“Just Some Stupid Love Story” is a second chance spicy romance by debut author Katelyn Doyle. Seth Rubinstein, a hopeless romantic divorce lawyer, and Molly Marks, a rom com screen writer who doesn’t believe in love are reunited at their 15 year reunion after Molly ghosted Seth on the night of their graduation. Convinced that they are soul mates, Seth makes a bet they would be together by their 20th reunion despite going their separate ways.

This is a fun dual POV rom com that was an easy listen or quick read. While Seth was a little too nice and Molly a little too jaded by her parent’s divorce, I was rooting for them to get together throughout the book. The storyline was unique and the side characters were interesting. Overall a good romance and a debut author to watch!

Amazing! I love a second chance romance. Rarely does a book make me tear up but this one did it! The relationships felt so real. Everyone needs a Seth!! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.

3.5 stars. Cute second chance romance.

This debut wasn’t anything new, but it was an easy read with good banter and chemistry between the MCs.

I enjoy dual POV in audio and Christine Lakin and Tim Paige did a great job.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

Just Some Stupid Love Story follows exes Molly and Seth over a 5 year span after they make a bet at their high school reunion. Molly is a pessimistic rom-com screenplay writer that doesn't believe in soul mates, and Seth is a divorce attorney that does believe in them. I thoroughly enjoyed their banter, character development, and spicy scenes. I love when a romance includes elements of platonic relationships or family relationships, and this one includes both.

Perfect for fans of second chance romances, witty banter, and cinnamon roll MMCs.

I really enjoyed the narration and loved that there was a narrator for each POV.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Just Some Stupid Love Story" creates a wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of a When Harry Met Sally romance - if they had been high school sweethearts. Molly, a cynical rom-com screenwriter, and Seth, an optimistic divorce attorney, reunite at their 15-year high school reunion. With Seth as sunshine and Molly the grump, we follow them over the next 5 years.

Seth, the sunshine hero, is a character that naturally won me over. His optimism and charm are brought vividly to life, not only through the story but also through the excellent performance by Tim Paige in the audiobook version. Christine Lakin, who narrates Molly's character, also does a fantastic job, further enhancing the listening experience. The dual POV format of the audiobook truly brings the characters and their emotions to life - making you (well me at least) adore Seth even more.

The sparkling dialogue and the fun, enjoyable storyline make "Just Some Stupid Love Story" something I would recommend. My only minor gripe is the prolonged 'will they/won't they' tension, which may be a tad too long for those of us with less patience.

Overall, "Just Some Stupid Love Story" is a charming and fun audiobook that is a solid 4 out of 5 stars for me. I have a feeling Katelyn Doyle will be an author on my must read list moving forward!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased review.

I’d like to start by saying I adored this book - it contains some of my favorite rom-com tropes and plot devices. I’ve already reviewed the e-book ARC of Just Some Stupid Love Story, and I’m adding that review below..

For now I’d like to focus specifically on the audiobook version. I tend to buy the audiobook versions for my favorite books, which I listen to while working. It’s funny how the vocal performances can sometimes change your perception of the plot or the characters. In this case, I realize I probably downplayed Seth’s cheerful and cheesy nature when I read the book. Those qualities really come across in the audiobook performance. This really emphasis the black cat/golden retriever elements of Molly and Seth’s personalities. Both performances were well executed, even if I did find Seth’s enthusiasm to be a bit much at times. I think that was probably the point.

I gave the e-book a solid 5 stars. The audiobook is 4.5, rounded to 5, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased review.

Original Review:

This book - I cannot overstate my level of emotional involvement. Near perfect. If you’re a fan of right-person-wrong-time, second chance, slow burn romances with some depth, this is for you.

As a woman who is allergic to displays of emotion, I related so much to Molly, and the chemistry/rapport with Seth was spot on. Every time they almost got together only for something to go wrong had me on the edge of my seat. I always enjoy seeing older protagonists work through real issues, vs. cutesy rom-coms with little real-world conflict. No, there are some legitimate traumas and personal issues here that need to be worked through before our main characters get their happily ever after.

I loved the premise of the book - the cynical romance screen writer and the romantic divorce attorney making a bet on the fate of five couples. Even though some of those couples don’t get their own happy ending.

A wonderful contemporary romance debut. Can’t wait to read more from Katelyn Doyle.

Molly is a pessimist when it comes to love. Seth is a hopeless romantic. Molly and Seth dated in high school. Everything was going great, until she broke his heart. Now they've reconnected at their high school reunion, but Seth doesn't understand why Molly still doesn't believe in soulmates. They make a bet on where 5 of the relationships of their classmates and friends will stand in 5 years, theirs included. What's on the line? Can true love prevail.

I thought the idea of this story was really cute. It felt very much like a rom-com, however it was very frustrating at times that our MCs had these huge character flaws that they were completely aware of the entire book, and yet continued to make the same mistakes throughout the ENTIRE BOOK. I was glad for the rom-com happy ending, but I think it would have almost been better for these two if they hadn't ended up together.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

I was a little put off by the narrator that read Seth’s character. His voice could be a little grating at times. Once I was enthralled by the story I no longer felt that way. Molly and Seth’s story spanned from high school sweethearts to strangers with different views on love and life. Molly had to get through past hang ups on relationships to see what was right in front of her in the end. Seth was a true hero for waiting her out to catch up to how he felt they were meant to be. Full of laughs and frustrating moments this was a great read. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley, Katelyn Doyle, and Macmillan Audio for granting me access to this ALC in exchange for an honest review. The narrators, Christine Lakin and Tim Paige were incredible!

What a unique, hilarious, and entertaining <I> debut </I> romantic comedy!! It combines a captivating blend of sweetness and tenderness, all wrapped up in a steamy package with the most adorable cover imaginable! "Just Some Stupid Love Story" follows Molly and Seth, high school sweethearts who reunite fifteen years later at their reunion, sparking a friendly wager. Filled with hope, pining, tension, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, it also delivers a generous dose of sizzling spice. The narrative presents authentic and relatable characters, making it effortless for readers to connect with and cheer for them! The reason I didn't rate it five stars is because I felt the book was a bit too lengthy. There were numerous occasions where it seemed like the characters were on the verge of resolving their issues, only to encounter another setback. Despite the occasional frustration, the payoff of a satisfying happily ever after made it all worthwhile!!

<I>Tropes/Themes:</I>
🧡Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine
🧡Second Chance at Love
🧡High School Sweethearts
🧡Slow Burn Romance
🧡Opposites Attract
🧡Cinnamon Roll/Golden Retriever MMC
🧡Dual POV
🔥🔥Spicy Scenes

<I> Synopsis: </I>
A romcom screenwriter who cynically rejects love and a divorce attorney who ardently believes in it find themselves reunited at their high school reunion fifteen years after their break up. Molly Marks, jaded by her Hollywood rom-com career, views love as a sham, except for her past with Seth Rubinstein, whom she ghosted years ago. Meanwhile, Seth, despite his job as a divorce attorney, remains a hopeful romantic, convinced that Molly is his soulmate. When circumstances force them together, fueled by martinis and nostalgia, they make a bet: predict the fates of five couples before the next reunion, with the fifth couple being themselves. Molly insists they are doomed to heartbreak, while Seth vows to win her over. As they embark on their wager, Seth has five years to prove Molly wrong and convince her that true love exists.

In summary, it is a delightful, fun, spicy and well written rom-com that kept me engaged until the very end! This is my first read by Katelyn Doyle and I look forward to reading more of her books.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

really liked this, it was sooo hot and steamy (the phone sex scene... hello!!!) like woah. i loved the writing and the mmc was actually genuinely funny, i really liked his vibe, very witty and related SO much to Molly and loved how she started opening up to the idea of being loved and in a relationship. Molly gave black cat energy and Seth (btw i love that name so much) gave golden retriever. Really enjoyed this and kinda reminded me of pwmov by emhen actually!!! Also really loved this as an audiobook

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC <<3

If you’ve seen the movie Down to You, about two exes who seem to weave in and out of each other’s lives before ultimately getting together, this has a very similar feel. Deep down, you know they belong together- but it’s deeply painful to get to that point.

I wanted to like it, but it was infuriating seeing Molly emulating the behavior of her father, someone she vehemently despises.

The time span of five years just feels too dang long, for them to have gotten together by year 2 and then take turns breaking each others hearts for the following three.

Will they, won't they... repeat. There are so many parts of this book that are so relatable that it's hard to even lump in it with your standard rom-com. There were a few slower parts for me BUT I'm glad I pushed through because they all tied together in the end. Go ahead and toss this one in your pool bag.

Molly is a screenwriter and Seth is a divorce attorney. She broke his heart in high school and they meet up at their 15th reunion. They have a drunken hookup and make a bet to see if they can determine who would still be together by their 20th reunion... and Seth takes a chance to suggest that the two of them might actually be together.

I don't know that I have EVER cheered on two soulmates-but-at-the wrong-time than these two characters! This was an absolutely beautiful story about the unending nature of love and the lengths one should go to in order to keep "the one". Told over the span of years and intermittently epistolary, I loved seeing how the pandemic impacted different relationships. Molly and Seth have to work through their one individual baggage to realize if they actually could be together.

This had everything..... banter, romance, steam... I cried and my heart squeezed, especially with some of the high school memories. Seth was absolutely precious, and Molly's inner monologue was SO FUNNY!

Dual POV and perfectly narrated by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige.
I was suprised to see that this is Katelyn Doyle's debut novel - I will read whatever she puts out next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to review this ALC. All thoughts are my own.

I was declined for the ebook but I'm so thankful to be approved for the audiobook because this was definitely a romance I didn't want to miss out on. The narration is perfect and the characters are written SO well. I can't wait to read more by Doyle.

Pub Date: June 4, 2024
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This reverse grumpy/sunshine is so well done. It starts out at a high school reunion where high school sweethearts are reunited and are back in each other’s lives from then on. Seth is now a senior partner/divorce lawyer, and Molly writes rom com screenplays. You would think she would be the one with the positive outlook always writing about HEA, but nope. She is so set in her ways that she lets fear rule her life and is an expert in pushing people away.
Seth is a sweet, classic cinnamon roll that you just want to give him pep talks while he weathers the storm that is Molly. She broke his heart in high school and now they have become friends with benefits and then some. But the bottom line is he would do anything for her. While things seem to be going smoothly and she learns to communicate her fears to Seth, he knows she can fall back to her old ways with one wrong move. So far, they have managed a long-distance relationship, but when he wants to move to be with her, she begins to regress. Will Molly accept Seth’s love or will she run from the only man that has truly loved her.
This is Molly and Seth’s journey, and you will be crying for Molly to wake up and accept Seth’s love! The author beautifully writes their story in a way that is honest and painful, patient, and beautiful.

I think the blurb, "for fans of Emily Henry" kinda ruined this a bit for me. Or, I absolutely love Emily Henry, so saying it's for fans of Emily Henry sets my expectations really high, and this was not comparable to Emily Henry's writing/ plots and characters.

I did enjoy that this was dual POV. I really think we need this in all romance books. I need to know what both characters are thinking throughout the story. I also enjoyed both characters arcs as individuals and as a couple. I was rooting for Seth the entire time, and I absolutely adore second chance romances and high school sweethearts!

I did have to skim some sections as there were parts that I felt dragged on/ got a bit boring.

As a debut, its a solid 3 stars, but please don't compare yourself to Emily Henry with a debut novel.

Thank you @macmillian audio for the ALC and @flatiron_books for the eARC of Just Some Stupid Love Story by @greatlyn in exchange for an honest review.

I chose Just Some Stupid Love Story as my first pick as a #macmillianaudtioinfluencer and then saw the blurb on #netgalley and hit “request” without even thinking twice about it, because it just sounded like my kind of read…and it sure was! I always hope to read and listen to a book to see how they compliment each other and I finally made it happen with this book! It was a real treat and a special way to enjoy this book with fully immersive experience.

🎧📖 Book Review 📖🎧 I have yet to experience my own high school reunion but living through Molly Marks’ 15-year reunion was a delightful kickoff to this book! For a lady who writes rom-coms, she sure manages to land herself into the almost too perfect to be chance encounter with her high school boyfriend, Seth Rubinstein. They are complete opposites with a history of a bad breakup but it takes no time for their chemistry to be rekindled at the reunion. A playful bet about the durability of relationships challenges their differing perspectives on love with a fun and witty delivery. Watching their relationship grow and evolve over time is like following along with two lifelong best friends that you absolutely want to see succeed. This second-chance rom com will have even the biggest cynic rooting for Molly and Seth. I absolutely adored this book and the narrators perfectly brought the characters to life in the most beautiful, authentic, perfect way.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is on Goodreads and will be on instagram ahead of the publication date!

Katelyn Doyle’s debut was said to be “for fans of Emily Henry,” and that caught my attention immediately.

While the premise sounded like a satisfying one I was left feeling unfulfilled. I was really into the idea of a divorce lawyer who believes in love and a romcom screen-writer who doesn’t who has their own chance of happily ever after. Unfortunately the execution was just not for me. The characters were not my favorites and I questioned so many of their choices.

🎧 Though the story itself wasn’t one of my favorites. I loved the duo that narrated this book. Christine Lakin and Tim Paige were a great pairing.

Fun facts: I enjoyed Lakin in the past as she has narrated others I’ve read including Just for the Summer & Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez, and The Only One Left by Riley Sager. I also have enjoyed Paige when he narrated Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. If those sounds familiar to you and you liked them, this might be worth a listen!

Thank you to #MacAudio2024 for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and fun story. High school sweethearts until she gets cold feet/intimacy issues and dumps him. Reunited with a drunken hookup at their 15th reunion. They engage in a bet surrounding five couples in their class. The winner will be determined at the 20th reunion.

She is a romcom writer that's an absolute cynic.

He's a divorce attorney that's obsessed with finding "the one." He's a total cinnamon roll.

She's a mess with daddy issues. She's sarcastic. Biting.

He's sunshine and roses.

Believe me, the classic romcom turned on it's head works! Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillon Audio with Flatiron books for the review copy. The audio book sings with dual POV narration. This one debut's June 4, 2024. It will be a fantastic summer read!

This review if for the audio ALC I received from Netgalley. The narrators Christine Lakin and Tim Paige knocked this out of the park. I was already a Tim Paige fan and honestly him voicing this precious character was perfect!

Prepare to meet the cinnamon roll of all cinnamon rolls in this cute second chance romance.

Molly and Seth are old high school sweethearts that meet up again at their high school reunion. Molly broke Seth's heart back in school and Seth has held a candle for her ever since.

Seth ("Like sex, but with a lisp") his words, not mine is the sweetest MC I think I've ever read. He's witty, charming, loves to dance, loves LOVE, and is free with this emotions. And he's still in love with Molly. He wants to marry Molly and for her to have all his babies.

Molly is our cynical, grumpy, can't fall in love because her parents had a nasty divorce and now she runs away from every good thing in her life FMC. The amount of times I wanted to shake her and tell her to give this poor man a chance was too many. Honestly the star I took off was because of her. She was just a little TOO emotionally stunted for a little TOO long.

So these two meet up at their reunion and start to make bets on which of their classmates would still be together at the next one, including a bet on themselves.

So it begins, the little meet cutes and and random moments they are in the same state/event, because of the same circle of friends. More often than not, they are unavailable for one reason or another. They hook up often (thank goodness there is spice in this book!) and eventually Molly agrees to give Seth a shot.

The way this mans just LOVES her is almost nauseating but I ate it UP. Who knew I could get behind a character wanting the picket fence and the 2.5 children, it just had to be this character! I wanted him to have all the good things and he gets his heart stomped on far too often.

The end was a nice payoff, and it's such an entertaining story. Our narrators just took this and made it amazing!

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for this review.