This one started super cute, but really fizzled in the middle.

I absolutely loved Molly, a pessimistic rom-com writer, and her bet with Seth in the beginning of the book. This book is a typical rom-com, without any unique elements, which was exactly what I was looking for. I loved the character development of Molly even though it took far longer than I wanted. I also loved her friends as side characters. My only complaint is this book could have been 50ish pages shorter. It lagged in the middle and I got bored. Had it not been for the audio, I don’t know if I would have finished. That is to say, the audio is so fun!

I think I put this off reading it because of a couple of reviews I saw that made me hesitant toward getting to it. However, now I wonder if those are reviewers that hate any book that has some period of time set in 2020/21. I personally do not mind. With that being said I LOVED IT! The narration was perfect (dual narration- loved the male narrator and omg as a HUGE Step by Step fan Christine Lakin???). This story is told over a period of 5 years (along with some high school details back in 2003). The banter was great-dialogue, emails and texts. The friendship group was fun and had a lot of interesting entertainment throughout the story. Different tropes, but it reminded me a lot of Romantic Comedy so those that enjoyed that will definitely want to pick this up.

just some stupid love story was a cute romance with a second chance and some serious moments, the main character was annoying at times, though.

This was such a cute rom com! I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narrators. Molly and Seth dated in high school and Molly ghosted him. Then end up getting back together and then not together. It was truly an emotional roller coaster ride. I enjoyed their banter and of course the spicy scenes!! This was a good cleanser for thrillers!

Another one of your every day cute romcoms. I don’t remember requesting this book, but I saw it in my archive so I thought I’d give it a try.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Katelyn Doyle's debut novel is an entertaining romantic comedy that has me anticipating her future work. The story begins at a 15-year high school reunion, reconnecting Molly and Seth, who dated in high school. Molly, a successful Hollywood rom-com writer, broke Seth's heart on prom night and ghosted him. Now, she's a cynic about love, despite her profession, while he's a divorce lawyer and unwavering romantic who believes in soulmates. Their reunion sparks old flames, and as fate repeatedly brings them together, Molly begins to evolve, questioning her long-held beliefs about love. Watching her character grow and finally open herself to the possibility of love was a highlight of the book.

Molly and Seth's chemistry was undeniable, leaping off the page with witty banter that had me laughing and smiling. Their unlikely pairing made for a truly enjoyable story.

The audiobook edition is great. Christine Lakin and Tim Paige deliver a fantastic dual POV narration. Their palpable chemistry, even though they narrate separately, truly brought the story and characters to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Katelyn Doyle.

3.5 Stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #macmillanaudio #justastupidlovesotry #katelyndoyle

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle is a delightful and witty rom-com that will appeal to fans of Emily Henry and anyone who enjoys a twist on the "second-chance romance" trope. The story follows Molly Marks, a Hollywood rom-com screenwriter who has long since given up on love after ghosting her high school boyfriend, Seth Rubinstein, on graduation night. Meanwhile, Seth, now a successful divorce attorney, still believes in the grand idea of true love, even as his own romantic life has been a series of failed attempts.

Fifteen years later, fate brings Molly and Seth together at their high school reunion, where their reunion leads to a drunken bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion will win, with the fifth couple being Molly and Seth themselves. As they compete, the chemistry between them reignites, and Molly finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

Doyle’s debut novel is a clever mix of humor, heart, and nostalgia, with a cast of quirky and lovable characters. The banter between Molly and Seth is sharp and fun, and the slow-burn romance adds plenty of emotional depth to the story. The premise of the bet keeps the plot moving, and the journey of self-discovery, healing, and love is wonderfully satisfying.

With its snappy writing, relatable characters, and a healthy dose of humor, Just Some Stupid Love Story is a charming read for anyone who loves a good rom-com, especially one that explores the complexities of love, loss, and second chances.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle; Narrated by Christine Lakin; Tim Paige was a phenomenal read!
A fun summer read for fans of rom-coms. It’s perfect for a quick, lighthearted read when you need a small escape from the real world.
I really liked this story! I thought it was a quick and easy read, and I could not put it down because I wanted to know how these two seemingly opposite characters fit together.

Thank you @macmillianaudio and @netgalley for this advance listening copy of Just Some Stupid Love Story. Pub date: 6/4/24. This story was just not for me. Although I don't often lean toward romance I was interested in the description.

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth—who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.

Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.

When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.

Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.

This was my first Kathryn Doyle book and it did not disappoint. Christine Lakin and Tim Paige really brought the characters to life! I will definitely be reading more of Kathryn Doyle's books.

A Rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney?? Y-E-S! I didn't even have to read more of the synopsis because that sentence alone sold me and the story and romance was really interesting. It followed a 5 year timeline between them and was actually enjoyable to where I caught myself giggling or laughing out loud, so it made up for the agonizing romance that was on and off. I haven't read many "Right Person, Wrong Time" books, maybe just one or two, and this was as expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I was into this at first but then the FMC started to annoy me and I just never warmed up to her. There were some cute moments but overall I didn’t like how she treated the MMC which made it hard to fully enjoy this story.

Molly and Seth were high school sweethearts and have since reconnected at a high school reunion that Molly's friends pressured her into attending. After too many drinks and a hookup, they agree to bet on five couples and see where they are at in the next reunion. The fifth couple is them and Seth bets for them while Molly bets against them.
This story happens over five years but the pacing is so amazing, it goes quick. This is a seriously slow-burn, but I was rooting for them the whole time. I absolutely loved this book and I was addicted!

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.

I liked the premise of this one, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The male narrator wasn't my favorite. I thought the tone of his voice was nice, but his expression was too over the top. I did enjoy the story up to a certain point, but the proposal was just way too over the top. I know that was part of the point, but it was pretty absurd and given the FMC's personality and lack of emotional availability, it could've been way toned down and still had the same reaction from the FMC. I definitely didn't dislike the book, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I do think the author has a nice writing style and the pacing was good. She also did a great job expressing the emotions of both MC's. It's probably more of a 3.5 for me.

I would liken this to The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, but with a little less magic. Still, I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to, especially since it feels like books about Hollywood writers are a little overdone these days. This had a really cute premise though, and I enjoyed the love story taking place over time and blossoming slowly.

This was a very enjoyable audiobook. I loved the different voices the narrator gave to each character and how they expressed their emotions throughout the novel.

I loved this cute rom com! I loved the relationship between Molly and Seth. It was such a cute book and I’ve been recommending it to others.

This is a book that I've had to sit and think on for a while. I loved the concept of this book and how we got to really follow these characters for the long haul. While I rooted for the characters, they also didn't feel realistic to me. The obstacles they repeatedly faced would have ended any real life second chance romance, and so that HEA feeling I chase felt like a fraud when they finally got their forever. Overall, great idea but I couldnt buy the love story.

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.