I fell in love with Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett. Last year I read her book: The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, which was also amazing because I finished that one in a day as well. I was captivated with the story, writing and the characters. The concept of a You've Got Mail was brilliant along with the setting in beautiful California. You will be smiling the entire novel!

We meet Bailey (Mink), who has been communicating with a witty film geek just like herself who is known as Alex and lives in the city as her dad. She then moves there and lands her a job at a local tourist museum and you get to meet the hot Porter Roth! I loved him so much! There was so much banter between them that you were already rooting for them to get together! He was so swoony that you will even fall in love with him! The entire book was addicting from the story line, secrets, heartbreaks and all the laughs.

I am already looking forward to Jenn's next book. If you haven't read any of her books go pick them up immediately! Also pre-order this great book or add it to your TBR lists. Plus it will help you get out of a reading slump and have you smiling from beginning to end.

Bailey Rydell loves classic movies. Her love for it she shares online with Alex. They can talk for hours online about their favorites, but they have never met for real. She moves in with her dad who lives in the same California beach city as Alex, which isn't his real name. So Bailey is quite curious if she will ever meet him for real, but she doesn't dare to tell him yet how close by she lives. Is it just possible she walks by him without even knowing it?
Soon after her arrival in California, she lands a job in the local tourist-trap museum. There she makes new friends, first of all Porter Roth. He works as a security guard at the museum and soon they become more than just friends, altough it starts of as a love-hate relationship.

During the summer, which flies by in a whim, she has a great time with Porter, but also feels guilty when she doesn't tell Porter about Alex, and Alex about Porter. She has to choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…

Altough it was predictable at some points, I really enjoyed reading Alex Approximately. The book reminded me a lot of You've Got Mail. I really liked the setting of the California beach town. Even in the winter it get's you in the summer mood right away with all the surfing and tourists stuff going on. Bailey was a nice character, nothing that I haven't read in other YA novels though. I couldn't pinpoint anything specific about her, just the average girl. I really thought at some points it was a little too obvious for her not to notice before the big reveal in the end that Porter was Alex all the time. There where soo many clues but she didn't saw them. But hey, that left a fun and even more surprising wrap up of the end of the story!! I really liked the ending of it, it was a good conclusion to the story.

A very entertaining read with a thin plot, but good main characters and a fun summer setting in California, a perfect read for the coming spring!

Alex, Approximately has everything that I look for in a summer read: a cute and amusing concept, some witty banter, and a gorgeous California setting. While I enjoyed this book, I became frustrated with how predictable and obvious the ending is and all the weird coincidences, so I didn’t end up loving it. However, I would still recommend it, as it is so adorable.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It is all about a girl who ends up moving to the same town as a close online friend of hers, but doesn’t tell him. She tries her best to hunt him down, but she doesn’t know his real name. I loved watching Bailey scour the town for Alex while also working at a museum. The conversations between her and her arch-nemesis co-worker are also hilarious. This is such a quick read that is so adorable and perfect for summer.

The setting in Alex, Approximately is absolutely perfect. The book takes place in a town in California, complete with surfers and delicious food. Bailey also works in a museum, which is more like a giant mansion with themed rooms. This town is so developed that I actually felt like I lived there. Bailey gets the chance to explore a lot, and the reader can experience all the newness along with her. I honestly want to visit this town, as the museum and all the attractions sound so incredible!

While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it as much as I could have. My main issue with it is how predictable it was for me. I get that the reader is supposed to know who the mysterious Alex is before the main character does, but around twenty pages in, I had already figured it out. It was so frustrating reading about Bailey trying so hard to figure out who Alex is when it seems so obvious from the start. There were also so many weird coincidences that ended up being too much. I really wish I could have loved this one as much as I enjoyed The Anatomical Shape of a Heart.

Alex, Approximately is a hilarious story about a girl who moves to California. The setting is so beautiful and extremely well developed. However, the predictability became too frustrating for me, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. Although this book is enjoyable, I feel like it was lacking somewhat.

Alright fam, first of all you just all need to know that I sped through this whole book so fast. This could be a perfect summer read, or honestly for any time you need a cute little pick-me-up. Before I started, I read that this was a spin on the movie <i>You’ve Got Mail</i> and half intrigued, half wary. I’ve read books *similar* to this before where a girl and a boy somehow have met online and end up meeting in real life and something always goes awry. For some reason, this one was a little different. Not sure if it was great writing and characters or what but it just worked for me and I loved it so damn much.

Bailey or “Mink” is a classic movie buff and has met a boy online that love movies as much as she does. Their tastes might not always align but it’s the thrill of having someone who shares her interests that has her crushing on this boy, “Alex.” Interestingly enough he lives in the same west coast town as her father….the same town that she is moving to. She doesn’t tell him, wanting to try and find him by herself first so that no hopes and dreams are dashed. Instead she meeting the annoying but smokin’ hot Porter…Teenage summer life ensues.

There were so many little things that made this book enjoyable for me. The first being as small as the fact that it was a story set in the summer, on a beach since I’m stuck in cold Michigan. The second being that the writing was really damn good. I have never read anything else by Jenn Bennett so I had had no idea what to expect. There were so many lines that had me laughing out loud or feeling butterflies in my stomach. UNFORTUNATELY the device that I was reading this on wouldn’t let me highlight things and I was too damn lazy to write page numbers down for later so I’ll have to add quotes to this later…The dialog just didn’t seem out of character for actual teens (which I feel like happens a lot when adults write YA contemporaries) which I loved and the way they interacted with one another was great. They both realized that they both had problems with the different things that happened in their respective pasts but they help each other overcome those things in a healthy and normal way. AND THEY TALK. They talk to each other so even when the truth comes out about who Alex and Mink really are, there isn’t a huge explosive fight over it. All in all this is a quality contemporary that I know I will read again!

Also, HUGE thanks to Simon Pulse and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC! &hearts;

Full of swoons. Bailey has a fantastic voice and both she and Porter have some realistic baggage that adds delicious conflict. I was cringing and blushing in quick succession as I made my way through. This book is a great example the very best of contemporary teen romance.

Personal Thoughts: When I heard there was going to be a YA retelling of You’ve Got Mail my interest was immediately piqued. What a fun concept! And it’s a much more current work to be adapted than those we typically see. I rarely request books from publishers for review unless I feel 100% confident that I’ll love them and I plan on reading them the moment they come in the mail. Otherwise, reviewing tends to feel more like work than enjoyment and that’s just not what I’m here for. Alex, Approximately met both of my requesting guidelines so I took a chance and I was lucky enough to get an early ARC copy and I’m thankful that I completely loved it! I also just want to mention the beautiful cover. I love the laid back California vibe and the gorgeous hanging lights that grace the background!

Plot Summary: Bailey Rydell has been talking to a mysterious fellow film lover named Alex on an app for quite some time now. He just so happens to live in the same town as her father in California and he’s been begging Bailey to come visit but after a traumatic experience earlier in her life, Bailey is extremely guarded and skeptical of getting too close to anyone over the internet. She ends up moving in her father in California but neglects to tell Alex this important bit of information because she’s worried he might be a creep so she decides to scope out the town and try to find him on her own terms. Bailey gets a summer job at a local museum where she meets who she believes to be, one of the most obnoxious jerks ever, son-of-a-famous-surfer- Porter Roth. Little does Bailey know that the hypothetical man of her dreams Alex, is none other than the person she cannot stand, Porter.

Critique: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett is everything I hope for out of a YA romance! The book covered a wide range of topics, not focusing solely on the romance aspect. There were familial relationships, friendships and Bailey’s own relationship with herself that were all tackled and everything was handled so well. Alex, Approximately is definitely on the longer side of YA contemporary, clocking it at nearly 400 pages but it’s completely worth the time it takes to conclude Bailey’s story in a satisfying manner. I loved Bailey sense of style- she always modeled her hair after Lana Turner and tended to dress like a retro film star on most days. She struggles with trust issues after a prior experience has left her reasonably guarded and reading about her journey to letting her walls come down a bit is completely gripping. I really loved Bailey’s dad and his addiction to Settlers of Catan (a board game that I too share an addiction for). He’s a really good example of a single parent doing the best job they can raising a teenage girl. Then there’s Porter who is one of the most swoonworthy book boyfriends. Porter is half white and half Polynesian and his sun-kissed curls, golden skin, and surfer’s body are often mentioned. He’s such a sweetheart and his in-person interactions with Bailey are so precious! Alex, Approximately is a hate to love romance at its finest. I will say that I didn’t totally get why Bailey was so hung up on Alex because their online interactions read much more like a friendship than a romance to me but I was living for their in real life scenes. Even the way that Alex handles things once Bailey and Porter meet will make your heart swell. I love that we get a big glimpse into Porter’s life and his situation and he’s not only there to serve as a love interest. Each protagonist has a very specific set of challenges they’re facing and watching Bailey and Porter learn to trust each other and work through them together is just swoon after swoon after swoon!

Do I Recommend?: YES! I really loved this contemporary romance, even more than I was expecting to. I already preordered my finished copy!

Alex, Approximately is a modern re-telling of You’ve Got Mail. I love that movie, so I knew I needed to read this book! Seventeen year old Bailey regularly chats on an online movie discussion group using the screen name Mink. She often chats with a boy who goes by the name Alex. Alex and Bailey’s dad live in the same city, but when Bailey makes the choice to move across the country to live with her father, she doesn’t tell Alex because she’s worried they won’t connect in real life. She decides she’ll find him first and then tell him.

In the midst of that, she gets a summer job working at a museum with her extremely good looking yet extremely infuriating coworker, Porter. As she and Porter get to know each other, feelings start to develop. Little does she know that Porter is actually Alex, just as he has no idea that Bailey is actually Mink.

I really loved this book – so much so that I actually read it in one sitting! It was just so cute! Obviously you know the basic plot if you’ve ever seen the movie, just replace the love of books shared in the movie to a love of classic film shared in the books.

I adored the characters. There were definitely times I was like “COME ON! How can you not tell that it’s him?!” but I suppose the book would be very short and boring if she figured it out right away! Porter was probably my favorite character. I loved him so much! He was the right amount of sweet, sarcastic, and vulnerable that made me swoon! I loved that he and Bailey were both able to overcome the traumas that had happened to them in the past and gradually open up to each other.

I also fell in love with the supporting characters. Bailey’s dad was the cutest, and I loved their relationship. He’s the type of dad every girl wants to have, and I love how close he and Bailey were. I also really liked Bailey’s friend Grace. She was sweet, and was really a good friend to Bailey.

I definitely recommend Alex, Approximately for all fans of the YA genre! The one note I do want to make is that there are themes in the book that include masturbation, sex, drugs, and violence, so keep those in mind if you’re looking for a book that’s good for a younger teen.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Jenn Bennett, and the publisher Simon Pulse for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Alex, Approximately has an expected publication date of April 4, 2017, so be sure to mark your calendars!

Waffling between a 4 and a 5 so I'll round up because I loved a lot of this book!!!! It is so very You've Got Mail-y <3 Review to come closer to release :D

I didn't even need to read the synopsis of this book. I wanted it from Jenn Bennett's name and my undying love for her other YA book, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart. I went in completely blind and utterly fell in love.

Bailey is my kind of girl. She's smart and sort of awkward and would rather be alone the majority of the time. She loves classic movies and dressing like Lana Turner and why aren't we BFFs already. Porter? Yeah, I don't even know where to start with this boy. He's swoony to begin with and then when he actually tries, I was a puddle of goo.

There is some of the most delicious banter ever written, swoons, heartbreak, laughs, and maybe a bit of betrayal. Not to mention a few secrets that are revealed in the slowest and agonizing way.

This is a book that I'll be reading over and over again: when I need a pick me up or to get out of a slump or just need to grin like a loon the way I am right now.

**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little too long but I still enjoyed it. The characters were great and it moved fairly quickly.

Initial Excitement
I absolutely loved Bennett's YA contemporary debut and had been eagerly waiting for her sophomore novel for a long time. I just knew I was going to love it based on the premise, early reviews, and my love for banter/hate-to-love romance. So many of the best ingredients for a Lauren book.

Quick Summary
Bailey has been talking to "Alex" on a film site for a while, going by the username "Mink." He lives in the same town as her father, oddly enough, and he's been asking her to come visit for a film festival that summer. Little does he know, Bailey has just moved in with her father and is waiting to make sure Alex isn't some crazed serial killer before they decide to meet up. She's quickly distracted by Porter, a hot and rude-but-funny coworker at the coolest museum ever, and new friend/coworker, Grace. Her and Alex's conversations taper off as she gets closer to Porter. Little does SHE know, Porter is actually Alex.

Storytelling, Setting, and Feels
Oh man SO MANY THINGS. First of all, the story. I love the idea of them knowing each other without realizing who it is. It created so much fun tension for the reader and I kept wondering when they were going to figure it out. It did get a bit frustrating toward the end, but I loved watching them get to know each other with this huge "secret" both of them didn't even realize.

The setting was unreal. I LOVED the museum (Cavern Palace) and surf town (Cornado Cove). I wish they were real places because I would be booking my next vacation there ASAP. I love any books that happen in beachy towns over summertime, so that was an A+ setting for me. The Cavern Palace was a unique museum with lots of different, weird rooms for people to explore. I want to work there.

SO many feels. The romance was fantastic. Porter and Bailey had undeniable chemistry that was full of banter and arguments. They poked fun at each other and fought about silly things until you wanted them to just KISS already. There were times I enjoyed their awkwardness (before doing the sexytime things) and other times I was cringing. It put me back in those days but also made me wonder if I was ever that awkward??? Sometimes being an adult is the worst because I don't remember and don't like it lol. Regardless, they are a major OTP for me. Porter is a new book boyfriend. End of story.

Characters
I already talked about Bailey/Mink and Porter/Alex, but there were some super solid side characters and relationships to talk about as well.

I love father-daughter relationships so much and this one had a superb one. Bailey moves to California to avoid her mom, which is pretty much what her dad did after their divorce. I loved reading their relationship, watching them play Settlers of Catan, and how honest they were with each other. He supported her and offered advice when needed, but allowed her to figure things out herself too. Her dad was awesome and I'm so happy she took the leap to go live with him. (Yes, I'm going to pretend this is all a real thing that happened in real life.)

Her new friendship with Grace was so cute. They grew to trust each other, get past friendship roadblocks, and supported each other through it all. It really made for a well-rounded story.

Negative Stuff
Most of my frustration happened toward the end of the book. There were so many different instances of miscommunication that I kept shaking my head in frustration. The classic jumping to conclusions, assuming the worst, and not talking things through. I know that I have to pull my adult self out of the equation and think about how teens would act, but it still frustrates me. JUST TALK COME ON.

There were quite a few heavier parts of the story I didn't expect, like the whole plotline with Davy. It was interesting and made for a few "high stakes" situations, but it partly felt like it didn't belong in this story. There was so much fun banter and first love feels that I thought some parts brought me down instead. I don't even want to use spoiler tags or talk about it so you can make decisions for yourself.

Ending Feels
I was a fan of the ending and how everything wrapped up, but yes - there were the frustrating moments where I wanted to shake both of them. I was really hoping this book wouldn't take quite a predictable route (which, to be fair, in some cases it didn't). There were quite a few things I saw coming and wish happened differently. Overall though, really good end to the story.

TL;DR?
If you enjoy banter, secret relationships online and in real life, swooooons, friendship, father/daughter love, amazing settings, and a whole bunch of other perfect things... you should probably read this book. I feel like I've given you a pretty good idea of how well-rounded the book is. There's so much I could keep talking about too. Any fans of YA contemporary romance with a little bit of hate-to-love NEED to read this book. Neeeeed it.

"Teen spin on You've Got Mail" were the only words I needed to get extremely excited about Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett and the fact that I loved her previous YA novel The Anatomical Shape of a Heart added to my excitement.

Bailey, also known by her nickname Mink, has been chatting online with a fellow film geek called "Alex" for a good few months. Despite the fact that she does not really know that much about "Alex", she feels like he could be someone she could really connect with, not only online but in "real life".

Bailey knows where "Alex" lives, though, and when she moves from the East Coast to California to live with her father, she is not quite sure how to tell "Alex" that she is now a resident of the same town that he comes from. Rather than speaking up and telling the truth, Bailey decides to put all the info that she has about "Alex" together in an attempt to figure out his identity.

The move to California comes with a lot of changes, with one of them being a new summer job at a museum called The Cavern Palace. While the job comes with perks, like making a new friend called Grace, Bailey is struggling to find a way to deal with her annoying co-worker Porter. Sure, Porter is extremely attractive and charming but it also seems like he is determined to make Bailey's life difficult.

Despite her annoyance with Porter, Bailey feels a pull towards him. As the two spend more time together, Bailey realizes that Porter is much more than a handsome, slightly cocky surfer, and as she learns more about him, she starts to ignore "Alex" in order to spend more time with Porter. It also seems like "Alex" is not that interested no longer, which makes Bailey wonder what happened between the two.

If you have seen You've Got Mail, the basics of this story won't be a surprise to you, and basically, the synopsis itself tells you that Porter is actually Alex. Despite the fact that you know this major plot point from the first page onwards, this book is full of wonderful surprises. And reading through how they find out each other's identities is one the best parts of this novel.

Bailey is such a great main character. While reading this novel, I had written down to my notes that she is "realistically and wonderfully flawed." What I mean by this is that she feels extremely real. She is young and inexperienced in many ways, and while she does mistakes, those mistakes teach her something and she grows through them. I loved reading about her reactions to kind of feelings she has not felt before because I felt like the way Bennett writes about first crushes and perhaps even first love felt extremely realistic and touching.

I liked Porter as a character too, though there is a part to him that I wasn't so sure about -- since I don't want to spoil the novel for you, I will let you make your own conclusions about what I mean (if you read this novel, you probably will figure it out since this side of him is something Bailey worries about too). While, at first, I was kind of scared that he would be some California surfer cliche, I was pleased to notice that he is much more than he seems.

The chemistry between Bailey and Porter is written very well, and at many points, I was able to feel the kind of tension and chemistry between them that is present between the characters in You've Got Mail. If you are a fan of swoon-worthy novels, you definitely need to check this one out!

I am always a big fan of realistic, well-written daughter-father relationships and I loved the way Bennett writes about the interaction between Bailey and her father. The relationship is based on mutual trust, and while they might not see eye to eye on everything, Bennett is able to create a feeling of love between the two.

One thing I must mention before I finish this review is how awesomely sex positive this novel is. I know some readers might not be fans of this aspect of the novel, but I absolutely loved seeing positive, realistic portrayal of female masturbation and the kind of sexual awakening that Bailey goes through. There are no super explicit scenes involving sex, BUT even mentioning something like female masturbation is something you don't see very often in young adult novels.

All in all, Alex, Approximately is a brilliant, entertaining young adult novel that I found extremely hard time to put down once I started it. (

I love Jenn Bennett's books! The characters are so engaging, and I couldn't put the book down. This will be a book that purchase for the library and will be a go-to recommendation for my students!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Simon Pulse and NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.

Have you seen that Meg Ryan movie, You've Got Mail? Well this is that, but with teenagers set in sunny California.

Bailey and Alex meet on a movie message board, clicking because of their love of old black and white films starring the likes of Katherine Hepburn. They talk about everything (well, almost everything, this is a random person online, they can't reveal TOO much!), they flirt, but the only problem is...they live across the country from each other.

UNTIL...Bailey ends up moving to the SAME TOWN that Alex lives in the summer before Junior Year of HS.

As Bailey tries to figure out who exactly Alex is, she also, sorta, maybe, has a crush on Porter, the "bad boy" she works with. Cue all of the hijinks!

Alex, Approximately is charming, and heartfelt, with a delightful voice, I couldn't put it down! I was hooked.

(Bailey and Porter's relationship is so adorable that I may have rooted for them. Alex, who?)

BUT, if you seen You've Got Mail, then you probably have a good idea about how this all ends up.

The one thing that I didn't particularly like, was the great deal of traumatic background stories our leads have. At some parts it almost felt too forced like the author was writing this dramatic background for each of them for the sake of adding...well, DRAMA, but I personally didn't think it was necessary to the overall story.

And also, I strongly dislike the cover.

4 solid stars!

I couldn't open this book on my Kindle, so I'll have to wait until it comes out to read and review it.

lex, Approximately was the perfect blend of fun/fluff and intensity. On the fluff side, it was a super fun and sweet summer romance filled with awkward maybe-dating, summer jobs, and new best friends. But on the intense side, there were unresolved fears/traumas, trust issues, and social awkwardness. The characters had real fun, but also real problems.

I was first super interested in Alex, Approximately because my husband and I met online, just like “Mink” and “Alex”. I loved seeing the similarities there, like how my husband and I used to do “watch-alongs” where we’d watch the same movie/TV show at the same time, or how we also had to go through the awkward part of meeting in real life at the same time.

One of the things I love about a book like this, is that it’s a bit like watching something memorizing happen in slow motion. You know something bad and awkward is coming and you’re so nervous about it, but also maybe a little excited, but you have to read through the whole book to get there.

Alex, Approximately also had awesome characters outside the MC and love interest.

Bailey’s dad was sooo sweet!
Grace kind of becomes Bailey’s new BFF and is adorable. She’s pretty much a perfect BFF.
Porter’s mom is so comforting, and his dad is a bit scary but a good guy.
There’s a horrible bad guy.
..and more!

Reasons to read Alex, Approximately

Beach
Summer
Museums
Churros
Best friends
Old movies
Awkwardly meeting someone you’ve only spoken to online
First impressions

So after reading a non-YA romance novel (The Hating Game) that was praised for its snappy banter, I was looking for other books similar to it. Did a search and this came up. So many thanks to NetGalley, I excitedly dived in. And though this clocked in at approximately 400 pages and I was on my way to finishing this in a day, I had to stop myself because I ironically had planned a movie night based on a Jane Austen story that supposedly finished snappy banter.

Now, that is my catnip. Snappy banter and some formulaic romance. On the snappy banter, think of the witty repartee His Girl Friday or Gilmore Girls. On formulaic romance, think enemies to lovers (see where The Hating Game comes in or even Pride & Prejudice?). So when my search came up with this book falling into this category, I thought sweet! However, good book marketing can overkill your expectations and this book wasn't quite snappy banter, but it had a lot of sweet moments. On the enemies to lovers concept, it was so obvious they were meant to be.

I actually have more catnip confessions. I used to want to be a film historian. I grew up watching film classics, especially loving the Golden Age of Hollywood. Would love to act, but I haven't the talent or stomach for fame (but would practice my Oscar speech all the time!). Thought about directing, but I usually waffle on a vision to choose where to eat so I don't think I'd have the leadership skills to pull that off. So... when I read about vintage loving wannabe film/museum curator Bailey and her hunt for her Shop Around the Corner pen pal Alex... it was purr-fectly meant for me. And if you've read the book, you can see where Bailey and my younger self were twinning.

Coincidentally, I live in the SF-Big Sur sweet spot referenced in this book. Worked/lived in Santa Cruz where some of the boardwalk idea is clearly stolen from and frequent Monterey/Pacific Grove and San Jose Airport. I could not be more happy that someone wrote about our coastal fog.

As a film buff, I named my daughter Katharine. I have read plenty of books where authors have misspelled it Katherine, so points to the book team for doing it right. Therefore, as a parent, I gotta put a warning out there <spoiler>that there is underage sex and it is an adult-underage situation.</spoiler>

Unfortunately because this is a protected PDF and not a mobi file, I can't load this onto my kindle reader. This is terribly disappointing because I absolutely love Jenn and would love to promote this book for her and I've heard amazing things.

Thank you for the opportunity though.

Knowing that her online film-loving guy friend lives in the same town as her dad, Bailey decides to scope her friend out before telling him about her decision to move across the country to live with her dad. She starts looking for him based on clues from their chats, but gets a little sidetracked by the hot surfer guy at work. A little long and could benefit from trimming the fights just a bit (and maybe the crying), but very enjoyable.

This book interested me because it is pitched as a modern You've Got Mail, which is one of my favorite movies. Unfortunately, the book never really gets into how (or why) this person online means so much to the main character, and she forgets about her online friend almost as soon as she unknowingly meets him in real life. It does kind of loop back around to the whole "they didn't know they already met online" thing at the end, but otherwise the story is a pretty standard romance, and kind of melodramatic one at that.