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chelseaj91's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a cute, quick, if a little cliched, read. Not sure if the issues I had were due to the book itself or just the fact that I've been out of high school longer than I want to acknowledge so I couldn't relate easily? Don't get me wrong, I thought it was interesting and I liked the way Lily and Marijke pulled in various aspects from famous romcoms but yeah.
I'll admit that at first, Tommy seemed like he was hiding something. But as things went on, that view shifted and really the issue was that Marijke was insecure and projecting her fears. I'll admit that I hated when she checked Tommy's phone; popularity or not, if you can't trust someone enough that you feel the need to check their text messages/police their Facebook conversations/whatever, that's not a healthy relationship on either side. Towards the end when she finally started thinking about what she wanted, my opinion changed a bit, but most of the book was spent rolling my eyes because she jumped to so many conclusions and it frustrated me. I did like the friendship she developed with Lily and I liked the fact that Lily called her on making decisions based on what Tommy was doing. The thing with her parents kind of felt like it came out of nowhere; not really sure what the point of that even was? Was it supposed to be the thing that got Marijke to realize love is worth fighting for, or what? I mean, at the beginning, her parents are deeply in love and acting like teenagers, a few chapters later there's a tense argument and then suddenly they're splitting up? That seemed way glossed over and not quite shoehorned in there, but close.
Lily was interesting. I'll admit that I would have related a lot more to her when I was in high school; similar personalities and interests. I did think there was too much role reversal between her and her mom that was just there and never really explored. Like she spent most of the book half-annoyed with her mom but it was just resentment. Then her mom finally does something and suddenly everything comes out. I would have liked there to be a bit more about that honestly; clearly Lily's been holding onto these feelings for a while but she just yelled at her mom and then they're going to try and have a fun mother/daughter day? That was resolved way too quickly in my opinion, especially for something that seemed like it was going to be a bigger plot point, at least from the summary.
I'll admit that at first, Tommy seemed like he was hiding something. But as things went on, that view shifted and really the issue was that Marijke was insecure and projecting her fears. I'll admit that I hated when she checked Tommy's phone; popularity or not, if you can't trust someone enough that you feel the need to check their text messages/police their Facebook conversations/whatever, that's not a healthy relationship on either side. Towards the end when she finally started thinking about what she wanted, my opinion changed a bit, but most of the book was spent rolling my eyes because she jumped to so many conclusions and it frustrated me. I did like the friendship she developed with Lily and I liked the fact that Lily called her on making decisions based on what Tommy was doing. The thing with her parents kind of felt like it came out of nowhere; not really sure what the point of that even was? Was it supposed to be the thing that got Marijke to realize love is worth fighting for, or what? I mean, at the beginning, her parents are deeply in love and acting like teenagers, a few chapters later there's a tense argument and then suddenly they're splitting up? That seemed way glossed over and not quite shoehorned in there, but close.
Lily was interesting. I'll admit that I would have related a lot more to her when I was in high school; similar personalities and interests. I did think there was too much role reversal between her and her mom that was just there and never really explored. Like she spent most of the book half-annoyed with her mom but it was just resentment. Then her mom finally does something and suddenly everything comes out. I would have liked there to be a bit more about that honestly; clearly Lily's been holding onto these feelings for a while but she just yelled at her mom and then they're going to try and have a fun mother/daughter day? That was resolved way too quickly in my opinion, especially for something that seemed like it was going to be a bigger plot point, at least from the summary.
take_me_awayyy's review
2.0
When I first heard about this book, I was super excited about it because I really liked the concept and I read Fiore's last book. Although it wasn't stellar to me, I still enjoyed it.
The synopsis is what got me. Every girl has had that one wish where one day her love life is like what she sees in the movies. (Or maybe in our case, what we read about in books.) This is why Marijke and Lily become friends. They take on the task of making their non-stellar love lives into what they believed to be true love. I can honestly say I've never read a book with this kind of concept. But even still with all the creativeness this had, it still wasn't executed just right.
I read the other book by Fiore, Taste Test and I thought it was just ok, but the concept in that one jumped out to me in that one too. And basically that's what happened with this one. It was just ok. I was expecting to enjoy this more because it was her sophomore novel, but it still wasn't all that great.
I also didn't like the characters. Marijke was putting her entire life to the back burner because she was so caught up in her relationship. Since I was once a teen girl in high school, I completely understand how easy it is to get swept up in a high school boy's eyes, but this was a little over the top. I mean putting off her choosing a college because she didn't know what he was doing? Yeah, if that was my daughter we would've had some problems. Even in the end when he finally got it together I wasn't that much a of a fan of him. After seeing all that he did, that one gesture just wasn't enough for me. I felt like he was terrible to her, he deserved the hurt and the same thing he did to her. I was thinking of karma clearly.
In short, this book was very much like tie first. A very cute concept, an ok execution of it, and a fluffy romance. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I'm sure fiction lovers of all types can and will fall for this one.
The synopsis is what got me. Every girl has had that one wish where one day her love life is like what she sees in the movies. (Or maybe in our case, what we read about in books.) This is why Marijke and Lily become friends. They take on the task of making their non-stellar love lives into what they believed to be true love. I can honestly say I've never read a book with this kind of concept. But even still with all the creativeness this had, it still wasn't executed just right.
I read the other book by Fiore, Taste Test and I thought it was just ok, but the concept in that one jumped out to me in that one too. And basically that's what happened with this one. It was just ok. I was expecting to enjoy this more because it was her sophomore novel, but it still wasn't all that great.
I also didn't like the characters. Marijke was putting her entire life to the back burner because she was so caught up in her relationship. Since I was once a teen girl in high school, I completely understand how easy it is to get swept up in a high school boy's eyes, but this was a little over the top. I mean putting off her choosing a college because she didn't know what he was doing? Yeah, if that was my daughter we would've had some problems. Even in the end when he finally got it together I wasn't that much a of a fan of him. After seeing all that he did, that one gesture just wasn't enough for me. I felt like he was terrible to her, he deserved the hurt and the same thing he did to her. I was thinking of karma clearly.
In short, this book was very much like tie first. A very cute concept, an ok execution of it, and a fluffy romance. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I'm sure fiction lovers of all types can and will fall for this one.
wawa_m's review against another edition
3.0
What to say? Hmmm...
The story started out funny. Somewhere along the way, my enjoyment started to dip into the lows. Then it started to pick up again. I'm not so sure I enjoyed the ending. Of course story as a whole was a different outlook on relationships, romance, but mostly friendship. I appreciated this story for what it was.
The story started out funny. Somewhere along the way, my enjoyment started to dip into the lows. Then it started to pick up again. I'm not so sure I enjoyed the ending. Of course story as a whole was a different outlook on relationships, romance, but mostly friendship. I appreciated this story for what it was.
laurenl5876's review against another edition
2.0
Cute idea, just wasn't fully developed. Pretty cheesy, but entertaining
geekydrea's review against another edition
Post from: Book Blather
Just Like the Movies came at the right time for me. Drowning in committee graphic novels, I needed a light read with a bit of fluff; something that Just Like the Movies nailed perfectly. After all, what girl hasn’t dreamed at one time or another of having that perfect movie romance?
But lets be honest, movies aren’t real, right? While Marijke and Lily think they have the perfect schemes to get them what they want, they soon realize that plans don’t always go according to plan. Big elaborate set-ups fail for simple reasons. Even when everything else seems to be just right, it can still fall apart. I applaud Fiore for showing how complicated and difficult relationships, no matter what age you are, can be. However, we all know that YA books are like the movies, and that Marijke and Lily get their happily-ever-after in the end. And, for the most part, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I adore those tied up nicely in a bow endings
But the question remains: is it a good thing that everyone got their fairy tale ending? For Lily and Joe, absolutely. I adored every moment of this blooming relationship. They seemed to have a genuine connection once they started talking. It’s a little cheesy that Lily knows she’s in love with Joe without knowing anything about him, but that can be forgiven due to how realistic it is. How many times have we convinced ourselves that we’re head over heels for someone we’ve never said more than five words to or merely watched from afar? I loved that Lily wasn’t trying to be over the top and how honest and real Joe felt. While them becoming an item felt a bit sudden, I still cheered when it happened.
Marijke and Tommy, though? I cheered when I thought they were splitting up. I wanted to pat Marijke on the back when she finally started to put herself first. The whole book I felt like she tried way too hard, especially since Tommy felt a bit sleazy to me. He would always say the right thing, but his actions never backed it up. When your significant other tells you they need you/asks you to come over right away, you don’t go off and practice with the band; especially not after you said you would come. A healthy relationship means supporting each other emotionally. I never got that sense of support from Tommy. Time and time again he blew her off. It isn’t until she breaks up with him that he changes his tune, but even then I doubt his sincerity. The silver lining is that Marijke realized she couldn’t build her world around a boy. She started making decisions that were best for her and not their relationship. Perhaps this two will be okay, but honestly I wish Marijke had made the decision to stay single. With her going away for college, it would have been perfectly acceptable and understandable.
There’s one more thing I’d like to talk about and that’s Marijke and Lily’s friendship. These two formed an unlikely friendship that I simply adored. What started off as a ploy to help each other developed into something meaningful. I wish Fiore had focused more on this relationship because it truly was the heart of the book. If the happily ever after would just have been that these two formed a lasting bond I would have been satisfied. Sure, the romantic stuff was a bonus, but it wasn’t as important as this friendship.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a fast, cute romance this is it. It’s a perfect beach read that will leave a smile on your face.
Just Like the Movies came at the right time for me. Drowning in committee graphic novels, I needed a light read with a bit of fluff; something that Just Like the Movies nailed perfectly. After all, what girl hasn’t dreamed at one time or another of having that perfect movie romance?
But lets be honest, movies aren’t real, right? While Marijke and Lily think they have the perfect schemes to get them what they want, they soon realize that plans don’t always go according to plan. Big elaborate set-ups fail for simple reasons. Even when everything else seems to be just right, it can still fall apart. I applaud Fiore for showing how complicated and difficult relationships, no matter what age you are, can be. However, we all know that YA books are like the movies, and that Marijke and Lily get their happily-ever-after in the end. And, for the most part, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I adore those tied up nicely in a bow endings
But the question remains: is it a good thing that everyone got their fairy tale ending? For Lily and Joe, absolutely. I adored every moment of this blooming relationship. They seemed to have a genuine connection once they started talking. It’s a little cheesy that Lily knows she’s in love with Joe without knowing anything about him, but that can be forgiven due to how realistic it is. How many times have we convinced ourselves that we’re head over heels for someone we’ve never said more than five words to or merely watched from afar? I loved that Lily wasn’t trying to be over the top and how honest and real Joe felt. While them becoming an item felt a bit sudden, I still cheered when it happened.
Marijke and Tommy, though? I cheered when I thought they were splitting up. I wanted to pat Marijke on the back when she finally started to put herself first. The whole book I felt like she tried way too hard, especially since Tommy felt a bit sleazy to me. He would always say the right thing, but his actions never backed it up. When your significant other tells you they need you/asks you to come over right away, you don’t go off and practice with the band; especially not after you said you would come. A healthy relationship means supporting each other emotionally. I never got that sense of support from Tommy. Time and time again he blew her off. It isn’t until she breaks up with him that he changes his tune, but even then I doubt his sincerity. The silver lining is that Marijke realized she couldn’t build her world around a boy. She started making decisions that were best for her and not their relationship. Perhaps this two will be okay, but honestly I wish Marijke had made the decision to stay single. With her going away for college, it would have been perfectly acceptable and understandable.
There’s one more thing I’d like to talk about and that’s Marijke and Lily’s friendship. These two formed an unlikely friendship that I simply adored. What started off as a ploy to help each other developed into something meaningful. I wish Fiore had focused more on this relationship because it truly was the heart of the book. If the happily ever after would just have been that these two formed a lasting bond I would have been satisfied. Sure, the romantic stuff was a bonus, but it wasn’t as important as this friendship.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a fast, cute romance this is it. It’s a perfect beach read that will leave a smile on your face.
folklaureate's review against another edition
3.0
Who has never wished that their live could be just like the movies? I know I have at certain points and time. And Kelly Fiore captured that general feeling of wishing to have a love life that sparks and kindles just like how it does in movies. With two girls from opposite ends of the high school spectrum coming together to recreate scenes from classic 80s movies in order to get the boys they like to notice them and appreciate them, my smile couldn't have gotten any wider while reading. It was cute. It was inventive. And Just Like the Movies practically plays out like a movie, a chick flick of YA novels, with all of its cliches, humor, and blooming friendship & love, and is definitely a summer read if I have ever seen one.
Marijke and Lily, in their senior year of high school, run into some problems of their own. Marijke, the popular track star with the boyfriend in a band, feels under appreciated, like she is fending off vixens after his attention, and lacking an "I love you" after a year of dating. Lily on the other hand, is invisible not only to the student population, but to the boy she has been crushing on for over two years. After meeting in the movie theaters, Marijke and Lily create operation-just-like-the-movies, staging reenactments from scenes of famous movies in order to get the people they like the most to finally notice and love them back.
The two girls had characteristics that I could relate to on a personal level, and I think that both Marijke and Lily has something in them that many girls can relate to whether it be a relationship that seemed one-sided, trying to get closer to that special someone who didn't even know you existed, the jealousy, and just wishing that live was as simple as the movies or even just having relationships work out just like how they do in the movies. But the girls also have moments where they really shine, where they break the boundaries of the words on the page and they just feel so real, and my favorites would have to be when Marijke is running on the track and when Lily is with her little brother.
Personally, I disliked Marijke's boyfriend, Tommy, and failed to see the interesting qualities that she found in him, and what she did like about him failed to really bring his character to life. I understand Marijke's frustration with her boyfriend and the reasons for some of her jealous accusations, but overall I found that her boyfriend was not worth fighting for especially since for more than half the book she is wavering about how trustworthy he is rather than talking about their problems and how to fix their relationship. But, on a happier note, I absolutely loved the boy that Lily was pawning after. Now his character, I felt, was much more developed and just fun to watch Lily learn and put into practice the tidbits that Marijke had given her on how to get the guy to finally notice her. And even Marijke and Lily's relationship was the real shining relationship in this book, and how an unexpected friendship can make all the difference.
A cute, light summer read, Just Like the Movies will capture you with its nostalgic movie references, relatable characters, and the feeling of wanting life and love to piece together just like how the movies work.
Marijke and Lily, in their senior year of high school, run into some problems of their own. Marijke, the popular track star with the boyfriend in a band, feels under appreciated, like she is fending off vixens after his attention, and lacking an "I love you" after a year of dating. Lily on the other hand, is invisible not only to the student population, but to the boy she has been crushing on for over two years. After meeting in the movie theaters, Marijke and Lily create operation-just-like-the-movies, staging reenactments from scenes of famous movies in order to get the people they like the most to finally notice and love them back.
The two girls had characteristics that I could relate to on a personal level, and I think that both Marijke and Lily has something in them that many girls can relate to whether it be a relationship that seemed one-sided, trying to get closer to that special someone who didn't even know you existed, the jealousy, and just wishing that live was as simple as the movies or even just having relationships work out just like how they do in the movies. But the girls also have moments where they really shine, where they break the boundaries of the words on the page and they just feel so real, and my favorites would have to be when Marijke is running on the track and when Lily is with her little brother.
Personally, I disliked Marijke's boyfriend, Tommy, and failed to see the interesting qualities that she found in him, and what she did like about him failed to really bring his character to life. I understand Marijke's frustration with her boyfriend and the reasons for some of her jealous accusations, but overall I found that her boyfriend was not worth fighting for especially since for more than half the book she is wavering about how trustworthy he is rather than talking about their problems and how to fix their relationship. But, on a happier note, I absolutely loved the boy that Lily was pawning after. Now his character, I felt, was much more developed and just fun to watch Lily learn and put into practice the tidbits that Marijke had given her on how to get the guy to finally notice her. And even Marijke and Lily's relationship was the real shining relationship in this book, and how an unexpected friendship can make all the difference.
A cute, light summer read, Just Like the Movies will capture you with its nostalgic movie references, relatable characters, and the feeling of wanting life and love to piece together just like how the movies work.
summerrae87's review against another edition
4.0
The story follows two girls, Marijke and Lily, as they struggle to find a balance between the love lives and everyday life. They concoct a plan to live their lives like a movie, with bold and spontaneous moves. The question is, how far are they willing to go to get what they want? This book tells the story of two girls from different worlds who meet under unusual circumstances. Sound familiar? Right, so many YA books contain a similar plot. This one, however, does not follow your typical script. In fact, it had me guessing up until the very end how things were going to turn out. Both of the main characters were extremely likable, although their male counterparts left much to be desired. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, fun novel that shows just how important friendship can be.
andiabcs's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book was a case of me expecting the story to be something different than it was. That was the first thought I had when I finished Just Like the Movies. I had been super excited to read it and then when the reality happened it just fell flat for me. I mean I liked it enough and liked the potential, but I wasn’t wowed by it and I was bugged by it.
Just Like the Movies is a book about two girls that are having relationship problems. First there is Marijke. She has been dating her boyfriend for a year and has yet to hear the L word and is super insecure about his hotness and where they stand. And then you have Lily, a girl that has never had a boyfriend and has been crushing on the same guy for 2 years. When these two girls who have never really crossed paths run into each other in an unexpected night, they decide that they should work together to make their lives just like a movie with a nice happily ever after. Only as time goes by the girls start to wonder if happily ever after really does exist.
To be honest something just felt off in this story. I’m a pop culture junky so I was excited to see what movies these girls would use and what scenarios they would get themselves in. Only problem was it never seemed to happen. There were one or two scenes that they flat out referenced a movie situation, but I felt for the most part it was all subtle. I think that was the first part that threw me off. I also think this book suffered from a case of uncertain identity. I couldn’t tell by the end if it was a friendship book or a book that was about happily ever after’s and unrealistic endings? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good, happy, love story like the next guy. But there was something about the end of Just Like the Movies that just didn’t work for me. I didn’t want Marijke to end up with her boyfriend and it bugged when at the last minute it went in that direction. I almost would have liked it better if she stood up for herself and realized she didn’t need him. Because she didn’t. She was smart and funny and a great athlete. She had a good head on her shoulders and that was all taken away when everything was said in done. I did like Lily’s side of the book but really I just wasn’t wowed by any of it which makes me sad.
Just Like the Movies is a book about two girls that are having relationship problems. First there is Marijke. She has been dating her boyfriend for a year and has yet to hear the L word and is super insecure about his hotness and where they stand. And then you have Lily, a girl that has never had a boyfriend and has been crushing on the same guy for 2 years. When these two girls who have never really crossed paths run into each other in an unexpected night, they decide that they should work together to make their lives just like a movie with a nice happily ever after. Only as time goes by the girls start to wonder if happily ever after really does exist.
To be honest something just felt off in this story. I’m a pop culture junky so I was excited to see what movies these girls would use and what scenarios they would get themselves in. Only problem was it never seemed to happen. There were one or two scenes that they flat out referenced a movie situation, but I felt for the most part it was all subtle. I think that was the first part that threw me off. I also think this book suffered from a case of uncertain identity. I couldn’t tell by the end if it was a friendship book or a book that was about happily ever after’s and unrealistic endings? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good, happy, love story like the next guy. But there was something about the end of Just Like the Movies that just didn’t work for me. I didn’t want Marijke to end up with her boyfriend and it bugged when at the last minute it went in that direction. I almost would have liked it better if she stood up for herself and realized she didn’t need him. Because she didn’t. She was smart and funny and a great athlete. She had a good head on her shoulders and that was all taken away when everything was said in done. I did like Lily’s side of the book but really I just wasn’t wowed by any of it which makes me sad.
theartolater's review against another edition
3.0
I came away from this book somewhat frustrated. In a lot of ways, it's a really solid YA teen romance read, and the concept behind it is solid. It reminded me quite a bit of a few of the recent reads in this genre that I've read, which was great. My complaint is more about how it never really reaches the concept that it presents in a way I'd expect.
The short answer on this is that the book is about a couple girls who aren't so lucky in the love department and end up trying to woo their crushes using romantic movie tropes. They start a small business, they try it on their own, and it is very much a comedy of errors in some senses.
The story is pretty straightforward on a whole, but the somewhat stuttered efforts to get the hook of the book involved really took away from the rest of the story for me. It had moments that felt like a bad comedy that were offset by other pretty fun scenes. That inconsistency was ultimately what kept me from enjoying this more on a whole. Closer to a 3.5, and good for a lighter read, but that's about it.
The short answer on this is that the book is about a couple girls who aren't so lucky in the love department and end up trying to woo their crushes using romantic movie tropes. They start a small business, they try it on their own, and it is very much a comedy of errors in some senses.
The story is pretty straightforward on a whole, but the somewhat stuttered efforts to get the hook of the book involved really took away from the rest of the story for me. It had moments that felt like a bad comedy that were offset by other pretty fun scenes. That inconsistency was ultimately what kept me from enjoying this more on a whole. Closer to a 3.5, and good for a lighter read, but that's about it.