If you like romance novels - I bet you’ll enjoy this. I was entertained, I thought writing style/tone was elevated, and I’d recommend it to most readers.

At the beginning, I thought this would be a five-star read. I was hooked, I was impressed, and I was NOT questioning the comparisons drawn to EmHen. Things changed for me in the second half of the book, but let’s start with the positives.

The premise is original and demanded my attention: high school sweethearts who reconnect at a reunion, go their separate ways (again) but make a bet on the next five years. As a result, this is a story told over many seasons (including the pandemic)- all of which worked and added to the unique pacing and setup of the story.

The banter was SO witty, the writing was sharp. No notes.

And yet, as we move toward the HEA and second part of the book, I found I wasn’t invested in these characters. The stops and starts felt too easy, as if they were using each other and a casual hookup every time - which was the opposite of what we were supposed to believe about this second-chance couple with so much history and love between them. (They also lacked chemistry, which, for me, was evident in the open-door scenes that were hard to read - and I don't mind spice.).

Like one, long Third-Act Breakup.

Molly and Seth are both incredibly self-aware of their flaws and actively working on themselves. As a reader, we are privy to their (honestly astute) observations re: their own behavior and cycles…BUT knowing this made it all the more frustrating to see them act in a way they knew was unhealthy. Over and over.

Perhaps a bit more attention to Molly and Seth’s connection/relationship (vs. their individual stories and goals) would have resolved these issues.

Overall, a good read--a memorable debut--that I'd recommend to most. I would definitely read Doyle's next work.

I like the originality of this story, and I enjoyed the plot overall. My only thing was that I was unable to understand or connect with the FMC, she was…. Annoying? But loved the MMC, he was so cute! I enjoyed the happy ending and some of the side characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun beach read. I loved some of the tropes used and thought it was a nice light plot.

I'm very picky about the romance novels I read. More often than not though, I am pretty easy to please. Give me some great chemistry, some good banter, and a dual POV and I'm a happy gal. This book was no exception. The male main character was not only super nice, but he was so hilarious with his goofy nerdiness. The female main character was likable as well. I do wish the story was a bit shorter as it sometimes felt a bit long winded, but it was enjoyable nonetheless! And for those who like some spice in their romance novels, this will not disappoint you!
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for giving me this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

📚ARC Review 📚

Just Some Stupid Love Story⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Molly Marks is a rom-com screenwriter who believes true love is a scam and soulmates don’t exist. Seth Rubenstein, her ex high school boyfriend, is a divorce lawyer who is looking for his soulmate and not having any luck. They reconnect at their 15th high school reunion, where they place a bet on whether or not true love does exist. They choose five relationships that they think will or will not last by their 20th reunion, with the 5th one being them. Seth knows that Molly is his soulmate who got away, but can he prove it to her?

This book was an easy binge read and funny! The banter between the 2 characters was so good and the character development was too. It was a rom-com but has some depth to the story. Seth is such a sweet cinnamon roll, party loving type of guy and Molly is not. Her character hates big events and is sassy and snarky. It’s a great example of the reverse grumpy/sunshine trope. FYI- this book does contain spicy scenes. It also does span over a few years and during that timeframe is the pandemic. While I didn’t personally care to read about that, it was still a good book overall. I liked the author’s writing style and how the characters communicated through texts, emails and phone calls.

This book will be available to purchase on June 4, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced reader's copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

5 million billion trillion stars. I'm not joking when I say this needs to be on your TBR shelf immediately. This is one of the best debut romance novels I've read in a long, long time.

The story follows Molly Marks, a rom-com screenwriter who believes true love is a scam to sell naive people the farce of Happily Ever After (a scam off of which she delightfully profits), and Seth Rubenstein, her The One That Got Away high school ex-boyfriend turned divorce attorney who is certain that finding his soul mate will fix all of his problems. They reconnect at their fifteenth high school reunion wherein they place a bet on whether or not true love does, in fact, exist by choosing five relationships they think will or will not last by their twentieth reunion. The fifth and final couple chosen is none other than Molly and Seth themselves, presenting an opportunity for Seth to prove to Molly that their relationship wasn't puppy love. No, Seth Rubenstein has always known Molly Marks is The One, the Real Deal, his one true Soul Mate, despite the way she left him alone and brokenhearted fifteen years ago, and all he needs is the next five years to convince her.

When the blurb says "For fans of Emily Henry," it really means FOR FANS OF EMILY HENRY!!! Katelyn Doyle's fresh voice lends itself well to this unlikely pair and the (frankly) insane situation they've created. I'm obsessed with both main characters, both separately as individuals and as a pair. On paper, Molly and Seth do not belong together. But, when you read the book, it's so clear how well they complement one another. Beyond that, their relationships with their family and friends are so dynamic and well executed.

I've seen some criticism about Molly and Seth essentially being caricatures of the Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine trope, and I actually agree, but I think those stereotypical traits make the story better. Seth's over-the-top dramatics and Molly's disheartening nihilism create such a hilarious chemistry that I found myself unable to put this down.

Thank you so much Katelyn Doyle, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy!!

Super cute second chance romcom! Molly Marks and Seth Rubinstein meet up at their 15 year high school reunion. The last time they saw each other was PAINFUL! After some sarcastic, witty banter and a few too many signature cocktails, they end up on the beach clawing each other. After a very steamy night together they lay wagers on which of the couples at the reunion will end up together, and they include themselves! No two characters could be more polar opposites! Molly is a romcom screenwriter who does not believe in lasting love. Seth is a family law attorney and has a goofy, sunny personality and believes every girl he dates could be his soulmate. This was a fun read watching these two opposites navigate their rekindled relationship as adults. Be aware: this book is SUPER SPICY and may cause some blushing if you’re reading it in public! Thank you Netgalley, Flatiron Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 4, 2024

I truly enjoyed this romance. It is a slow burn in the sense that this relationship spans multiple years, but it works. Everything about this book just works and makes sense. Molly’s relationship fears, and Seth longing to find a soulmate. They blend beautifully. It is so lovely to see a guy who is so relationship positive and wants to find their perfect person. So many times, I feel like the man is the one who is not quite as invested in these type of romance stories. I think this story works because it is believable, genuine, and authentic. Readers will be able to connect to the story and feel invested in Molly, and Seth's lives. I personally enjoyed going on their love journey with them.
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Okay, I am HERE for all of the romances coming out about rom-com screenwriters (and especially when those writers are cynics)! This was such a fun way to pit two opposites attract against each other. A rom-com writer who doesn't believe in happy endings and a divorce attorney who's looking for his soul mate?

I mean, COME ON. So good.

rating: 4.5 STARS
genre: romance
steam: open door, multiple scenes
release date: June 4, 2024

I think my favorite part about this book is that it so easily spread out across 5 years. A lot of the time you pick up a romance book (and I pick up a lot of them, so no judgement here) and it's like two months from the meet cute to the happy ending and you're kind of like, "What?" I mean - it's cute to read! But it's almost like you expect the epilogue to be some tragedy about how they broke up or something. So the fact that this book covered multiple years, several other relationships, and life events and still managed to bring these two people together in a satisfactory way?

Chef's kiss.

I really enjoyed the back-and-forth here. Where one of them was ready for the relationship but the other one wasn't, and then they switched sides. It kept their dynamic interesting and you really weren't sure who was going to cave when.

Read if you like:
- Really great banter
- Tastefully done spice
- Multiple POV
- High School Reunion vibes

*Trigger Warning: While this book spans several years, part of the novel does take place during the COVID pandemic. So if that's a touchy subject for you, I might set this one aside. I will tell you (SPOILER) that no one gets COVID or dies from the disease either on the page or off.

This was such a fun romcom!

Molly and Seth dated in high school. She broke up with him before leaving for college and broke his heart.

Molly is a romcom screenwriter who isn't sure she believes in love and seems to sabotage her own relationships. Seth is a divorce attorney who definitely believes in love and soulmates.

They run into each other at their fifteenth high school reunion and hook up. Seth and Molly bet about several couples and what their relationship status will be at the twentieth reunion. Seth thinks they will be together. Molly disagrees.

Both go their own way. They have other relationships. Their paths cross several times. But they can't stop thinking about each other.

Who do you think will win the bet?

Many thanks to Flatiron books for an eARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Just Some Stupid Love Story is dual POV, my absolute favorite. A second chance romance.

Seth is a golden retriever divorce attorney just trying to find his soulmate. In real life I think Seth would annoy me with how much he wants to settle down and have kids and how emotional he is (he cries a lot). but in this book I ate it all up. He’s a walking green flag. He’s honest with Molly and the way he feels about her and when he needs time to figure out himself he lets her know too which I love.

Molly is a screenwriter who doesn’t believe in soulmates. Seth proves her wrong on that theory. Molly is probably one of my least favorite FMC i found her annoying at times (actually a lot) but started to grow on me a little towards the end. She is the perfect example of you are the problem and you are the solution. I personally think Seth deserves better than her but I get it. The banter is fun and they have great chemistry.

The sexy time scenes were just the right amount of spice. I blushed and smiled quite a few times. 3.5 out of 5 stars for me on this one. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and I needed her to grovel more but it’s a cute and quick read. Perfect for summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Katelyn Doyle, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What I loved most was that this book took place over multiple years, giving us more of Seth and Molly and how they grew over time. They grew separately, and then we watched them grow together as a pair compared to other romance books; I thought it was more unique and fun to read rather than suddenly falling in love within 1-3 weeks. I enjoyed this book. However, it was much spicier than I thought, so fair warning. Overall, I think this is a perfect beach read as it's a cute, easy read that will entertain you and laugh out loud.

This story had such a fun premise. I love books that are from both perspectives. Molly and Seth had such great banter and each had realistic issues that they needed to work out. I also enjoyed the side characters and how they affected the couple.

*No spoilers*

While this book sounds like a typical rom-com, readers should be excited to hear that it goes way deeper than surface level attraction that fizzles out after “The End.” This author did a wonderful job of creating these characters with real life emotions that an audience can relate to as it comes to love. Anxiety can be a really difficult battle but Doyle managed to create characters that faced their anxieties for love and friendship. While I didn’t love the whiplash theme, I think it was necessary for these characters and how they managed their anxiety throughout the story. Overall, deeper themes throughout but still a rom-com to be read in one sitting.

I have not devoured a book this quickly in a very long time. I have lot so throughly enjoyed reading a book like, to the point that I read and forget that I’m reading entirely, in a while.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this one, especially since it’s my first book by Katelyn Doyle by my GOODNESS am I in love.

I was hooked from the first moment. With quick witted writing, flawed characters, that second chance romance that spans years and heartache, pining and waiting and bad timing. MY GOD AM I MELANCHOLIC RIGHT NOW.

Molly and Seth and their friends and families made me laugh and tear up, they made me angry and upset and made me tug at my hair in frustration because ENOUGH! YOU LOVE EACH OTHER STOP IT!!!

I didn’t love some of the pet names and the frequency of them but you know what? I loved this book so much that I can overlook it entirely.

I cannot say enough how much I love this one. I need a hard copy to hold to my chest with adoration, and now, I will never let go.

Overall, I enjoyed it and it was a quick read that moved along for me and kept me reading. I didn't find the main character Molly likeable for most of the book. She had issues and I'm not sure I feel that she worked through her issues by the end of the book.

I liked Seth much more and he was trying so much to grow and work through his issues.

I enjoyed the that the book went back and forth each chapter from one character to the other. I did enjoy the ending, it wrapped it all up nicely.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Flatiron books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I am not a fan of this book. It is an ok Rom Com. It is the story of Molly and Seth. They are a couple in High School, and Molly breaks up with Seth before graduation. Then she ghosts him for the next 15 years. They meet again at their 15th Reunion. She is a screen writer who writes rom coms. He is a divorce lawyer. She is cynical, he is a romantic. They get drunk and have sex. They make a bet on 5 couples from the reunion, of who will still be together at the 20th reunion. Seth makes them the fifth couple. What follows is their story over the next 5 years- as they navigate life( and the pandemic) together and apart. Seth is wildly romantic, looking for his soul mate. Molly does not believe in soul mates. Her father left her mother when she was in middle school and the resulting divorce has left scars and wounds that won't heal. She has trust issues, and really issues with love. So I had some problems with this book. First, I recently finished 2 books with similar plot lines( The Rom-commers which has a rom com script writer as its protagonist, and Funny Story, which has a female main character with trust issues.) Both were really good, and this one pales in comparison.The story line also includes a running commentary of both Molly and her mother being angry with Seth because he is a divorce lawyer. I get that Molly's dad had a devious lawyer who cheated her mother. Seth, on the other hand, makes a point of telling Molly that he became a divorce lawyer so he can be a different type of divorce lawyer, one who helps couples with mediation. They just keep throwing it in his face, when he is so honest and sweet he is almost a poster child for sincerity. And then when a friend needs a lawyer , and for plot line reasons I can't reveal, Seth cannot take the case- Molly encourages him to be unethical! The third problem I have is something I may be the only one who cares about, but here goes. I am a baseball fan. In the book Molly and Seth meet up at a game in LA- the Cubs ( Seth lives in Chicago) and the Dodgers. ( Molly lives in LA). The games is described as the final game of the National League Championship Series. In 2019, the NLCS went 4 games- with the Washington Nationals beating the St. Louis Cardinals.I know this is a work of fiction, but why ? I am sorry, to me this was stupid. Anyway, if you don't care about baseball, and don't mind a so so story, you might like this. I rounded my 2.5 up to a 3.

This delightful debut novel was so fun. Molly doesn't believe in love and yet writes rom-coms. Seth believes in that one person who is meant for you, soul-mates and works as a divorce attorney. At a high school reunion they run into each other. What happens when a hopeless romantic and non believer of love collide? I thought this read was so fun. I enjoyed the reverse of tropes. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a fun book to read. I really enjoyed the long game of Molly and Seth figuring out their lives and each other. We all have that one really dumb mistake that we made in our relationship history; I loved reading about Molly’s.

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I like messy “unlikable” characters and this pair is a nice opposites-attract/ second chance romance set up. She is averse to emotional intimacy and sabotages relationships that get too serious. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is in love with the idea of soul mates and a HEA.

Unfortunately, I think I like the concept of this one more than the actual execution. Maybe it's the writing. Maybe it's that the author's brand of humor doesn't really mesh with my own. There were some great moments but often those felt overshadowed by a lot of minutiae that I didn’t really find interesting.

Also, a random thought: I do feel like there should be content warnings listed for Covid19 and discussions of pandemic traumas. It plays a large enough role in the plot that I think it warrants a CW. (It was a jump scare right around the 40% mark)

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*