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Falling in Love with English Boys

by Melissa Jensen (Goodreads Author)

3.41 of 5 stars 3.41 · rating details · 714 ratings · 147 reviews

Sixteen-year-old Catherine Vernon has been stranded in London for the summer-no friends, no ex-boyfriend Adam the Scum (good riddance!), and absolutely nothing to do but blog about her misery to her friends back home. Desperate for something-anything-to do in London while her (s)mother's off researching boring historical things, Cat starts reading the 1815 diary of Katheri...more

Paperback, 293 pages

Published December 23rd 2010 by Speak (first published October 28th 2010)

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Lists with This Book

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

2010 YA Contemporaries

34th out of 99 books — 91 voters

Best Teen Reads 2011/2012

87th out of 103 books — 17 voters

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Jan 23, 2011 Jenn Estepp rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenage-wasteland

If "Anna and the French Kiss" and "Revolution" got together and had a rather dim English baby that embarrassed you in public places by trying way too hard to be cool, it just might be this book. It's not like I was expecting profundity; I mean, it's called "Falling in Love with English Boys" and I got it because of the review on ForeverYA. But I expected smart and funny and charming and win. I didn't find it.

For the most part, I hated the main characters. Selfish, whiny, dumb, spoiled, clueless...more

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Oct 28, 2012 SunriseDemon rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 19, 2013 Audrey Wilkerson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-books-read, books-reviewed

Rating: 4

The Low Down: Catherine Vernon has no choice in the matter; her mom, or “(s)mother,” as she secretly calls her, is spending the summer in London researching Mary Percival, a not-particularly-well-known female author from the Regency Period. Though Cat would have much preferred to stay with her dad, her father’s fiance has taken over the guest bedroom to store all of her samples and Brides magazines. Since she can’t stay in Philly alone, Cat grudgingly accompanies her mother overseas.

(S)...more Rating: 4

The Low Down: Catherine Vernon has no choice in the matter; her mom, or “(s)mother,” as she secretly calls her, is spending the summer in London researching Mary Percival, a not-particularly-well-known female author from the Regency Period. Though Cat would have much preferred to stay with her dad, her father’s fiance has taken over the guest bedroom to store all of her samples and Brides magazines. Since she can’t stay in Philly alone, Cat grudgingly accompanies her mother overseas.

(S)mother brings home a copy of a diary that was written by Katherine Percival, Mary’s daughter, when she was around Cat's age. Having no interest in reading what she imagines will be a boring retelling of her day-to-day existence, Cat finds she’s right...initially.

She reads the diary, writes her own (in blog form), makes some great local girlfriends and wonders about Will, one of Mary’s descendants, who is a tall, handsome, blue-eyed guy her own age. She discovers many parallels between her life and Katherine’s, a girl nearly 200 years older than Cat. In the process, learns that some things are, unfortunately, out of your control. But the outcome of some things definitely aren’t.

Best Thang ‘Bout It: If you know me at all, you know that I have favorites. British Chick Lit. Jane Austen. England. Handsome boys who smirk and have dimples and snarky senses of humor that cover up a sensitive soul. (OK, maybe you didn’t know that last one, but, come on. Duh.) So this is the British equivalent of the whole enchilada in one book. This story alternates back and forth between the present and the past. And the thing about the past is (excuse me for stating the obvious) it’s done. As a reader, all you can do is wait, knowing that the war you’re reading about was the worst ever, knowing things that a diary keeper won’t know for possibly some time. Now granted, it’s still fiction, so the author can feel free to make up what a particular character will do or what will happen to him/her, but there is a sense of poignancy, especially if a character is about to embark on The Titanic or be in San Francisco April 18, 1906.

Both stories start off showing each girl in a depth typical of many girls of that age, which is to say, not very deep at all. Self-centered, immature, looking for shallow amusements. As time passes, each gains an awareness of things beyond them, an acceptance for the shortcomings of some around them, and a realization that they, themselves, are much more than they seem. And they are worthy.

I’m Cranky Because: Books like this always end too soon for me. I know, there’s not much more to say, but it is still...

And as an aside: I don’t like to read anyone else’s reviews before I write mine, but I did happen to see a couple of comments on Goodreads. Apparently, some thought the modern-day Catherine a bit whiny and selfish. I just say a sarcastic “uh, really?” to that complaint. Here’s a girl who is leaving her friends for the summer and going off to a place where she knows no one. She’s mostly going to be alone while her mom works on something that sounds boring. It doesn’t matter if a girl gets to travel to London or Paris or Auckland. Even if the spoken language is supposed to be English, a lot of times it is unrecognizable. If you have traveled at all and stayed in one area for a while, it can be difficult and bring on teary thoughts of the stupid stuff you miss (“My DVR!” “Taco Bell!” “Driving!” “The shampoo I like!” “Not having to stay ‘sparkling’ or ‘still’ when ordering water!”). So, in turn, it makes me wonder if those who condemn Catherine for being so stupid about a trip of a lifetime have traveled much themselves, especially unwillingly. So, that’s today’s rant.

The Bottom Line: if you like the sort of book where a person grows up a little, has the possibility of a romance and maybe gets an appreciation of her (gasp) mother, then go for it!

Falling in Love With English Boys by Melissa Jensen was published December 23, 2010 by Speak. Ink and Page purchased this book, so no one had a choice about whether it was reviewed.

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction Romance Historical
Ages: 12 and up
You Might Want to Know: Nothing of note.(less)

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Jan 21, 2012 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Seventeen-year-old Cat Vernon is stuck in London all summer with her mother who is doing research on an obscure writer from the early nineteenth century. Her mother wants her to read the diary of Katherine Percival, daughter of the obscure writer from the early nineteenth century, but Cat would rather blog to her friends back home in the States with her observations of London and her lamentations of boredom. But then Cat meets Will Percival, descendent of the obscure writer from the nineteenth c...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Brandi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Cat is going on what some might consider the trip of a lifetime. Cat and her (s)mother are going to spend 10 weeks over the summer in England! Many would ask why this is a bad thing, well here are the reasons; she is 16 and old enough to stay on her own, her mom won’t let her stay with her grandma, her soon to be stepmonster needs her dad’s guest bedroom for wedding plans, she has no friends in England, they have weird TV shows, different magazines, and different chocolate. It’s not like she an...more Cat is going on what some might consider the trip of a lifetime. Cat and her (s)mother are going to spend 10 weeks over the summer in England! Many would ask why this is a bad thing, well here are the reasons; she is 16 and old enough to stay on her own, her mom won’t let her stay with her grandma, her soon to be stepmonster needs her dad’s guest bedroom for wedding plans, she has no friends in England, they have weird TV shows, different magazines, and different chocolate. It’s not like she and her mom will be going sight-seeing, shopping, and to parties, no they are there for research. Her mom is doing research on some woman from a long time ago, that no one has heard of, and no one cares about. For some reason her (s)mother thinks Cat will be interested in reading the diary of Katherine, the daughter of her research subject. (S)Mother thinks she needs to get out of her depressing funk, so she asks the hot English descendent of the research subject, whom if you squint just right and tilt your head, kind of looks like Orlando Bloom. The thing is Cat can’t tell if he’s hanging out with her because her mom suggested it and he’s trying to be nice, or he just feels obligated. Luckily, she makes some awesome gal pals here in Jolly Ol’ England. Follow Cat’s blogs to her friends as she navigates her way through England and learns that sometimes no matter how far in the past some things never change.

Falling in Love with English Boys: A Novel by Melissa Jensen was a pretty good book. It alternates between Cat’s voice and her blogs to Katherine’s diary entries. I don’t know how I would feel if I found myself in England, but Cat seemed kind of like a whiner and very shallow. Maybe it’s just the history buff in me seeing the missed opportunity. Katherine, in her diary entries was shallow, but I enjoyed her best. Her view on the balls, social politics, and relationships of the era were fascinating. It is interesting to think on how little the emphasis on women finding a mate today has changed. As for the friends Cat makes, I can’t make up my mind about them. The main one Elizabeth seems to hate Americans with a passion, but thinks Cat is ok because she likes Al Gore? And they become bffs? Something just doesn’t click with that. I know I would get tired of hearing how “stupid” us “yanks” are. I have to admit I found her friends more interesting than she was. I am a sucker for all of that British slang and vulgarity. As for Cat’s blog posts, I know I’m being picky here, but her constant usage of “thang” and “sez” killed me. She’s from Philadelphia, do they talk like that? I guess it was to spice up the blog entries. There are other things I could harp on, such as how fast she is able to pick up the British slang herself and use it without hesitation, but I won’t. The ending was ok, but I think it should have been fleshed out a little more to better wrap everything up. I felt like I was left hanging and thinking, “I read all of that for this ending?” Enough complaining, all in all, this was a cute and short book. If you are looking for a fast and shallow read, go for it
(less)

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Mar 22, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mundie-moms-reviews

Reviewed for Mundie Moms by Sophie-

ou know that an Anglophile like me couldn't walk by a book with this cover without, at least, picking it up. I mean, I love chick-lit, Cadbury chocolate and hey, who doesn't love a tall, good looking British boy? But what I love most is a well-written story about a girl who finds herself in a different place and while getting her bearings, she still manages to stay true to herself. Falling In Love with English Boys is just such a story.

Melissa Jensen presents a...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Vi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: girls, romance, historical

Cat is not excited about leaving her friends behind and going to live in London for a few months with her mother. Her mother has already resolutely decided that Cat cannot live with either her grandmother--she's too caffeinated or her father--he's too self-absorbed with his fiance and impending wedding. Her (s)mother, as Cat affectionately calls her over-protective mother, is doing researching at the British Museum about Mary Percival, a Victorian era woman author. Her mother, on a lark, decides...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Melanie Goodman added it

Cat is forced to go to London for the summer when her mother decides to go on a research trip. Despite her angst-ridden protests, she can’t get out of the trip. Once she gets there, her mother often leaves her behind, and she spends a good deal of her time moaning and groaning until she befriends the daughter of a local shopkeeper and Will, a hot male descendant of the woman her mother is researching. Cat starts touring London with her new found friends, discovering that its past and its present...more Cat is forced to go to London for the summer when her mother decides to go on a research trip. Despite her angst-ridden protests, she can’t get out of the trip. Once she gets there, her mother often leaves her behind, and she spends a good deal of her time moaning and groaning until she befriends the daughter of a local shopkeeper and Will, a hot male descendant of the woman her mother is researching. Cat starts touring London with her new found friends, discovering that its past and its present have a lot more to offer than she initially realized.

While Cat’s story is told in blog posts, it alternates with diary entries from Katherine Percival, a teen in her debut season in 1815. Like Cat, Katherine is boy-obsessed and often all too whiny about her family and social obligations. These intermittent diary entries demonstrate just how alike teens can be even when they are divided by centuries. They also show an interesting comparison between the private diary keeping of the past and the commonly public journaling of the present.

Though the premise of Melissa Jensen’s Falling in Love With English Boys sounded in some ways of Anna and the French Kiss and Revolution, I was reminded that execution always trumps ideas. Like too many teen protagonists, Cat comes across as whiny and obnoxious much of the time. I’m getting a bit sick of teens who complain about being forced abroad; though some have good reason for their angst, Cat mostly came across as a spoiled brat. Next time I hope she’ll let me take her ticket to London instead. Further, Cat often found Katherine’s diary entries boring and hard to get into, and I have to admit that I was similarly disengaged.

I did enjoy the cast of supporting characters. Cat’s friends were charming, and I loved Cat’s daily visits to pick out British chocolates at a local shop. When I wasn’t rooting for the book to end, I rooted for Cat and Will’s romantic relationship to make it past virtually monosyllabic text messages and awkward sight-seeing “dates.” No matter what else I might have thought of the book, I was at least able to appreciate the English boy of the title. Thank goodness for that.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t the right fit for me, but I know that many other bloggers enjoyed it. I’d encourage you to check out some other reviews rather than dismissing it based on my taste alone.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was recommended by a friend of mine who is on a quest to broaden my reading horizons into YA fiction since she said I've been "stuck" in historicals for too long. So for the past four months, I've been reading mostly YA as well as some NA, and for the most part I've enjoyed all of them. This book falls in the middle for me for three reasons.

First Cat is in London with her mother for the summer, and instead of playing tourist she tends to sit inside the "flat", read fluffy magazines on...more This book was recommended by a friend of mine who is on a quest to broaden my reading horizons into YA fiction since she said I've been "stuck" in historicals for too long. So for the past four months, I've been reading mostly YA as well as some NA, and for the most part I've enjoyed all of them. This book falls in the middle for me for three reasons.

First Cat is in London with her mother for the summer, and instead of playing tourist she tends to sit inside the "flat", read fluffy magazines on fashion and celebrity gossip, and binge on chocolate. I read the "fluff" too, and chocolate can be a girl's best friend; however, this is freaking London! And there's Cat whining about not spending the summer with her friends in the States. I found this incredible. I'm a bit nerdy though when it comes to history so *shrugs* different strokes, I guess. But still! The Tower of London! The British Museum! Westminster Abbey! St. James Park! (as in A Ramble in ...) St. Paul's Cathedral! Shakespeare's London! Covent Garden! Trafalgar Square! Oh well, you get the picture.

Secondly, I didn't buy the whole "I've really been hot for you all along, but you play so cool" thing that William concocts toward the end as a reason for a v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y developing relationship between him and Cat. There was very little interaction between Cat and William and even less in the chemistry area. Little or no sparklies between these two. Likewise, I didn't buy Cat's insta-lurve for William and her very emotional reaction when she finds out about ... THE GIRLFRIEND. *cue dramatic music".

Third, I have seen in many YA books an "absent" parent syndrome that is just a little tired and overused. This is the parent who divorced mom, ignores the daughter/son after the divorce, and then remarries/plans to remarry much younger woman (can you say "stereotype"?) who monopolizes dad's time. Stepmoms and dads don't seem to be treated very well in these books (at least in the ones I've read). Cat's father doesn't even get her birthday present and he cancels their dinner because the soon-to-be stepmom needs his help. Otherwise he might have to live in the "boonies" and "boiled twigs" and "flaxseed cake" will be the menu at their reception. I know issues with the 'rents is de rigeur for these novels but I would like to see it handled differently once in a while.

What did work was the parallel story of Katherine from the 19th century told through diary entries that Cat reads. (I know, I know. But I love historicals.) That part of the book was good old Regency England, with Napoleon threatening again, routs, balls, rides in the park, visits to the modiste, and a wounded, taciturn war hero, and (oh, horrors!) lots of "historical" ambience. Katherine-of-the-diary was a lot more interesting character than Cat IMO. She progressed from a vapid, rather shallow young lady into someone was more mature by the end of the diary entries. At least Katherine stood up to her father about marrying that toady cousin (despite the implausibility of a young Regency miss being able to refuse a less than desirable suitor). I wish I could say the same for Cat. She just rolled over and cried when her father bailed on their dinner.

"Falling In Love With English Boys" is a very light, funny in parts book. I wish there had been more meat to it, however. Cat and Will never really jumped off the page at me the way Katherine and Nicholas did. Cat was still pretty much the same at the end as in the beginning. I guess "Falling" fulfilled its general purpose, however. Girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy. And they lived happily ever after. Or at least happy right now. I can see the broad appeal of "Falling". It has a funny girl who meets a hot English guy that looks like Orlando Bloom with a glamorous background of London and they fall in love. I get that, but I wanted something more. You may now throw rotten vegetables at me for not loving the book. ;)(less)

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Jan 20, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Charming story, if very derivative of Austen and her ilk. Suffered most from having both stories be so similar (as well as predictable). Like many of the less superior fictional romances, there were was much Sturm und Drang that could have been solved very simply by honest communication. Essentially, the contemporary modern romance felt a bit situationally forced. One particular scene in Hyde Park was an example of ridiculous plot tampering.

Also, one of my pet peeves is when authors completely...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Karla Mae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, contemporary, covers-me-like, e-books, favorites, le-handsome-guys, multiple-pov-s, young-adult, summer-loving

I want to stick my head out the window and, at the top of my lungs, demand of all of London: I feel like Cinderella; so where the hell is my prince?

----

Cat Vernon is stuck in London for the Summer. Not alone, but with her mother who is doing a research about a woman who lived from the early 19th century and has been dead for almost 200 years. Her mother may research all she wants but Cat would rather write on her blog for her friends back home about her observations in London and Rants about bor...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Amy Watt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, romance, young-adult

I didn't really know what to make of this. The relationships between the heroines and their heroes was...odd. I don't know how to explain that, exactly, but it was odd.
I have a list of things, though, that REALLY annoyed me about this book.
One: Catherine (the modern one) insisted on using 'sez' instead of 'says'. You've no idea how frustrating that gets when reading conversation.
Two: For some reason, the author seems to think that British people pronounce their 'r's' as 'd's'. As in 'veddy' inst...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, read-2011

There are two stories going on in this book: the modern-day adventures of American teen Catherine (Cat) who has been dragged to England for the summer by her mother, and 19th-century Katherine Percival. They are tied together by Katherine’s diary, which Cat’s mother has given her to read. The story moves between the two young women, with a change in font and print boldness to differentiate between the two, in case it is not otherwise obvious (it is). Both women are looking for love and seem to h...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction-read, historical-fiction-read, summer-books

My Summary: Cat's mom is an expert on all things old and antique, and when she gets called to London to work at the British Museum for a few weeks, she decides to take Cat with her - something Cat is definitely not looking forward to. Why? Because while her mother is busy working, Cat will have nothing to do but sit around in their rented apartment and watch cricket games... or so she thinks. Because Cat's mom has a surprise for her: she's arranged for Will - a gorgeous descendant of the girl wh...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Angel Charms rated it 1 of 5 stars

I usually finish reading a book in 2 - 3 days. But this one took like a week. I couldn't not finish because I always finish books...but this one tempted me a lot.
Things I did to avoid continuing with the book:
- Water the plants.
- Laundry (got loads done)
- Finish one of my oldest projects
- Ironed clothes
- Cook something...anything whenever I got chance.
- Count stars (nah..jk)

Well you get the idea. I read somewhere that this book was similar to Anna and the French Kiss...well it was a bit like...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Kelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 2.7

Hmmm. Where to start, where to start. Well, this book reminded me of a wannabe version of "Gone with the Wind". Well, at least Katherine's journal did. The one who is living in the present-Cat-reminded me of a wannabe version of "Anna and the French Kiss"...and I haven't even read that book yet, just heard tons of reviews and different summaries on it.

This is about a girl named Catherine (known as Cat) that goes to England. She blogs to her friends about her stay there, which is w...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Bethany Larson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, london

When I picked this book up, I figured it'd be a mindless, formulaic, chick-lit read. You know, one where girl goes somewhere new, girl meets charming boy, charming boy likes her, they have some sort of fight, and then at the end things are hunky-dory by some bit of fateful magic that doesn't really exist. In some ways, that's what Falling in Love with English Boys is. But I don't want to trivialize it, because it's better than that.

What saves this book from being just another teen chick-lit is...more When I picked this book up, I figured it'd be a mindless, formulaic, chick-lit read. You know, one where girl goes somewhere new, girl meets charming boy, charming boy likes her, they have some sort of fight, and then at the end things are hunky-dory by some bit of fateful magic that doesn't really exist. In some ways, that's what Falling in Love with English Boys is. But I don't want to trivialize it, because it's better than that.

What saves this book from being just another teen chick-lit is debut author Jensen's humor, wit, and command of two very different writing styles. Although the story is primarily about Catherine Vernon, it is also the story of Katherine Percival, an 18-year-old girl living in 1815, and believe you me, the girls have WAY more in common than just their first name.

What I really liked about this book is that it is told in diary form throughout. Jensen writes as both Catherine in present day and Katherine in 1815, and she handles the stylistic transitions brilliantly. She also does a fantastic job of bringing a girl from the oh-so Romantic-seeming era of the early-1800s, where everyone is supposedly demure and charming and Elizabeth Bennett-y, and made Katherine Percival seem like a real person who gets mad and is insecure and a little more boy-crazy than she probably should be. It was really refreshing, actually, and made me feel like less of a basket-case. (Ha!)

Now it's time to talk about the boy: William Percival. Will is British. Will is smart. Will is funny. Will is caring. Will will inherit a title. (!!!!!!) Will is sort of perfect. Okay, I'll stop with the short sentences. Overall, Will did the job as the leading man just fine. And though he had all the characteristics and charms, I wanted more . . . I don't know, edge or passion or a motorcycle. Hell, I would have settled for a drum set. I like my boys a little rough around the edges, and I think Will could have used just a dash of that "you-know-I'm-bad-for-you-but-you-just-can't-say-no" salt.

Anyway, the book is bouncy and light for the most part, but Jensen also throws in some plot curveballs that remind us just how random and unfair life can sometimes be--this is esepcially showcased in Catherine's friendship with Elizabeth, a gorgeous and politically-minded girl from a Muslim family and in Katherine's brother, Charles, who is in the Battle of Waterloo. Although both are minor characters, you learn to love them, and their stories bring a sense of reality and weight to the otherwise carefree story.

Overall, Falling in Love with English Boys was surprisingly fun and extremely charming. It was a little reminiscent of Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson series, which I am still mourning the finale of, and made me laugh a lot. It's a quick, light, but worthwhile read if you're in the mood for a little British romance, both modern and Austen-ish. And let's be honest, girls (and boys!) like us are almost always in the mood for a little British romance.(less)

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Apr 05, 2013 Ashly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance, travel, 2013-reads, contemporary, 3-star, summer-reads, realistic-fiction, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The main character Catherine is so funny. I love how she’s freaking out over Will. When she’s trying to figure out what she would wear on there ‘date’, imagining what they will be doing on that date. Also when they stand close to each other. She’s thinking about him putting his arm over her shoulder. To me her blog-diary is so real, that when she writes “see pic” I really wanted to see it. I don't like how in the beginning she's not excited that she's going to London. WHAT? how can you not be ex...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Avon Bernabe rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars!

At first, I was extremely bored with this book. I considered not finishing this and infact, I moved on to another book. But then, after I finished another book, I decided to give it a try again.

It turned out that I actually liked it. I was just bored at first because of Katherine's diary but then as I continued reading, things really got interesting especially with Mr. Baker and all his confusing acts. Even that thing with Mr. Everard, I expected that to happen from the very beginning....more

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Apr 05, 2012 Melody McBride rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 06, 2012 Rosanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

These girls are a bit too immature for my liking, and while it arguably makes sense with Katherine, with Cat it got on my nerves. I think the way Katherine’s story unfolds in bits and pieces is well done, but there is a lot of 'get to the point, please' with Cat's story. Blogging/diary entries are also not my favourite way to tell a story. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I think that was the crux of my problem with the book. Resolution literally comes only in the last 5 p...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, arc, blog-tour, young-adult, own, favorites

Another great contemporary YA novel. Loved loved loved it.

ETA: Review below originally posted here.

As I am a big anglophile, I love books like this. Fun, clever romantic chick-lit or YA books set in England with English boys and presumed accents and titles and princes and — well, I just love them. And I loved Falling in Love with English Boys not only because of the title and the cover (LOVE the cover), but also because it’s about an American girl in London AND it’s contemporary meets historica...more Another great contemporary YA novel. Loved loved loved it.

ETA: Review below originally posted here.

As I am a big anglophile, I love books like this. Fun, clever romantic chick-lit or YA books set in England with English boys and presumed accents and titles and princes and — well, I just love them. And I loved Falling in Love with English Boys not only because of the title and the cover (LOVE the cover), but also because it’s about an American girl in London AND it’s contemporary meets historical. What could possibly be better than that?

Here it is: Cat is dragged off to London for the summer with her English lit. historian geek mother, who is conducting research at the British Museum on Mary Percival, a little-known British writer and poet. Cat doesn’t want to be in London, but she is glad to be away from her scummy ex-boyfriend. At first, it seemed like Cat was just going to be emo and annoying, but then her mother hands her the diary of Mary Percival’s daughter (also a Katherine), Cat meets a few amazing and posh British girls, and into her life strolls William Percival — hot, nice, and oh-so-British. Why yes, I did fall a little in love with Will. Who wouldn’t?

Falling in Love with English Boys is told in two ways. 1. Through Cat’s blog — sort of a complete recap and private letters to her friends back home. And 2. Through Katherine’s diary as she enjoys her first London Season and tries to wade her way through society and its strange happenings. In both their lives are men. For Cat the wonderful Will, who is a descendent of diary-writer Katherine. And for Katherine quite a few, notably Mr. Baker, a poet whom Katherine fancies herself in love with, and also Nicholas, an ex-soldier family friend whom Katherine simply can’t stand.

Ah, what a great mix of the contemporary and the historical. Both voices — Cat’s and Katherine’s — are unique and distinguishable, something that sometimes is difficult when mixing POVs. The story is fun. The characters are great. The boys are fantastic. I seriously adored this book for all of the reasons I already mentioned. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good YA contemporary novel, especially those who also love England and/or historical romance!(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

I feel four stars is being generous. There are so many things that I wish had happened that could have easily given it five. SO much potential here.
-took too long to really get going
-both Cat and Katherine were such shallow vapid characters and had amazing potential for growth but that was left unexplored. I think they did evolve but the author doesn't really show it.
-and because the evolution isn't written the entire story falls. Falls....jumps straight off into nothing but a quick excerpt fr...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Julie by: Author is Penn faculty

I picked this up because I read a feature article about Melissa Jensen, who teaches creative writing at Penn. I have to say I hated the first section that introduced Cat, a spoiled Philadelphia teenager who is forced to spend the summer in London while her mother does research at the British Museum. Her story is told as a blog for her friends back at home, and her disdain for her mother, her distant soon-to-be-remarried father, and all things British are off-putting and clearly setting up a trit...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Natali rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-reading-list-2012

Okay, so this book had my doubts at the beginning. First off, I hated the main character. She was just so whiny and bitchy and just a stereotypical teenage girl. Second, the entire book is written in blog/diary form. Which is just something that I've never liked in general. Third, the second main character's diary was terribly slow. Like "This book should have taken me 5 hours to read but instead took me like 2 days" slow. 30 pages in, I told myself that I had to stop reading this book because i...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Keri rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really liked this book when I started it. I breezed through the beginning and the characters really began to grow on me, especially Cat. I loved the pop-culture references and the blog contrasting with the diary. Both girls' stories were enthralling and I was rooting for both of them to get their dream guy. But as I got closer to the end of the story, it didn't feel like anything was beginning to get resolved and I grew impatient. For me, the end seemed rushed, as if the author was trying to f...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, chick-lit, read-2011, romance, historical

Catherine is a sixteen years old girl whose mother is an expert of antique things. It's because of that reason that her mother decides to go to London for the summer, and to drag Catherine with her.

Catherine was such a fun girl. At first she's angry with her mother and very very bored without her friends, but decides to blog about her boring summer in London. I loved her personality and her thoughts, she had that thing to know what to say and make you laugh at the right moment.

At first it's just...more

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May 23, 2012 Claire rated it 2 of 5 stars

I feel like this book had so much potential to be a great young adult novel and while I didn't hate it, there were many things I had problems with by the end of the book and the more I think about them, the more they annoy me. I felt like the pacing was off throughout the book. At times I thought nothing was progressing, the next thing I knew we had jumped so far ahead I thought I had missed some pages.

The most annoying aspect was Cat's writing in her blog, especially the texting. It was trying...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Loribeth rated it 1 of 5 stars

i put this book as "READ" but did not entirely finish it. i could not get past the 1st chapter really. the Cat girl in regular time period now, was okay. but the Katherine girl from regency times - man, i have read a LOT of regency books, knock offs and Jane Austen but this author butchered it and put in every cliche regency word she could find; and made up a few of her own i think. if i hear "mama" one more time i'm gonna puke.

could not finish it - be the judge if you want to read it. might ta...more

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Apr 14, 2012 XxForeverXx_Xxvampire_diariezxx rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to XxForeverXx_Xxvampire_diariezxx by: Young A dult section at St. George Library

Shelves: books-by-sarah-dressen-and-other-go, ann-brshares-books-and-more, favorites, library-books

This book was a mixture of a girl's modern everyday blog and a rich, prestigious girl from 1815. Although the girls are different they have common things happening in their lives. Such as heart brake.
Catherine aka Cat moves to London for the summer with her mother who is doing research on a rich family in the 1815s. She gives Cat the diary of Katherine Percival who is the daughter of the woman she is doing research on. Cat meets William Percival a decedent of Katherine. She soon falls in love w...more This book was a mixture of a girl's modern everyday blog and a rich, prestigious girl from 1815. Although the girls are different they have common things happening in their lives. Such as heart brake.
Catherine aka Cat moves to London for the summer with her mother who is doing research on a rich family in the 1815s. She gives Cat the diary of Katherine Percival who is the daughter of the woman she is doing research on. Cat meets William Percival a decedent of Katherine. She soon falls in love with him. The two get closer and becomes friends. Cat makes nice British friends who help her with Will. She soon meets Bella one of Will's friends and supposedly girlfriend. She gets upset but makes it through with her friends Elizabeth, Imogen, and Consuelo. But they still stay friends. Cat stays strong and Will gives her a great birthday present, a satellite which Cat had once said she wanted. She gets happy that he remembered. At a trip to Katherine Percival's house in Percy Vales with her mother to see Will's parents. There she and Will eventually find some things given to Katherine Percival as gifts from her admirer. The kiss and Will says he always liked her. He says Bella was his girlfriend but they broke up much to Will's delight, although Bella wanted to get back together. They find out more things about Katherine Percival and who she married.
Katherine Percival in 1815 had it all. A good life with rich parents, parties to go to, and high society friends. She meets the poet Thomas Baker who wins her over with his words. Katherine daydreams about him and soon wants him to propose to her. With bad encounters with father that wants her to marry a man from high society. Like her unattractive cousin Lord Chilham for being a Lord. She soon makes a friend from Luisa Heartnell who she disliked at first. With her heart longing for Thomas Baker she has to realize that the person she wants most may not be the one for her and the person she least expects it can be. Katherine does learn that. Eventually like Cat she gets her heart broken by Thomas when she gets news he is marrying someone else. Nicholas her brother Charles friend that stays with them when Charles goes off to war is the one for her. At a friends house for two days both Katherine and Nicholas go. Both Katherine and Nicholas talk and he tells her about how hard war is while Katherine waits impatiently for Thomas to come (before he decides to get married to someone else). They become better friends in the past Underneath his hard and unfriendly personality he is always there for Katherine. He saved her once from a man. She falls in love with him in the end when he says he will always be there for her. He is to marry him and her brother Charles marries Luisa who William is the decedent from.
So all turns out good for these two girls. They had some ups and downs in their romance lives, but it all turned out good. I really liked this book because it shows that there can be problems in your love life in both modern times and in old times aka in 1815. This was a easy, fluffy, and cute book. People who like funny times in history and romance problems might like this book or if you just want something interesting to read I suggest this book.
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About Melissa Jensen

I grew up in San Francisco, which gave me a love of fog and funny-colored houses. My mother is an amazing watercolorist, my father an architect. I can’t draw. Never could. But I always loved telling stories (occasionally of the sort involving passing Vegetable Fairies and disappearing sweet potatoes at dinnertime). I read lots of pretty wonderful books as a kid, but haven’t been quite the same sin...more I grew up in San Francisco, which gave me a love of fog and funny-colored houses. My mother is an amazing watercolorist, my father an architect. I can’t draw. Never could. But I always loved telling stories (occasionally of the sort involving passing Vegetable Fairies and disappearing sweet potatoes at dinnertime). I read lots of pretty wonderful books as a kid, but haven’t been quite the same since I was fourteen and my English teacher handed me a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I still want to be Elizabeth Bennet when I grow up. Elizabeth Bennet with a career and jeans, anyway. My husband got a second date by telling me he had once played Mr. Darcy on stage. There would have been a second date, in any case, but still…

I’ve written lots of stuff over the years, including a few novels, magazine articles, and even a syndicated newspaper etiquette column. I like dinner parties. I don’t give nearly enough of them. I love to make lists of whom I would invite if I possibly could. My fab friends aside, there’s always a spot for Jane Austen (who probably would always politely refuse), Robert Burns, and Charles Darwin. Then there’s Oscar Wilde, Eleanor Roosevelt, the Dalai Lama, and William Steig. Abigail Adams and Oprah. Orlando Bloom (anyone have his phone number?) and Julia Child. Bonnie Robinson: that long-ago English literature teacher, later my creative writing teacher, who told me that I’d better spend a lot more time in England if I was going to insist on writing about it.

My fave places in the world are London and Dublin, neither of which are as foggy as literature would have us believe. I spend as much time as possible in Ireland, often on the edge of one cliff or another. It makes my family crazy. It makes me feel like a Bronte.

Now I live most of the time in Pennsylvania, in a house old enough to have hosted Elizabeth Bennet, if she had cared to visit the Colonies. Of course, as Mrs. Darcy, she would have been very grand and my house isn’t, but then, she was all about having a curious and open mind. Not a bad philosophy. I do my best, but it doesn’t always work. Nothing will ever make me like sweet potatoes.

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“We only tell the secrets we secretly want not to be secret, right? And learn as much from what isn't told.” — 17 people liked it

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