.it/5dCTiS6
March 6, 2017
Truthfully there really wasn't much I actually liked about this book. I was very disappointed because it sounded really cool, but it just didn't pan out.
For starters, I didn't really like the narrator. The premise of Love being the narrator was great, but the execution was poor. I found Love to be super condescending and annoying. They (since there's no real gender depicted, I'm just gonna use they) would make these statements about all the different kinds of people there were when it came to love and I just found them to be offensive more than anything. And I guess I just found the idea of what Love did to be kind of silly and sad since they would sometimes forget to check on people to make sure they stayed in love? So some people wouldn't stay together because Love wasn't there to make sure they stayed together and I guess I just don't like the idea of not having free will or that someone else controls whether you fall in love or not. And also the idea that everyone falls in love is not only unrealistic, but offensive to aromantics, so that bothered me too.
I also didn't like the main character. He was kind of bland and I just didn't really care all that much about him or if he got a happy ending.
But his supposed best friend and ex-girlfriend were by far the worst characters and I just couldn't stand to see their names after a while. They were so inconsiderate of his feelings and were just so oblivious about how to be decent humans and I just wanted to punch them both.
Overall this book was just beyond mediocre for me. It had a happy ending but I didn't even really care.
For starters, I didn't really like the narrator. The premise of Love being the narrator was great, but the execution was poor. I found Love to be super condescending and annoying. They (since there's no real gender depicted, I'm just gonna use they) would make these statements about all the different kinds of people there were when it came to love and I just found them to be offensive more than anything. And I guess I just found the idea of what Love did to be kind of silly and sad since they would sometimes forget to check on people to make sure they stayed in love? So some people wouldn't stay together because Love wasn't there to make sure they stayed together and I guess I just don't like the idea of not having free will or that someone else controls whether you fall in love or not. And also the idea that everyone falls in love is not only unrealistic, but offensive to aromantics, so that bothered me too.
I also didn't like the main character. He was kind of bland and I just didn't really care all that much about him or if he got a happy ending.
But his supposed best friend and ex-girlfriend were by far the worst characters and I just couldn't stand to see their names after a while. They were so inconsiderate of his feelings and were just so oblivious about how to be decent humans and I just wanted to punch them both.
Overall this book was just beyond mediocre for me. It had a happy ending but I didn't even really care.
January 29, 2021
This is a good book to read around Valentine’s Day (even though it takes place during the fall) because it is narrated by Love. And it was cute. I loved Gael’s parents and sister. The romance was cute, and Mason was a good friend to Gael (I loved the flashback of how they became friends). The ending was cheesy, but it was overall a cute read that put a smile on my face.
January 29, 2019
3.5 stars
I loved the premise of this book and "LOVE" seemed like a quirky character and I liked her thinking :)
the story itself is pretty basic and nice but it was enjoyable nonetheless .. prefect for a light read :)
I loved the premise of this book and "LOVE" seemed like a quirky character and I liked her thinking :)
the story itself is pretty basic and nice but it was enjoyable nonetheless .. prefect for a light read :)
December 14, 2020
Много лека и приятна лятна история. хареса ми!♥️
Линк към ревюто ми - http://nightvisionary.blogspot.com/20...
Линк към ревюто ми - http://nightvisionary.blogspot.com/20...
March 15, 2023
3 stars
Very cringey but very cute. A nice light read. Made my heart smile!
Very cringey but very cute. A nice light read. Made my heart smile!
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