JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY
by Katelyn Doyle
Two former high school sweethearts with completely different views on love reconnect at their 15-year reunion.
Molly Marks and Seth Rubenstein were very much in love as teenagers, even though they had vastly different personalities. Molly was cynical and jaded from her parents’ terrible divorce, while Seth was cheerful and believed in soul mates. But, somehow, they worked…until Molly unceremoniously dumped him at the end of high school. The two haven’t talked since, but they end up seated next to each other at their 15th high school reunion, where they discover they’re still attracted to each other—even if Seth is now a divorce lawyer, a job that horrifies Molly. They get drunk on too many cocktails and hook up, but Molly knows it doesn’t mean anything—she may write Hollywood rom-coms for a living, but she knows happily-ever-afters exist only in the movies. Seth, however, thinks Molly’s choice of job means there must be a hidden romantic in there somewhere, and he swears she’ll fall in love with him eventually. He’s so certain, they make a bet: They must predict the romantic fate of five different couples from their school…including each other. As the years pass, Molly and Seth keep reconnecting, much like When Harry Met Sally but with way more angst (and sex). Doyle, who also writes historical romance under the name Scarlett Peckham, creates a strong, winning chemistry between Molly and Seth. Many of their connections happen at different points during the pandemic, which brings in a bit of realism that never feels too heavy. It’s refreshing that Seth is a male romance lead with wide-eyed optimism and a deep desire to start a family, while Molly is the skeptical one who runs from commitment. Even though their would-be romance is thwarted at every turn by other partners, distance, and their own hang-ups, Doyle keeps the story interesting enough—with plenty of zingy dialogue and interesting side characters—that it’s always a joy to read.
A smart, slightly meta romance that plays out like the best movies.