GETTING TO YES

In Hunniecutt’s nostalgic, debut romance novel, young love blooms during an unforgettable summer.

In the summer of 1978, Chris is back in his hometown of Brandon, Florida, after his first year in college at Florida State University, setting up his summer job at JB’s pizza restaurant. There, he meets Chloe; beautiful and sweet, she immediately dazzles. What follows is a look back at Chris’ previous romantic exploits, beginning with his relationship with Deb, stretching from the end of his high school days in 1977 through his first year in college and his meeting with Chloe. The narrative weaves through the late teenage years of a young man who is quick to fall in love and to appreciate the women around him but who is not immune to the mistakes that accompany amorous pursuits. Virtually each chapter in the first third of the book is named for a girl Chris has an interest in, which means the storyline can occasionally seem a little formulaic, leaving the reader wondering with some disbelief if there were any girls on campus that Chris did not forge a love connection with during his time in college (even the narrator comments that his “desire for women never rested”). But Hunniecutt counterbalances this with an exploration of the insecurities of young men as Chris worries about not being the perfect date, lover or boyfriend, haunted by “that evil word inadequate.” It is refreshing to read a romance novel from the perspective of a young man who is a hopeless romantic, and there is something incredibly likable about Chris as he recounts his quest to find true love. When the narrative returns to Chloe, the story flows better; it’s also imbued with perfect notes of nostalgia, from a concert by the Steve Miller Band, Little River Band, and Jimmy Buffett to Chris’ 1968 Chevrolet Impala to the single telephone in the dorm Chris lives in.

A coming-of-age story for lovers of sweet romance novels.