Just Some Stupid Love Story is a debut rom-com by author Katelyn Doyle. This is a perfect light-hearted summer read. With a second chance romance and sensational humor sprinkled throughout, this was just what I was looking for after finishing a few thrillers. I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth banter between Molly and Seth which included emails and text messages adding to their unmistakable chemistry.

I really loved the dual point of view narration by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige. They truly brought the characters to life and made listening to the book extremely fun and enjoyable. The pacing was spot on and created a seamless storyline.

If you’re looking for a quick and humorous meet cute then I would absolutely recommend giving this debut novel a listen. I can not wait to see what else Katelyn Doyle has in store.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, author Katelyn Doyle, and NetGalley for this Advanced Listening Copy.

The dual narration by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige made the story shine. Lakin brought Molly’s sarcasm and vulnerability to life, while Paige captured Seth’s warmth and sincerity. Their voices had great chemistry and gave the characters so much personality. This is one of those audiobooks that’s just as much about the heart as it is about the humor. Highly recommended if you enjoy second-chance love, opposites attract, or anything with well-written emotional depth and incredible narration.

In this charming and unconventional take on the grumpy-sunshine trope, the dynamic is cleverly reversed: Molly, the female protagonist, embodies cynicism and emotional guardedness, while Seth, the male lead, exudes warmth and optimism in true "golden retriever boy" fashion. This refreshing inversion adds a delightful twist to a familiar romantic framework, infusing the narrative with both humor and heart.

Their post–high school encounters, tinged with serendipity, are continually thwarted—often by Molly herself—as emotional hesitations and personal baggage complicate their connection. Watching their relationship evolve against the backdrop of missed chances and internal conflict is as compelling as it is endearing.

Seth’s unwavering care for Molly is one of the novel’s most affecting elements. His perspective offers a much-needed counterbalance to her skepticism, enriching the dual-POV structure with emotional nuance and a sense of hope that grounds the story.

While I initially struggled to connect with Molly—largely due to her deviation from the romantic heroine archetypes I typically gravitate toward—her gradual evolution and vulnerability eventually won me over. Her character arc, rooted in personal trauma and an aversion to romantic idealism, felt authentic and thoughtfully drawn.

The novel is set into motion at a high school reunion, where Molly, a rom-com screenwriter disillusioned with love, and Seth, an earnest divorce attorney, reconnect and share a one-night stand. Their banter leads to a wager: can love be predicted, or is it all just chaos? Tasked with forecasting the fate of five couples—including themselves—they agree to reunite at the next reunion in five years to see who was right.

This dual timeline narrative is both heartfelt and realistic, portraying flawed, complex individuals navigating love, timing, and personal growth. Molly’s resistance, shaped by her parents’ painful divorce, stands in poignant contrast to Seth’s romantic idealism and tendency to rush into relationships. Their differing worldviews spark not only romantic tension but also a thoughtful exploration of whether love is fate, choice, or something in between.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book and I thought the writing was good. Overall, I liked this book however, it was just too long. I found myself irritated with the main characters and wanted to yell more than once at Molly to just grow up already. I think this would have worked better if it was set even 5 years earlier in their lives. It was just such a stretch for people to be that much of a mess for that long. I’m sure some people are, but it just seemed unrealistic that she could be that bad with that many years of therapy.

I was definitely vested in the story and characters, otherwise I wouldn’t have felt irritated with their choices. So, kudos to the author for that. I just would have liked it better had it been a little shorter with the drama not stretched out quite so much.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an audioARC in exchange for honest feedback. I only listened to the audio for the first part and was having trouble getting into the book. So, I read the regular version to finish it. The narrator was good, I just realized I prefer rom-coms as a read instead of audio.

-3.5 stars

I got a kick out of this romcom in which FMC Molly is a screenwriter for romances but is jaded when it comes to love. MMC Seth believes in true love and soulmates but works in family law dissolving marriages. This is a grump/sunshine second chance romance that reunites these former flames at a reunion. They have chemistry and banter but also things that keep getting in the way. I liked the audiobook dual narration- very well cast and fun to listen to (thanks to NetGalley for the ARC). I would read more from Katelyn Doyle.

I really enjoy Just Some Stupid Love Story. I loved how enthusiastic Seth was about love and I understood why Molly felt the way she did about love. It was devastating and beautiful to see what happened with some of the relationships they bet on. If you’re a fan of dual POV (and I definitely am) and second chance romance; I think you would enjoy this book.

This one started super cute, but really fizzled in the middle.

I absolutely loved Molly, a pessimistic rom-com writer, and her bet with Seth in the beginning of the book. This book is a typical rom-com, without any unique elements, which was exactly what I was looking for. I loved the character development of Molly even though it took far longer than I wanted. I also loved her friends as side characters. My only complaint is this book could have been 50ish pages shorter. It lagged in the middle and I got bored. Had it not been for the audio, I don’t know if I would have finished. That is to say, the audio is so fun!

I think I put this off reading it because of a couple of reviews I saw that made me hesitant toward getting to it. However, now I wonder if those are reviewers that hate any book that has some period of time set in 2020/21. I personally do not mind. With that being said I LOVED IT! The narration was perfect (dual narration- loved the male narrator and omg as a HUGE Step by Step fan Christine Lakin???). This story is told over a period of 5 years (along with some high school details back in 2003). The banter was great-dialogue, emails and texts. The friendship group was fun and had a lot of interesting entertainment throughout the story. Different tropes, but it reminded me a lot of Romantic Comedy so those that enjoyed that will definitely want to pick this up.

just some stupid love story was a cute romance with a second chance and some serious moments, the main character was annoying at times, though.

This was such a cute rom com! I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narrators. Molly and Seth dated in high school and Molly ghosted him. Then end up getting back together and then not together. It was truly an emotional roller coaster ride. I enjoyed their banter and of course the spicy scenes!! This was a good cleanser for thrillers!

Another one of your every day cute romcoms. I don’t remember requesting this book, but I saw it in my archive so I thought I’d give it a try.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Katelyn Doyle's debut novel is an entertaining romantic comedy that has me anticipating her future work. The story begins at a 15-year high school reunion, reconnecting Molly and Seth, who dated in high school. Molly, a successful Hollywood rom-com writer, broke Seth's heart on prom night and ghosted him. Now, she's a cynic about love, despite her profession, while he's a divorce lawyer and unwavering romantic who believes in soulmates. Their reunion sparks old flames, and as fate repeatedly brings them together, Molly begins to evolve, questioning her long-held beliefs about love. Watching her character grow and finally open herself to the possibility of love was a highlight of the book.

Molly and Seth's chemistry was undeniable, leaping off the page with witty banter that had me laughing and smiling. Their unlikely pairing made for a truly enjoyable story.

The audiobook edition is great. Christine Lakin and Tim Paige deliver a fantastic dual POV narration. Their palpable chemistry, even though they narrate separately, truly brought the story and characters to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Katelyn Doyle.

3.5 Stars

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Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle is a delightful and witty rom-com that will appeal to fans of Emily Henry and anyone who enjoys a twist on the "second-chance romance" trope. The story follows Molly Marks, a Hollywood rom-com screenwriter who has long since given up on love after ghosting her high school boyfriend, Seth Rubinstein, on graduation night. Meanwhile, Seth, now a successful divorce attorney, still believes in the grand idea of true love, even as his own romantic life has been a series of failed attempts.

Fifteen years later, fate brings Molly and Seth together at their high school reunion, where their reunion leads to a drunken bet: whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion will win, with the fifth couple being Molly and Seth themselves. As they compete, the chemistry between them reignites, and Molly finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

Doyle’s debut novel is a clever mix of humor, heart, and nostalgia, with a cast of quirky and lovable characters. The banter between Molly and Seth is sharp and fun, and the slow-burn romance adds plenty of emotional depth to the story. The premise of the bet keeps the plot moving, and the journey of self-discovery, healing, and love is wonderfully satisfying.

With its snappy writing, relatable characters, and a healthy dose of humor, Just Some Stupid Love Story is a charming read for anyone who loves a good rom-com, especially one that explores the complexities of love, loss, and second chances.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle; Narrated by Christine Lakin; Tim Paige was a phenomenal read!
A fun summer read for fans of rom-coms. It’s perfect for a quick, lighthearted read when you need a small escape from the real world.
I really liked this story! I thought it was a quick and easy read, and I could not put it down because I wanted to know how these two seemingly opposite characters fit together.

Thank you @macmillianaudio and @netgalley for this advance listening copy of Just Some Stupid Love Story. Pub date: 6/4/24. This story was just not for me. Although I don't often lean toward romance I was interested in the description.

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.

This was my first Kathryn Doyle book and it did not disappoint. Christine Lakin and Tim Paige really brought the characters to life! I will definitely be reading more of Kathryn Doyle's books.

A Rom-com screenwriter and a divorce attorney?? Y-E-S! I didn't even have to read more of the synopsis because that sentence alone sold me and the story and romance was really interesting. It followed a 5 year timeline between them and was actually enjoyable to where I caught myself giggling or laughing out loud, so it made up for the agonizing romance that was on and off. I haven't read many "Right Person, Wrong Time" books, maybe just one or two, and this was as expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I was into this at first but then the FMC started to annoy me and I just never warmed up to her. There were some cute moments but overall I didn’t like how she treated the MMC which made it hard to fully enjoy this story.

Molly and Seth were high school sweethearts and have since reconnected at a high school reunion that Molly's friends pressured her into attending. After too many drinks and a hookup, they agree to bet on five couples and see where they are at in the next reunion. The fifth couple is them and Seth bets for them while Molly bets against them.
This story happens over five years but the pacing is so amazing, it goes quick. This is a seriously slow-burn, but I was rooting for them the whole time. I absolutely loved this book and I was addicted!

Wow! I just adored this book. It was a second to chance rom traum. The hero Seth, was yummy and loved with his whole heart. Molly was such a broken human. They have an epic love story and, and Molly has an incredible journey to become whole.