Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. Anything Lindsey Kelk writes is GOLD. Five stars.

There is something about Lindsey Kelk’s humor that just works for me. Some of the situations in this book are so “out there” but most of the time it made things all the more entertaining while reading.

Sophie finds herself at the center of nearly every single one of those aforementioned out there situations during her father’s birthday bash weekend celebrations, mainly because she’s hiding the secret of having written a romance novel that has taken the world by storm from her literary snob parents. Enter Joe, the handsome creative for her publisher who she’s undeniably attracted to but infuriates her at the same time and the drama kicks up even more. Add in her terrible ex and all bets are off. Mix in a whole mess of secondary characters of family and publishing rivals and who knows what’s coming.

Chaos. Chaos is what ensues. However, at its heart, this book is a love letter to the romance genre and a commentary on the ridicule and condescension it routinely faces despite its popularity. Sophie’s younger sister, Charlotte, for all her bratty entitlement has some of the best monologues on the subject direct toward their parents. One of my favorite things about the book were the strong convictions and evolving opinions that came through in the face of those statements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Too much real life/pop culture references for me :( I really wanted to love this book bc the premise is good and the cover is gorgeous but it didn't take me long to realize that the writing wasn't for me. The miscommunication was one of the things that also bothered me a lot, especially in the 3rd act breakup.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

A new to me author. I enjoyed this book it was just a little too wordy for me. There were some parts that dragged but overall it was an entertaining read. Sophie has a secret and Joe Walsh ends up knowing it. He definitely rubs Sophie the wrong way but in the end….the secrets come out and a love is born.

This is a romance for romance readers, especially those who've ever felt defensive about their love of the genre.

When Sophie meets Joe, it's lust and hate at first sight. He seems like a pompous, arrogant arse who raises her hackles about an area of great sensitivity--her secret identity as a blockbuster romance novelist. Of course, he doesn't know he's speaking to the author of the romance when he slags off the genre and the people who read romances, and when they part ways, Sophie wants to kill him as much as she wants to kiss him. She's certain she'll never run into him again, so imagine her surprise when he arrives at her parent's house the next morning as a guest at a birthday weekend for her father, a famous publisher. Over the course of the weekend, Sophie's secret is jeopardized and she has to decide whether she can trust Joe with the truth--and with her heart.

I read this in one go. Lindsey Kelk knows how to tell a fun, humorous story with sharp prose and lively characters. The plot cracked on at a good pace, if rushed at the end--catnip for fans of enemies-to-lovers, only one bed, and instalove stories. The way Joe was described...whew! I imagined him to be like that lumberjack who films himself chopping logs and I was there for it.

That said, this read was a rollercoaster for me. Sophie and Joe have good but confusing chemistry--I felt like I would have whiplash within a scene as the love and hate swapped places quickly at times. There were several characters that I was not keen on upon introduction--Joe and Sophie' sister Charlotte being two--that grew on me enormously by the end. Too often I wanted to shout at Sophie to stand up for herself; the little and big injustices she tolerated from her family and ex-boyfriend were maddening at times, although she grows over the course of the novel to be more assertive. Everyone seemed like a work in progress and I liked that, even if I want Sophie to work a little faster at times.

I'm on the fence about the self-referential nature of the book. It's a book that's very aware of the romance genre and all its tropes, which characters describing events in the plot according to the tropes they fulfill. For much of the novel, characters who've never read a romance novel in their lives debate the merits of the genre (often in disparaging terms) before becoming converts after reading Sophie's novel. It's the conversion narrative we all hope to see at romance readers, but in some ways it was the least believable part of the story.

Overall, I recommend this. It's a romance that values its readers, and it's a funny, sexy good time. 3.5 stars.

It's like the author said "surely throwing all of the worst tropes EVER into the same book is a fantastic idea!".

Rating: 1.5/5 ⭐️
Release Date: September 17 2024
Tropes:
- Insta Love
- Miscommunication
- He's married

My Opinion:

Okay. The writing is *not bad*. The banter and arguing between the main characters is good, the brother is great, the themes of women's writing being less valued because romance is "dirty" or "gross" or "not valuable" is genuinely smart and shows how disgustingly quickly people will change their opinion if it's a man that "wrote" it instead.

HOWEVER.

The tropes are unforgivable. No, I cannot be convinced they are in love after being in each other's presence (and fighting 99% of the time) for less than 48 hours. In those two days, they somehow manage to become soooo in love and feel like they can't live without the other? Yeah, sure. I get that this is a book, but seriously.

And then THREE MONTHS of nothing, only for Joe to show up to her first press event? Dude, now isn't the time. You work at the same place, you could have said something literally at any point in those months but okay 👍

I cannot in good conscience tell you to read this. Insta love I can kind of get over, but don't throw a "ohhhh and he is married" trope in there too. And I'm supposed to be rooting for them? Nah.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

Smart, witty, a little over the top…but an absolutely hilarious love letter to romance books. This one is definitely for the booksta girlies!

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC! Such a fun read.

I forget how much I love British humor until I start reading a new book by a Brit. They really lean into the comedy of misery..not in a second hand embarrassment way, but in the deeply relatable, “if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry” way.

I think I smiled through this whole book, and if it wasn’t because I was laughing, it’s because I was swooning. You know the tummy drop feeling when the tension is pulled taut?? Sooooo much of that here!

And of course we love the defense of the smut! But for a book about smut, there is a conspicuous lack of it. The spice here is tasteful, which I will admit balances nicely in its contrast with the described “filth” Sophie has written. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want just a teensy bit more!

Something else that I desperately wanted was an epilogue. I need to see a couple be happy for a little bit after we put them through it!

Sophie has a secret--she's the writer behind the best selling spicy romance, Butterflies. After she meets hotshot making executive Joe Walsh, she has to work double time to keep her identity secret from him and her family.

This book, man....it is one big love letter to romance novels and their readers and I adored it. Here's what I loved:

The humor: Kelk has an amazing sense of humor and this shines through in her new novel. I found myself laughing so hard at her one-liners that are slipping into every inch of this book. The sibling bickering was also top tier.

Sophie and Joe: These two were amazing. Joe was literally swoon worthy. I found myself highlighting all of his declarations of love because there were just perfect. And Sophie was hilarious.

The cast of characters: Everyone was so well developed in this. Sophie's family and friends, her delusional Ex, Joe's family...it was just perfect. I wanted to be in this book and at the weekend celebration.

All in all, this was an amazing romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy.

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

A huge thank you to HarperCollins, Harper360, Netgalley, and Lindsey Kelk for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lindsey Kelk always writes such entertaining and heartfelt romance and Love Story is certainly one of her best works so far! The main characters felt genuinely relatable and the supporting characters really tied the story together. This was an absolute joy to read. From the humor to the banter to the pop culture references, this read perfectly encapsulates what makes contemporary romance so much fun!

Sophie and Joe had incredible chemistry and you’ll find yourself rooting for them all throughout the story. I also loved all the references to other romcom works/authors. I devoured this wonderful, witty read in less than a day and the gorgeous book cover is definitely another added bonus!

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- He falls first
- Insta-love
- Forced proximity
- Writer FMC

Love Story is a miscommunication story that is a bit chaotic and wild, so hold on tight. While it did have predictable scenarios, it was a fun story with great characters.

Thank you netgalley for Love Story by Lindsey Kelk

⭐️3.5⭐️

I’ve never read a book about a FMC that is an author but man did I enjoy it!! I loved Sophie’s relationship with her family, best friend, and of course Joe! I think the author did a very good job at writing Sophie’s character development, because beginning Sophie wouldn’t have punched CJ… even if she wanted to so badly. Also that plot twist!! I did NOT see that coming at ALL. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot! Especially Sophie and Joe!
Thank you for the ARC!!

I like Lindsey Kelk, having read four of her books previously, and was excited for this new one, Love Story. The premise is very relevant, an author of a world renowned best selling romance novel is hiding under a pseudonym for fear of lack of acceptance and derision by her famous publishing parents, the headmistress at her school, and the judgment of the world. This theme is so prescient because romance is the highest selling genre right now, but it is looked down upon by public and publishing elite alike.

I agree with Sophie about the progression of the genre. When I was a teen this was called Women's Fiction. Already a problematic category because there is no men's fiction. So all books in this category were deemed less than general fiction books. Back then (the 90s) romance were novels with shirtless Fabios on the cover. They were seen as tawdry and less than literature, so that's what I thought as well. I liked the next term, Chick Lit, because it seemed to be biting back at the world, reclaiming the misogyny that categorized them as other. But now everything is categorized as romance. And people are saying that sex scenes make these books smut! What? There are sex scenes in mystery/thrillers, general fiction, everywhere. Why are these smut? Because they are written by women! And women should be ashamed of being sexual.

So this is the lense through which this book is written. And the book is rather enjoyable. Kelk writes novels through a dreamy gaze, often on the edge of being realistic. They are enjoyable, quick, escapist, and full of characters who you pull for. This is no exception. I understood and related to Sophie. I have been embarrassed about reading so much romance, and also revel at a world where things go well at the end. I liked the character of Joe; he was a different kind of intelligent rake than I had seen before. Will and Charlotte were fun siblings, and the parents specific and fun.

My biggest problem with this book is it doesn't call out the misogyny loudly enough. I almost stopped reading when Sophie's mom created a book club to celebrate the book because it was deemed worthy when they was written by a man. No one acknowledged this at the time. I consoled myself with the thought it would be addressed later, but it barely was. This made the way viewpoint here less wry and more "aw shucks, what can we do?"
I dislike 3rd act miscommunication. And I think this one was totally unnecessary. Instead, a bigger deal could've been made about the veracity of romance and she could've esteemed herself more and told off everyone.

Instead we have a very Bridget Jones- Daniel Cleaver, Mark Darcy type fight at the party and a misunderstanding between Joe and Sophie. The BJD reference was cute and enjoyable. It made the book more cinematic.

I definitely enjoyed this book and will continue to read Kelk's work, I just wish she took this a little further. 4 stars. Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Love Story” by Lindsey Kelk was such a hilarious, fun, and swoonworthy read.

I found myself laughing out loud so many times while reading this book. Joe and Sophie were so well-matched and witty and I was rooting for them the whole way.

While the story was a little goofy and ridiculous at times, I really loved how Kelk addressed misconceptions over romance and its legitimacy as a genre despite its negative perception. This book reminded me exactly why I love romance— even though it may be escapism at times, it is also feminist literature that helps women to understand their worth.

☁️↳ “What did you dream about last night?”
💗↳ “You”

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely a romance book written for current day romance readers. It’s very “of the moment” and self-referential. There were a number of things about this one that I liked — the chaos of the party scene, the drama of the author’s persona in hiding etc. However, I thought the third-act breakup was wholly unnecessary and I found myself really struggling with the FMC’s family — her parents were insufferable and the younger sister was such a spoiled narcissist. It made it harder to appreciate the lighter and more fun parts of the book.

3.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first Lindsey Kelk book and definitely won’t be my last! Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsey Kelk & HarperCollins for the ARC of Love Story.

Sophie Taylor & Joe Walsh are great characters who draw you in and leave you wanting to learn more. Love Story is written from the POV of Sophie in first person. I typically like multiple POVs but this did not disappoint. Sophie’s brother William was probably my favorite character from the book. His sense of humor was unmatched. This book definitely had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. I loved Kelk’s insights into real life books, TikTok, Bookstagram and booktok. I left wanting more from the story, I feel like it was just starting to get really good. Maybe that’s Kelk’s point, to leave it open for a potential sequel.

Sophie Taylor is an elementary teacher who wrote the book, Butterflies, under the alias, Este Cox. Only her publisher/Godfather, Mal, and her agent/brother, William, know she’s Este Cox but will she be able to keep it under wraps? Joe Walsh is arrogant and extremely handsome. Sparks fly the first time Sophie & Joe’s eyes meet for the first time. A trip back to her home town and a one-bed cottage makes Sophie question loyalty and whether she can trust Joe with her big secret or not.

International best-selling author strives to remain anonymous while navigating her the publishing world that most of her family reigns in. She is somehow dominated by everyone, even her little (very spoiled) sister, and when sparks start to fly with a new director, she runs from that too. Miscommunication abounds with a cast of odd characters and a lot of filler text.

She does it again folks! I finished this book in less than 24hrs, so stinking cute reading a romance that takes place in a booktok world. Kelk’s writing is so good, you can’t help but cry when Sophie cries and celebrate with her. Amazing book and author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsey Kelk's Love Story delivers a charming blend of romance and wit wrapped in a classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Sophie Taylor, a small-town schoolteacher, hides a major secret: she's also Este Cox, a bestselling romance author. Her world turns upside down when she’s forced to spend time with Joe Walsh, a hotshot creative director who’s not exactly her biggest fan. As they share a cottage in the countryside, the chemistry between them sparks, complicating Sophie’s attempt to keep her dual life under wraps.

The novel excels in its playful banter and sizzling moments between Sophie and Joe, but it struggles with a bit of chaotic execution. While the concept of a secret identity and the publishing world backdrop offers a fresh twist, the constant pop culture references and the insta-love dynamic might overshadow the story's deeper emotional beats for some readers. The forced proximity trope leads to engaging interactions, yet the pacing sometimes feels uneven, with moments of high tension giving way to more predictable resolutions.

Despite its flaws, Love Story stands out for its humor and exploration of the romance genre's value. Kelk's writing is lively and entertaining, making it a delightful choice for those who enjoy a lighthearted romantic comedy with a touch of literary insight.

3.5 ⭐️ Rounded Up

This book felt chaotic, in not always a bad way, but man.

Sophie the FMC is a school teacher who, under a pseudonym, wrote a bestselling romance author and no one knows but her agent and editor/publisher. She is keeping it a secret from her family because they’re in publishing and snobbish. And honestly for most of the both I hated her parents and sister. They were *slightly* redeemed at the end…but it was rough.

And Joe, the MMC, was…not bad, but again, chaotic.

It was a quick read and if you like a look into the publishing world, you’ll probably like it.