It Only Happens in the Movies

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That was the moment a piece of my heart broke off and got thrown into his, where it would lodge for ever. Because you always leave a little piece of your heart in whoever you fall in love with.” Holly Bourne worked as an editor and relationship advisor for a youth charity for six years before becoming a full-time author. Her bestselling YA fiction includes It Only Happens In the Movies, which was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018, and the critically acclaimed Spinster Club series. Holly is an advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health problems and has a keen interest in women’s rights. She lives in Lewes.

I wouldn't say this novel breaks some new ground, it is a traditional contemporary YA story - Audrey is not really romantically inclined at the beginning of this novel - her parents are divorced, her mother is a mess, and Audrey herself has just been dump by her boyfriend, she is flailing at school, she had to quit her drama class, well, her life is a disaster. Her only diversion is her new job at an indie movie theater. Of course, there she meets a guy, who is totally bad news... A few months ago, I wrote in my review of Love Is For Losers that every year I comb through a ton of YA looking for a specific type of humor and voice, but end up finding, on average, only two books a years that perfectly fit my reading taste. So, in 2020, It Only Happens in the Movies is the second such novel, and, naturally, I enjoyed it. If I were to describe the story of It Only Happens in the Movies it would be that it's a unflinching raw truthful look at 'Why love is never like the movies'. Audrey is a character that was very real, very believable and someone I very much empathized with. But, while I was reading it, I felt that Holly Bourne was so determined to counter the entire rom-com movies system, that storylines and characters didn't get their due justice.

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Whilst I love reading, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve read very little over the past few months. Having been super busy in my working life, I haven’t really had time to read much nor have I been particularly enticed by any book. But, whatever you're going through, I can promise it’ll be one of those books that make you forget your life for a little bit. Holly Bourne Am I Normal Yet? is the first in a trilogy, based around the Spinster Club. The second book is Amber's story, called How Hard Can Love Be? and it out …more Am I Normal Yet? is the first in a trilogy, based around the Spinster Club. The second book is Amber's story, called How Hard Can Love Be? and it out in Feb 2015. The third is Lottie's book, which is out in August 2016. I'd seen too much pain from love. I couldn't be with someone who had stung me sharply so early on. I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't.... romantic enough to work through it. Because what I'd learned was love isn't just a feeling. Love is a choice too.” Audrey is over romance. While dealing with her parents’ contentious divorce, a breakup of her own, and shifting friendship dynamics, she has every reason to feel cynical. But then she meets Harry, her fellow coworker at the local cinema. He’s brash, impulsive, and a major flirt. And even though Audrey tries to resist, she finds herself falling for his charms. But in this funny, insightful, and ultimately empowering novel, love—and life—isn’t what it’s like in the movies.

I devoured It Only Happens In The Movies within a few hours. With each chapter, I found myself being unable to put the book down for even a minute. What stands out the most about the book is how different it is from most Young Adult fiction. Holly has managed to turn your typical YA book on its head, going against stereotypes and covering topics which are normally avoided in a realistic yet humorous manner. Honestly, I didn’t love either of the main characters. Both of them are fine, but not stellar. There are aspects I loved about Audrey, such as her strength and her ability to call out misogyny (both in the movies and in society), but also, something about her didn’t sit right with me. She seemed whiny to me at times, but I also feel like she expects too much from Harry. Before they got together, multiple people warned her about him, and she knew he did certain things she didn’t like. Yet, she still had expectations that Harry would never have been able to meet. I was also put off by a scene near the end of the book, which I won’t spoil, but to me, it contradicted everything Audrey stood for earlier, especially about consent. I never really felt a spark in Harry and Audrey’s relationship, and I had trouble connecting with them. ❀ Feminist Message There’s more I could say but I’m almost at 2000 words so I’m going to leave it here. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, but I am curious to see why people love it so much if anyone wants to share that with me. Being a teenager is difficult. For most of us reading this, we’ve been there, done that and got umpteen t-shirts to show for it.

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But I can assure you - as an Italian that grew up with romantic movies - Nuovo Cinema Paradiso is one the best movie you can see in your life, and I was astonished when Harry described it as one of the best films ever because no one ever remembers it. Bad boys turned good, kisses in the rain, climbing through bedroom windows... It only happens in the movies. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing -

I am literally standing up right now, wildly clapping my hands in frenzied adoration and reverence to that most wonderful, powerful conclusion to a supposedly romantic story. Seriously. I could still feel goosebumps all over. Just *sighs* Just published my October Book Vlog and whew! It was a lot of reading but so worth it! The Written Review Audrey has sworn off romance - and NO not in a "totally swears it off but is secretly looking for love" - she actually means it.It Only Happens In The Movies tells the story of Audrey who, after going through a horrible break up and seeing her parents’ relationship collapse, is very much over romance. However, her world is soon turned upside down when she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. We follow the pair’s unconventional journey as Holly Bourne reminds us all that love in real life is nothing like it is in the movies.

I think the thing that I like the most about this book is how much it makes you think. It challenges the many clichés that you find in romance films, from the bad boy turned good, to dramatic kisses and The Big Obstacle at the end that tests their relationship. I loved how Holly dedicated different parts of the story to different clichés and explored them.LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. What was the point? What is the point in love, and promises of it, when it can just jump from one person to another like that?” I feel like this was a big step forward from Holly Bourne’s others books. The subjects are pretty much the same - friendship, love, problems with parents, feminism -, but there is something new and fresh in her narrative style, something better.