Review: Love Me Do

Title: Love Me Do

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Publisher: 23rd November 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: Entertainment | General Fiction (Adult) | Romance

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

She may have given up on love – but she can still play Cupid for somebody else . . .

Lovelorn Brit Phoebe Chapman has barely set foot in her sister’s house in the Hollywood Hills when she’s swept up by lovable Bel, her sister’s personal trainer, and handsome Ren, the sweet and sensitive carpenter next door.

Bel has a head-over-heels crush on Ren but Ren has no idea Bel even exists. Certain that the two of them are meant to be together, Phoebe offers to play matchmaker.

Caught up with writing love letters and an unexpected friendship with a reclusive 82-year-old film star, Phoebe finds herself falling for the real Los Angeles – but is that all she’s falling for?

A feelgood, sunshine-filled, friends-to-lovers romcom, Love Me Do is a dreamy summer love story, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.

My Thoughts

Lindsey Kelk strikes again! This is just plain ol’ romcom at its best! I loved her ‘On a Night Like This’ and hoped this book would bring the same feelings. Well, I am happy to report I think it does and perhaps even surpasses the ‘LOL’ and life journey moments. I am here for it. I am happy to say that Lindsey is quickly moving to my instant read author list. 

‘Last time I checked, there wasn’t a regulatory committee that agrees on one single, official definition.’ ‘I think you’ll find there is,’ I scoffed. ‘It’s called the internet and it convenes daily.’

Phoebe visits her sister in LA for a couple of weeks, trying to keep her mind off her ex and his upcoming wedding. Phoebe is such a relatable character with concerns and anxieties that I am sure many of us can relate to. These may be serious concerns or simply riotous in nature but gosh! It makes for enjoyable reading. 

‘All words had power; the ones we read, the ones we spoke and the ones we listened to. I understood that now. We had to be careful which ones we let in.’

I love that it is not all about the romance - there is a lot more to Lindsey’s books I am discovering. This is just as much a journey of self discovery with the romantic element not the main focus. Delightfully this is more about being true to yourself, not changing to please others in an effort to live your best life. 

‘No one knew what went on behind closed doors. How many other women spent their evenings uploading smiling photos while tears streamed down their faces? How many other women thought putting pictures of the good times out in the world would bring them back around again? Was it manifestation or self-delusion?’

I loved all the characters in this book whether it be in isolation, as pairs or in a group - quite an accomplishment when you think about it. Shout out to Myrna especially for bringing all the iconic status. Also, this book is a nod to Los Angeles and I loved the inviting descriptions of attractions that were not the natural go-to’s.

‘A smile carved faint lines around his mouth. ‘LA is whatever you want it to be,’ he replied. ‘You get out what you put in. Most people don’t see what you saw, they stick to the shiny surface, but if you dig a little deeper that’s where the good stuff is.’

Love Me Do is pure escapist fun - light and bright. A delightful story that will make you laugh, it will make you cry (in laughter more than likely) and it will take you on an amazing journey with fun characters to visit parts of LA that were really enjoyable. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: On a Night Like This

Title: On a Night Like This

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Publisher: 11th November  2021 by HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, romance, chick lit

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

When Fran Cooper accepts a mysterious temporary job as a PA to a celebrity, she is swept off her feet overnight. Working with internationally famous singer Juliette, Fran is the person charged with getting Juliette to the Crystal Ball, the glittering event when the world’s rich and famous gather on Panarea, a beautiful Mediterranean island, for a night like no other.

What Fran doesn’t know is that on this one night, everything will change for her too – that instead of standing on the sidelines, she’ll be putting on the most beautiful dress she’s ever seen and having the most unforgettable night of her life…

My Thoughts

‘It’s easy to make promises on a night like this,’ I said, looking out over the sea. ‘But things will be different when I wake up tomorrow and I have to go back to the real world.’

This is just plain ol’ fun … romcom at its best! A modern day Cinderella rags to riches tale that will have you enjoying some sweet escape time. Fran’s life is a bit of a mess, she’s trying to live the expected life with her fiancé but must take the opportunity for some short term employment as PA for a mysterious celebrity. One thing leads to another (with riotous LOL moments along the way) until she finds herself at the ball of the year!

I’d always been the practical one, the sensible person who thought ahead, packed a snack and made everyone go for a wee before they left the house, but there was something about this man that made me feel like I could be someone else entirely.

Surprisingly, it is not all about the romance as the leading man does not make an appearance until halfway through the book. So, that being said, it was nice to see a little bit more of the floundering female come good in this narrative arc. This is more a journey of discovery with the romantic element not the main focus. Delightfully this is more about being true to yourself, not changing to please others in an effort to live your best life. 

Every day since, I’d been giving away tiny little pieces of myself just to hold on to what I had. But was it worth it? And what would happen when there were no more pieces left to give?

On a Night Like This is pure escapist fun. It’s light and bright, being a delight to read. The characters are well developed and although far-fetched at times the plot just fits the style of story. The tale trots along at a great pace with all the over-the-top twists and turns … you really will walk away with all the Cinderella feels.

I marvelled at all the choices we must have made to bring us to this exact moment and I wondered where mine would take me next.

This book is filled with classic one liners that are sure to make you smile:

‘We don’t wait for things to happen,’ Jess said, white paper muffin bag in one hand, car keys in the other. ‘We make them happen!’ ‘You sound like an Instagram post,’ I called after her. ‘If you tell me to live, laugh and love, you’re not allowed round for tea.’ ‘More like nap, nom and Netflix,’ she shouted back, already halfway out the door. ‘See you tonight.’

‘It’s going to be fine,’ she said gently, giving my hand a squeeze. ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ ‘The last time you said that we ended up in lockdown for a year.’

‘.. whether or not you thought Kate Winslet could have made a little bit more room on that wardrobe door at the end of Titanic.’

‘Today was the day for me to put on my big girl pants, although only metaphorically speaking given that I didn’t have any pants on at all.’

I had some money in my savings account, but that wouldn’t even stretch to a luxury shopping trip in old York, let alone the new one.’

A delightful story. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry (in laughter more than likely) and it will take you on an amazing journey with fun characters on a yacht to attend a fabulous ball on an Italian island. What’s not to love? 

I hadn’t just put on a different dress, I’d stepped into a different life. Gone was the girl who wore beige bras and sensible cardigans, and in her place was a glamorous, confident, beautiful woman.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.