Wow. Just...WOW. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time, and it's on the shortlist to be a BOTY for me. I think this is going to be a book that you either love or don't, not much in-between. Seth and Molly run into each other at their high school reunion fifteen years after a rough breakup. With opposing views of love, they make a bet about five of the couples around them and agree to declare a winner in five years at the next reunion. The rest of the book visits Seth and Molly and their interactions over the next years, with commentary on the couples around them. Their individual growth is relatable and realistic and Doyle has me cheering for them the entire time.

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars (rounding up to 5) for two reasons only: in part one, there is a fade-to-black scene with minimal spice and further in the book a rather explicit scene. I love spice, I'm here for spice, and I welcome spice, but it felt very out of place after the previously vague and fade-to-black scene. Consistency with these situations are key. The second reason is the first part feels a little underdeveloped compared to the rest of the book Part one is incredibly quippy with great one-liners, but not a lot of great paragraphs. It serves to set up the plot, but is the weakest part of the book for me.

Those points addressed, I am so glad I kept reading. I LOVED this book. Doyle's perspective on mental health, relationships with family and oneself is equal parts heartbreaking, refreshing, and true. I resonated deeply with these characters and could have read about forever. I can't wait to get myself a physical copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katelyn Doyle, and Flatiron Books for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Quote that punches right into the solar plexus: "I am never as lonely as I am in the aftermath of being so happy."

A sweet love story that takes place during the worldwide pandemic. I love the aspects of shared emails and texts. The characters were easy to root for and relatable.

This book fell right in the middle for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I had high hopes based on the blurb but it took me a long time to really get into the story and have motivation to read it. For characters that are supposed to have very different outlooks on life I had some issues telling the POVs apart. That is probably a me thing, but it was disorienting for a bit. The story took place over 5 years and it felt very drawn out to me. I know it is about finding each other and opening up after being at the wrong place at the wrong time for so long and both characters had a lot of things to work through before they could really be in a relationship, but It was just one thing after another keeping them apart that it took me out of the story. This is marketed as a rom-com, but for me that is not the right designation. It is a romance since Molly and Seth's relationship is the entire plot, but it was lacking in the comedy part of rom-com for me. I do think some readers will love it, so don't let my middle-of-the-road-ness keep you from reading it if you find the blurb interesting!

Thank you Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Yes! Another entertaining, hilarious enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract romance—my auto-approved tropes that I dive into without a second thought. The smart banter, high chemistry, and intriguing dating concept form the perfect recipe for my rom-com addict membrane! The character development, including supporting characters, is also well-executed and easy to connect with.

The only thing that held me back from giving it five stars is the story's longevity, reminiscent of Jason Segel and Emily Blunt’s five-year engagement movie concept. Although intelligent and well-written, the extended timeline made the overall process a bit blurry, leaving me questioning where the story was headed and when it would wrap up. I had a similar feeling while reading this book. The timeline felt too lengthy, and I wish it had been condensed to a two-year span to allow for tighter editing, ensuring I could fully enjoy the entire concept. The last third, while a bit dramatic and angsty, was still good and kept me engaged. Overall, it's a well-crafted rom-com that has earned the author a spot among my favorite romance authors, satisfying my craving for clever .

In this delightful reverse grumpy sunshine tale, our female protagonist, Molly, takes on the role of the pessimist, while Seth, the male lead, embodies the archetype of the "golden retriever boy." It's a refreshing twist on the grumpy sunshine trope, deviating from the typical dynamic and adding a layer of enjoyment to the story.

Molly and Seth's encounters after high school are marked by a sense of fate, yet various obstacles, often initiated by Molly, hinder their connection. Witnessing their characters evolve amid these challenges was thoroughly entertaining.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Seth's genuine care for Molly, a significant factor that elevated my appreciation for the story. Exploring his perspective added depth and richness to the narrative.

It admittedly took me a while to warm up to Molly, given her departure from the typical female protagonist mold I usually favor. However, by the end, she grew on me, showcasing her character's development.

The story unfolds at a high school reunion where a rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney, Molly and Seth, reunite and embark on a one-night stand. The twist is the screenwriter's grumpy disposition toward love, contrasting with the attorney's sunny demeanor—a truly iconic setup.

Before parting ways, they make a bet on understanding relationships better, questioning the existence of soulmates. Predicting the fate of five couples, including themselves, they plan to reconvene in five years at the next reunion to determine the winner.

This dual POV narrative delves into the evolving relationship over the years, portraying realistic flaws in the characters. Molly's trauma from her parents' divorce and her reluctance to commit, juxtaposed with Seth's idealized view of love and rushing into relationships, adds complexity.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this entertaining book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I highly recommend Just Some Stupid Love Story for anyone who loves non-conventional love stories. The story focuses on a couple who hook up during a high school reunion. What really set it apart from other similar books I've read lately is that it takes place across a long timeframe, where the couple meets up or interacts and then ends up with other people and then the story picks up later. I loved that aspect, as it felt very true to life.

Really enjoyed this one! Thank you for the arc I really liked the character development as well as the plot and story told through the reunion of the classmates.

I really enjoyed this book!

This is a reverse grumpy sunshine story where the FMC is pessimistic and has a hard time showing her feelings, and the MMC is your typical "golden retriever boy"! Most of the books with this trope (grumpy sunshine) are reversed, so I enjoyed the change and her being the grumpy one for once!

Molly and Seth meet up several times after high school, and they always have this sense of fate, but something always stands in the way (usually Molly!).

It was so fun watching their characters grow as things just never quite lined up for them.

The way Seth cared about her was a HUGE part of why I loved this book. Seeing his POV really made this story so much better.

I'll admit, it took me a long time to warm up to Molly. She is so opposite of the typical FMC that I like, but in the end, she really grew on me!

I rate this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
* Dual POV
* Second chance
* High school reunion
* Reverse grumpy sunshine

Thank you Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novel is about high school sweethearts who meet again at a class reunion. The characters are lively and fun, and the novel is fairly well paced. Had some steamy moments as well as laugh out loud scenes.

My goodness. This book is definitely in the top three books I’ve read in the past year. I loved it so much, and cannot recommend it enough! This is Katelyn’s debut rom-com novel, and it is absolutely PERFECT! The pace, the plot, the characters, the language: they are all truly spectacular!

In a world in which romance novel are pumped out faster than they can be read, it was truly a pleasure to read an intelligent story. And I’m not saying other books *aren’t* intelligent, but so many of them ARE simple. This story used complex vocabulary, which challenged my brain! In at least 75% of the books I read, I find mistakes, either continuity, spelling, or grammar. This is incredibly distracting to me. I found NO distractions in this story! I just don’t think I can say enough good things about this book!

I also appreciate the mental health/childhood trauma rep. I love that Molly works HARD to work through her issues, and recognizes when her past is affecting her. That recognition doesn’t keep her from making bad choices, but she *does* usually at least know her decisions aren’t great! The fact that she didn’t really believe in soul mates and didn’t want to be in love seemed contrary to the fact that more than anything, she did want her father’s love. The fact that she never had it, obviously affected all of her future relationships.

I wanted to quit reading after Part Six, because that would have been the perfect happy ending. Of course, I continued. I just knew I was going to be “treated” to some gut-wrenching sorrow if I continued. And I was right. But the way Seth and Molly come together in the end shows how much both of them grew and changed throughout their entire relationship. Of course it ends happily, but I did shed a few tears on the way to get there.

Quotes I loved:
“True love at sixteen is hardwired. To this day, I am hopelessly attracted to hostile women.”

“Seth knows exactly how to kiss me. Or perhaps he just invented the model, and now it’s the standard by which I judge all other kisses”

A rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney reunite at their high school reunion, ending in a one night stand. It’s so hilarious that the screenwriter is grumpy/against love, while the divorce attorney is the sunshine half. Truly iconic.

Before parting ways, they make a bet to determine who understands relationships better. Do soul mates exist or not. They have to predict the fate of 5 couples from the reunion, including themselves, and return to the next reunion in 5 years to see who wins.

Admittedly, I think this book is going to be one of those people either love or despise.

It’s dual POV, and we get to watch their relationship change over the years. The characters have very realistic flaws. Molly is still traumatized from her parents divorce, and flees every relationships. Seth is in love with the idea of being in love and having a white picket fence. He jumps from relationship to relationship and rushes them, inevitably scaring each woman.

This starts to show up more around the 66% mark. It also happens with the supporting characters as those relationships naturally change with time. I loved how lighthearted and sweet the first 60% was, then “real life” took over and it was a little less fun.

There were so many amazing quotes from Molly. So many relatable inner monologues. Molly’s mother was hilarious.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me an early e-copy!

Thanks to Flatiron Books & NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This is anything but a stupid love story. Katelyn Doyle’s debut book was a captivating and entertaining read! I’m generally not a fan of a “will they / won’t they” and “wrong time / wrong place” romance but this was done well and with an even pace that kept the story fresh and fun to follow. Seth, the ultimate cinnamon roll, really captured my heart! My heart swooned when his head over heels and my heart broke when he was left sobbing. I even found a place in my heart for Molly even with her flaws.

All in all, this was a great read. If you’re a fan of Emily Henry, you’ll likely really enjoy this!

Once I started JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY, I couldn't do anything else until I finished this story which I also never wanted it to end. I was so intrigued by the premise and it sure lived up to the hype! Molly, a prickly rom-com writer and Seth, a hopeless romantic divorce attorney, were high school sweethearts until Molly abruptly broke it off their graduation night, never speaking again until their fifteen-year high school reunion. Starting a bet to see who wins on guessing the fate of fellow classmates and friends love-lives when their twentieth reunion rolls around. What happens in those five years, is everything I could want in a love story.

Molly diffuses any and all intimacy with jokes and sarcasm and runs the other way when forced to be vulnerable. She has her reasons as she was abandoned by her father when he divorced her mother. Deep down she knows how much she loves Seth, which scares her knowing she could be very hurt, so she sabotages the best relationship she's ever had. While Seth is the complete opposite. He is the life of the party, eager to commit and rush into relationships, desperately wanting to find love and start a family. Meanwhile Molly hasn't even taken the time to know if she wants kids or not. Seth believes in soulmates, problem is Molly does not. Will they find out if they were meant for each other?

I absolutely adored the banter and humor in this book, along with Molly and Sam's connection and relationship. I appreciated the complexity and depth to the characters and the storyline. I was never pulled out of the story, questioning anything. I was so engrossed and invested in this book and felt every emotion when reading it. I am incredibly happy and grateful to have witnessed Molly and Seth's story and am so excited to read what ever the author decides to grants us with next!!

5 glowing stars!

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Delightful! A romance with plenty of laughs, drama, tension, and incredible chemistry between the leads.

Molly and Seth are wonderful together and it was so enjoyable to get both of their points of view (over a period of five years) as they both figure out their feelings. I loved the conversations/texts/email exchanges between Molly and Seth as their relationship morphs and ebbs and flows. Molly stands out as a “prickly” and cynical but simultaneously vulnerable lead and Seth is earnest, open, and close to ideal (minus his use of “baby” and “babe” and “sweetheart”as pet names).

I adored this and read it in one sitting as I had to know how Molly’s and Seth’s relationship plays out. While reading, I was riveted, charmed, surprised, frustrated (by the decisions Molly and Seth make), and always rooting for Molly and Seth to be happy as individuals and as a couple.

Recommend to anyone looking for a compelling love story (with mutual pining, second chances, opposites attract, and more). 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I had this great review typed out but Goodreads crashed so here's the short version.

If you enjoy Emily Henry you will for sure like this. I was obsessed with all of the characters but I definitely wanted to scream at Molly and Seth at some points, their will they won't they literally had me in a chokehold and I am a sucker for reverse grumpy sunshine.

Overall a good read!

This book was looooooooong. I wanted to cheer for our two MCs so bad but the problem is that I didn't get to connect to either of them. I think part of it could have been all of the time jumping and five years is a lot of time to fit into one book. I feel like there was just problem after uneccesary problem for the sake of making the timeline five years long. I get trauma, and I get that it can change who you are as a person, but if you know you're in love with Seth and your long unanswered daddy issues are making hurt someone (including yourself) again and again then it is time to get some therapy. Towards year three I was honestly routing for Seth to move on and be happy with someone else.

This was such a fun read! I loved how it went back and forth. Hearing the story from each of them. It was a love story that kept you feeling the build up the whole book. I love how each of the characters you knew and you felt their emotions the whole book.

I’m a sucker for second chance romance. Really enjoyed Molly and Seth and their right person wrong time relationship. Quick read, loved the writing style.

Wow Doyle’s characterization for a debut novel is superb! I will read whatever she writes… I loved the ironic flip on gender roles and Molly and Seth were (agh!) adorable! Doyle layered in complexity and nuance with finesse which feels missing in a lot of romance novels. I love love loved it.

Such an enjoyable read! I loved Molly for the most part, we all have flaws and hers was running away from great guys. The MMC was so amazing and felt bad about his mishaps with women. Some good twists in this one. (Side note: I hate Rob 😑) It truly kept me interested and pinning for the 2 MCs the entire time! It will make you fall back into falling in love.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers to read/review. All of the statements are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

4 stars but wish it didn't have the smut.

Molly and Seth. High school sweethearts who break up and then continue to break each other's hearts over and over again. This book is sweet, witty, frustrating and sad all rolled into one. Told in Dual POV, the MCs both have a lot of character development throughout the chapters. One takeaway I loved: The gratitude practice of saying or writing the things you're thankful for that day. I miss the days that a book could be good without needing all the added sex, it seems like every author feels like that adds to their characters (sales), but this book did not need that as it really didn't add any value to the overall ARC. I could feel the angst and love through the writing without needing the smutty bits.