“Maybe I’ve found my person. My one true…well, whatever.”
Influenced by her best friend Tessa, Lenore decides to look for a European summer romance and, when she spots a handsome boy at the Trevi Fountain, it seems like her wish may just come true…until she finds out that the handsome boy, Alex Lee, is a total jerk with an infuriating 10-year plan! Even worse, Alex and his family have been assigned to Lenore’s dining table and their families have decided that they will be doing all the excursions together. To add to the drama, Lenore’s older brother is keeping secrets like breaking up with his long-term boyfriend, sneaking out at night, and constantly typing on his phone. The more time Lenore is forced to spend with Alex, the more she starts to open-up and show her true self. But this isn’t one of Tessa’s romance novels and one true loves don’t happen in real life…right? One True Loves is a contemporary young adult “enemies to lovers” romance novel that takes place at gorgeous destinations across Europe. One True Loves could probably be read as a standalone, but I think that it makes more sense (and you are more invested/ interested in the characters) if you’ve read the companion novel, Happily Ever Afters. I think that One True Loves is ideally suited for recent high school graduates and University/ College freshmen as, looking back at that time in my life, I found that Lenore’s experiences of self doubt and indecision were very relatable, and Lenore’s story perfectly encapsulated the often-challenging transition from high school to University/ College. Furthermore, One True Loves would be great for teens and young adults who are fans of contemporary young adult novels like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson, The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther, The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott, and, of course, Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant.
My favourite parts of Lenore’s story were the detailed descriptions of the beautiful destinations that Lenore’s family visited throughout the cruise. I also loved how Lenore had a similar vibe/ personality as Alexis Rose (from one of my favourite shows, Schitt’s Creek); she is extremely stylish, sassy, and cool on the outside, but she is also secretly sensitive, insecure, and loving. Similarly, I loved how Alex allowed Lenore to feel comfortable enough to stop playing the part of “cool, calm, collected, and confident Lenore” and finally reveal her vulnerabilities and insecurities; before Alex, Lenore had always kept these vulnerabilities and insecurities hidden, even from her family and best friends. Some cons were that the book was slow to start and, in my opinion, wasn’t as engaging as Tessa’s love story in Happily Ever Afters; but, as the cruise progresses, Lenore and Alex grow closer, and Lenore starts to uncover her brother’s secrets, One True Loves definitely becomes more interesting! Similarly, as I mentioned above, I feel like One True Loves would have been a lot more engaging and enjoyable for someone in their late teens/ early twenties (in comparison to someone who is closer to thirty like myself). I also would have liked to see an epilogue whereby we see how Lenore’s story is progressing after the cruise. Overall, I thought that One True Loves was a fun read full of travel and young love that would be ideal for recent high school graduates or University/ College freshmen. I gave this book a rating out 8 out of 10. This review was written for "The Nerd Daily". Click here to view this article on "The Nerd Daily's" website or copy & paste the following URL into your web browser: https://bit.ly/3zsI0o9
Check out my Q&A with One True Loves author Elise Bryant by clicking HERE!
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