Book Review: Book Lovers
“Nora” He just barely smiles. “You’re in books. Of course, you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read”
This is an Anti-Hallmark romance novel. And I low-key love it. Hallmark has this quasi-conservative/Christian small-town romance formula down to a T. It works and people gobble it up. Is it realistic? Hell, no and for damn good reason. It’s corny as fuck – but if you like it, so be it.
So, what's an Anti-Hallmark romance fiction novel like? Well for starters that cold-hearted platinum blonde big-city career woman is the protagonist, not the antagonist. You know, the one who doesn’t get the weird small-town traditions, hates the outdoors, takes one look at a pair of Timberland walking boots and immediately calls for an emergency pedicure. Yeah her, the one we’re supposed to hate. The foil to the small-town girl with a heart of gold. Blah blah blah blah blah romantic small-town trope formula. Throw in a prince from a mysterious small European country and you’ve got a gold mine of a TV film.
So yeah, our heroine isn’t the archetypal heroine from the stereotypical romance novel. But that’s not to say this steely woman doesn’t have a heart – or emotions. Everyone has gone through shit. Some survive it better than others – some like to pretend. Her name is Nora Stephens, and she is the girl that has been dumped for the small-town girl one too many times. But she worked super hard and is now a successful literary agent, her life is safe, secure and is loving her life in New York City. Why would anyone want to leave New York for a random small town in the middle of buck-nowhere? Apparently, her sister, Libby. Now bless her cotton socks, she has baby number three on the way and, unlike Nora, is struggling. But here's the thing. Nora’s most successful author wrote a romance book set in the real (fictional) town of Sunshine Falls. And Libby has booked them to go. For a month. With sketchy Wi-Fi. In South Carolina, hundreds of miles from the tranquil hustle and bustle of New York. Oh, and there's a list of romance-novel-tropes-to-do-in-a-small-town. Like ‘save a failing business’ or ‘pet a horse’ (not sure if hanging out with the local wildlife counts). Now you may be wondering, what's the hitch? This is obviously Nora’s worst nightmare. But get this there are two hitches: 1. There's something up with Libby – there are cracks and Nora is determined to fix them. 2. Her Nemesis in the publishing world, Charlie Lastra, is in Sunshine Falls. Fiction romance writers are rubbing their hands in glee. I think everyone knows where this is going. It’s a romance novel, get a clue!
There are a few things to discuss here. For one Charlie is kind of the anti-hero. He’s kind of a jerk when we meet him. But he’s a cool jerk – I guess. A man who compliments Nora and her goals and ambitions perfectly. This isn't a case of other romance novels where you come across morally ambiguous men (see my reviews of the Twisted Series). This is a case of a guy who is kind of an arsehole who you shouldn’t like but can’t help liking in the end. Can’t believe I was rooting for the arsehole. What’s really refreshing about this book is that Nora is the first woman I have read who doesn’t want kids. Don’t get me wrong she loves her sister's kids, but she doesn’t want them and neither does Charlie. AND PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH THAT LIKE IT SHOULD BE!
As summer reads go, this was a breath of fresh air in the romance department. It was modern, keeping up with modern times. Thank God. A happy ending doesn’t have to end in front of a decorative fireplace with a great big fuck off Christmas tree straight out of a Martha Stuart bible surrounded by children and a little Tiffany & Co blue box. Everyone deserves a happy ending – but it doesn’t have to be a tired, overwrought romantic trope. Read this darn book. PLEASE.