BOOK REVIEW: It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pages: 411

Genre: YA Contemporary

"The bright spring sunshine disoriented me and hurt my eyes, like it always does when you step out of a cinema. Emerging into the real world. Where the lines aren't scripted, where the characters' motives don't always make sense, where the lighting isn't flattering, where boring days are things you have to endure rather than skip past in a montage, where the couples don't always work it out, where the rain makes your hair frizz, where love is sometimes complicated and hard and dull and painful and grey and ever-changing and compromised and flimsy, rather than only perfect and soulmates and kisses in the rain and knowing they're going to live happily ever after."

Something I love about Holly's books, is that there is always something you can take away from her stories and there is always a hidden, deeper message or lesson to uncover while enjoying her writing. Her story lines are always realistic and the characters real and relatable.

"Because what I'd learned was, love isn't just a feeling. Love is a choice too. And you may not be able to help your feelings, but you are responsible for the choices you make about what to do with them."

Audrey starts a new job at a cinema in order to get her mind off of her ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend, as well as her problems at home due to her parents' divorce. She meets Harry, her attractive and charming colleague, who is every movie cliche rolled into one. She receives multiple warnings from concerned friends to keep her distance from him, which is initially easy as she is immune to boys and their charms due to her recent heartbreak, but when she starts acting in a film Harry is directing, they start spending more time together. Could she be the one to change him? Could this be a Happily Ever After?

"Because you always leave a little piece of your heart in whoever you fall in love with."

As a project for Media Studies, Audrey does a research assignment on romance films and the format of the book is tied to this by being split up according to key moments found in romance films, which I loved as it made the reading experience fun, creative and unique.

"I think there's this huge void between what people think love is, what they want it to be, and what it actually is."

I enjoyed Audrey's character. She had so much to deal with and struggle through at times and she managed to emerge from it stronger, braver and wiser. She developed such a strong sense of self-worth which was refreshing.

"All I'm saying is, love changes over time. No person is ever perfect for another person. No couple goes through life without an argument or a bad patch, or even just a dull patch where they look at the other an think, Is this it?"

I love that this book teaches us that life & love is not always perfect. Love is not just a feeling, but a choice you need to make everyday. It also highlights that we don't always get what we want, but instead, what we need.

TW: I recommend looking up the trigger warnings for this one ❤️🤗