Quick Synopsis

For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup.

Publisher’s Synopsis

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living―which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth―who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.

Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.

When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.

Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.

Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates―even if they would never admit it.

Book Review

Just Some Stupid Love Story is a debut grumpy/sunshine, second chance, will-they-won’t-they romance novel about Molly, a romcom screenwriter who does not believe in love and Seth, her high school boyfriend turned divorce lawyer who does. At their 15 year high school reunion, they make a bet about which couples will be together at their next reunion. And Seth bets one of those couples will be the two of them.

I thought Just Some Stupid Love Story is the best debut romance novel I have read in some time. It has a semi-unique plot told through dual points-of-view that occurs over 5 years. And unlike so many romance novels, the protagonists are in their 30s, which this 30-something loves to see. (Let’s stop suggesting that a majority of people fall in love in their 20s, thank you.) It felt fresh to have two main characters who are established in their careers, somewhat messy, and still struggling a bit with love and life.

I also appreciated that this book has a smart female protagonist who brings the comebacks. I thought there was solid banter, particularly for a debut. Still, the protagonists have open and honest communication — something almost extinct in romance novels these days. There is a decent amount of steam, although some may find parts of it a bit cringy.

Just Some Stupid Love Story has much more developed characters than many romance novels. Readers are able to have a solid idea of who characters are and what they struggle with. I think some readers may take issue with the fact Molly is a prickly female main character (the grumpy) or think she is “too cruel.” But I really appreciate the gender switch on this common romance trope.

Overall, Just Some Stupid Romance is a strong debut romance with a refreshingly realistic storyline. For some, the female protagonist may be too unlikeable, but I would otherwise recommend this novel.

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