I’m sure some people will like this book but it was nottttt for me. Most of the story felt way more like women’s fic than romance, with the main themes all being about personal growth and the MC believing in herself. I found Alice (the MC) irritating throughout the book, her sense of humour felt very immature and she didn’t come across like a real person but rather a bundle of cliches. Luke, the love interest, was bland and we didn’t really see enough of him for me to be invested in him as a character, or to feel any sort of interest in their relationship. Basically it was not for me in any way but if you want a women’s fic story of a woman finding her self worth then this might be the book for you.

I took loads of notes while reading this because things the characters said kept getting on my nerves so here’s a list of all those things so my notes weren’t for nothing:
- on p. 13 Barack Obama is misspelt as ‘Barak’
- throughout the book Alice acts SO dumb despite being intelligent both according to herself and her academic past
- in their first meeting (as adults), Alice refers to Luke as the “anti-christ of romantic love” despite only having had a single base level conversation and not knowing any of his thoughts on love yet???
- also during their first meeting, while they have a dry and convoluted conversation with 0 chemistry, apparently this is exciting enough for someone else in the cafe to “turn in his seat to watch” this thrilling interaction
- for some reason Alice’s mum plans a surprise bday party for the morning of her birthday, including a platter of beige snacks - why would anyone want this first thing in the morning?
- I’d give this book a slight disordered eating CW and a fatphobia CW
- okay like I GET what they’re going for with the realisation of class consciousness and like it’s good representation for a certain sort of person who has apparently had no awareness of baseline stuff about poverty but this is inconsistent with the characterisation of alice having been super smart at school, into all the arts, esp philosophy?!!
- why has she bought a che guevara flag? kill me
- omg fuck off why is the socialist protest she goes to just old men shouting ‘what have you done for the cause?’ and ‘tory scum’ at mums and kids
- I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift is referred to as “Taylor Swift’s ‘Trouble’”, which is such a weird error?
- flamenco dancing referred to as flamingo dancing?
- why is she at the bday party of a 3 year old who is the friend of her new friends child?
- first tiny spark between Alice and Luke and then they don’t speak for 2 months bc she is embarrassed she has a crush on him pls like I get it but I also don’t care about these characters enough to care
- also the sudden spark is so out of character? like their previous interactions have not naturally led to a point where they call each other knob and brat ??
- during a visit to a uni, Alice and a man she meets are are horrified that the SU is playing Radio 1, but he’s 25 and she’s 30 so why are they acting like they’re pensioners?
- p.251 it says ‘astronomy’ where it should say ‘astrology’
- Alice is horrified by seeing scrunchies and crop tops when clothes shopping, but scrunchies and crop tops have been in fashion for longer than a decade - they would have been in fashion when she was a teenager, even if they’re not something she’d wear now why is she acting like she has been living under a rock for her entire life?
- just after dealing with harassment and assault from her abusive ex, Alice’s aunt tells her to “enjoy your moment for now” which seems like a wildly inappropriate thing to say
- for some reason while getting ready for a girls night out, Alice and her friends have a conversation about S-E-X (it’s literally written like that on the page) as if they are 13 and not fully grown adults

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

O. M. G. Rebecca’s done it again.

I adored her debut novel, My extra(ordinary) Life, and I loved this one just as much, if not, more! It was such a comfortable and easy read, which is just what I needed after my head being blagged from Fourth Wing & Iron Flame.

It kept me hooked and I was SOOOO invested in the characters’ stories and the relationships between all of them. There were so many relatable moments throughout the book, some positive and some a bit more sad. I love how Rebecca writes such relatable and likeable characters, it’s such an important aspect for me when I read, if I don’t like the characters or relate to them in any way, then it can be really hard for me to continue reading.

The men throughout this book definitely represented the reality of the dating pool in this climate, and I could relate to every single experience that Alice had in her love life. Especially the types of men you encounter as a single woman.

I laughed out loud at so many moments in this book and had a right giggle. I absolutely love when a book can do that!! I don’t re-read books but I feel like if I was to re-read anything on my shelves, I would probably choose this one. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for me, but it made me laugh more than any ever books has done in the past.

I really enjoyed this book. I found I really liked the main character Alice. She has been through a lot and your heart just goes out to her. You find yourself feeling the emotions that Alice goes through in this book and you just have to cross your fingers and hope that she gets her happy ever after that she so desperately deserves. She is also a character that you can relate to and I feel like this book will help a lot of people going through the same.

This author has a fabulous style of writing which really captures you as a reader and makes you not want to put the book down. I know for sure I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

Definitely make this your next read, you will definitely not be disappointed!

What is love? That is a big question and one which Alice would love to know the answer to! She thought she was loved and in love but was badly let down by her partner Charles. Left with no option but to return to her parents’ home and her old bedroom still with her teenage posters on the walls, it’s easy to understand why she feels like a failure. When she unexpectedly runs into Luke, an old schoolmate, they agree on a bet. As a scientist, Luke believes that love is nothing more than a chemical reaction and can easily be explained by science. They agree to date – other people, not each other – and if one of them falls in love, Alice wins the bet.

It was fun accompanying Alice on her various dates. Having been so badly let down, her standards are quite low and she thinks she might as well try dating more or less anyone. This led to some funny situations (I’m particularly thinking of Allan here) but most importantly helped Alice to see what she should be expecting in a loving relationship. Each date showed her some element of what had been wrong with her relationship with Charles. Of course, I was hoping that perhaps Luke might be the man for her but they just seemed to infuriate each other. The romance in the book, when it happened, was perfectly judged.

I loved reading about Alice’s friends and family. Her mum and dad were so loving and supportive of her, showing her what unconditional love is. Her Auntie M was hilarious! I particularly liked her new and younger friend Joanie. When a much loved community hall is threatened with closure, Alice recognises its value for so many people and galvanises the local community into action. I do love a book which brings together such an eclectic mix of people all working for the common good.

It was lovely to see Alice begin to grow as a character as the book went on. She had been put down so much in her previous relationship that she had very low self-esteem and didn’t believe that anyone could really love her just as she was. There is an important message about coercive, abusive relationships permeating the book. As Alice comes to see, love shouldn’t hurt and that is true whether in a physical or emotional sense. As well as looking for love, Alice has to learn to love herself.

The Philosophy of Love is a warm and witty read which will have you laughing out loud at many parts. While family, friendship, community and of course love are central to the story, it also includes more serious themes such as healthy relationships and mental health. Rebecca Ryan once again has written a very engaging book with some fantastic characters.

My (extra) Ordinary Life was one of my fav of last year and so I was very excited to review The Philosophy of Love from SJV for the tour this month.
This is another brilliant read from Becs Ryan - warm and heartfelt, I couldn’t help but fall in love with both Alice and Luke. Seeing Alice regroup and find courage again as she’s supported unconditionally by her mum and dad and the wonderful Aunty Moira.
All of the characters are wonderfully thought out, and even those with smaller parts like Gabby have such a big role to play in helping Alice move on.
Covering some serious topics within the smiles, Becs Ryan writes with compassion and sensitivity and I loved it.

I absolutely adored this book. Rebecca Ryan's debut novel was one of my favourite books of 2023 so I was expecting to love this one too, and it exceeded my expectations. This book made me feel a whole range of emotions. I was laughing out loud at some of the ridiculous things that were said or happened. I also shed quite a few tears at the more emotional parts,
I felt as though I was right there with Alice as she experienced different dates, each helping her to realise the toxicity of her abusive ex. I think it was a great representation of how relationships with others can impact our whole lives. I felt kind of proud seeing Alice realise the impact Charles had had on her and taking steps to move forward in her career, and relationships with people. Often it feels like if you don't stick to the timeline the world seems to suggest, you fail and this book proved that is not the case.
Finally, I learnt so much about science, philosophy, socialism. It was really interesting! Books from the north like this deserve to be celebrated as they represent people who don't often see themselves in the media. It was honest and heartwarming.
I

It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐️ 5 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

My (extra)Ordinary Life was one of my favourite reads in 2023, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Rebecca Ryan’s new book.
 
Ryan’s writing is so fluid; it sweeps you along, and before you know it, you’re on the last page. The characterisation is excellent, and I adored Alice and Luke — I think I even fell in love a little bit with Luke myself!

It’s witty and laugh-out-loud funny, but it also covers some more serious subjects, which are handled with sensitivity and care. It’s a wonderful story of family, friendship, love, hope, and self-belief.
 
The Philosophy of Love has already secured a place in my top reads of 2024.

This is my first Rebecca Ryan book but it won’t be my last – I’ve added her to my top fun romantic fiction writers along with Bella Osborne and Milly Johnson.
Unlucky in love Alice rashly places a £500 bet with old classmate Luke that love is based on more than biological reactions in the body, and that she can fall in love again in six months. And so she begins a dating quest that brings her into contact with muscle-bound Dwaine, political activist Andy and computer nerd Shaun.
But are any of them right for her? And can she trust Luke to play the dating game?
In amongst all this quest for romance is the serious issues of the coercive control Alice has suffered at the hands of her ex, Charles, which has left her vulnerable.
I really raced through this story. As the six months rolls along, we’re treated to a succession of incidents and events that are laugh-out-loud funny, while never losing sight of the emotional turmoil that Alice is going through. And the characters are so relatable. They’re fun, funny, but never overdrawn, and instantly recognisable. When she describes Alice’s mum as having discovered jeggings and rollnecks in middle-age, I had to check I don’t have a daughter called Alice – it’s just so spot on!
I can guarantee you’ll laugh lots, cry a little and make whole bunch of new friends as you read this story. You won’t want to say goodbye to any of them – but you’ll be so glad that you met them all, especially Alice and Luke.

An enjoyable and thought provoking read, looking at the different types of love we can enjoy (and why sadly sometimes we experience something different if we allow another person to spoil our self esteem). Great characters and some very funny moments

Not sure how many times I will say this during this review but I loved this book. Everything from the characters to the plot. Was it a little cliche? Absolutely. Did I know who Alice was going to end up with? Pretty much from the start of the book (and I mean the absolute start). But I loved the way that Alice realises how destructive her relationships have been, that there are multiple types of abuse and that she needs help.

Alice and Luke are opposites but in many ways they are similar, they are both navigating unfamiliar territory and taking steps towards scary things.

The longer Alice is around the familiarity of home the stronger she seems to become. There are many ways that we see the shadows of the person she became, from her unwillingness to step outside of her home, to the way that she doesn't even want to celebrate her own birthday. The further into the story I read the more I could see that Charles' influence over Alice was destructive, dangerous and bullying, so subtle and clever but horrifying.

For me the strength of a book lies in its characters and there are so many different characters with so much to offer, from old Mr Hall on the bus, his daughter Hannah, Alice's auntie M, her grandmother (why is it always the wise grandmother who makes you realise what your path should be - the scene with her in the community centre legitimately had me crying), her parents and of course Joannie and Tyler (two more lovable characters I don't think I have come across in a while).

A book to read and relish, cry and laugh over and enjoy a triumph.

This book was a cosy romcom; frenemies to lovers where the two main characters made a bet about finding/not finding love in the next 6 months. It starts with Alice’s boyfriend cheating on her and she goes back home to live with her parents and start a fresh.

Luke and Alice went to school together and really they didn’t get along, until now!

There was definitely some sensitive topics in this book which I felt were covered with care but make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book.

Overall, it was cute, cosy and I wizzed through it with a smile on my face.

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 30% which I feel like was enough time to give it a chance, I just couldn’t get into it and didn’t find the characters likeable enough to continue reading.
It’s a shame as the general synopsis had me really excited to read this!

I found the main character Alice to be very oblivious and selfish in a way.
She would constantly go on about her ex boyfriend, almost obsessively stalking him online and contacting him. She also would not stop talking/thinking about him, even to people she’s just met or barely knows, even when she’s on a date with someone else? He cheated on her so she shouldn’t be giving him a second thought after what he did to her. I understand it’s hard but I was just so done and over her constantly bringing him up.
That’s the main reason why I could get into it but there was also little comments that just didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t feel any kind of connection between Alice and Luke so I just didn’t see the point of continuing if I just wasn’t going to enjoy their story.

I feel bad for this review but maybe it’s just a me issue and I went into this thinking it was a different kind of romance book. I can see other people really liking this one though!

Loved this. Alice was a gem of a leading character. I loved her thought processes, her voice, her passion for philosophy and the way she slowly but surely worked her way towards better emotional and mental health surrounded by a wonderfully eclectic mix of characters providing much needed love and support (her mum, Joanie, Tyler (toast houses 🤭) Gabby and Aunty M deserve special mention). RR did an excellent job of subtly building the picture of Alice’s past relationship and the impact it had on her and how she managed to build herself back up. Difficult subject matter handled really well. Her attempts at finding love as part of her bet with Luke and the realisations that she had as the story progressed were funny, emotional and heartbreaking. As for Luke himself, 🥰 he was just a wonderful character, challenging in some ways but always kind and so resepctful. The slow burn of his relationship with Alice and the questions of love and how rational or irrational it is were just excellent. RR writes in a way that draws you in and engages your heart and mind throughout. Really glad to say that this book did not disappoint. 5 ⭐️

I read and loved Rebecca’s debut novel last year. And although this genre isn’t my go to, I just love her writing style so much - I couldn’t miss out.

From a non-romance lover, this was a really nice read. Not too slushy and fluffy, but just the right amount of soft and heartwarming I needed.

The plot was sweet, unfolded well and was easy to follow. Although I sort of knew where it was going, I was invested so much in the characters - I don’t think it even mattered. The cast of characters was great, some amazing personalities and storylines within them. I took a real shine to Nana and Joanie.

I really enjoy the authors writing style and the way she develops her characters. It always feels like such a feel good, comfort read for me. She writes the characters in such a way, you cant help be endeared by them - rooting through them the whole way through.

I this lends to how realistic everything feels too. The people, the situations, the places - everything. The author has a knack of being able to include some very rough topics (some of which may be triggering to some, so please do check out warnings), in such a way they never feel too much.

The topics are dealt with sensitively, not glossing over things but also not trauma dumping and getting too heavy. It’s done so well, in both of Rebecca’s books, her ability to do this has been a stand out point for me.

Another well written novel, full of humour, heart warming moments and unforgettable characters. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what comes next from her.

I loved the debut by this author last year and had high expectations for this book and I'm delighted to report that this second novel is no disappointment! Funny, heart warming and emotional, I adored this second novel. Now just to wait for third and the fourth..............!

Funny, tender and achingly real - I loved this book.
Alice and Luke were at school together and they bump into one another again when Alice returns to live in her home town many years later. Cue - an enemies to lovers romcom that is as sweet and heart-warming as it is riotously humorous.
I loved that this story was set in the northeast, rather than in London, it made the characters, their hardships and the setting feel true to life and relatable.
It was, at times, hard to understand why Alice gave any of the chaps in her life (besides Luke of course) the time of day. But the book has a serious undertone, and Alice's character arc of hitting rock bottom and learning to heal and move on, with seriously damaged confidence and anxiety issues, was so well done . The happy ending, when it arrived, was gorgeous. Can't wait to see what Rebecca Ryan writes next!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for granting me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was genuinely a super sweet romance. The narrative follows Luke and Alice, two academic rivals who coincidentally bump into each other years after leaving school. They decide to make a bet about love.

If you're looking for a slow burn romance, this is your gal. I honestly was sat on the edge of my seat waiting for these two to just kindle their romance. I loved their relationship and the way it progressed.

Luke was an extremely likeable male protagonist and the way in which he was just normal made him even more likeable. I was rooting for him to find romance from day 1.

Just generally a super nice romance narrative.

Rating: 4.95/5 (5 on goodreads)

A special thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book to review.

I genuinely really enjoyed reading this book. It had it all for me - conversations about philosophy, slow burn romance, funny characters and great character development in the most meaningful ways.

I loved the FMC in a ‘that’s basically me down to a T including the questionable past romances’ and adored the MMC. Also, can I just say, the side characters felt well placed and included for plot progression and not just there ‘just because’. #WeStanJoanie&Gabby

The only reason this isn’t a solid 5 star emotionally for me, is because I’m greedy and really wanted another chapter or 2 towards the ending. BUT it's it a really wonderful read and definitely recommend picking this up when it is released.

A philosopher (Alice) and a biologist (Luke) get into a debate over love and it's EVERYTHING. To summarize, Alice and Luke are former school rivals who went off down their separate paths in life only to cross again when Alice moves back into her childhood home in their small village after her life in London essentially implodes. Alice believes that, despite having her heart well and truly broken by a man she thought was the love of her life, love is the answer to everything. Luke, on the other hand, believes there's a scientific reason behind love and thus kicks off their bet.

I think this book does a great job at balancing Alice's more serious moments of revelation and healing with moments of downright laugh out loud humour. There were times that I found myself crying with laughter. It was also so easy for me to relate to Alice at times with her personality because I, too, find that Edward Cullen and Disney are the reasons I am the way that I am.

Now about that romance. To tell you the truth, I fell in love with little emo school rival Luke from the start, which means adult Luke already had my heart. So, do I wish there had been more Luke moments? Yes, OF COURSE! But, by the end of the book, it's also easy to see that while yes, it's a romance between Alice and Luke, it's also a journey of healing and self-discovery for Alice who realises she lost her entire identity to her abusive relationship.