Member Reviews

The blurb of this book caught my attention. I mean, a rom-com screenwriter who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who does? And a second chance romance between high school sweethearts, fifteen years later?

Molly had her own baggage, and she had her reasons for being love-averse. And Seth, he was super sweet and very open about his feelings.

This was a very different second chance romance than the ones I typically read. Yes, Molly and Seth reconnect years later. But they don’t reconnect and stay together. They just have hook ups, and Seth gets into another had. Honestly, I hated that part. He went all in on being only with Molly to almost getting married to another woman? EhC it didn’t make sense to me.

Anyway, this was still an interesting story and great for a debut.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! I just adored this book. It was a second to chance rom traum. The hero Seth, was yummy and loved with his whole heart. Molly was such a broken human. They have an epic love story and, and Molly has an incredible journey to become whole.

Was this review helpful?

Loved the banter between Seth & Molly. Definitely felt invested in these two and wanted them to get their HEA but it was almost painful getting there. Sooo much time wasted though it was written well to keep the story going over 5 years. I struggled with the characters a little too much. Molly was too toxic in her trauma & self sabotage and I wanted to shake her many times. Seth was a little too over the top in his obsession with love that it bordered cringy and unbelievable that he hadn’t rushed into marriage many years before that class reunion. I have some criticisms but overall I really did enjoy the story and it was fun to listen to while working & driving.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Molly and Seth! They were so great together and I could not wait for them to finally give into their feelings! I was so sad every time they experienced the right person, wrong time syndrome. I could not get enough of Molly and her take charge attitude and loved her journey in this book. This was such a great read and I loved the humor between both Seth and Molly.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed Seth & Molly’s story. A love story that spans over twenty years and shows how sometimes it’s the right person but the wrong time. I think this portrays how relationships are tough and we bring our personal “baggage” into them. I think this is extremely relatable!

Was this review helpful?

Molly and Seth were in love in high school, but she broke his heart and they haven't seen each other since. Now, after reconnecting at their 15 year reunion, they continue to move in and out of each other's lives and the timing is just never right.

I felt for Molly with her worries about not being enough and worrying she might be like her terrible father. I could also understand Seth's wish for something meaningful and how he would be all in too fast in some cases. Their, and their friends' stories, were emotional and sometimes raw. Over time, though, everything started to feel a bit repetitive and drawn out. Overall a good debut, but it was just an ok read. I would still like to try something else from the author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Seth and Molly had the odds stacked against them as adults, what with the divorce attorney and romance writer backgrounds. High school reunions ar ealways a fun backdrop for rekindling past relationships, remembering the way things used to be, and possibly changing their future.

Was this review helpful?

I loved these characters. It was exactly the romance I needed! The personalities were relatable, and the story kept me engaged.

Was this review helpful?

Molly, a Rom-Com screenwriter, is a bitter cynic who doesn’t believe in lasting love. Her high school ex-boyfriend, Seth, is a successful divorce lawyer who all but sings about soulmates while twirling around in the Swiss Alps. They meet up (and hook up) at a high school reunion and bet on the 5-year success rate of five couples from their class, one of whom is Molly and Seth.
It was a decent debut and entertaining. I would read the authors next book for sure.

Was this review helpful?

“Just Some Stupid Love Story” might seem like *any* other stupid love stories out there but, to my utter surprise, for the better part was more focused on the difficulty of acknowledging your traumas and not making them the most important aspects of your relationship.

Overall, the romance was nice as much as the next love story: predictable, slightly off balance here and there, and sweet in its we’re-following-a-rom-com-script vibe.
But the real celebrity is the dual POV: not only because it lets us see their mistakes from more than one perspective, it was really embodied in the narration and was essential - idk if it’s ever happened to you but sometimes I feel like it's not necessary, especially when it's pretty clear the story was “thought” from one specific character’s POV.

Back to the reason why I liked this: trauma is a bitch because it never really ends. As in, you may think your parents' divorce wasn't a big deal, but it was; it was such a big deal that, deep down, you're so scared of letting yourself be loved and reciprocate that feeling that you try to do anything to prevent it.
Or, on the other hand, you may have idolized the idea of love you want, and you don't even realize you're not the only one in the relationship. Marriage, kids, the white fetch and a golden retriever aren't what everyone wants; sure, being sensitive and taking things slow is a good first step, but it's still not an assurance about what your partners will want in the future.

Molly and Seth’s story isn't extraordinary in any way; it's pretty normal, actually, and that's what made me cherish it even more.

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Net galley for a chance to read this arc! Overall I felt fine about it, but was also fine not picking it up after putting it down. It passed the time but I wouldn’t necessarily hurry to read it.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this debut story featuring opposites attract, second (and third? and fourth?) chance romance of high school sweethearts Molly and Seth. Their level of attraction never declined yet life’s events hardly seemed to align for them at the same time. The expository elements with the emails, the first person, dual PoV, and even the timeline and plot referencing Covid, along with the HEA, added to my enjoyment in reading.

Was this review helpful?

JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY by Katelyn Doyle is one of the best romance releases of 2024, and more people should be talking about it! I also feel like it did a great job reverting conventional gender roles in a romance (i.e. the girl is sunshine and the guy is a grump) -- don't miss out on this one!

Was this review helpful?

This was such an entertaining debut, with alll the spice!
When Rom-com writer Molly reunites with high school sweetheart Seth, and make a bet to predict the fate of five couples.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-enemies to lovers
-opposites attract
-grumpy x sunshine (reverse)
-open door romance

*many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Was this review helpful?

I am a huge lover of second chance romances, so I was excited for this one! The idea was cute and well drawn out. I also love dual POV, which made this book so much fun!

Was this review helpful?

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my honest review.*

Molly writes rom-coms but has sworn off love. Seth is the HS boyfriend who ghosted Molly in high school. And they reunite - sort of - at the high school reunion and make a bet on love. Picking out 5 couples and whether said couples will be together or not for the 20th reunion. With one of the couples being themselves.

Dueling POVs and various other relationships and influences get in their ways over the next 5 years. Will they make it or not?

A great debut and storyline. Narration on audio book was fantastic! And once they get out of their own ways... well, you can guess what happens.

Was this review helpful?

I think this was a fun read where two characters have their stubborn ideas of love and never really communicated it but when they do??? Well then the author writes a ton of open door spicy scenes. Everything is resolved and everyone is happy. You get everything you hope for in a story.

Was this review helpful?

“Just Some Stupid Love Story” by Katelyn Doyle has an intriguing premise, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Much of the story focused on their pasts, which overshadowed their present connection and made it difficult to root for them. While there were moments of witty dialogue and a few heartfelt scenes, the narrative often felt bogged down by unresolved history.

Was this review helpful?

Definitely a comfort read for anyone that enjoys enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine tropes. The story did have some heavier themes that were balanced out by witty banter, tension and chemistry. It was enjoyable and entertaining

Was this review helpful?