Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore Pages: 288
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA, Walker Books for Young Readers on July 22, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Friendship, Love & Romance, Relationships, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult
Source: eARC from Publisher
Pretty and popular track star Marijke Monti is confident about almost everything – she’s got great friends, a great family, and she’s on her way to the State Track Championship. In fact, the only thing Marijke isn’t confident about is her relationship with Tommy Lawson.
Lily Spencer has spent her entire high school career preparing for the future – she’s participated in every extracurricular activity and volunteer committee she could. But, at home, she watches her mother go on date after date with dud-dudes, still searching for “the one.” Lily realizes that she’s about to graduate and still hasn’t even had a boyfriend.
While they live on each other’s periphery at school, Lily and Marijke never seemed to have much in common; but, after a coincidental meeting at the movie theater, Lily gets an idea – why can’t life be like a movie? Why can’t they set up their perfect romantic situations, just in time for their senior prom, using movie techniques?
Once the girls come up with the perfect plans, they commit themselves to being secret cohorts and, just like in the movies, drama ensues.
I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, so as soon as I saw Just like the Movies I knew that I needed to read this book. Just Like the Movies follows two high school seniors- Marijke and Lily. Complete opposites in terms of high school cliques, but they both love romcom movies and they hatch a plan to use them to get what they each want. What a cute concept, right? Marijke wants her boyfriend to drop the “L” bomb on her and Lily wants her crush to notice her. What I liked the most about Just Like the Movies surprisingly was not the romance, but rather the friendship that formed between Marijke and Lily.
The guys in this story, but high school aged and adult, are much like guys in real life- not perfect! They each had their butthead moments, that is for sure. Another cool thing that Kelly Fiore did was give us a glimpse into different kinds of relationships. There is the single settling dater, the long term married couple, the under appreciated girlfriend, and the girl trying to get noticed.
And while you may think that this book is going to be just as predictable as the romantic comedies it was emulating, there were multiple times where I honestly did not know how everything was going to turn out. Who would get their happy ending, and who wouldn’t? It was great. And yes, some parts did turn out to be a little predictable, but come on- isn’t that what we love about romantic comedies in the first place? That satisfaction of seeing the guy get the girl? Of seeing that happily ever after? I think so.
Just Like the Movies is a fun read standalone read. I loved all the scheming and plans that Lily and Marijke came up with. It was so funny to see them execute them, and I loved all the movie references that Kelly Fiore worked into the story. I am proud to say that I have seen every single one of the movies that were mentioned. Sometimes I kind of hated one of the guys, and I am not going to tell you whether my opinion of him changed because I think that aspect of the story made Just Like the Movies so unique from other young adult books. Movie lovers and YA lovers alike should check out Just Like the Movies. It is cute, it is different and it is an all around good read. Plus, you will love the friendship between Lily and Marijke. I know I did.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
kindlemom1
I thought this was a cute read as well and sadly, I never did end up liking “one” of the guys (I am pretty sure it is the same one!) but that was okay because my feelings for him still worked with the overall theme of the book. 😉
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Yep, I know exactly what you mean! It was different than I thought it would be, but after I was done reading it and looked at the book as I whole, I thought it worked well.