ARC Review: Just Some Stupid Love Stort by Katelyn Doyle

Just Some Stupid Love Story
Author: Katelyn Doyle
Publication: Flatiron Books (June 4, 2024)

Description: For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

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.

Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates―even if they would never admit it.

My Thoughts: Molly Marks writes rom-com for movies but doesn't believe in love. Seth Rubenstein is one of Chicago's best divorce lawyers, but he does believe in love and is looking for "the one." The two dated in high school but broke up at graduation.

They meet again at their fifteenth high school graduation and realize the love they had for each other had never really gone away. But Molly is still the sort who runs away from relationships and Seth is still the one who leaps into them too soon. They make a bet with each other: if they can correctly guess the fates of five couples at the reunion, including themselves, each will adopt the other's point of view regarding love and soul mates.

Then the story leaps ahead to various encounters the two of them have during the next five years which are all ill-fated. For example, she's willing to give their relationship a try just as he commits himself to someone else. Or he makes a play for her just as she is disappointed again by her emotionally distant father. And again, and again. They meet at the wrong times for one or the other of them. 

It was interesting to watch each of the main characters grow up and amend their views of love and soul mates. It was also painful to read about all the times they tried and failed to build a relationship and communicate with each other. 

Favorite Quote:

"Oh, come on. I'll feed you cheese curds. I bet you've never even seen a cheese curd."

"The word 'curd' has to be among the most revolting in the entire English language."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.