REVIEW – IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES by Holly Bourne

Posted October 9, 2017 by Emma in 2017 Books, 5 Stars, Anti-Romance, Book Review, Contemporary, Favourite Author, Favourites, Holly Bourne, It Only Happens in the Movies, Most Anticipated, Romance, Usborne Publishing, YA / 0 Comments


It Only Happens in the Movies
by Holly Bourne
Publisher – Usborne Publising
Release Date – October 1st 2017
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository

Audrey is over romance. Since her parents’ relationship imploded her mother’s been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn’t mean things are easy. Because real love isn’t like the movies…

The greatest love story ever told doesn’t feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichรฉs. Oh, and zombies… YA star Holly Bourne tackles real love in this hugely funny and poignant novel.

My Review
If you don’t already know about this book then you need to drop everything, grab your phone and order this book straight away. DO IT NOW! 
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Holly’s, I’m lucky and truly honored to be quoted in them. But that’s not the reason why I love her books and why this book has been the most anticipated book since finishing …And a Happy New Year last year. It was sad to leave the Spinster Girls behind but It Only Happens in the Movies, is Holly’s best one yet. Simple as that. Be prepared though you’ll need lots of tissues. 
Audrey is sooo over love. She’s anti-love, anti-guy and anti-romance altogether. You probably think she’s a cynic but that’s not a bad thing is it?! She has a reason to be, her parents marriage fell apart because her father chose to love someone else. She fell in love with a guy called Milo in her drama club, but he dumped her right after the night they slept with each other. With love, comes sacrifices, and breaking up means that she’s been distant from her closest friends and to a point her family too. Audrey’s life has been nothing but the hurt that comes from being love, how it ruins your own happiness. Working at a local cinema, she finds herself intrigued by zombie film maker Harry, no matter ‘he’s trouble’ warnings she’s got, becoming a feminist zombie bride in the movies and trying very hard not to fall in love. 
You will find it hard not to compare Audrey to Lottie, Evie and Amber of the Spinster Girls, I mean I did. But when you really get into the story into Audrey’s character she is so much more stronger, individual and one not to mess with. She isn’t afraid of being opinionated, she’s isn’t afraid to fight and actually own who she is and what she believes in. She is a superior feminist and not afraid to be honest with anyone, even if that means frightening boys with all of our emotions including the ugly ones. You go Audrey! 
Harry is you classic cliche of the guy in the romance movie, who has trouble written over them, and Audrey falls for him, she peels each of his layers, one by one, to unearth his true character. She doesn’t want to be with the guy that feeds her his pick up lines or goes to the places where he always pulls the girls. She wants real love… she doesn’t want to be hurt again. Can you blame her. 
I really resonated and envied with Audrey’s character, but also with this book as a whole. As part of her media coursework, Audrey picked how romance films are ‘unhelpful lies’, that love is much harder and emotional than in fiction. – I couldn’t agree more. I love a good romance movie, like anyone does. You can’t not say you haven’t fantasied about your own romance being something like that – I did. But there’s certain elements of romance movies that are untrue and I feel we really do idolise these movies too much. We feed off them. 
There’s something about Holly’s writing that is just star quality. It gets me every time! She isn’t afraid to rant in her books and the way she writes that is powerful. It’s a message but a way to really get through to people in the most genuine but hilarious way possible. Holly has a way with words especially when she describes things with metaphors they are accurate that you can’t help but pee your pants with laughter. 
Holly Bourne is the realest voice of YA you’ll ever read! It Only Happens in the Movies brings true romance at it’s core, with it’s ugliness, its hurting, it’s raging hormones and still falling head over heels in love. You’ll learn to love not just this book, but yourself too. To love yourself, that’s you romance story right there. If you do that, you’ll have your happy ever after. Rants, romance and feminist zombie brides, it’s Holly Bourne’s best one yet!
Rating – ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ
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