She will not be simple and sweet. She will not be what people tell her to be. That Bunny Rabbit is dead.” 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. First things first: this is a romantic story, no matter how much you complain about that. I don't care about the ifs, about what happened or about the freaking bad timing. Plus, I'm not happy with the whole Harry thing at all- can you tell? He felt so, so, so fake. He was irritating and I couldn't stand the fact that in their first date, he forces Audrey on a stupid ride when she clearly didn't want to go on. (It felt obvious I tell you.) And yes she told him off but I'm still not happy. 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.

Ending: “They tend to end way too early. The movie either ends when the couple gets together, or someone dies before you can see the relationship develop.” Meet Harry. A typical bad boy, with his charming good looks, swept-up hair and cheeky personality, he’s the epitome of who to avoid. Known for his love of directing his own zombie films, Audrey approaches with caution, but will she be the girl to change Harry’s laddish ways? But wait, did I just say romantic? I guess I did even though the main purpose of the book is to contradict everything about romantic movies. It’s actually a blatant deconstructive analysis of romantic movies proving that real life romance is completely different. Holly Bourne definitely has all the right to say that It Only Happens in the Movies. First of all, I need to discuss our main character, Audrey. Despite some differences within our familial situation, I felt that Audrey was an extremely relatable character, almost like somebody you are friends with in real life. Throughout the story, Audrey constantly stands up for what she believes in which is a really admirable trait, and isn’t afraid to say no if she doesn’t want to do something, like turning down drugs and alcohol. Audrey understands her worth and wants what ultimately is best for her; I have a lot of respect for her because of this. 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.

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.” against the father who left you and doesn’t realize you quit the one thing that made you happy, then when can you?” 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

of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne Audrey is over romance. Since her parents’ relationship imploded her mother’s been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn’t mean things are easy. Because real love isn’t like the movies… 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*It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne is a book that has a lot of potential but failed to deliver, in my opinion. I loved the feminist messages as well as the indie cinema setting, but I had trouble connecting with the main characters. As well, I am not the biggest fan of books in which the message is made explicitly clear and is constantly pushed on the reader, and that is what happened in this case. While this one wasn’t my favourite, there are still some aspects I found enjoyable, and those interested in books about cinema, feminism, and mental health might enjoy it. Title: It Only Happens in the Movies Now chances are if you would describe yourself as a YA fan in 2018, you’ve heard of Holly Bourne. Maybe you haven’t read her, but you’ve heard all about this contemporary, feminist goddess, right? Harry, the love interest, is the typical “bad boy charming romantic”. You know he’s trouble from the beginning but you can’t help but warm to him as the story goes on. Despite Harry and Audrey falling in love with one another, Audrey calls him out on his shit repeatedly, and I think it’s refreshing to see that it’s ok to love someone and disagree with their views and actions at the same time in a YA contemporary novel.

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.

The subject of love plays a huge part in the novel, designed to test its characters emotionally. For instance, we see examples of teenage love – Audrey’s end-of-the-world feelings towards breaking up with her boyfriend, Milo; coupled with the fact that her father doesn’t seem to love his own family – or else why would he have left them, and her loss of love for a school subject she once adored. Love comes in many forms and for Audrey Winters, she feels three different types simultaneously. Yes. I thought maybe our relationship was different. Maybe it was, for a little while. But I'm not giving you the opportunity to break my heart again, Harry. Maybe this time you've broken your own too, and maybe you won't do anything like this again. I'm not willing to take that chance though.” Because they're full of unhelpful lies. Romance films ruin people’s real-life relationships. They offer this idea of love that isn’t sustainable in normal life. It’s dan…” I was about to say “dangerous” before I looked up to see literally the whole class listening in. My fists clenched. I reached for a lesser word. “It’s…pathetic?”

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.” Romeo + Juliet is amazing - 90s Leo will always be my favourite - and When Harry Met Sally is just a classical. Add in newly divorced parents, a brother you never see, mounting schoolwork, and a UCAS application, all while dealing with a break-up from the boy you thought you’d marry, it’s easy to see why overworked schoolgirl Audrey Winters is feeling the strain. With faithful and straight-talking compan`ion, Leroy, at her side, she sets about trying to rebuild her life, her emotions and her attitude towards the ever complex topic of love. Vaginismus affects around 17% percent of women between fifteen and sixty-four in the UK, but almost 50% of women with vaginismus are between fifteen and twenty-four, highlighting exactly why this representation is necessary in YA. I’m so grateful to Holly for including this and showing that this isn’t a case of there being something “wrong” with the woman as Audrey believe, but many (often treatable) factors. Essentially, the story proves how almost every element of romantic movies is unrealistic through Audrey’s personal (firsthand and secondhand) experiences which she actually documents for her thesis. Why had I not thought about this topic for my thesis?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. 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. Audrey is over romance. Since her parents’ relationship imploded her mother’s been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. A girl is drunk. Very, very drunk. So drunk she is not going to remember anything tomorrow. She is very much in love with her boyfriend and very much still friends with her ex who is in her social circle. At a party, where she is very, very drunk, her boyfriend does not show up. When she wakes up in the morning, her ex is in her bed and she is quite confused about this. She then finds out that he performed oral sex on her in her intoxicated state. She is upset upon hearing this and it wouldn’t have happened if she were sober. Not only does Audrey have a pretty difficult home life (thanks to her dad for leaving their family for another woman, who was pregnant with his kids), she’s also suffering from heartbreak after her then-boyfriend dumped her one week after their failed sexual encounter. Audrey is embarrassed and bitter and swears off boys - especially boys like Harry, who just scream trouble, and who have the ability to break her already fragile heart. But can you really choose who to love?