Review: Love Like the Movies

Love Like the Movies by Victoria Van Tiem
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Romance
Release Date: February 24, 2014
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Book Description:

In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style—when her gorgeous ex presents a series of big screen challenges to win back her heart.

What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder . . . should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?

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Now, I don't normally review a lot of romantic comedy books, or even that many that aren't young adult, but "Love Like the Movies" by Victoria Van Tiem seemed too good to pass up. I may not read a lot of rom com, but I do watch them at theatres, and this book is the best of both worlds.

Kensington Shaw has an obsession with romantic comedy movies, so much in fact that she could quote all the major ones from memory. She's always wanted a love like the ones she sees on the big screen, complete with the "meet cutes", romantic gestures, and overall feeling of love and happiness that the women in those movies always seem to experience with their leading man.

I loved Kensington. She was a character that a lot of women could relate to. She was nearing 30, freaking out about her future, and still working hard to find herself. Kensington was fun, a good friend, and would do almost anything to gain her family's approval. What woman reader couldn't relate to some part of that personality? Kensington is extremely likable as our main character, and you can't help but root for her to find the happiness she's been searching so hard for.
Through Kensington, we readers are able to live out all of our romantic comedy fantasies. Van Tiem takes scenes from some of the biggest and most well known romance movies and makes them Kensington's own. We are swept along with her and her ex-boyfriend, Shane, who's walked back into her life to reconnect as they live out these magic movie moments. Seriously though, who hasn't harbored a secret wish to want a love like they've seen in the movies, even if they're fiction?

The story was pretty fast moving, with a lot happening in less than 300 pages. However, the pacing worked. I never felt like the story was rushed, or going too slow, and Van Tiem was able to write it in a way that told Kensington's story perfectly. The story had all of the staples of a classic Rom Com, including the boyfriend, the ex, the best friend, and the frenemy. Some of the twists and turns might have been a bit predictable, but that didn't deter it from being an enjoyable read.

I definitely would recommend "Love Like the Movies" to anyone who likes a good romantic comedy, whether they like the movies or the books – this is something they'll enjoy. It's a good time from the start, and you'll have fun cheering from Kensington's corner.

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Author Bio:

Victoria Van Tiem is an author repped by Jenny Bent, artist, black belt, mom of two, wife of one, and reluctant caretaker of their pot-bellied pig, Pobby.

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