Book Review: Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner by Kathryn Freeman

Have you ever read a book that seemed as if it would be shallow and predictable, only to find out that there was much more to the story than what you first assumed? That’s exactly what happened when I read “Romcom Lovers” by author Caroline Jones. From the very first few pages, I expected the story to be light and fluffy… but the characters ended up being much deeper than I anticipated.

Click me to go to my Review

Synopsis

Not an expert, not even close, not in any of this. But nobody will try harder than me to make you happy.

Sally is a classic romantic and Harry is a classic cynic, but when a drunken bet leads the new flatmates to (badly) recreate ‘the lift’ from Dirty Dancing, and the video goes viral (#EpicRomcomReenactmentFailure), they both realise there’s potential financial benefit in blundering their way through the romcom lexicon for their suddenly vast social media following.

Now, as Harry and Sally bring major romcom moments to new life – including recreating that classic diner scene – their faking it turns to making…out and suddenly they’re living a real life romcom of their own! But like all the greatest love stories, the road to happily ever after is paved with unexpected challenges for this hero and heroine…

About The Author

Kathryn started her working life as a retail pharmacist but soon realised trying to decipher doctors’ handwriting wasn’t for her. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer.

She lives with two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in her life is all in her head.

My Review

Sally and Harry, the unlikely couple – she a passionate romantic, he an icy cynic- have made their mark as popular social media stars…all thanks to one misguided drunken bet. After taking on some of cinema’s most iconic romcom moments (think classic diner scene) …it seems like they can do no wrong! But naturally, this wild ride leads them into unexpected terrain that threatens the very thing they never expected: true love. Will these two ‘heroes’ make it through; will there be a happy ending? Only time will tell in this real-life romcom saga!

As soon as you start reading about Sally, you quickly learn that she loves watching romantic comedies – so much so that her friends often joke about her obsession with them. But as the story progresses, we learn that this seemingly shallow interest is actually rooted in deep sadness from events in her past. We watch Sally turn her pain into strength and become a truly inspiring character. It was really lovely to watch her grow throughout the book!

Meanwhile, we have Harry – who presents himself as a bit of an arrogant playboy at first glance – but again, his character has some unexpected depth too. He has an admirable work ethic, and he shows us how painful it can be when you have to choose between your career ambitions and following your heart. Watching him grow as a person throughout “Nobody Puts romcom In the Corner” was really special to witness (and it was also nice to see him fall for Sally).

So while beneath these deeper storylines lies an easy-to-read rom com novel, I think that what makes “Nobody Puts Romcom in the Corner” stand out is how much more there is than meets the eye at first glance. With each chapter, we get a little bit more insight into both Sally and Harry’s lives – even though they don’t necessarily share all their secrets with each other right away (which is something many of us can relate to).  

While I enjoy a romantic comedy this one felt a little too drawn out for me and I didn’t care for the characters enough to be rooting for them. I’m not as into the social media scene, especially making a fool of yourself on there, as a lot of people so that also felt a bit alien to me. I did enjoy this read though and would read another of Kathryn Freeman’s books in future.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable read with some unexpected depth, then definitely give “Nobody Puts Romcom in the Corner” by Kathryn Freeman a try. This easy-to-read rom-com novel follows two lead characters – Sally and Harry – who both have more depth than initially expected. We watch them both grow emotionally over time, which makes this book special beyond its light-hearted rom-com vibes.

Rated