The Kari AnnAlysis

Erin Blackwell has a dream of being an author (don’t we all). The problem with that is, her family owns a prominent horse farm in Kentucky and since she’s not taking over, her grandma has cut her off. Her life is going just fine in NYC, minus not having the money she is used to. She is working at a coffee shop, making friends and doing well in her writing class, until the muse of her most recent, steamy story walks right into her class.

Hunter’s father has worked for Erin’s grandmother for years. Erin has always had a crush on Hunter, hence the steamy story, but since the day Hunter started school with Erin, everyone called him “stable boy” and it was obvious she was way out of his league.

But now, they’re in college and it appears that Erin isn’t the only one defying her grandma. But Hunter has stolen her birthright and she’s not sure how much she can trust him, no matter how irresistible he is.

And when he gets into her writing class, she may not be the only one writing about someone she knows.

Some of my favorite books right now are ones that involve college kids. I’ve been out of college for three years and was very ready to be done when graduation rolled around. But the older I get, the more I think about college and wish that I would have done a few things differently. Like had a job. Yes I had a job at a call center my freshman year, but after that I took a couple of years off until I got a part time position at the tv station where I currently work. I could have worked at the library or  a coffee shop. I also wish I would have grown out of the party lifestyle sooner. That doesn’t need an explanation. I wish I would have read more. My senior year was when I really got into reading fiction. I wish I would have spent more time reading than out partying. It’s books like these that really make me think about the “would haves” if I would ever have a chance to go back. Like Erin. She has a job, she has friends, she studies. She’s a good kid.

Echols did a great job with this book. Erin and Hunter are great characters that keep you on the edge the whole book, wondering what will happen next. I imagine I wasn’t the only one saying “Just get together and get it over with”, but then there would be another bit a drama that would push them apart again. There’s also an excellent cast of supporting actors, including Erin’s great friends. My mom always told me the friends I made in college would be my life-long friends. I had great friends in college, but we have unfortunately all gone separate ways in the past few years. I always think about what my mom said whenever I read college books and hope their friendships continue on and don’t whither away like some of mine.

This book definitely made me put myself in Erin’s shoes and think a lot about my past, but the most important thing about this book wasn’t me reliving my college years, it was as the title says, a love story. It’s the traditional against all odds love story that you hope has a happy ending (which I am definitely not spoiling for you either way).

I give Love Story 4 bookmarks. Some of Echols’ other books have piqued my interests, so they are definitely getting added to my TBR list.

ISBN: 978-1439178324
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Author Website
Kari got this book from Simon&Schuster Galley Grab