Just Some Stupid Love Story numbers as the third—yes—third romcom I’ve read this whole year. I’ve read more nonfiction than romcoms in 2024, unbelievably. As I don’t read Romcoms much, I’m not too hard to please when it comes to them. However, though I liked JSSLS, I feel there were some things that didn’t measure up in general and distracted from the overall enjoyment of the book. Seth and Molly were great characters in and of themselves, but when they interacted, they seemed to change and get worse as people. Add to that some romcom tropes that seem prolific despite the very few in the genre I have read, and I can’t say this one blew me away.

Though the two love interests have known each other for quite a while and dated while in high school, the time line for the novel itself takes place over the course of 5 years. Seth and Molly’s story is a second-chance romance with some tragic backstory for both of them. Seth’s optimism was a highlight for me, and Molly’s very bleak and unchanging outlook was out of place in the genre. These two got together and broke up so much the plot got bogged down from repetition and lost my attention quite a few times.

On a high note, Lakin and Paige really shine in the narration on this one. With very expressive voices and impressive range for all character types, I feel the book was quite a bit more enjoyable for the experience. I find that when a book has exceptional narration, I’m engrossed no matter how well structured the story is.

Overall, 3 stars out of 5 for the story and 5 stars out of 5 for the narration. The plot was incredibly repetitive, bleak for a rom com, and set during the pandemic, which blindsided me. I don’t like stories set during the pandemic, and, had I known this one was, I would not have picked it up. The narrators really saved this one for me. If you can listen to this one, I highly recommend it.

My thanks to Macmillan for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

This was a really fun read! The characters were witty and likable. I enjoyed the "second chance romance" trope.
Molly returns home for her high school reunion and is forced to interact with the one person whom she does not wish to: Seth. Molly does not believe in love. But to Seth, Molly is "the one that got away." The kicker? Seth is a DIVORCE ATTORNEY and Molly is a ROM COM WRITER! The two of them make a deal to predict the fate of 5 couples and return in 5 years to reevaluate their predictions. Molly agrees, only to find that Seth has chosen themselves as one of the couples.

Thank you to Netgally, Katelyn Doyle, and Macmillan Audio for allowing me early access to this title in return for an honest review!

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle
Genre: romance
Format: audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 out of 5 stars)

Okay WOW I loved this!

💛Second chance romance
💛Dual POV
💛Great audiobook
💛Black cat FMC and golden retriever MMC
💛High school reunion
💛Banter
💛Books about writers (the FMC is a screenwriter)

This one is a romance over 20 years in the making. I loved that they went to a private school - it reminded me a lot of my high school days (except a lot of these people actually still kept up with each other hahah).

Part of this takes place during COVID lockdown - it’s handled well but you may want to skip this one if that bothers you!

I’ll admit it - at first I thought Seth was WAY too much. The energy, the optimism, and goofiness. But you know what? He absolutely grew on me. Some may call this grumpy x sunshine, which is accurate, but I think black cat x golden retriever paints an even better picture of these characters. Sometimes it was a bit over the top, but for the most part, these characters felt so real!

Molly’s is cynical, sarcastic, and so funny. Seeing her slowly get more vulnerable was great. I also really enjoyed her friendships in this story!

My only complaint is that at times this story dragged a bit. It’s definitely one that focused on the long game for sure.

This book is open door. There’s one scene in particular that happens over the phone that’s 🥵 The chemistry these characters have is everything!! If you like opposites attract with a bit of spice, this is for you!

If you’re looking for your next romance on audio, pick this one up!! I think Emily Henry fans will enjoy this because it’s so layered and there’s a ton of chemistry and banter.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my ALC! All thoughts are my own. Just Some Stupid Love Story is out June 4th!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for my latest 5/5 star read! DO NOT let the title fool you- Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle is smart, funny, and a unique take on the second chance trope. If you like the type of books I do, you will LOVE this.

At a wedding, Molly Marks, a rom-com screenwriter, runs into her high school ex, divorce attorney Seth Rubenstein. One would think the rom-com writer would be pro-love and the divorce attorney anti, but that is not the case. These two are fully-developed characters that seem so REAL. Seth is different than most male leads and he is a new favorite of mine. He has such a fun personality, and the narrator does a perfect job with it. We don’t always need a grump, and Doyle managed to make him so cheerful and joyful (and a dance hound) but still manly and hot. While reading, I had feelings in my heart area- I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed listening to narrator Christine Lakin’s raspy voice, and Tim Paige did such a great job, especially with the humor. These two BECAME these characters.

This book is set to be published on JUNE 4, 2024. IMO it is worthy of a pre-order or an as-early-as-possible hold on Libby! Let me know what you think once you’ve read it!

5/5 stars
10 hours 31 minutes at 1x on audio
Open door
Locations: Florida, Los Angeles, Nashville and Chicago

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle is a beautiful second-chance romance that reminded me of When Harry Met Sally.
Molly Marks is a rom-com writer who doesn't believe in love and her ex-boyfriend Seth is an optimistic romantic divorce attorney. When they reunite at their high school reunion, they make a bet on who will stay together and who will break up including themselves.
This story takes place over several years and goes into the highs and lows of trying to overcome their fears and issues with relationships. It has both romantic leads' points of view so you're not left wondering what's going on in the head of the other partner.
Molly is believably damaged after her parent's terrible divorce which leaves her terrified of love and with terrible anxiety. I found her to be very relatable. I also related to Seth's save the world belief in love attitude as well. He was truly a good guy character, so genuine and hopeful all the time.
I laughed and cried and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I like the narrators and felt their voices lent themselves to the character and completely put me in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc. This review was given voluntarily and all views and opinions are my own.

"Just Some Stupid Love Story" by Katelyn Doyle is an enchanting and humorous dive into the complexities of love, fate, and second chances. The novel's protagonist, Molly Marks, is a seasoned rom-com writer who is ironically jaded about romance, while Seth Rubinstein, a top divorce attorney, remains an incurable romantic. Their reunion at a high school reunion sparks a captivating bet that serves as the heart of this delightful narrative.

Doyle masterfully blends wit and warmth, creating characters that are both relatable and endearing. Molly’s cynical perspective on love juxtaposed with Seth’s unwavering belief in soulmates provides a refreshing dynamic that keeps readers eagerly turning pages. The bet they make, to predict the outcomes of five couples over the next five years, adds a clever and engaging twist to the traditional love story.

The book is filled with sharp dialogue, hilarious situations, and heartfelt moments that explore the evolution of relationships and personal growth. Doyle’s writing is both poignant and playful, making "Just Some Stupid Love Story" a perfect read for anyone looking for a romantic comedy with depth and charm. This novel not only entertains but also invites readers to ponder the true nature of love and destiny.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle Audiobook version 4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed the narrators, Christine Larkin and Tim Paige, on this one and I thought this was a really good love story. It touched on some tough subjects like broken relationships between parents and broken relationships between adult child and father. It also dived into some self-worth issues which affected personal relationships. I think there was good character growth and the main characters were likable. The MMC has a golden retriever type personality but I did find him sweet and endearing. I think Katelyn Doyle did an excellent job for this being her debut rom-com! I look forward to reading more from her and will definitely be picking her books up again. Thank you to NetGalley, Katelyn Doyle, and Macmillan Audio for an advance audiobook copy. Much appreciated!

3.75⭐️ ARC from Macmillan Audio, these are my own thoughts and opinions

This was a cute listen! Romcom lover who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who wants to find his soulmate make a bet about who can predict the ending of 5 relationships. Did I mention it’s a second chance romance? It was quirky and fun, and the narrators did a phenomenal job! A lot of the plot happens around COVID, which I didn’t necessarily love, but it worked for this story. Definitely add this to your TBR!

Posted on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Instagram

Molly broke Seth’s heart right before leaving for college after being high-school sweet hearts. It’s been 15 years with no contact and of course they are seated at the same table at their high school reunion. Molly is a jaded rom-com screen writer who doesn’t believe in true love and Seth is a divorce attorney and a hopeless romantic at heart. With their different views on love, they decide to place a bet. They choose 5 couples and predict who will break up, who will stay together and/or who will get together. Whoever wins is correct about love. The 5th couple, well, that’s them.

What follows is your typical back and forth, push and pull of a good rom-com.

What I liked:

~ I found this to be well-written and clever with nice character development.
~ There are plenty of cute and funny moments.
~ It has everything needed for your typical and enjoyable rom-com: tension, apprehension, sadness and ultimately, the happy ending.

What didn’t work for me:

~ I’m not a huge reader of this genre and while not a prude, I didn’t think the spicy language or sex scene(s) added to the story. I understand though through book groups of which I’m a member on social media that there of plenty of folks out there who believe the more spice the better. This one is probably pretty mild by those standards.
~ While I found Molly to be smart and applauded her attempts to work through her feelings repeatedly, overall, I just didn’t like her and found myself wanting to give her a proper slap at times.

All in all, it’s a quick read with a pleasant if not completely fresh take on your standard rom-com. I could very easily see this as a movie.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a great job.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The weather is heating up and its time to start thinking about summer reads. Just Some Stupid Love story is one you will want to throw in that pool bag and chill with pool side.
This was fun, funny, and super hot like steamy.
If you into audiobooks this would be one to listen too. Just remember its steamy.

Doyle crafted an entertaining reverse grumpy/sunshine tale of missed connections. I absolutely love Molly’s dry sense of humor and aversion to all white tent get togethers. Seth on the other hand was so obsessed with love and his future that it started to feel excessive at times. I do feel that they complemented each other well. I also felt that Doyle did a great job with their overall character development arcs. Both Molly and Seth needed to go through periods of growing and learning which was well executed. The biggest issue I had with the story is that it felt too drawn out during the middle. The plot started to feel repetitive and predictable. I did appreciate the insights into the other couples Seth and Molly bet on as well as understanding how those other couples influenced Seth and Molly’s outlook on love. I will say, though, the ending more than makes up for any slowness during the middle. It was such a fun twist on the communication mix up trope. I listened to this via audiobook and love when a romance book uses separate narrators for the FMC and MMC POVs, so the audiobook was already a win for me in that regard. Christine Lakin did an amazing job bringing Molly’s humor and cynicism to life. Tim Paige did an equally impressive job brining Seth’s golden retriever energy to life. These two were cast perfectly to fill the roles of Molly and Seth. I also think listening to the audiobook helped with getting through the slower sections in the book. I recommend checking out the audiobook as it was really well executed.

Just some stupid love story by Katelyn Doyle
Here are my thoughts while reading the book/ review lol 😂
* Molly overthinking is so me
* it feels like i’m on the phone with her i love it
* a rom com screen writer who doesn’t believe in love x divorce attorney who is trying to prove her wrong
* they dated in high school are forced together at a high school reunion we love a force proximity and second chance romance
* not Seth referring rom coms “kissing movies” 😂😭
* this is cute and hilarious obsessed
* the way Seth talks about her I need a man like that 😭
* not her keeping her hair long so it can be pulled 👀
* the spicy is SPICYINNGG BABE
* ouu they making a bet
* their banter is everything
* love that they show the reality of finding your way career wise in your 20s
* you see them grow together and apart it’s beautiful 🥹
* this book felt long at times but too good omg
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars.

"Just Some Stupid Love Story" by Katelyn Doyle is a "right person, wrong time" slow-burning, enemies?-to?-lovers?, second-chance romance featuring one character who is an absolute mess of a person who doesn't believe in love and another who knows exactly what they want and is a hopeless romantic. Molly Marks has been burned and jaded by life and love. She's a grump who writes romance screenplays but doesn't believe in it. Seth Rubinstein is sunshine-incarnate. He knows his one true love is out there, he just has to find her. Or has he already realized that it was Molly all along? After dating in high school, the two of them hook up during their 15-year reunion, setting off a course of events that will bring them repeatedly back to each other in more ways than one. First of all, I loved the dual narration provided by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige. I thought they did a splendid job bringing these characters to life. Molly is a mess, and frequently not in a good way. She is unlikable and offputting at times, especially when she treats Seth as disposable. He's probably one of the least disposable MMCs I have read in a long time. Apart from being overzealous and enthusiastic about procreating and having successful nuptials, he's not a bad guy. Molly has mountains of trauma stemming from her daddy issues. I agree that we should let female characters be unlikable, but Molly is just sort of mean, and I didn't love that. Seth is a golden retriever of a main male character. His heart is permanently on his sleeve. You know exactly what he wants in love at all times. He's obsessed with getting married, having kids, and making a home. This was a little offputting to me, personally (very Harrison Butker, to use an all-too-appropriately-timed reference). Honestly? They both need really good therapists. Some reviewers can't seem to possibly imagine a world where the C0VID-19 pandemic did actually happen... they are probably anti-vax and anti-mask, too, but that's another rant. Guess what? Not all writing can be entirely fictional! C0VID DID happen, and some people lost everything because of it. Some writers, like Katelyn Doyle, create really interesting pieces about how people coped with that very real, very traumatic thing that is not yet over and zapped away years of peoples' lives (and sometimes peoples' literal lives as a whole). I think that aspect of the book is where her writing shines. The isolation, the toll the pandem1c took on people who were otherwise social before it happened... brilliant stuff going on there. So to the other reviewers, get over yourselves. C0VID happened, stop trying to gaslight us into thinking it didn't. Back to the book. There are not a lot of surprises here, but then again, do you need there to be? This is an easy, fast read/listen, and you will likely love it. I did find it to be a little long, but that's my own hang-up. While I did have a few critiques, I still found this to be a good book worth my time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katelyn Doyle, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Former high school sweethearts Molly Marks and Seth Rubinstein reconnect at their 15 year high school reunion. He’s a sunshiny, serial monogamist, hopeless romantic, divorce lawyer. She’s a cynical romcom screenwriter who still carries trauma from her parents’ divorce. After a drunken, post-party hookup, the two make a bet on the outcomes of five couples over the next five years. They choose four pairs from their pool of classmates. And the fifth pair? Well, that would be Molly and Seth themselves.

Oh my heart—I absolutely loved this one. It’s a case of right person, wrong time between two opposites—an introvert and an extrovert—located in different cities—Chicago and Los Angeles—with delicious banter, longterm pining, and delectable heat, set over a five-year period.

I ate up the dual POV audiobook, narrated Christine Lakin and Tim Paige. They captured the humor, attraction, heat, and heartache flawlessly.

5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

I have said it a million times, but second chance is my absolute favorite. Molly and Seth dated in high school, until she broke his heart and they haven’t spoke since. Now it’s their 15 year reunion and they are seated together at the same table…
Seth is the epitome of sunshine, he is so happy and optimistic, I loved his character so much. Molly is the exact opposite of him and a total self sabotager. But their chemistry and banter are so fun and endearing. They make a bet about various couples at the reunion and what the state of their relationships will be in five years.
This is Katelyn’s debut, and I absolutely love it! I enjoyed the timeline, and getting to know the characters. There is so much emotion in this book, and so many hilarious moments, I couldn’t stop listening. Speaking of, Tim Paige and Christine Lakin narrate the audiobook, and I cannot say enough good things. They added so much personality into the mix, and gave epic performances. I highly recommend listening to the audio.
If you like:
🍃Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍Second Chance
☀️High School Sweethearts
🤍Will They/Won’t They
🍃Mutual Pining
🤍Witty Banter
☀️Spice
🤍Dual POV
Then you will love this one! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I like messy “unlikable” characters and this pair is a nice opposites-attract/ second chance romance set up. She is averse to emotional intimacy and sabotages relationships that get too serious. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is in love with the idea of soul mates and a HEA.

Unfortunately, I think I like the concept of this one more than the actual execution. Maybe it's the writing. Maybe it's that the author's brand of humor doesn't really mesh with my own. There were some great moments but often those felt overshadowed by a lot of minutiae that I didn’t really find interesting.

Regarding the audiobook specifically- I enjoyed both narrators. They were lively and kept the listener engaged.

Also, a random thought: I do feel like there should be content warnings listed for Covid19 and discussions of pandemic traumas. It plays a large enough role in the plot that I think it warrants a CW. (It was a jump scare right around the 40% mark)

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

4/5 Stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook of Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle narrated by Christine Lakin and Tim Paige.

LOVE!!! This is my first book by this author and it was really cute. The narrators did a fantastic job (and I LOVE multiple narrators in audiobooks) and they played the characters very well. I thought I would've been annoyed of Seth but he rubbed off on me and is just a lovable guy. Granted, there were times where you can get annoyed because feelings don't want to be talked about and Molly and Seth being available when the other wasn't, it was a headache. I can see how some may think it was a toxic relationship to just walk away from, but they were just emotional unavailable when the other was ready to be vulnerable. Funny how life plays and teaches you when to just give in to love! haha.

The story was very cute and quick to follow. I enjoyed it and will be on the lookout for this author's other books. This was definitely a RomCom and I don't regret it. It did leave me in a good mood and got some ranchy scenes! haha. Again, great jobs to the narrators!

What I enjoyed about his RomCom:
- Dual POV between the male/female main characters
- Second chance at love trope
- Optimist vs. Pessimist in love
- Slow burn
- The banter! I really enjoyed the snarky sense of humor.
- The narrators

What I didn't care for:
- Very descriptive open door scenes
- Overuse of crude language

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I really like audiobooks that use two narrators for the male and female characters.There were some points while listening where I rolled my eyes because it seemed too unbelievable, but it IS a romcom, so you kind of expect that. 😂
Personally, I'd just prefer a cleaner version.

Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio, for the ALC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

This was a really good debut book. I absolutely loved Christine Lakin and Tim Paige narrating this audiobook. They kept me entertained through this book. This story take place over a span of time so it's not something that happens fast. I think Seth and Molly were well written characters. Molly had trauma from her past so she feels like she doesn't deserve love. She had a lot to work through throughout this book. I’m I This book did have me laughing out loud and blushing at times from the spice! I had a good time listening to this book and look forward to the next book by Katelyn. I would recommend this book if your looking for beach read vibes!!


Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

Adored reading "Just Some Stupid Love Story!!"

Enjoyed the duel POV over multiple years as you watched the character grow individually and as a couple. Could not stop listening to this book and need to know the ending!