A review by readandwright
One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

5.0

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for my copy of One Star Romance! All thoughts are my own. 
Picture this: your best friend is marrying a guy you don’t think is good enough for her, leading her to move out and leave you behind. Then the best man gives your novel a one star review on Goodreads. You know he did it but you can’t ruin your best friend’s wedding…because you based the book off of her future husband. One Star Romance by Laura Hankin captures the feeling of being in your twenties, a decade of immense change, perfectly. 
I LOVED this book. I knew I would, since I’ve loved all of Laura Hankin’s books, but I loved her foray into rom coms. Rom coms are just the best and Laura brought a fresh spin to the genre. Not only are we falling in love with a couple, but we’re seeing their lives and other relationships unfold. It’s not a traditional rom com but it still gives you all the feels you’re looking for, with a sprinkle of fiction and a dash of angst. Perfect for fans of Kate Goldbecks, You, Again. 
Synopsis: 
What I Liked: 
  1. The Set Up—Walking down the aisle with a dude who gave your book one star? Juicy. I was so excited to dive in on this knowledge alone!
  2. The Balance Between Friendship and Romantic Love—I’ve been reading romance for a long time and it’s my favorite genre. But it’s always nice when the story feels so full and reminiscent of real life, amidst all the wonderful tropes. I loved how we equally got to know Natalie and Rob through their relationships with friends and family. 
  3. The Fresh and Familiar Feeling—This book felt fresh in the sense that it felt like “more” than a romance but still had a delightful grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers vibe. 
What Didn’t Work: 
  1. First Act Felt a Little Slow—I wish the first act had started a little quicker, there was a lot of backstory that did end up being important but I think we could have seen it later on in flashbacks or described in a different way. 
Character Authenticity: 5/5     Spice Rating: 0/5     Overall Rating: 5/5
Content Warnings:
dementia, cancer