This book is well written and will be an enjoyable read for most. However, there is something about these type of stories which I just can't get along with. I don't want to get into why for fear of spoilers but it shouldn't put anyone off as this book is well written and will appeal to most

I loved the 2000s references in this as I am around the author’s age, but not enough happens for me in this book. I’m
at about 70% but going to DNF the rest. Not sure why Ella can’t express her feelings for Lowe for two thirds of the book and can’t be expected to do another third to find out.

An absolute nod to all of us who were teenagers in the 2000’s. Every page was filled with my teenage years, the smile never left my face.
The story of Ella and Lowe is now one of my favourite stories, ever. I absolutely broke down towards the end, my heart was breaking for Ella ( and Lowe ), their history, their lives. The most perfect book. Thank you!

Cute, cute, CUTE! Oh this book encapsulates that all-consuming feeling of full on fancying someone SO WELL. Especially for those who were teenagers in the 2000s. All the references were so spot on! It took me right back to being an awkward teenager; feeling confident and shy all at the same time, being obsessed with boys, the stupid things you do to save face but end up saving nothing at all. The miscommunication, the angst, the slow burn - I loved it. It took a few chapters to get used to the quick cadence but it makes sense for the character. Clever and different to recent romances I’ve read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6461972010

A huge nostalgia fest for anyone who came of age in the nineties, and a straightforward, life affirming love story. I think the author's background is young adult and you can see that here - the parts of the book where the protagonists are teenagers are the parts that really sing. A tiny gripe is that it does became a little repetitive towards the end (will they, won't they, will they, won't they etc. etc.). But overall a happy, sparkly book that I enjoyed a lot. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book! The nostalgia, the way the writing pulled on my heart strings and memories, the characters…. It’s all just so relatable and real. It was like stepping back in time. I loved this book so much. I Will defo be recommending it to my book reading babes!

4.5 stars

I adored this, it had me wanting to scream at times - you know when two people are so right for each other and they clearly feel the same but neither will make a move and you just want to knock their heads together and say KISS ALREADY - that was me the entire time reading this book. This was SO relatable, my heart feels full after feeling so empty. I have no words, PLEASE read this, the writing is so poetic and beautiful I just !!! I feel like I need 10 hours to process this properly

90s nostalgia woven into teenage crush, turned love. The ups and downs and drama of opposite sex friendship and the heightened emotions of falling in love when you’re a teenager are played out with so many symbols of the 90s it’s not hard to fall into this epic love story and feel it all. As our main characters Ella and Lowe grow and mature you see how they evolve their friendship and their bond looking at how that becomes love and a relationship.
Beautiful, funny, nostalgic! A great read, especially for those who grew up and had their first love in this era.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and have provided my honest review

I was so keen to read this book, and it delivered! It's story about (maybe) unrequited love between teenage best friends, and is primarily set in the early 2000s. The time period was so brilliantly evoked, and I am actually so impressed by Laura Dockrill's ability to conjure up a totally convincing teenage mind (although it is told somewhat from the protagonist's adult perspective). Ella is such a good character, and as a devotee of friends-to-lovers this delivered (although I wouldn't call it a romance!) It's fun and funny and heartfelt and the narrative voice brims with character, and I really liked it. I read it in a day thanks to train journeys.

"I am in love with somebody I’ve only just met. My heart is a harmonica. South London is a valley. World, hear my song."


i initially wished for this book because of the gorgeous cover so my surprise when my wish was granted was unmatched. unfortunately, this book did not live up to my desired expectations.


"i love you, i love you, i love you" follows ella who pines for her friend lowe for over fifteen years. despite feeling love at first sight, she never leaves the friend-zone, resulting in pining, teenage longing and angst.


despite the romantic title and cover, this had very little romance. the majority of the story focussed on ella being unable to express her feelings for lowe. this meant considerable amounts of miscommunication/no communication that led to a very unsatisfying read. (for fellow romance girlies, their first kiss wasn't memorable in the slightest, and happened WAY over the 90% mark.)


i found the writing style to be slightly awkward and difficult to read. it reminded me of the way the “shatter me” series was written - there were many unusual metaphors, lots of strikethrough and constant repetition. it was almost poetic in the way it portrayed the turmoil of ella’s feelings for lowe, although this is up for personal interpretation.


i did love the millennial references and how it was presented in a very bittersweet and nostalgic way, and i think many people could find these relatable.


ultimately i couldn’t enjoy this book because it was such an exhausting slow-burn, it had very little romance and at times it was painful to read. however, it could be a great read for someone who is willing to reexperience their teenage years - the good, the bad and the very ugly - which is not what i thought i was signing up to by reading this arc.


2.5 stars


thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This is funny, tender, heartwarming and all of it told in a singular voice that presents Dockrill - a proven talent at storytelling in non-fiction that all too frequently, sadly, doesn't translate into fiction - as a vivid new voice in women's commercial fiction. It is also (and also sadly), far too long. It's very good and very funny, but sharper editing would have made it even more so.

I so wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I only made it to sixty percent before giving up. I didn't feel anything for the characters or their love story. I thought it would be more in the theme of One Day, more grown up but I found the characters to be extremely juvenile . I also didn't like the writing style. I found it quite jarring and difficult to get into.

Sadly it just wasn't for me.

Ella and Lowe are perfect for each other - almost. From their first teenage meeting, their friendship spans 15 years as he becomes a rocker and she becomes a writer, and they keep just missing each other.

This book is so well-reviewed that I'm in a tiny minority who it didn't work for. I think that's down to the style: so many reviewers rave about the comedy, but I found Ella quite grating and struggled with how the sentences flowed. I wonder if this is aimed more at millennials who came of age at the same time as Ella (early 2000s), and some of the comedy reminded me of the Bridget Jones awkwardness, which doesn't always work for me. Reading the author's Guardian article about her own love made sense, since it seems like it's heavily inspired by her own childhood, and I didn't relate enough to find it charming; there's also a lot of miscommunication, which isn't for me. Unfortunately a pass from me, but it really worked for many reviewers, so don't write it off.

I love Laura Dockrill. I love her writing style and the way her finger is able to hit that nostalgia button so perfectly right, every time, without fail. This love story is *her* love story, and (shock horror) I love it <3

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this, it’s a fun, nostalgic, “will they finally get together read?” I liked Ella, but, for me, there was so much back and forth with the leads and a lot of pop culture references which took a little bit away from the main plot.

Really enjoyed this book! I laughed so much reading it.

Ella and Lowe meet when they are teenagers. It's love at first sight for her but he just sees her as a friend. The story spans from their teenage years until they are in their thirties. Set when mobiles were just starting to be a thing for teenagers, msn messenger and dial up internet. The characters in the book are great and so realistic. With all her friends getting engaged, married and having babies will Ella and her boyfriend Jackson follow or does she hold a candle still for her first love.

Well. I was not expecting to fall so hard for this book. Comparing to ‘One Day’ always makes me a little uneasy - I adored that book, so I tend to read “comparisons” a little harshly.

Dockrill’s writing is beautiful. From crafting place to person, she creates environments where the reader too falls in love. The two storylines weave perfectly, and I fell hard for the main characters. This story was so relatable.

One of those novels that’s given me a strong book hangover.

I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.

Do not be fooled by the title, this is not your average romcom! Ella takes us back into our own childhoods with the music, culture and all the feelings of first love. We go through every heart break and insecurity with her but also the side quests of the important people propping her up and I was there for every second. I loved this book and could not put it down. I loved Ella and I loved Lowe and I loved Jackson too. Read this book, but prepare for it to break you.
For anyone who enjoys a good love story, a bit of nostalgia or who still remembers their first love fondly,

This author’s books have the ability to simultaneously make you unable to stop reading while wishing you could bury the book somewhere deep underground where it can't be found. Compelling and didn’t want it to end!

So, I managed to love and hate this book in equal measure. It's a masterpiece, but I found myself infuriated with Ella for tying herself to an emotionally unavailable man, and weirdly even though I wanted the ending, it was strangely unsatisfying because despite everything, she still had to issue an ultimatum to him, and walk away. I spent 50% of the book desperate for them to get together, and then started to actually hate Lowe for stringing her along for so many years - a little text every time she felt like she'd broken free so he could keep her around to make himself feel better. This ended up feeling like the epitome of unhealthy relationships, and much as I wanted them to get together, I was disappointed when it happened. This book has shades of One Day and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and is both brilliant and excruciating to read. I think overall I'm coming down on the side of loving it, but I do feel a bit disappointed with myself for feeling that way!