Molly and Seth were in love in high school, but she broke his heart and they haven't seen each other since. Now, after reconnecting at their 15 year reunion, they continue to move in and out of each other's lives and the timing is just never right.

I felt for Molly with her worries about not being enough and worrying she might be like her terrible father. I could also understand Seth's wish for something meaningful and how he would be all in too fast in some cases. Their, and their friends' stories, were emotional and sometimes raw. Over time, though, everything started to feel a bit repetitive and drawn out. Overall a good debut, but it was just an ok read. I would still like to try something else from the author in the future.

Seth and Molly had the odds stacked against them as adults, what with the divorce attorney and romance writer backgrounds. High school reunions ar ealways a fun backdrop for rekindling past relationships, remembering the way things used to be, and possibly changing their future.

I loved these characters. It was exactly the romance I needed! The personalities were relatable, and the story kept me engaged.

Molly, a Rom-Com screenwriter, is a bitter cynic who doesn’t believe in lasting love. Her high school ex-boyfriend, Seth, is a successful divorce lawyer who all but sings about soulmates while twirling around in the Swiss Alps. They meet up (and hook up) at a high school reunion and bet on the 5-year success rate of five couples from their class, one of whom is Molly and Seth.
It was a decent debut and entertaining. I would read the authors next book for sure.

“Just Some Stupid Love Story” might seem like *any* other stupid love stories out there but, to my utter surprise, for the better part was more focused on the difficulty of acknowledging your traumas and not making them the most important aspects of your relationship.

Overall, the romance was nice as much as the next love story: predictable, slightly off balance here and there, and sweet in its we’re-following-a-rom-com-script vibe.
But the real celebrity is the dual POV: not only because it lets us see their mistakes from more than one perspective, it was really embodied in the narration and was essential - idk if it’s ever happened to you but sometimes I feel like it's not necessary, especially when it's pretty clear the story was “thought” from one specific character’s POV.

Back to the reason why I liked this: trauma is a bitch because it never really ends. As in, you may think your parents' divorce wasn't a big deal, but it was; it was such a big deal that, deep down, you're so scared of letting yourself be loved and reciprocate that feeling that you try to do anything to prevent it.
Or, on the other hand, you may have idolized the idea of love you want, and you don't even realize you're not the only one in the relationship. Marriage, kids, the white fetch and a golden retriever aren't what everyone wants; sure, being sensitive and taking things slow is a good first step, but it's still not an assurance about what your partners will want in the future.

Molly and Seth’s story isn't extraordinary in any way; it's pretty normal, actually, and that's what made me cherish it even more.

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Net galley for a chance to read this arc! Overall I felt fine about it, but was also fine not picking it up after putting it down. It passed the time but I wouldn’t necessarily hurry to read it.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really enjoyed this debut story featuring opposites attract, second (and third? and fourth?) chance romance of high school sweethearts Molly and Seth. Their level of attraction never declined yet life’s events hardly seemed to align for them at the same time. The expository elements with the emails, the first person, dual PoV, and even the timeline and plot referencing Covid, along with the HEA, added to my enjoyment in reading.

JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY by Katelyn Doyle is one of the best romance releases of 2024, and more people should be talking about it! I also feel like it did a great job reverting conventional gender roles in a romance (i.e. the girl is sunshine and the guy is a grump) -- don't miss out on this one!

This was such an entertaining debut, with alll the spice!
When Rom-com writer Molly reunites with high school sweetheart Seth, and make a bet to predict the fate of five couples.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-enemies to lovers
-opposites attract
-grumpy x sunshine (reverse)
-open door romance

*many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I am a huge lover of second chance romances, so I was excited for this one! The idea was cute and well drawn out. I also love dual POV, which made this book so much fun!

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my honest review.*

Molly writes rom-coms but has sworn off love. Seth is the HS boyfriend who ghosted Molly in high school. And they reunite - sort of - at the high school reunion and make a bet on love. Picking out 5 couples and whether said couples will be together or not for the 20th reunion. With one of the couples being themselves.

Dueling POVs and various other relationships and influences get in their ways over the next 5 years. Will they make it or not?

A great debut and storyline. Narration on audio book was fantastic! And once they get out of their own ways... well, you can guess what happens.

I think this was a fun read where two characters have their stubborn ideas of love and never really communicated it but when they do??? Well then the author writes a ton of open door spicy scenes. Everything is resolved and everyone is happy. You get everything you hope for in a story.

“Just Some Stupid Love Story” by Katelyn Doyle has an intriguing premise, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Much of the story focused on their pasts, which overshadowed their present connection and made it difficult to root for them. While there were moments of witty dialogue and a few heartfelt scenes, the narrative often felt bogged down by unresolved history.

Definitely a comfort read for anyone that enjoys enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine tropes. The story did have some heavier themes that were balanced out by witty banter, tension and chemistry. It was enjoyable and entertaining

I was saving this for a slump, and I'm now in a bit of one. But I just read some reviews and realized this is not for me and definitely not for slump-busting. Rather than write and post a negative review of a book I can't give a chance to, I'm writing this note.

I love a high school reunion to bring 2 people together! The dual point of view kept the story going and this was a fun read. I loved the "bet" that kept them going. This book was well written and the story was fun.

What a cute second chance romance! I loved the re-connection setting of their high school reunion and seeing them pick out which marriages will last or not. Watching them come together and experience each other as adults was so sweet. And while the last act break up was inevitable it also made sense and I love that behind the scenes people were working on bringing them back together again.

I was reading two contemporary romances at the same time, one paper and one Kindle, different tropes, but same character types. The hero is tall, strong, handsome, wealthy, smart and most of all kind. He is in love with a woman who is like a fisherman- reels him and and then throws him away, over and over again. The heroine is a feminist and Woke, a disaster for todays' young woman who will one day find themselves old and alone. If you are conservative, don’t waste your time with this book, unless you enjoy being annoyed. It is only my commitment to finish a book that I start, that had me read to the HEA ending.

Just Some Stupid Love Story is a second chance romance with lots of humorous banter. It reminded me a lot of When Harry Met Sally, except Sally was much nicer than Molly and Seth much more likable then Harry. Molly Marks and her mother were traumatized by her narcissistic father's sudden demand for a divorce when she was 13 years old. He left her mother almost penniless and she had nervous breakdown, barely managing to take care of herself let alone Molly. But Molly's boyfriend, Seth Rubenstein, ( I don't understand why giving him a Jewish sire name, when he wasn't Jewish added to the story) helped her cope through high school. And then she abruptly broke up with him at the end of high school. He has loved her since he was fourteen and never got over her. Years later, they meet up again at their 15th High School reunion and make a bet about true love to be revisited in 5 years. Molly is a successful Rom-Com writer, despite the fact that she doesen't believe in soul mates or happily ever after. Seth is a successful divorce lawyer, partly because of the drama of Molly's parents divorce, and has never gotten over Molly. He wants the American dream, wife, children and house, but can't find a woman to share that dream with. He is a keeper, but the woman he meets do not want the same thing. (If he was really Jewish he would have found someone already). Molly has been in therapy for years, but still can't get over her abandonment issues from her father, so keeps pushing anyone away that gets too close and before she believes they will eventually leave her. She needs a new therapist.

So the book is well written, but I didn't care for the main character, Molly. I'm tired of reading these Woke characters who never grow up. I think too many of today's romance writers forget that Conservatives also read romance novels and turn them off with this nonsense.

I read a gifted advanced reader's copy from NetGalley.com. This is my honest, voluntary and unbiased review.

I can see why this book was compared to Emilee Henry. The tension was really great and I enjoyed the banter. The story was captivating and I loved both characters and their romantic chemistry. It kept me on my toes. I did not really enjoy the third act break up but… Who does! I It could’ve been a little bit more of a reason, but overall, it was a great romcom