I enjoyed reading this a lot, but something felt unfulfilling to me in the end. I don’t know if it’s because the level of friendship was unrelatable to me, or if it’s because I actually felt Remy’s friendship with the other three was very lopsided most of the time, or if it just got tied up too neatly.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

I was so excited for this book! I wish there were more books written about friendship and the heartache of friendship break-ups, as well as the gift of true friendships. But unfortunately, I think I liked the idea of this book more than the reality of it. I struggled to connect with our main characters very well, and felt like the drama of Simone as a sex worker felt distracting from the friendship plot, at least for me. I appreciated the representation in this book, and loved what the author was trying to do, it just didn't work all the way for me, I'm sorry to say.

Writing: 5+/5 Characters: 5+/5 Story: 5

Remy is a writer struggling to produce a second book at the same time as her ten-year, very close, friendship circle is dispersing leaving her jonesing for a new friend. For her, the love she has for her close female friends is far more important than the promise of sexual relationships with men. Simone is an introvert who loves her job as a Year 1 teacher, but also loves the lifestyle provided by her second, and rather secret, job. When the two meet in a kind of platonic “meet cute,” it’s not at all clear that a friendship could be the result, but it does in fact pave the way for an incredibly rich book about female friendship. The best descriptions come straight from the book itself: “Great food, the complexities of female friendship, and the romantic nature of platonic love” and “adult friendship, and the beauty, intimacy, and unappreciated joy of platonic love are explored through the lens of the moral ethics of storytelling.”

I love that the book fully delves into so many issues of importance to women. Real issues such as whether or not have to children; how to tease apart your own moral compass from the judgment of your community; how to define selfishness and is it necessarily a bad thing; and how to manage (which is actually required) a tight friendship group. The idea of platonic love applied to friendship without attraction was a real eye-opener for me. Something I think I’ve always longer for, but honestly could never have even described. These characters are beyond rich — they are so much more interesting and complicated than the typical stereotypes and behavior groupings we get daily from fiction and the beastly news. I found the discussions of life philosophies to be penetratingly insightful (as did the characters themselves). I was able to dive into so many topics that I simply hadn’t spent much time exploring. One of my favorite lines is when one character is exposed to another’s viewpoint and says: “I’ve never really seen life that way. The idea of taking from it as opposed to merely accepting what you receive.” Think about that from the perspective of typical expectations of women!

Jessica George is a startlingly beautiful writer. A large vocabulary precisely placed into perfectly crafted phrases depicting the intricacies of human interaction and self-reflection. I enjoyed the meta-fiction circularity detailing the intricacies of Remy’s writing process while struggling to write the very book that I believe we end up reading. Masterfully done, engaging, and surprisingly unconfusing! I loved her first book — Maame — just as much (see my review here).

First of all I want to thank the publisher for allowing me to read the arc of this book.

Tropes:
Platonic Romance
Friendship Focus
Life Transitions
Writer’s Block
Personal Growth
Secrets and Misunderstandings

The story follows Remy, a successful author who is struggling to write her second novel, and Simone, a reserved and independent woman who is facing family and personal problems. Remy immediately feels a desire to get closer to Simone but at first she is closed off and cautious. Their first meeting is a funny mess where Simone spills wine on Remy and from there begins a slow but meaningful journey of friendship and trust. The book explores their lives, the difficulties of forming connections as an adult and personal challenges that test their bond.

Remy is determined, caring and curious. She is a realistic character with insecurities, anxiety and some immaturity but she also has the ability to observe and connect with others that makes her immediately empathetic. She does not give up easily and fights to create a bond with Simone even when things get complicated.

Simone is direct, reserved and very different from Remy. At first she seems self sufficient and not interested in making new friends but gradually she shows her vulnerability. She has secrets and a difficult past that affect the way she opens up to others, making her complex and fascinating.

The friendship between Remy and Simone is the heart of the book. It is intense, real and never trivial. There are moments of conflict, misunderstandings and challenges but also complicity and mutual growth. Their dynamic shows how friendships can change us, challenge our habits and help us become better versions of ourselves.

Jessica George has a clear and engaging style. She makes the emotions of the characters and the complexity of their lives very tangible without slowing down the reading. Some parts may feel slow and the prose may not please everyone but the strength of the characterization and the authenticity of the relationships make up for it.

In short, “Love by the Book” is a book that celebrates female friendship, personal growth and the difficulty of forming deep connections as an adult. Remy and Simone are well developed characters with a relationship that stays in your mind even after finishing the book. I recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional and authentic read with strong female protagonists.

This one was just okay for me. I liked the premise and there were definitely some sweet moments, but I never fully connected with the characters the way I wanted to. The pacing dragged in spots, and I found myself losing interest here and there. Still, the writing had charm, and I can see other readers enjoying it more than I did.

A story of female friendship. Remy is devastated when her close relationships are affected by life changing events. After a chance meeting with Simone, Remy hopes for a new person to connect with. Simone, on the other hand, is a difficult nut to crack. The story evolves from there as secrets are unfolded and a bonding relationship slowly unfolds.

I appreciated reading about friendship without the typical inclusion of sex or romance. It was an interesting change of pace. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read and review.

A delightful tribute to friendship! I loved the author’s debut and was excited to read this.

Remy’s first novel—a fictionalized account of her relationship with her three best friends—was a resounding success. Unfortunately, Remy is experiencing a creative block on her second novel. And even worse, it seems like her friendship group is breaking up with one friend moving, the other pregnant, and another possibly getting back together with her terrible ex. When Remy encounters Simone one evening, she feels a pull to be her friend. Simone however isn’t looking for friendship. Remy is not willing to give up that easily, and soon she is spending more and more time with Simone. But will Simone’s secrets and Remy’s lack of boundaries cause a rift?

This was wonderful! We get a book within a book, likable characters, and a compelling plot.

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I appreciated that this novel focused primarily on friendship above romance (as well as the meta moment of this having been what one of the main character's books did as well) but really struggled with the prose and voice of the book.

The friendship in the book was beautiful and the exploration of love was great, but I wish the characters were more fleshed out

This novel is a love letter to friendship…and I loved it. Not only did I enjoy the main characters and the plot, I also enjoyed the author’s exploration of aging, women’s issues, societal pressure, and emotional growth. An amazing read.

Love by the Book by Jessica George left me quite turned off, mainly by how the main character Remy, mined her life to write her first novel, although with her friends' consent. When she couldn't come up with a second novel, she did the same thing, but almost with disastrous results. In the meantime she's managed to blow up her own life by doing irresponsible things. I felt Remy was an unreliable narrator and far too immature for her age. On the other hand, the other main character was handed a raw deal and was mistreated. Although I finished this book I was not comfortable with it and surprised at how it was so easily resolved with a positive ending. I thought it was incredibly unrealistic and disappointing.

This was a very good book. Friendships are meant to be good and these ladies had a great one. We need more books like this in our lives and especially from such a great author!

I was asked to read and review “Love by the Book” by Jessica George.

I am always looking for novels about female friendship, perhaps because I have struggled so much with connecting with other women as I get older. Here, the focus is on Remy and Simone. The women meet a bookstore event, each bringing her own baggage but at the same time, seeking a female connection.

What I appreciated most about this novel was that friendship was the focus; it was not secondary to romance. I related to the book a lot.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

Love by the Book is a platonic romance. While I've never heard of a platonic romance before, I can easily say I love the genre (is it a genre?). If you're new to it like me: Love by the Book is a book about female friendship. No romantic subplot. Just friends and how deeply they can love one another and their stories can follow a romantic arc.

Remy is a young woman in London; the successful author of a debut novel that is loosely based on her best friend group--4 women that could not be closer. Until, suddenly, they're not. Lin has moved to NYC for her career, Melissa has moved to the suburbs to have a baby and a yard, and Nova is tied up with her boyfriend. Remy is so lonely. She's got writer's block. She's moved back in with her mother. Mildly depressed, certainly anxious, and insecure, Remy takes a chance by offering to grab dinner with a woman she runs into at a book event: Simone.

Simone is reserved, reluctant, fine by herself. Well, at least that is how she wants to be and portrays herself. Simone is also lonely. Her sister was her best friend and they had a drastic falling out. When Remy approaches Simone, it's a meet-cute. Simone spills wine on Remy. She is also both taken and annoyed by Remy. Simone says no to dinner... and yet, Remy shows back up.

This book is an absolute delight. The characters are so easy to love. The friendships are palpable. Remy is someone we all want as our best friend (her thoughtfulness, the way she files away facts about what you like and uses it for gifts, everything!). And it's so easy to root for everyone to stay friends, figure it out, love each other. This is the kind of book where I'll miss the characters a little now that it's over.

Side note - I appreciate how sex work is portrayed, as a healthy professional choice. And that unplanned pregnancy has three options.

Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Love by the Book” is an enjoyable story about the power and importance of female friendships, including what happens when life changes among group members seem to be pulling the friendship group apart, and the difficulty of developing new friendships as an adult.

One of the main characters, Remy, is an author, and interspersed throughout the book are partial drafts of an attempted second novel. Early on, the backstory for Simone, the other main character, feels like it could be part of Remy’s next book, and it took me a minute to realize that Simone is a “real” person (in the sense of being an active character in the book). Of course, her backstory will become part of Remy’s next book.

Simone is probably my favorite character in the story, although all the major characters are appealing in their own ways. While never explicitly stated, Simone is portrayed as being on the autism spectrum. How she relates to others socially, her views on relationships, her bluntness, etc. make her an unexpected choice for a new close friend for Remy, whose personality is so different. Yet, the author does a great job of demonstrating how their friendship, as awkward as it is at times, make Remy and Simone better people by helping them recognize things about themselves which had previously gone unseen or unappreciated.

There is so much to love about this heartwarming story that the few, minor flaws fade right away.

Remy and Simone are complex characters. Each has undeniably appealing qualities and relatable flaws. At the start, I struggled to get a handle on who these women were, who the supporting characters were, and how everyone related to each other. But thankfully once these questions were answered, I quickly found myself invested in them and their lives and challenges.

I greatly appreciate the representation for asexuality and love the story’s focus on adult female friendships. The way life transitions can dissolve important friendships and the difficulty of building new friendships in adulthood are experiences so many of us have gone through. Adult friendship is complicated, and I found it comforting to see my struggles with loneliness played out through these characters.

It’s not a perfect book, but it’s an enjoyable, relatable, and warm story, and I’m glad I got to read it.

Jessica George is two for two! She explores love and dynamics within friendships, and there is much to think about concerning what we want and how to justify it with ourselves and others. While Remi was clearly meant to be the primary main character, Simone's story stole the show.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This was a great follow up to Maame.

Absolutely exquisite! This is a novel about love. It explores many types of love, friendship, family, romantic, filial, and physical. George has written a totally compelling novel, centered around 2 women, Remy and Simone. She explores all their relationships, including that between the two of them.

I was really so enthralled by these characters that I couldn’t put the book down.

Remy is an author in search of a plot for her second novel. Simone is a primary school teacher, isolated from the family she adores when secrets are revealed. Remy’s life and first successful novel revolve around her friends who have scattered. Of course, this novel centers around their growing love, friendship and collaboration.

I highly recommend this standout novel about women and love. I loved all the women in this novel and I recognized the evolution of relationships between women.

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful novel!

While I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing, I found some of the characters to be entertaining and relatable. The book portrayed lonliness and the ups and downs of friendship quite well. While reading, I found things I relate to and compared my feelings and experiences. I think many people will find things in this book that resonates with them.

I got this as an ARC, it was so beautifully written and the characters and so intricate that it made me never want to stop reading it. The only issue I have is that some of the characters made me feel as if this book were written on a sham. I compared the writing a lot to maame, which could have been the issue. But other than that I think the portrayal of real adult like is astoundingly phenomenal. Would recommend