#BookReview: LOVE STORY by Lindsey Kelk @LindseyKelk @HarperFiction @HarperCollinsUK

Publication: 4th July 2024 – HarperCollins UK

She’s a small-town schoolteacher, he’s a hotshot creative director. Together, it’s hate at first sight.

Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh is the last person she’d tell. He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.

But Sophie desperately needs his help.

Because she’s not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.

When a trip to the countryside means sharing a cottage with only one bed, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Sophie Taylor is the author of the book everyone is talking about. “Butterflies” is the romance novel that has sold millions of copies around the world, it’s been translated into 32 languages, and there is a movie deal in the work. Sophie has written the novel under the pseudonym of Este Cox and, except for her editor and for her literary agent (who is also her brother), no one knows who she really is. Not the people working for her publisher, not her obnoxious ex boyfriend, and, above all, not her literary-snob family. However, the truth risks to come out during a weekend spent at her family home to celebrate her father’s birthday. First, her laptop with her new manuscript disappears and then her new handsome archenemy Joe Walsh is not only invited, but she must also share her father’s new cottage with him.

Love Story is my first Lindsey Kelk’s novel and I loved it! I honestly don’t know why I waited so long, but I must get my hands on all her backlist. I loved the plot, the characters, the setting, and the writing. Sophie is a relatable (we like the same authors), fun, and authentic character and I adored her, but most of all, I adored her banter with Joe. I am not a huge fan of instalove, but here it works very well. Their story develops in a way that feels natural and that kept me completely glued to the pages. I also enjoyed the relationship between Sophie and her family. She is keeping secrets from them and it’s complicated, but it is also entertaining and warm. One another thing that I liked about this book is how the author addresses the theme of being judged for what people read, especially when it comes to smut romance.

As my introduction to the world of Lindsey Kelk it went really well: Love Story is fun, witty, and immersive and I am looking forward to read more by this author!

A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Lindsey Kelk is a Sunday Times bestselling author, podcaster and internet oversharer. Born and brought up in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Lindsey worked in London as a children’s editor before writing her first book, I Heart New York, and moving to Brooklyn. Lindsey’s novels include the I Heart series, Love Me Do and On a Night Like This. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.