Swoon. I so love Lindsey Kelk. This was such a relaxing and instalove story. No drama much. Joe was awesome. Plenty of TS references, what else would anyone need?

This is the romance read to rival all. Sophie is a teacher by day and has written a sensational smutty novel in secret. From a literary family she is keen to keep this under wraps.

I loved the references to other books and authors throughout and the detail of the transition from chick lit to women's fiction and now romance reads.

A brilliant, easy entertaining read.

Thank you Harper Collins for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! Chaotic in the best way, hilarious, meaningful. Full review to come soon.Thank you Harper Collins for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read from Lindsey Kelk before, but after this banger I ordered almost her entire backlist because if anything will get me to love a book that has tropes I don't love, it's a sense of humour that's twisted the same way mine is.

‘You don’t think books like this give women unrealistic expectations?’ ... ‘Only if you don’t think you deserve love.’

"Love Story" is set mostly over one single chaotic weekend, so it's as insta-love as it gets. We follow Sophie, who's written a bestselling smutty romance novel under a pen name and has told noone, especially not her parents who work in publishing and are extreme snobs when it comes to literature. I absolutely loved Sophie, and could completely understand where she came from. Joe, on the other hand, I couldn't really put my finger on, which was definitely intended and resolved  by the end, but I just couldn't trust the guy really.

The banter between Sophie and Joe as well as Sophie and her family were top notch, pee in my pants, water through my nose hilarious. The way they collectively roasted her ex will forever have a place in my heart. 

Through Sophie's journey, Kelk opens up a conversation about the (internalised) misogyny that romance authors and readers face. The way women are belittled and insulted for writing and reading romance, even when it provides escapism in the same way as, say, fantasy is infuriating because the belittlement is aimed specifically at women. I don't exclude myself from that internalised misogyny, I used to be sort of a literary snob myself, only for the last few years I accepted the romance loving part of me.  I loved how Kelk managed to give shout outs to her fellow romance authors.

Despite my rave, I have two quips with it. For one, the ending was a bit messy for my taste. The other was scene in which the MMC was sexually harrassed by a woman and it was kinda laughed off as a joke? Did I misinterpret that scene?

4.5

I’ve loved all of Lindsey Kelk’s previous books but I'm sure this is the funniest yet. This book celebrates women’s fiction and how important uplifting stories can be whilst being a brilliantly uplifting story itself. This has some fantastic characters beyond the two main ones and the setting of the story over a weekend worked really well with plenty of action, sometimes bordering on farcical but all brilliantly centred around books and publishing. This is a great spicy love story about a spicy love story but most of all a fabulous celebration of uplifting fiction which this is a magnificent example of.

The lady is a genius!
It's like she's gone into us smut readers' brains and then wrote a book about us for us!
I loved this story. I couldn't get enough of the characters from page one - I was hooked. It's a nice bouncy light read that will keep you engaged throughout.
The references to other things in the book - singers, authors, TV shows - were on point and totally me.

I think to sum the book up, I felt captivated by both the story and characters

This has to be one of my favourite reads of the year! I am sick of having to justify to people why Romantic comedy is just as valid a genre as others and there was so many sound bites I am going to whip out from this book next time I am in an argument.

Lindsey never disappoints and I just fell in love with Sophie and Joe (also there will be a special place in my heart for her brother Will),

The story setting is just beautiful and I love the way that Lindsey shows the biases people have towards "Chick lit" and female romance writers. The dialogue is quick and light. I will have to buy a physical copy of this when it is released because I loved it so much!

Oh this was brilliant! I love a good love story and Love Story is exactly what it says on the tin!

When Sophie writes an instant best selling romance book with more than a little hint of smut (the filthiest book in England?!) she hides behind a pseudonym so that her friends, family and most importantly her ex boyfriend don't find out. Coming from a family with a background in literature she is worried that they will be embarrassed by the story and it's less than literary credentials.

What she's not banking on is Joe Walsh, a highly irritating but devilishly charming and very attractive creative director at her publishers, who discovers her secret, and a big party for her father's 60th birthday, which includes all the literary giants and CJ, her highly annoying ex.

It was a great fun, easy read with happy endings all round and the impossible to put down storyline which Lindsey Kelk excels at.

This will be perfect for your summer holiday beach read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly I would like to thank Lindsey Kelk , HarperCollins Uk and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of 'Love Story ' to read and review.

Due to be published in early July , the story focuses on it's main character Sophie Taylor whom is holding a massive secret from her friends and family. Everybody knows her as the respectable teacher , but she is also leading a double life and is the mysterious author behind the romantic new bestseller which has become a viral sensation. Everybody is eager to find out who this new author is whilst Sophie will do anything to cling onto her secret.
Her life is thrown into further disarray when she meets the charismatic and devilishly handsome Joe Walsh. When they part on bad terms , a trip to her hometown to celebrate her dad's 60th birthday means the strangers are thrown back together with hilarious consequences.

YES YES YES
I devoured this book at every opportunity and it turned out to be such a page turner for me . The love/ hate relationship between Sophie and Joe kept me engaged throughout . There was so much chemistry , tension and the right amount of spice .
I needed a change of genre and this book was exactly what I needed at this time. Fans of contemporary romance will love the easy reading style and humour throughout that is so realistic and down to earth. There are so many comedic moments and the quips and sarcasm from Sophie's brother William had me smiling as I read into the night.

I also loved the modern references to other published books , authors and current artists. Taylor Swift certainly had a lot of mentions throughout. Such engagement made me feel completely immersed in the lives of all the characters . I was genuinely sad when I reached the end - Please let there be a sequel !!!

I am embarrassed to say that this is the first novel by Lindsey Kelk I have read even though I have heard many amazing things about her previous works. The minute I turned the last page I was already searching through her back catalogue to start at the beginning and discover all her other titles.
Highly Recommended and an easy 5 * read for me

#LoveStory #NetGalley

'Love Story' is a fun, enjoyable romance read from Kelk. Sophie is a secret romance writer, desperately trying to keep her secret from her highbrow reading family. This plot thread alone was very strong and enjoyable. I liked reading about Sophie and her family and reading about their views, and seeing how these change or have been misinterpreted along the way.
There is also another plot thread involving Joe, providing us with your classic romance angle. The will they/won't they was strong throughout and again, it provided lots of laughs and enjoyment.
As always with Kelk, I enjoyed the many cultural references, including the many Taylor Swift references. The plot is fun and very enjoyable and is very much a feel good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

Although I love Lindsey kelk books and this one was good it wasn't my favourite. I loved the fact that it was celebrating books, and romance authors. But it felt a bit more predictable than some of her others which are amongst my favourites. I did like the main character and her brother was lovely too. The walls that the main character built up however were a little annoying and I found myself beating my head at her stobboness at times. Her sister was also a spoilt brat and was really annoying. However. It was overall enjoyable. Just not my favourite.

What a loveable five-star read. This is such a fun story, you get a story about a writer, telling us all about how people see the romance genre, it could have read as telling you the way life is, but honestly it was like hearing my thought’s aloud, like chatting with friends who are also into reading romance. Then you add the lovable rouge, and a charming if forthright little sister, and you have a winner. There are so many great characters that I would love to hear more from, they have such amazing depth that you can really relate to them, like Sarah she is someone I would love to get her backstory and also her story that is to come. Now when is Este Cox going to release her second story!!

In Love Story, Sophie Taylor, a small-town schoolteacher with a secret identity as the popular romance author Este Cox, crosses paths with Joe Walsh, a confident Creative Director at her publishing house. Despite their initial dislike for each other, Sophie needs Joe's help to find her lost laptop and the unfinished manuscript for the sequel to her bestselling book.

This is the first book that I've read by Lindsey Kelk and I really enjoyed it, particularly the British slapstick-like humour and references, and the Bridget Jones-like chaotic parties. The Groovy Chick reference definitely took me back in time to my childhood!

I binged this book in one go, and it was just so easy to read. I enjoyed all the writing and publishing in-jokes and the name dropping from the characters. Characters outright calling out the tropes in play as they happened made me chuckle too. Since Sophie was so honest about her favourite and least favourite tropes, I will be too. The miscommunication trope and third act breakups aren't really my thing, but everything else here was amazing! The comedy was definitely the highlight for me, plus seeing how Sophie stood up for herself by the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this romcom and I will definitely be picking up more books by this author in the future!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Love Story, the latest novel from Lindsey Kelk is not to be missed. This is such a wonderful contemporary romance that gives us not only a fab love story but is a heartfelt love letter to the genre itself. This book stands to defy all those who try to belittle the enjoyment we get from these kind of books and highlights just how special and meaningful they can be. I mean I already loved Kelk but this is chefs kiss.

Love Story is Sophie Taylor’s story. By day Sophie is a primary school teacher but in her spare time she just happened to have written THE romance of the moment, Butterflies. No one knows it’s Sophie’s book and she hopes to keep it that way. The problem comes, however, when she loses her laptop with the hotly anticipated sequel on it, and who should come to the rescue but the handsome, charming, and (over) confident Joe Walsh. When a trip to Sophie’s home town leads to the disgruntled pair sharing a one-bed cottage, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?

There is so much to love about this one that I could go on forever, so instead I’m going to try for a list. Here goes:
📖 as already noted this book is the most gorgeous love letter (and defence of) the contemporary romance genre
💕 it’s so knowing of exactly what it is, I loved all the mentions of tropes, of the insights into publishing, the impact of TikTok, the reactions to Butterflies, it’s just something else
📖 two brilliant crafted MCs who feel so real. I loved Sophie and was really rooting for her throughout
💕 we’ve got a frosty meet cute, with antagonistic behaviour, that turns into attraction with sizzling chemistry
📖 the romance and build up felt really real, it’s all a bit messy and complicated and I loved that
💕we’ve got some he falls first
📖 only one bed/cottage
💕 a brilliant cast of side characters, all of whom were so distinct in their own personalities (some you’ll love and some you’ll happily boo towards). My favourites were definitely Sophie’s dad and brother William
📖 classic Kelk humour that will have you giggling throughout
💕 I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics sub plot that was firmly rooted throughout. Both of Sophie’s parents are big shots in the publishing world but have never dealt with the romance genre and their reasonings (well Sophie’s mum’s) is one of the big contributors to why Sophie has tried to remain anonymous. I won’t spoil the story by saying anymore but I will say that this was such a great storyline and was so well handled.
📖 lots of nods for the Swifties out there

Crikey that was a big list - can you tell how much I loved it! If you love Kelk’s books you’ll adore this and if you’ve never tried her before make sure you pick this one up (and then go for her backlist after!)

Such a cute book. I have always been a fan of Lindsey Kelk's work, ever since her first book. I hope everyone will enjoy this as much as I have. It is perfect for a nice summer day.

Ever since I finished reading this book, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Kelk’s characters truly get under your skin. I loved it and would highly be recommending it.

It honestly made my Easter holidays being given a copy of Lindsey’s wonderful new book to read and review.

Sophie, one of 3 children but the least successful so far in her career, is currently living a double life. Primary schoolteacher by day, best selling (under a clever pseudonym) author according to the rest of the world. Her brother is her agent; her little sister obsessed with learning the identity of Este Cox. Her parents, famous in the world of publishing, would not be happy to learn that Sophie is actually the author of Butterflies, so keeping it a secret from all but her agent and godfather (also in publishing) seems to be the answer. And there’s no chance of the secret being revealed anytime soon is there? Not even when her secret lunch with her godfather is ambushed by Joe, who also works for Sophie’s publisher. It’s not like Joe is likely to turn up at Sophie’s dad’s huge 60th birthday bash that weekend, is it? Or is it….

I was obsessed with this book whilst reading it and if I didn’t have 3 kids at home I would have finished it well within a day. Just a joyous, clever, heartwarming hug of a book that I did not want to put down. Please keep them coming Lindsey.

My goodness, I absolutely flew through this book, I read it all under 24 hours! Lindsey continues to bring out phenomenal books and i just can't get enough. I really enjoyed and appreciated the discussion throughout around romance books and how they're treated less than compared to other genres, given as they are very on trend and popular right now. Sophie and Joe were a great and fun pair, I loved watching them go back from dislike to lust over the weekend they spent together and I especially loved the ending scene of their love story truly beginning. There are some people in this book you're going to hate and there are some you're going to absolutely love. Plus, we can always rely on Lindsey to throw in some iconic references!

It's no secret that Lindsey Kelk is one of my absolute favourite authors, and Love Story was one of my most anticipated releases of the summer. I'm here to tell you that it absolutely did not disappoint. I bloody loved this book! The concept was so fun - Sophie, primary school teacher and daughter of two people very big in the literary world, is secretly a best selling author, writing under a pen name, and she's desperate for her secret to stay hidden. Would be a shame if someone were to find out before she's ready, right? 👀

I really enjoyed the discussion in this book about the importance of romantic fiction- how it is often disregarded and seen as "lesser" (by literary snobs with no actual higher ground) when really, surely it only matters that we are reading, regardless of our preferred genre? Also liked that there were book bloggers (with a heavy focus on TikTok) as a big theme - very much the modern way, but another thing people can be funny about, and again, why does it matter? Anything that encourages reading can only be good! But I'm getting off topic here 😅
I absolutely loved all of the author/book references throughout Love Story - it very much reminded me of Book Lovers, in that sense.
Reading all of Sophie and Joe's interactions was so much fun, but I also don't think this book would be what it is without the whole host of wonderful characters. Both her siblings, and her parents all equally added something, her friendship with Sarah was beautiful, and CJ was so well written that I genuinely couldn't stand him.
With both Twilight and Taylor Swift references aplenty, the perfect blend of comedy and romance Lindsey has become known for, this story felt like a love letter to the romance genre and I simply adored it.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t stop reading it; I was desperate to find out where the story went. This had me grimacing at some characters and laughing at the goings on of others. If you haven’t read a Lindsey Kelk book before, this is an absolute must.

I need to give this book more stars! I love Lindsey Kelk so much!

Everything about Love Story is perfect. The FMC, Sophie, is my new book bestie. She's everything. And Joe? Omg, I'll take 2 please!

I love how this book fully embraces the huge trend in romance novels and tiktok. It's right where I am at the moment, along with millions of other women. I love the glimpses into the publishing world. I love Sophie's family. I love the Swiftie easter eggs. I LOVE IT ALL!!!

As always with an LK book, there are plenty of laughs, much swooning, colourful, and fun language and a lil spice. And I cried. More than once. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book.

I will be recommending Love Story to EVERYONE! Seriously. Potential Book of the Year here!!!! Perfection. Pure Perfection.