Not Exactly A Love Story
by Audrey Couloumbis
Genre: YA, contemporary, [modern] historical, romance
Published December 11th 2012 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
* Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
* Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
Local purchase: Fullybooked * National Bookstore
Blurb (Goodreads):
It's 1977.
Fifteen-year old Vinnie isn't having a good year. He's recovering from the worst case of galloping acne his dermatologist's ever seen. His girl moved to California without even saying good-bye. And the ink on his parents divorce papers is barely dry, when his mom announces that they're moving from Queens to Long Island.
The silver lining in all this is that they move next door to Patsy—everyone's dream girl. Not that she'd ever notice him. But when Vinnie calls Patsy one night, it leads to a chain of anonymous midnight conversations. Under the cover of darkness, Vinnie becomes Vincenzo, Patsy's mystery caller, and the two share a side of themselves they would never reveal in daylight and develop a surprisingly real connection (despite the lies it's built on). As Vinnie gets to know Patsy in real life though, it becomes clear both identities can't survive and he'll have to find a way to hangup the phone and step into the daylight. Fraught with complications and crackling with witty dialogue, and all the angst and electricity that comes with always being just a phone wire away from the one you want, acclaimed author Audrey Couloumbis's YA debut is a smooth-talking Cyrano meets Saturday Night Fever and tells a quirky, flirty, and smart story that will appeal to fans of Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Frank Portman's King Dork, Natalie Standiford's How to Say Goodbye in Robot, and John Green's An Abundance of Katherines. It's not exactly a love story . . . but it's pretty close.
My Thoughts:
Not Exactly a Love Story is an old school YA contemporary romance set in 1977. Although it wasn't much different from YA contemporaries set in the present/2010 onwards, this book is like breathing in a fresh air.
Vinnie Gold's life changed the moment his parents divorced. Her mom re-married and they eventually moved to a new home. Good thing there's Patsy--the girl next door and school-mate as well. Although I find it cute the way Vinne liked Patsy, I was taken aback the moment he laid eyes on her. It was insta-love. Then one day, Biff--the guy Patsy's dating; name according to Vinnie--dropped the paper with Patsy's telephone number written on it. When Vinnie finally had the guts to call her, he 'sort of' started stalking Patsy but never telling her it was him.
The insta-love was forgotten when the story progressed. I realized I liked Vinnie more than I thought. He maybe seem like an obscene caller or like a creepy old man, but he's more of a romantic guy. Especially on the Zorro scene!! (Sorry, but I can't help but to add this!) Feels. *sigh* I hate to say this, but I love and hate their love-hate relationship on the phone (if you call that relationship. Okay, friendship.)
Mostly, the book revolved around Vinnie's life with his parents and step-dad and some in school. So it was like a slow-paced story. I think that fit the setting and tone of the book, but it also didn't stopped me from wishing for more of Vinnie-Patsy interactions and maybe an extended ending. Because the ending was not enough for me! I loved it, yes. I had a fluffy and light feeling after I read it. But it felt like it ended when the story is just about to start. Well. After all...it's not exactly a love story.
Overall, I liked this book. Not Exactly A Love story is cute and romantic read. It was humorous and something you'd want to read after reading a heavy (say drama, sci-fi, or fantasy) novel or after a long tiring day.
Vinnie Gold's life changed the moment his parents divorced. Her mom re-married and they eventually moved to a new home. Good thing there's Patsy--the girl next door and school-mate as well. Although I find it cute the way Vinne liked Patsy, I was taken aback the moment he laid eyes on her. It was insta-love. Then one day, Biff--the guy Patsy's dating; name according to Vinnie--dropped the paper with Patsy's telephone number written on it. When Vinnie finally had the guts to call her, he 'sort of' started stalking Patsy but never telling her it was him.
The insta-love was forgotten when the story progressed. I realized I liked Vinnie more than I thought. He maybe seem like an obscene caller or like a creepy old man, but he's more of a romantic guy. Especially on the Zorro scene!! (Sorry, but I can't help but to add this!) Feels. *sigh* I hate to say this, but I love and hate their love-hate relationship on the phone (if you call that relationship. Okay, friendship.)
Mostly, the book revolved around Vinnie's life with his parents and step-dad and some in school. So it was like a slow-paced story. I think that fit the setting and tone of the book, but it also didn't stopped me from wishing for more of Vinnie-Patsy interactions and maybe an extended ending. Because the ending was not enough for me! I loved it, yes. I had a fluffy and light feeling after I read it. But it felt like it ended when the story is just about to start. Well. After all...it's not exactly a love story.
Overall, I liked this book. Not Exactly A Love story is cute and romantic read. It was humorous and something you'd want to read after reading a heavy (say drama, sci-fi, or fantasy) novel or after a long tiring day.
*Thank you so much Jennifer and Random House International for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!
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