The Falling In Love Montage by Ciara Smyth is a heart-tugging and highly entertaining young adult romantic comedy that highlights how important it is to truly enjoy every moment of your life and love freely without regrets.
The path to love didn’t run smoothly at all for Saoirse and she doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happily-ever-afters. If they existed, her mother wouldn’t have forgotten her name and her mom would still be living at home with Saoirse and her dad instead of living in a care home because of early onset dementia. It’s a condition that seems to be hereditary on her mother’s side of the family. So Saoirse isn’t going to waste her time with making long term plans or having relationships. She doesn’t see the point in having a successful career and finding her soulmate if she’s bound to forget everything and everyone in the end.
A chance encounter at an end-of-term house party will change Saoirse’s life in more ways than she could have ever imagined. Saoirse breaks her own rules when she meets a gorgeous girl with a blue freckle, who adores rom-coms and mischievous pranks in equal measure.
Ruby isn’t bothered by Saoirse’s “no-relationship and absolutely no falling in love” rulebook and she comes up with a loophole that will safeguard their hearts: They don’t need to become soulmates to enjoy a fun-filled summer that has every cliché, rom-com montage-worthy dates they can think of—and their romance will surely end as soon as fall begins. It seems like a great plan but there’s just one problem—you see, they forgot something very important about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters really fall hopelessly in love with each other.
Will Saoirse and Ruby be able to walk away from each other when their “no strings attached” summer of fun ends?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Once again, Ciara Smyth has left me sleepless in the Caribbean and yearning for more of her humorous and thought-provoking writing because she has created an unforgettable young adult romantic comedy that clearly depicts teenage angst, endless drama, broken friendships and a super cute summer romance. Plus, I’ll always reserve a special place in my heart for books that take me on an emotional rollercoaster ride and this beautiful story definitely gave me all the feels.
I love the fact that this story was told through Saoirse’s point of view because I could easily understand what made her tick and I could totally relate to some of her struggles because I have first-hand experience with dealing with loved ones who have dementia. The chemistry between Saoirse and Ruby was so palpable and undeniable and I truly enjoyed watching their budding romance turn into full blown love before they even realized what was happening.
Cons And Heads Up
Zero complaints.
The Conclusion
This is the romantic comedy I wish I had read when I was a baby gay because it portrays so many important coming-of-age issues and nuggets of wisdom right alongside lighthearted and hilarious moments. It would be wrong for me to say that I just liked this novel because I’m totally enamored with this delightful story and I can’t wait to read another literary gem from Ciara Smyth!
Excerpt from The Falling In Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
I perched on the end of the bed beside her and unwrapped my gum. It came with a temporary tattoo of the Road Runner.
“Just what I always wanted. The Road Runner on my butt. The ultimate symbol of good taste.”
The girl laughed. “It’s your lucky day then.”
I peeled the plastic off the transfer and stuck it to my shoulder. Getting my butt out at this early stage would have felt kind of forward. She dampened a cotton pad with water from a glass at her bedside and held it over the paper.
I know it doesn’t sound like a scene from a romance novel, the kind with intense sweaty people on the cover, but when her fingers pressed against my skin, I felt wobbly again. It was like a current in my body had switched on. She leaned in close enough that I could count the freckles on her nose. Her eyes bored into mine, creamy brown ones framed by spidery black lashes.
She set the glass on the floor. There was barely space for light between us. Normally I am not shy about going in for a kiss, but for some reason, I was nervous. It felt different. Maybe I was imagining the tension, though it felt like you could almost see it in the air, like visible static between our bodies. I was almost sure this girl was a girl who was into other girls.
A little voice in my head reminded me that was against my rule. There was a whole addendum for it.
I thought about leaving.
“Your tattoo is really hot,” she said.
“The Road Runner has that effect on girls.” My words were nonchalant, but I was sure she’d be able to see my heart beating faster. She didn’t reply. She bit her lip, her lip ring disappearing into her mouth. Vaguely in the background, I was aware of the thumping noise downstairs, but the room was a bubble getting smaller and smaller until it was just the two of us. She didn’t move away. She ran her finger over my new tattoo and anything I might have said got caught in my throat.
“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked softly.
“I don’t even know your name,” I teased.
“Ruby.”
I couldn’t help but smile before I leaned in. I wondered if she could feel it in the kiss. Her lips were soft and parted already; her tongue tasted like bubble gum and Sprite. I could feel her lip ring, but it didn’t get in the way like I thought it might. My body twisted toward hers; her hands found my waist on one side and my neck on the other. It wasn’t like kissing those other girls. The ones who were tentative and giggling or the ones who went full force on my mouth but left their hands limp at their sides because my body didn’t interest them. I forgot what it was like to be kissed by someone who might want more than a kiss. I knew then that Ruby was definitely not experimenting. I should have been scared. I should have left the room. I should never have gone upstairs with a girl who made me wobble.
I told myself I could have this, just for now, and it wouldn’t hurt to let it go.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9780062957139
Publisher: HarperTeen
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