LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: July 19th 2011 by MTV Books
Rating: 
Summary: For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions–it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.
Review Overview:
- Jennifer Echols has a fantastic writing style
- Erin and Hunter have great chemistry
- I was unsatisfied with the ending
As our lovely host blogger knows, Jennifer Echols is one of my favorite authors thanks to her 2009 novel, Going Too Far. She has a fantastic writing style – after reading a few novels this week that resembled TV dramas, I found LOVE STORY refreshing.
Erin Blackwell is a creative writing major at a reputable university in New York City. Cut off from her inheritance thanks to her grandmother and Hunter Allen, she works long hours at a coffee house to support her diet of peanut butter crackers. When she’s not busy whipping up lattes, she’s writing short stories for her honors creative writing class in hopes of winning an internship at a publishing house. Erin’s first short story is based on Hunter Allen, a stablehand on her grandmother’s horse farm, and the events that transpired between them one night and everything she wished would have happened. To her horror, Hunter transfers into her class just as they are discussing her story. Afterwards, Erin persuades him to hide the fact that he is the character in her story from their professor. Hunter does not leave this “offense” unreciprocated – throughout the semester his own stunning stories spark jealousy and desire in Erin.
Overall, LOVE STORY was wonderful. Not only did Erin and Hunter have great chemistry – as demonstrated in scenes that include borderline night stalking and a beach party – but so did the supporting characters! At first, I expected Echols to present them as stereotypical literary best friends, but this was not the case. Erin’s and Hunter’s roommates were eclectic and hilarious. Not only did they have their own mess of problems, but they also egged on Erin and Hunter’s non-relationship/shaky friendship in and out of class.
The components of LOVE STORY that won me over:
- At the beginning of some chapters, Echols includes the short stories that Erin and Hunter write for class
- Hunter’s attractiveness: he’s mysterious, intelligent, and funny
- Erin’s endearing roommates, Summer and Jordis with a slash, reminded me of my own roommates and friends
- Erin’s character growth
Haven’t read this one yet but I’m going to have to read it, it seems! Some excellent bullet points (really liked that, btw).
Happy reading!
Mary @ Book Swarm
Thanks, Mary! I hope you give LOVE STORY a chance! And yes, the bullet points were great.