Just Some Stupid Love Story was an excellent second chance/grumpy-sunshine romance featuring former high school sweethearts Seth and Molly. At their 15th high school reunion - they make a bet to see who can better predict the fate of 5 couples in their senior class - including themselves. Seth is an easy character to fall for immediately - adorable, willing to be vulnerable, and still a believer in true love, despite his career as a divorce attorney. Molly is definitely relatable - a cynical romantic comedy screenwriter who finds it easier to write about emotions than experiencing them herself. Their paths in the novel aren't always easy or straight-forward and there are plenty of missteps along the way. But this novel was sexy, funny, emotional, and so entertaining. Definitely a great summer read! Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

*3.5 stars rounded up*
Just Some Stupid Love Story alternates points of view between the two main characters, Molly and Seth. It took me a bit to warm up to Molly... she's very cynical, especially about romance. As we learn about her past it becomes more understandable, but sometimes her self-sabotaging was really frustrating. The story covers the span of 5 years, so there are several jumps in time that highlight Molly and Seth coming together and drifting apart over the years. They both have a lot of self-reflection along the way, leading to a good deal of character growth. It was interesting to see how the relationships of other couples in the story evolved over time in addition to the main characters. Overall, the book was a little predictable but still a quick read that kept me engaged.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the early review copy of Just Some Stupid Love Story! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

I should have done my research on this before reading. I knew there was a probability of sexual content and I was prepared to skip it if/when it appeared. This book did not waste any time getting to sexual content and honestly, that was more than I can tolerate. The first 6 chapters were building up to it but I didn't think it would happen so fast. Unfortunately, I decides to end my reading at Chapter 8. From what I did read, I did enjoy the short chapters as well as the dual pov. Sadly, thus just wasn't for me. Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

Seth a pesar de ser abogado de divorcios cree en el amor y no puede esperar a encontrar a su alma gemela, es un monogamo en serie esperando encontrar a la elegida.

Molly es escritora de romances para películas y series, desde niña aprendió que el amor no existe, cree que es como su papá y que si se permite querer a alguien terminará lastimandolo.

Los dos son ex novios, se recuentran en la fiesta de 15° aniversario de su graduación de high school, hacen una apuesta de quien tiene la razón de sí existe o no el amor, escogen 5 parejas y predicen si durarán o no y en la 20° reunión verán quien tenía la razón

Sarah era la pareja perfecta para Seth, ojalá se hubieran casado.

Me desesperó Molly, se la pasó acercándose a Seth para luego romperle el corazón. Al final resultó que era cierto que se parecía a su papá.

Seth idealizada como seria su alma gemela que nunca pudo ver y disfrutar a sus novias.

Disfrute las escenas del juego de béisbol y cuando se enteró que Seth estaba comprometido, después de todo lo que hizo sufrir se merecía saber como se siente.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

I loved this!!! I love dual pov second chance romance. This delivered! It was a really unique spin on a classic rom com. Seth was so unabashedly sunshiny. Molly was cynical and grumpy. She had trauma and in turn she hurt Seth. It was heartbreaking at times. Funny. Sweet. All the things. Highly recommend.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely thrilled to stumble upon yet another captivating tale of enemies turned lovers, where opposites attract and sparks fly! This book ticks off all my must-have tropes, whisking me away into a world of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a unique dating premise that had me hooked from page one. The character arcs, not just for the main duo but also the supporting cast, are beautifully crafted, making it easy for me to invest in their journeys.

However, despite the book's undeniable charm, I couldn't quite give it a perfect rating. The storyline's extensive timeline, reminiscent of those never-ending engagement sagas in romantic comedies, left me feeling a tad lost at times. While the writing itself was top-notch, the prolonged narrative blurred the overall direction, making me wonder when it would all come together. Condensing the timeline to a more manageable two-year span could have tightened the plot, allowing for a more immersive experience. Nonetheless, the final act, though a bit melodramatic, still held my attention, ensuring a satisfying conclusion.

In this refreshing twist on the classic grumpy sunshine trope, our heroine Molly takes on the role of the skeptic, while Seth, our leading man, embodies unwavering optimism—a dynamic that adds an extra layer of intrigue to their dynamic.

Their post-high school encounters are laced with a sense of inevitability, yet Molly's self-imposed barriers often thwart their connection. Watching them navigate these hurdles while evolving as individuals was a delight to behold.

One of the book's highlights is Seth's genuine concern for Molly, a touch that deepened my investment in their relationship. Seeing the story unfold from his perspective lent it depth and authenticity.

Admittedly, it took me some time to warm up to Molly, whose departure from the usual protagonist mold initially gave me pause. However, her growth throughout the story eventually won me over, showcasing a nuanced character arc.

Set against the backdrop of a high school reunion, where a romance-weary screenwriter and an idealistic divorce attorney cross paths, this tale unfolds with a one-night stand that sparks a bet on unraveling the mysteries of love. Their contrasting outlooks on relationships set the stage for an unforgettable journey.

As they part ways, they wager on their ability to decipher the secrets of love, with plans to reconvene at the next reunion five years later to determine the winner. Through alternating perspectives, the narrative explores the intricacies of their evolving relationship, complete with all its imperfections and insecurities.

Overall, my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this captivating read in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in one sitting, could not put it down. I love a second chance/high school sweethearts love story & this one hit the mark. It was raw & emotional but also romantic. I loved the characters & their flawed ways (and also reallllllyyy wanted them to get some therapy). The plot developed smoothly over the course of multiple years and even successfully included some Covid years without making me want to gouge my eyeballs out (still too soon to relive 2020). Set in Florida, LA, Chicago, New York and even a little Nashville this rollercoaster of a story takes us all over the country with emotions all over the map and I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

4 spicy romance stars

This was my first read from this author, but I see that she also writes historical romance. I found this one to be quite spicy, but I did enjoy the romance and Molly Marks. Some of the critical scenes happen at high school reunions and I found that I like this premise.

Molly is a Hollywood rom-com writer, but she doesn’t believe in soulmates or even romance really. The title of the book clearly comes from her. She and Seth were high school sweethearts until she unexpectedly left him on a pivotal night 15 years ago, and now he’s at the reunion.

Seth has become a super successful family law attorney in Chicago. He’s been looking for the person who can replace Molly in his heart, but so far, no one has measured up. He’s ready for marriage and a family. And I found him to be a nice guy, and you know what they say about nice guys.

As fate would have it, Seth and Molly are paired up at the same table at the high school reunion. Molly’s only there to see her good friends; she didn’t realize she would have to face Seth. However, the sparks fly, and the two can’t keep their hands off each other. They come up with a fun bet to see who is better at picking which of five couples will stay together.

Seth and Molly go their separate ways, but they plan to meet again at the 20th reunion to see who won the bet. The interesting thing is that neither of them can get the other out of their minds. Will Molly change her mind and realize that she should be with Seth and accept that he is her soulmate? Will Seth get tired of being rejected and settle for someone other than Molly, but who loves him?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Such a great little romcom! I really loved both main characters and their arc. I enjoy reading books where characters experience real growth and I had that here. I also liked how realistic and relatable the characters and plot were.

“But just because the results won’t be fairy-tale perfect doesn’t mean you can’t try your best to be vulnerable. When you hurt someone, you do what you can to fix it. When you’re scared, you do what you can to be brave.”

A second chance, friends to lovers, “it’s always been you” story that spans two decades… sign me up! Friends to lovers is a top tier trope for me and Katelyn Doyle magicked a story that was honest, relatable, sometimes bittersweet, but oh so beautiful and redemptive while also brimming over with longing, forgiveness, and hope. This story had such a hold on heart and I could not put it down. I was rooting for Seth and Molly and their messy love story from the start and found myself tearing up and clutching the book to my heart several times.

I loved the premise of a cynical rom-com writer and a divorce lawyer eagerly looking for the love of his life, who are former high school sweethearts, reconnecting and unable to resist the spark that’s been burning between them for fifteen years. On the surface Seth and Molly might seem like an opposites attracting situation, but at their very core, they both just want to love and be loved. This story was achingly vulnerable and layered as Seth and Molly worked through their own pasts of unresolved hurt, but I loved how incredibly brave they both were to bare their hearts and desires, even when it was uncomfortable and scary.

I’m a sucker for a grand gesture (love them, can’t get enough) and Molly’s grand gesture was not only perfect for her and Seth’s story, but it was so vulnerable and an act of growth and bravery. This story has the heart and humor of a romcom, but I what I adored most was how Doyle focused on the “after”… the messy, imperfect moments that take place after the highlight reel or when the camera turns off altogether. Doyle did a wonderful job of demonstrating growth and healing for both Seth and Molly as individuals and as a couple, and I appreciated how even in the end, they were still perfectly imperfect but full of hope.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a love story about two imperfect people who don’t always get it right, but who make the decision to be brave and love wholeheartedly, to be vulnerable with their person even when it’s scary, and to fight for a happily ever after with the person they adore.

This was a really cute story! It followed high school lovers over five years, beginning at their high school reunion. I immediately fell in love with the MMC, and the FMC took some time to grow on me. I also loved the friendship dynamic in the female friend group and thought it was a great support for the book. Overall, it was a hopeful love story and I found myself really rooting for both the main characters and the supporting characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the eARC!

Molly Marks is a cynical Rom-Com screen writer that doesn't believe in love or soulmates. Seth is a golden retriever divorce lawyer who really wants to find his soulmate. They were high school sweethearts until Molly broke Seth's heart right before college. 15 years later, they find themselves seated together at their high school reunion making bets on whose love will last and whose will fizzle out.

This story follows Molly & Seth many years including 2020(isolation years). I enjoyed the pace and was glad they took a journey to find each other. Molly mirrors a lot of myself with her hiding her vulnerable heart under cynicism and snide remarks. She wasn't unlikable and I enjoyed her friendships outside of Seth. Seth is the perfect cinnamon roll with a gooey center. I enjoyed his optimism and still being able to verbally spar. The banter in this book was great!

This book made me feel things. I cried a couple times during this book which is unusual for me. The wedding vows from the side characters wedding had me in tears. Overall, I just really enjoyed the characters and their path to finding each other.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of a second-chance romance is great. The main characters had potential with good banter and spicy scenes. But there were just too many break-ups. And after the final one, well, it just seemed like there would be no real way to come back from it.

I liked the idea of a romcom about a cynic who writes romcoms. I get the meta way tropes are used here. With some editing and better pacing, this could have been spectacular. As it is, this is a fine but forgettable book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

This is a SPICY debut that was ORIGINAL and ENJOYABLE- BUT I would not call it swoon worthy!

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—despite NOT believing in love. She KNOWS that romance is a genre with its own set of beats, though different from those of thrillers and detective novels. You start at the “meet cute” and END the story when things are finally going well. You NEVER continue on to the part where he cheats on her or the kids kill their sex life.

Seth Rubinstein believes in soulmates and “once in a lifetime” love, despite his job as one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he has tried to find “the one” often rushing into relationships in his zeal to find his “happily ever after”.

But so far, no one can compare to his high school girlfriend, Molly Marks-the first girl who broke his heart.💔

Molly hates weddings, and class reunions and usually RSVPs her regrets. (My doppelgänger 🤣)
BUT this time her besties, Dez and Alysssa drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, and she finds herself seated with Seth.

After far too many “Signature Cocktails” and a drunken hookup -they find themselves making a bet to see which of them can correctly predict the fate of five couples.

Who will be together at their 20th reunion?

The catch? The fifth couple they are betting on is the two of them. Seth is confident she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him, and Molly assures him that there is no chance of that happening!

Who will end up victorious?

I loved the PREMISE but Seth was a very different LEADING man! Sure, he was REALLY, REALLY NICE, but he was also extremely GOOFY and NERDY, and I am personally NOT turned on by men who refer to body parts and sexual acts in CRUDE terms. I was not swooning over him.

Still, he doesn’t need to be MY soulmate, he needs to be Molly’s-and by the end, I was rooting for them!

⚠️ This book also includes some very descriptive open door scenes, which isn’t my thing, but will appeal to readers who like things spicy!!🌶️

Despite these two things, I did enjoy the story!

You can pick it up on June 4, 2024 just in time for beach 🏖️ bag season!

Blame your blush on sunburn!! 🤭

Thank You to FlatIron books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Just Some Stupid Love Story
By: Katelyn Doyle
Narrated by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige
Review Score: 3 Stars

Why Was This Book “Just Ok”?
I abolsutley LOVED the idea of this book. Second chance romance linked with a bet on what couples would last? I absolutely was hooked and wanted to know what would happen. Unfortunately, this book was just way too long. And the main girl, Molly, was not all that likable.

Do I still recommend it?
Yes. I think people will enjoy this story. And I probably would have liked it more if it was half as long.

———

Just Some Stupid Love Story was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Flatiron Books. Thank you for allowing me to read this book!

I have a lot of conflicting feelings on this book. I loved the idea (2 ex lovers who make a bet that in 5 years, they can see what couples are still together). I loved the tropes (Grumpy Vs. Sunshine, He Falls First, Second Chance Romance).

Where I struggled the most with this book was the length. Things kept happening between the couple over and over again (Like, not one “third act breakup”, but 3), and that made it hard for me to believe they were meant to be.

I also found Molly to be a contradiction. She seems to have issues with lasting love, but she has consistent best friends, so she isn’t totally against relationships. And her issues could be better solved, but she just refuses too? I really struggled with her, and felt like Seth deserved a better match.

Regardless, I did enjoy this book. I like the evolution of the story, and the characters. This is not really a light and fluffy read, but it was still good. I liked it, I just didnt love it.

This was such an enjoyable and fun read. I just LOVED following the main characters in their 5 years of growth. It made me want to know all about their next 5 years too.

I absolutely loved this book! The witty banter was perfect and I really felt that Seth and Molly had great chemistry. I am so glad that they were able to work through their issues and get back together in the end. Yes, the ending was very predictable, but it was what I was rooting for. I will be recommending this to all my friends who love romance books!

It may have been a mistake to advertise this novel "for fans of Emily Henry." I went in with high expectations that were unfortunately not met.

I found it difficult to root for Seth and Molly when they spent literally years going back and forth that by the end I didn't even believe they were meant to be together.

This is a romance in the enemies to lovers/opposites attract/frenemies/rom-com genre. I haven't read Katelyn Doyle before, but she is known for her historical romances under the name Scarlett Peckham. I enjoyed the will they, won't they drama in this one.

Seth and Molly are both invited to their 15th class reunion. It's something that Molly would normally not attend. But something Seth lives for. Molly is a rom-com writer who doesn't believe in love. Seth is a divorce attorney who is searching for "the one" and is a hopeless romantic. Seth and Molly used to date in high school but Molly ended things when the going got serious.

So at the reunion, Seth and Molly have a hookup and end up making a bet on what couples will be together by their 20th reunion. And the final couple they bet on is themselves. Neither knows they have been harboring feelings for one another all this time. Seth bets that they will end up together (because they just hooked up and his "the one" radar is ALWAYS on) and Molly bets they won't (because love is a construct and true love isn't real).

Then they spend the next 5 years going back and forth flirting and not speaking and then flirting and having awkward conversations. I wanted to tell both of them to just be honest but that just brought the tension up and made me turn the page on this one. This book could have been a little shorter but I still liked the tension build up. The secondary characters were fun and had their own development that I enjoyed. The premise is what really drew me in and this was entertaining. This author has a very Emily Henry style of writing (think People We Meet on Vacation). This was a four star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.