Title: Just Like the Movies
Author: Kelly Fiore
Series: Standalone
Genre:  YA Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 300 pages
Release Date: July 22nd 2014
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Source: eARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Indigo |TBD | Goodreads








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 picked this book up because is sounded like a really cute and fun read. And I was right. It was very cute and fun, but ultimately i felt like this book lacked depth and characterization.

When I first picked u this book I knew I wanted to read it because I thought the concept was really interesting. One: having old movies be a focus point grabbed me because I love old romantic comedies. and Two: because having thee two girls share a frustration with the opposite sex through these movies made me think of a great friendship evolving from it. But sadly I didn't have that connection while reading. What I really wanted was for these two characters to forma great friendship through their mutual interests, but instead I felt like they were just going through the motions and were just in the friendship for what the other person had to offer them.

To be honest I really didn't connect with any of the characters in this book, but especially Marijke. I found that er character was the least likable of the two. Her problem was that she did not trust her boyfriend. She kept thinking he was cheating when in reality he wasn't. I think her jealousy and distrust was very naive of her character, especially one that was going off to college soon. It didn't seem like she was as old as we were told she was. Lily on the other hand I did enjoy reading about. I just thought her story was more fun and flirty. But there were times were I questioned her judgement and did not really understand why she was acting so young.

The end was very clean and tied up in a nice bow, and honestly I was hoping for a little more drama. I wanted Marijke to have more backbone when it came to her boyfriend and the way he treated her. We saw a glimpse of it near the end but I thought her reaction to getting her back was too easy. I liked lily's ending because I liked her character more and cared about what she was going through. Overall I thought this book was fun and a fast read but sadly it wasn't my cup of tea.