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A review by kylakahrin
Finding Gene Kelly by Torie Jean
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I exist in a state of perpetual pain, and I’ve had to accept that to survive—it’d be nice if others acknowledged and were okay with it. Otherwise, the guilt and anxiety of being “a downer” are put on me too.”
I’ve frequently noted that books have made me feel seen. This was no exception. In fact, I think it’s my new baseline for having my feelings sucked from my brain and put to paper. Finding Gene Kelly lives inside my heart now.
Our main character Evie lives with the same chronic illness that I do: endometriosis. She also loves Gene Kelly and Audrey Hepburn movies, misses her Nana who passed away when she was 12, and loves to bake. She left Tallow, Massachusetts, and moved to Paris to become a pastry chef and open a patisserie but her flare ups make it so that she has to put her dreams on the back burner. Back in Tallow, she left behind her lifelong crush, the boy she married at 5 years old, Liam Kelly, who loved her Nana and her movies and knew her just about as well as she knew herself. She hasn’t seen or heard from him since she left for Paris.
And in true romcom fashion, he shows up unexpectedly outside her favorite donut shop. Chaos ensues and true feelings rise to the surface. She wants him gone but she also needs a believable date for her brother’s wedding so her horrible mother will get off her case about not being married or having children yet. With a plan to fake date at the wedding set, Evie and Liam spend the time before the wedding facing uncomfortable truths and surviving through flare ups.
The endo (and general chronic illness) representation in this book blew me away. There were multiple passages that I had to take a break after reading because they were so real and exactly what I’ve experienced. It was a heavy read, to say the least. My favorite thing about this book was that Evie is seen as a desirable friend and partner even with her endo. Her mother and a few petty acquaintances are constantly bringing her down for having endometriosis, as if she chose to have an incurable, debilitating, lifelong disease. But her real friends and her love interest love her and support her through flare ups.
I can’t wait for this to release so I can scream at everyone I know to buy it and read it and love it. Torie Jean wrote my illness so beautifully and accurately so I have to return the favor by being this book's #1 fan. 5 cheez wiz colored⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Sunset and Camden Creative for the eARC for me to read and honestly review!! You’ve sent me my new favorite book!
The content warnings being listed at beginning of the book were a HUGE plus! CW: chronic health, endometriosis, massively toxic mother, discussions of infertility, on-page vomiting
I’ve frequently noted that books have made me feel seen. This was no exception. In fact, I think it’s my new baseline for having my feelings sucked from my brain and put to paper. Finding Gene Kelly lives inside my heart now.
Our main character Evie lives with the same chronic illness that I do: endometriosis. She also loves Gene Kelly and Audrey Hepburn movies, misses her Nana who passed away when she was 12, and loves to bake. She left Tallow, Massachusetts, and moved to Paris to become a pastry chef and open a patisserie but her flare ups make it so that she has to put her dreams on the back burner. Back in Tallow, she left behind her lifelong crush, the boy she married at 5 years old, Liam Kelly, who loved her Nana and her movies and knew her just about as well as she knew herself. She hasn’t seen or heard from him since she left for Paris.
And in true romcom fashion, he shows up unexpectedly outside her favorite donut shop. Chaos ensues and true feelings rise to the surface. She wants him gone but she also needs a believable date for her brother’s wedding so her horrible mother will get off her case about not being married or having children yet. With a plan to fake date at the wedding set, Evie and Liam spend the time before the wedding facing uncomfortable truths and surviving through flare ups.
The endo (and general chronic illness) representation in this book blew me away. There were multiple passages that I had to take a break after reading because they were so real and exactly what I’ve experienced. It was a heavy read, to say the least. My favorite thing about this book was that Evie is seen as a desirable friend and partner even with her endo. Her mother and a few petty acquaintances are constantly bringing her down for having endometriosis, as if she chose to have an incurable, debilitating, lifelong disease. But her real friends and her love interest love her and support her through flare ups.
I can’t wait for this to release so I can scream at everyone I know to buy it and read it and love it. Torie Jean wrote my illness so beautifully and accurately so I have to return the favor by being this book's #1 fan. 5 cheez wiz colored⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Sunset and Camden Creative for the eARC for me to read and honestly review!! You’ve sent me my new favorite book!
The content warnings being listed at beginning of the book were a HUGE plus! CW: chronic health, endometriosis, massively toxic mother, discussions of infertility, on-page vomiting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Vomit