The Romantics

September 19, 2016
Konen (The Last Time We Were Us) puts a twist on a typical teenage romantic comedy by making her narrator Love, the entity responsible for keeping everyone on track in matters of the heart. Currently, Love is attempting to put lovelorn high school senior Gael Brennan in the path of the right girl, Sammy Sutton. In a quirky narrative replete with entertaining footnotes and humor that befits a being who has seen it all (“Now let us return to Gael in his cocoon of despair”), Love provides background on Gael’s failed relationship with Anika (who hooks up with Gael’s best friend), his rebound with Cara (a serial monogamist who is clearly not the right girl), and how his parents’ relationship fell apart, all leading to a grand gesture to win Sammy’s heart (and, yes, there is an airport scene). Konen makes good use of numerous tropes of romantic comedy films, incorporating them into this light and utterly sweet read. Impressively, Konen treats her subject matter seriously while maintaining a playfulness that will keep readers engaged and rooting for Gael. Ages 13–up. Agent: Alloy Entertainment.

Little does Gael know, as he stumbles into and out of romance, that here and there his life is being tweaked by Love.Delivering exactly as promised, there is not one bit of irony or shame in the book's title or tagline, "a rom-com about love." Narrator and semidirector of the heart Love disavows any role in great stories throughout history--Romeo and Juliet, Bella and Edward, etc.--telling readers, "humans make a lot of mistakes. I don't." Love's now focused on 18-year-old, white Gael. Love wants to make amends for slacking on Gael's family by not being attentive enough to give some good love nudges that might have prevented his parents' divorce. His devastation over his parents' split propels Gael into falling too hard and too fast for the wrong girl, who breaks his heart by cheating on him with his best friend. Bitter and grieved but ever the romantic, Gael rebounds toward the next wrong girl. Eventually, with a little help from Love, Gael discovers the young woman who affirms the truth that "real love makes you better then you ever knew you could be." It's then that the rom-com madcap-ery really commences as Gael gets downright silly in order to reach his lady before it's too late. Love delivers this sweet little bonbon of a story in a voice that's always chipper, sometimes funny, and pretty darn smart. For romantics and skeptics alike, this fresh dose of optimism will warm the cockles of the heart. (Romance. 12-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Gael Brennan is a 17-year-old high school senior in Chapel Hill, NC. He plays the sax in marching band, loves Alfred Hitchcock and Wes Anderson films, and is a smart, well-behaved kid. So why do bad things keep happening to him? The summer before his senior year, his parents separate. Almost two months into the school year, his girlfriend breaks up with him (in a horrible way). This novel follows Gael (a romantic at heart) and his quest to find love as he lives through this trying time. Or, more aptly, this is Love's quest to lead Gael into brighter times ahead. Konen cleverly personifies Love as a lighthearted and empathetic narrator. The remaining characters-Gael, his friends, his sister, and his parents-are all perfectly imperfect, creating relatable and enjoyable scenes in this slice-of-life novel. VERDICT A jaunty, entertaining work that will reach a broad range of readers, with a feel-good cast of characters teens can root for. A general purchase for most YA collections.-Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.