The details…
Title: Someone Just Like You
Author: Meredith Schorr
Published by: Forever
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Pages: 352
ISBN13: 978-1538754801
Genre: romantic comedy
Themes: finding love, family, community, friendship, healing old animosities
Tropes: growing up next door, enemies to lovers
The blurb from the publisher…
New Yorker Molly Blum knows everything about her lifelong nemesis, Jude Stark. With their families so close, they should have been best friends. Instead, she thinks he's a too-charming slacker, and he thinks she's allergic to fun. After years of one-upping each other's pranks (chocolate-dipped cat treats are not as delicious as they appear), one high school joke went too far, and they stopped speaking completely. But now that they're supposed to help plan a massive party for their parents-together-there's no better time to resume their war.
And it is on. Only somewhere between all the sniping and harmless hijinks, a reluctant friendship develops, along with an unexpected spark of sexual tension. It might have to do with the fact that she's been dating Jude-lookalikes and he's been dating Molly doppelgangers. Or the fact that neither of them is nearly as horrible as they thought. All Molly and Jude know is that they've mastered the art of hating each other. Falling in love, on the other hand, is a whole new battlefield.
My thoughts…
An enemies-to-lovers rom-com is always entertaining to read because the storytelling is driven by transformation, growth, and unexpected love. When two people who have grown up next door to each other become enemies, there is a history that adds depth to their relationship. The familiarity and closeness that come with growing up in the same neighborhood makes the stakes higher and the tension palpable. It all works to create a solid base for an engaging romance, something that readers find in spades in Meredith Schorr’s latest novel Someone Just Like You.
In this storyline, protagonists Molly Blum and Jude Stark grew up next door to each other and participated in a lot of adolescent high jinx during their formative years. Unfortunately, one high school prank went a bit too far and created a long-standing animosity between them. As adults, they hold on to these childhood grudges and are unable to see each other in a different light. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, as their daily lives don’t intersect anymore, but that all changes when they are expected to plan a joint anniversary party for their parents. As they begin to spend more time together, they start to see each other's vulnerabilities and flaws, and their hate slowly transforms into love. Seeing these characters come together as adults is uplighting. As the characters put their antipathy aside and find common ground, they open themselves up to the possibility of redemption and second chances. It allows readers to imagine what it would be like to have a do-over with someone from their past, making for some fun romantic escapism.
This story is cute as heck and has all the features of a classic Hallmark rom-com movie. The “growing up next door to each other” trope adds a layer of nostalgia and familiarity that readers can appreciate. It gives off a sense of comfort and security, as the lead characters have known each other for a long time. There’s a push-pull dynamic between Molly and Jude that’s entertaining to watch too. It works to foster a satisfying resolution for them, which is really a new beginning. It ultimately works to draw readers into the storytelling, providing them with the thrill of an adorable romance they can easily buy into.
Final remarks…
Overall, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com is an entertaining read. Molly and Jude’s romance combines the elements of familiarity, rivalry, and unexpected love. It is a love story of transformation and growth, and it keeps readers invested until the very end.
Strengths…
Cute and adorable
Nicely written
Funny dialogue
Likable characters
This book is available from…
A bit about the author…
A born and bred New Yorker and lifelong daydreamer, Meredith Schorr fueled her passion for writing everything from restaurant reviews, original birthday cards, and even work-related emails into a career penning romantic comedies. When she’s not writing books filled with grand gestures and hard-earned happily-ever-afters or working as a trademark paralegal, she’s most often reading, running, or watching TV…for research, of course. She is represented by Melissa Edwards at Stonesong. Meredith’s trade paperback debut with Grand Central Publishing/Forever, AS SEEN ON TV, was published on June 7, 2022. For more information, check out her social media.
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