I received a copy of Love is Love by Mette Bach, from James Lorimer & Company via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Overweight and unhappy at home, Emmy gets sexually involved with a popular classmate so that people will think that she is worth liking. When she realizes that he is just using her, she decides to leave her home in Winnipeg to stay with her uncle’s family in Vancouver. Emmy has always been intimidated by her perfect cousin Paige and Paige’s cool friends, so she is surprised to find that the coolest of them is transgender. Emmy is instantly attracted to Jude (who used to be Judy), and starts hanging out at the coffee shop where he works. She even performs at the poetry slam Jude hosts there.
Emmy is never sure where she stands with Jude, and can’t believe that such a confident, charismatic guy might actually be interested in her. Both her mother back in Winnipeg and Paige warn her away from Jude, saying that he will just use her and she will get hurt. But it’s not until she almost falls again into the trap of casual sex to boost her self-esteem that Emmy realizes it’s worth it to put your true self out there for real love.
This review may contain spoilers.
I was doubtful about my reading Love is Love. I honestly thought that I wouldn’t end up liking the book at all. However, I gave it a chance and the one thing that surprised me the most about this book was its length; Love is Love is only about 176 ebook pages.
The beginning of Love is Love wasn’t so hot. I actually found it to be quite gross, but that is probably just me. I would say that I didn’t enjoy reading the first 40% of Love is Love. What I didn’t like about the book was the relationship that Emmy has with her mother. I’m glad that Emmy had the chance to leave where she lived before moving. The rest of the book was definitely enjoyable though!
What I liked about this book is that 1., it takes place for the most part, in Vancouver! Another book that takes place in Canada! Amazing. 2., I love the representation this book has.
Love is Love is not a perfect book, but if it were to be perfect book, I truly believe that this story wouldn’t get a hold of anyone. Love is Love is absolutely not perfect. Which makes the book really well done. In that retrospect, I can honestly say that Love is Love is a real book. With a character who has real life problems, real life reactions to things.
I ended up enjoying my read through of Love is Love way more than I thought I would. I gave Love is Love 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads.
Thank you again, to James Lorimer & Company and Netgalley for allowing me to read Love is Love.
Happy Reading!
Adele
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