Love Story by Lindsey Kelk: A Campy, Self-Aware Romance with a Few Flaws

Overall Impression: Lindsey Kelk's Love Story is a fun, campy read that celebrates romance author and reader culture. While it has its moments of brilliance, it ultimately falls short of delivering a truly satisfying love story.

What I Loved:
The Campy Tone: The book's self-aware humor and over-the-top moments were a delight. Kelk clearly understands and appreciates the tropes of the genre.
Secondary Characters: William and Sarah were standout characters, offering comedic relief and heartwarming moments.
Romance Culture References: The book's nods to romance novels and authors were a treat for fans of the genre.
Fun Moments: There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments throughout.

What I Didn't Love:
Lackluster Romance: The main characters' first and last meetings felt a bit underwhelming.
Taylor Swift References: While there were pop culture references, they didn't quite deliver on the Taylor Swift fan fare promise.

Final Thoughts: If you're looking for a lighthearted, fun romance with a healthy dose of camp, Love Story is worth checking out. However, don't expect a deep, emotionally resonant love story. It's a guilty pleasure that's enjoyable in its own way.

Rating: 2 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this arc to read in exchange for my honest review!

Let me start off by saying I think Lindsey and I could be bffs if we met in real life, but in a not weird way.

Love Story is a modern Romeo and Juliet for swifties who read romance.
I’m obsessed with the banter between Sophie and Joe, sometimes laughing OUT LOUD IN PUBLIC (embarrassing) at some of the back and forth. ESPECIALLY when CJ was the victim. That guy sucks.
As for the other characters, the bff is everything you would want.
Sophie’s siblings are a chaotic mess, but who wouldn’t be with those parents? I love Will!!! Charlotte’s drive is inspirational but her selfishness in some parts stressed me out.

This book is so much fun and a sweet, door half-open (cracked? ajar? etc), love story.

It meant so much to me to read about a fmc with a love of romance novels who understands the stigma of romance readers.
“We’ve been trained to be grateful for what we’re given rather than ask for what we want,” THANK. YOU.
The fmc’s growth into celebrating her achievements (in writing a best-selling romance novel) instead of trying to hide behind a pseudonym is so beautiful to watch.

And while I did love to see some of my favorite romance authors name dropped, it kind of brought me out of the escapism I was searching for. Regardless, this book was such an easy and lovely read.

Also you know how if an actual man were to read you scenes from your spicy books you’d immediately call the cops? Well turns out if the man is fictional it’s actually hot. Who knew?

All the stars! This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Ms. Kelk is a true rom-com phenom. As in any great rom-com not only do we get a great love story of the two main characters but all the bumbling side characters and funny situations that come along with it. This was a fantastic love story for Sophie and Joe but it also was a love story to fellow rom-com authors and readers. Gone is the stigma that rom com’s are just fluff and sexy scenes. In today’s world when life is sometimes scary, overwhelming we need an outlet to just shut the world out and exist in happy moments. There is no shame in romance writing or reading. It’s one of the top selling genres. This wasn’t the first book I’ve read or authors have mentioned the criginess of Goodreads! With often being gifted of ARC’s I take in mind in my review that this is someone’s blood , sweat and tears put in their story along with their village behind them every step of the way. I am never rude and when I read another’s review as with movies they are entitled to their opinion but I have my own. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Hilarious and fresh! I adored reading Lindsey Kelk’s delightfully entertaining latest, Love Story, an original take on the worthiness of the romance genre. The dialogue is snappy and often laugh out loud funny, but still manages to be insightful. I love the many pop culture references. The characters are interesting and well drawn. And Kelk is a fine storyteller to boot.

Highly recommended to fans of Katherine Center, Emily Henry and Christina Lauren and other intelligent, uplifting romances - and, of course, those who have enjoyed any of Kelk’s prior books. I also loved 2022’s The Christmas Wish, and 2023’s Love Me Do.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I did enjoy most of this, but it wasn't my favorite. While I liked the enemies to lovers aspect, it was a bit insta-lovey and I couldn't understand why other than simply lusting after one another. There's also way too many pop culture references (tiktok, t swift, popular authors, etc.) There was decent humor and the spice was great as well. I think anyone who enjoys contemporary romance will love this. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

4/5 I received a free copy of Love Story by Lindsay Kelk for an honest review! Thank you @harpercollins360 for the ARC

I really enjoyed reading this book! It has a lot of modern references and I loved how involved the siblings were in this story. It’s a cute love story with a twist! I did think some parts were a little cringey but overall it was a good, quick romance read!

⭐⭐⭐.✨

Sophie is a school teacher by day and a romance writer on the side who’s kept her identity secret from her league of fans, because she’s written the steamiest novel with tons of fans who love it. She comes from a big literary family and isn’t sure that her parents will love that she’s the esteemed Este Cox – so she’s hidden this secret from everyone but her brother and godfather, both who helped her get Butterflies published. Joe Walsh instantly becomes enemy #1 when he bashes Sophie’s beloved book, but hilarity ensues when they end up at Sophie’s father’s weekend birthday bash and end up sharing a cottage together.

Overall, I enjoyed this book – there were multiple laugh out loud moments and definitely had screwball comedy vibes – but I couldn’t really get into the story and couldn’t really get behind the animosity/enemy current between Sophie and Joe. If you’re a fan of instalove, then you will likely enjoy this book, but also I didn’t really feel the instant chemistry. Although it was “instalove” it gave off slow burn vibes. I do enjoy Lindsey’s books, and this one was definitely filled with lots of humor.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Lindsey Kelk and Harper 360 for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

3 stars
2.5/4 spice

Thank you to HarperCollins and Net Galley for this ARC.

Some novels about authors and publishers can avoid being self-aggrandizing. This is not one of them.

There were so many name drops and pop culture references, it was distracting. Also, early on the FMC/narrator mentions reading a book that makes you feel like it's blaming the reader. I couldn't understand how a book could do that until I kept reading. I didn't enjoy what I was reading, but I felt guilty about it.

The flow is fast and I loved the brother, William. Maybe it's because he's the only calm and reasonable one in the whole book?

This one didn't click for me, but I can still appreciate that it's well-written and really went for it.

I am truly grateful to Netgalley for providing me with my first ARC from them. The book looks promising and I gave it a go! However, I was at 25% when I decided that I was going to DNF this book.

It started off slow and prolonged discussion between Mal and Sophie in which I found dragging as start off. A couple of chapters in, Joe comes in, in which his character comes off as rude and arrogant. Further onto the interactions between Joe and Sophie, I somewhat find Joe attractive with his remarks even though Sophie’s description about his looks did not resonate to me as a reader. And as a reader, I did get the idea that he was attractive. Definitely their interaction in the beginning were very entertaining to read and did make me laugh. From there, I saw the story coming along!

As the story goes along, Sophie was reunited with her family and that’s where the family dynamics started to unravel. Sophie’s family was a hot mess, chaotic and toxic, it was pretty intense! Every turn of the page I felt like Sophie did not even catch a break from her family. They were very insensitive people and I do feel bad for her even though I could see she was a people pleaser. At this point, it was too much and tough to get through. Even I, as reader could not even catch a break seeing how Sophie was being treated by her family.

Honestly, I could tell the story can be cute and has all the potential. I was expecting this as a typical enemies-to-lovers type of story which was the idea of what the blurb was. However, it literally revolves around the family drama, chaos and toxicity that potentially led to Sophie and Joe’s love story. This was a hot mess story and had my mind reeling.

This book is so hard to rate. There was a lot I enjoyed but there were some things I didn't enjoy.

Things I enjoyed:
- This book is nod to romance writers even mentioning some that I love as well. I think this book really highlights how so many still feel romance books are fluffu and still not a real book.
- Great banter between Sophie and Joe
- Sophie's family was a hoot

What I didn't like:
- This was a total insta love and the author pokes fun about it as well
- As an insta love story, there's no real relationship development. I need the chase.
- Some of the characters were way over the top for me that it felt unrealistic

Overall, it was a fun read and I enjoyed it.

Thank you @harpercollins360 for a copy of this

Sparks fly, secrets unravel, and you won’t be able to stop smiling!

Small-town schoolteacher Sophie Taylor has a secret. She is Este Cox, the world-famous romance author no one can seem to unmask. But here's the kicker: she needs the help of Joe Walsh, this ultra-conceited creative director.

Of course, nothing brings out the tension (and the laughs) like being forced to share a tiny cottage.

This book was seriously such a blast to read, complete with nods to authors we already fangirl over.

I loved the way the story unfolded like you’re watching a rom-com on the big screen. It’s light, it’s flirty, and you’ll fly through it in one sitting.

This is perfect for those cozy nights when you want something that’ll make you laugh and melt your heart at the same time!

Thank you NetGalley are Harper 360 for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 36o for providing the ARC.

I really loved this book! It had a great mix of humor, sarcasm, banter, crazy shenanigans, and a swoony love story at the center of it. Sophie is the middle child of middle children, constantly feeling overshadowed by her hotshot older brother and her hellbent-on-world-domination younger sister. Dealing with her parents who are literary darlings in their own right. And trying to extricate herself from a pretentious idiot of an ex all while trying to come to terms that she has just published one of the biggest bestsellers in publishing history. There's also the the hot, smarmy guy who just keeps showing up when she really doesn't want him to, but needless to say, life is a mess.

This book was charming and funny. I love that the author focused on how romance as a genre is often viewed by other people, despite being the highest grossing genre out of them all. And I love how she took those arguments and demonstrated to everyone why romance books can and are great for so many people. I loved the central storyline with Sophie and Joe, and Sophie's family provides some needed levity to the story. If I had to criticize anything, I'd probably say the pacing, as almost all of the book takes place over a weekend. But it is not a deal breaker.

Excellent and hilarious book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Love Story.

I’ve really enjoyed other books by Lindsey Kelk. Unfortunately this book didn’t connect to me as much.

I enjoyed more of the family relationship between Sophie, her siblings and parents over the romantic relationship with Joe.

I would recommend this book more to romance readers who are interested in the intricacies of the publishing community.

Here is such a fun and feel good story and one that confirms what author Lindsey Kelk believes-that we love happy stories during difficult times. Her protagonist and, I think the author as well, see a role for romances as fiction that is just as worthy as any other reads.

Este Cox has written a book that takes off and becomes a huge bestseller. But…there is no Este, she is really teacher Sophie. Sophie is from a literary family and does not want to acknowledge her authorship of a sexy, romantic read to them. Lots of shenanigans ensue from this decision.

Playing against Este is Joe. As this is an enemies to lovers tale, readers watch as these two spar and come together. Watching them and the other characters in this story made for a delightful read.

I could pretty much say that, moving forward, I will read anything that Ms. Kelk writes. She knows how to help readers escape and enjoy her world for a few hours. Kelk gives readers a nice mix of plot, character, humor and heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC of Love Story in exchange for an honest and independent review.

Without a doubt, Love Story has quickly become one of my absolute favorite reads of 2024. The one thing that sets this book apart from all others is the seamless dialogue that occurs between it's characters that allows the book to read as if you are watching a movie. That is impossibly hard to achieve, but Lindsey has hit it out of the park. The back and forth is truly priceless and I found myself laughing out loud to all of it's witty banter and Taylor Swift references (huge Swifty over here myself)! At it's core, the plot is so relatable and I know it will resonate with readers around the world. The fact that Lindsey references and calls out all the notable romance authors that have impacted our lead character, Sophie, was a wonderful hats off to all the work contributed by these incredible authors that have brought romance novels to where they are today at the forefront of literature. I also loved the dynamic that was created by making Sophie's character an undercover romance author. There has always been a stigma associated with those who read romance novels vs other genera's of literature almost as if romance novels are less than or a stain on other literary works. I love that books like Love Story address that misconception head on and take a stand for not only the talented authors that create these works but also those that turn to romance novels for a sense of empowerment or belonging allowing women and men to stand up for what they want out of a relationship or partnership. Barriers are being broken down across readers of all walks and this book is testament to that and it's wonderful to see and be living in a generation that embraces literature from all avenues.

Honestly, standing ovation to Lindsey Kelk on this wonderful addition to romance novels and a sincere thank you from those of us that love to get lost in their pages. This one stands apart from the rest for me and I'm so thankful to have had the pleasure of getting lost in Sophie's story and Lindsey's own Love Story to all romance novels out there. Please run, don't walk to pick this one up September 17th!

This is the most meta book I have ever read. I think that will really turn off a lot of readers. I didn't mind the meta-ness because I felt like it wasn't cringey or eyeroll-y. It was very pertinent to the story at hand. What I minded was the story and characters feeling flat. The couple never convinced me of the chemistry. The side characters were funny and unique, and I really enjoyed the FMC. I loved the Romance as a genre being lifted up so much. But I found the scenes really easy to skim through. It was an okay read that overall I think was memorable because of the meta-ness of it, but overall minorly forgettable with the actual romance.

This is single, FMC POV. FMC is a Romance writer and it's heavily discussed because it's the whole plot. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers/rivals to lovers. And it's oddly closed door, despite a couple of flirty statements and some steamier scenes read from her book.

Spoiler, but potential content warning: Third Act Breakup is over MMC being married because he had a marriage of convenience to get his bestie a Visa in America, and he explains this to FMC (THREE MONTHS LATER ARGHHHH because FMC won't take his calls).

I'd still recommend this to readers looking for a light, beach or cabin Romance read!

This book wasn’t awful but it simply wasn’t for me. I thought the author wrote flawed characters really well but the growth left something to be desired. The characters either didn’t change at all or when straight from point A to point Z with no stops along the way.

Also the characters in the book hate insta love and the miscommunication trope which is ironic because this book has some of the worst instances of both.

If Lindsey Kelk writes it, I will read it. I loved this book and devoured it. The banter between Sophie and Joe was amazing. I didn’t want this book to end and was sad when i read the last sentence. I would love to see a sequel and see what happens to Sarah.

i loved this so much!! the perfect short and sweet romcom that will leave you swooning. i loved the characters and their chemistry. the pacing and writing were also fantastic. i would read more from this author

I was very excited about this book, and while it didn't exceed my expectations, it was an enjoyable read.

Sophie Taylor is a primary school teacher with a big secret—she’s also Este Cox, the anonymous romance author that everyone’s desperate to uncover. The premise had potential, and while there were some entertaining moments, the book didn’t fully land for me.

The chemistry between Sophie and Joe is undeniable, and if you're here for spicy scenes, you're in luck—there’s plenty of it. But for me, the overuse of certain tropes, like the miscommunication one, felt tired and a bit frustrating. It felt like it dragged the plot down, especially when it led to the predictable third-act breakup.

Kelk does touch on some interesting points about how romance novels are perceived, which I appreciated, but the pop-culture references were a bit too heavy-handed for my taste....there were A LOT of them. The constant nods to real-life authors and Taylor Swift took me out of the story more than they added to it.

Overall, it was an okay read with some fun moments, but I didn't connect with the story or characters as much as I hoped. Fans of Kelk will probably enjoy it more, especially with the added spice, but for me, it just didn’t quite hit the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.