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55th out of 172 books
—
101 voters
A Little Love Story
Jake Entwhistle is smart and handsome, but living with a shadow over his romantic history. Janet Rossi is a bright, witty aide to the governor of Massachusetts, but Janet suffers from an illness that makes her, as she puts it, “not exactly a good long-term investment.” After meeting by accident late one night, they begin a love affair filled with humor, startling intimacy,...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
August 8th 2006
by Vintage
(first published 2005)
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Very few novels will capture you right off the bat as this novel will. Especially when you know (or think you know) the basic story and outcome of the book. I could barely put this novel down, and kept breathless until the very end.
It gives nothing of the story away to say that this is a love story, and one that appears by first glance, a tragic one. You know the old fairy tale about boy meeting girl, boy falling in love with girl, girl dying of terminal illness...oh wait, you haven't heard abou...more
It gives nothing of the story away to say that this is a love story, and one that appears by first glance, a tragic one. You know the old fairy tale about boy meeting girl, boy falling in love with girl, girl dying of terminal illness...oh wait, you haven't heard abou...more
On the face of it, and given the title, this would normally be the type of book I would shy away from. The last two books by Roland Merullo were so outstanding though, that when this was on the shelf at the library, I just had to take it home. I am so glad I did. Jake is a painter/carpenter with a tragic past. Janet is one of the governor's top aides with a seemingly tragic future. Sounds like time to reach for the Dramamine, right? And in other hands, that might be the case. In Merullo's grip,...more
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A stranger sent this book to me. I thought it was because he or she thought I would like the book. In that sense, she was right. I enjoyed the book much more than I expected. The story shouldn't work, but it does. When I got to the last page of the book, much to my surprise, the stranger who sent it has written a note, in a type of handwriting that can only be described as "grandmotherly." The appearance of the note jolted me. I had no idea it was there until I turned the page.
It said:
In the sp...more
It said:
In the sp...more
I loved this book. Although some of the reviews I read equated it to Erich Segal's "Love Story" from the 70s (which I read ages ago and even saw the movie), I think it has so much more to offer. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the first opening chapters, but found myself eventually glued to the story. I loved the quirky sense of humor of the main character, the several references to Greek Americans, the medical aspects of the book, as well as how the story took place in Boston (lots of refer...more
The reviews of A Little Love Story are remarkably uniform: nearly everyone who's read the book remarks that this novel shouldn't work. It should crash and burn on the shoals of clich_
It's like this: we all operate from the same collection of words to express ourselves and our thoughts but there is something about Roland Merullo's writing style that makes you wish you could use the words he works with to express yourself. I found myself thinking after each paragraph that the only way to talk about the two main characters, Jake and Janet, is the way he wrote it. It's like he eviscerated any other options.
"A Little Love Story" is not a big book, it's not full of action and the...more
"A Little Love Story" is not a big book, it's not full of action and the...more
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This is the fourth or so book I have read by Merullo. I was not particularly find of Golfing With God. I really liked American Savior, and I would have to say that this book probably ties for first place as my favorite Merullo book, Breakfast With Buddha.
This book was not as heavy on spirituality as some of his other books and didn't hold a lot of answers, but it reminded me that no matter how hard the situation is, no matter how hard the battle, you cannot give up.
I literally had to go back an...more
This book was not as heavy on spirituality as some of his other books and didn't hold a lot of answers, but it reminded me that no matter how hard the situation is, no matter how hard the battle, you cannot give up.
I literally had to go back an...more
This is a story about the baggage that comes along when you try to love someone new. The title had two means for me: first, it isn't a very long story, and second, it wasn't trying to be a huge romance. Instead, it showed the steady progression of love, the unassuming ways it crept into their lives. Janet's sickness, which Jake assumes is a lingering cough, but which is really cystic fibrous, puts a time limit on their story and adds an urgency to each moment.
While some of the characters seemed...more
While some of the characters seemed...more
Jun 09, 2011
Karen Jett
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Karen by:
read previous books by this author
I enjoyed this surprising love story. However, there were parts where I needed to re-read what was going on to really follow the story. Could have just been me, but I felt I needed to work at times to follow the plot. That being said, it is still a satisfying, quick read.
However, it's a great story about boy meets girl and has instant chemistry. However, they both have issues that they need to conquer to make a go of it, and one is very serious.
I love the way the author goes inside the heads of...more
However, it's a great story about boy meets girl and has instant chemistry. However, they both have issues that they need to conquer to make a go of it, and one is very serious.
I love the way the author goes inside the heads of...more
I don’t normally read these types of books, but a friend gave me this book so I thought I’d give it a whirl. At first I was pleasantly surprised and thought maybe that I might like it. Then around page 75, the book slapped me in the face and said, “I’m a clichéd love story! Stop acting like I’m not!” I then began getting annoyed due to figuring out the easy plot or by reading clichéd lines. The main character—I‘ve already forgotten his name—is supposed to be in his late twenties but he acts more...more
Beautiful and realistic descriptions of people and situations, poignant moments and realizations at just the right time, with an almost perfect pace. A realistic love story of two damaged strangers who meet haphazardly, and end up fighting for each other in the most dire and terminal of circumstances.
I felt Merullo was right on about his characters. How they reacted matched their make - it all made sense. And I like the themes of life and death, love and heartbreak, healing and rebuilding, famil...more
I felt Merullo was right on about his characters. How they reacted matched their make - it all made sense. And I like the themes of life and death, love and heartbreak, healing and rebuilding, famil...more
I have read a few of Merullo's books and have always enjoyed them very much. I think that Merullo is a wonderful writer and really brings his characters alive. This book did not disappoint. Jake meets Janet Rossi after a year of grieving for his girlfriend who died on 9/11. He and Janet fall in love, but Janet is very ill with cystic fibrosis. After a few months together it is clear that her lungs are giving out. This is the kind of story that could be very sappy or become a soap opera, but it n...more
A LITTLE LOVE STORY is anything but "little". Roland Merullo has written love in all it's manifestations for a woman under circumstances that threaten their very lives. Jake, a successful carpenter in Boston has spent the past year in isolation and suffering after his girlfriend was killed in a Pennsylvania field on 9/11.
Venturing out on a first date with Janet, an aide to the governor of Massachusetts, he finds the connection he's never had before with a woman. But she suffers from an illness w...more
Venturing out on a first date with Janet, an aide to the governor of Massachusetts, he finds the connection he's never had before with a woman. But she suffers from an illness w...more
"This is a story about the baggage that comes along when you try to love someone new. It showed the steady progression of love, the unassuming ways it crept into their lives. Janet's sickness, which Jake assumes is a lingering cough, but which is really cystic fibrous, puts a time limit on their story and adds an urgency to each moment". Really beautifully written...you have to reread the Prologue when you are done with the book!
I started this book a LONG time ago and never finished it. I couldn't get into it. As someone living with Cystic Fibrosis, a friend of mine told me to read it again, and to have patience because it got better. While I admit the first few chapters dragged, I found myself breezing through pages about halfway to the book. It is not your average story and like many other's say - it shouldn't have worked - but it did.
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One of my favorites. Very touching story with great characters. I found it difficult to put down. The surface story about two lonely people who almost seem desperate develops to expose a painful history and joy filled albeit quirky relationship in the present. If you've ever wasted time dwelling on the past or over planning the future this book can help show you how to be grounded and appreciative of the present.
A library patron recommended this book. It's a modern love story from the male prospective with an unusual twist. The woman involved has Cystic Fibrosis. This fact is not a spoiler. The reader is informed of the illness in the Acknowledgment section at the front of the book. Surprisingly, the book is not sappy. The author lives in Massachusetts, and I loved the Boston setting.
This is a quick, satisfying read that is just as the title suggests. The twist is that the woman in the love story has Cystic Fibrosis. I loved that the first page of the story had no identifying title and made very little sense. But I finished the book fast enough to think to go back and read it again which gave both an Aha moment and a sense of completion. The story is set in Boston, need I say more?
A quick read, which is good because I'm not sure I would have finished otherwise. It felt a bit over-written at times, yet the characters weren't fully developed. We're told the 2 main characters fall in love pretty quickly, but there's not much to their relationship other than her illness. There wasn't much there to make me feel there was any other dimension to their "love".
My very favorite love story. Unsentimental, without cliche, Roland Merullo's novel goes to the heart of what it means to love someone. A great choice for book groups - lots to discuss, including the male narrator, who presents his love with a raw honesty that's moving and absolutely unique.
Enjoyable, but not great. Merullo's become a favorite author of late, but this is one of his earlier books and it shows. A love story wrapped in terminal illness. I really liked the sidekick character Gerard. This book made me think of a high school friend who had cystic fibrosis. I don't think any of us really knew all that she went through--she was so sunny, and fought valiantly against this ghastly killer.
Feb 21, 2013
Laura Irrgang
added it
Jake and Janet meet, fall in love, and deal with Janet's cystic fibrosis while trying to lead a normal life. The characters are fleshed out nicely, and it's interesting to read a romance written from a man's point of view. However, the book just didn't stick with me very long after I read it. I finished it last week, and I'm already forgetting key points. I had to pick it back up to remember some of the plot line.
I found it readable and pleasant, but a tad bland. Then again, I'm not a big romanc...more
I found it readable and pleasant, but a tad bland. Then again, I'm not a big romanc...more
Janet and Jake's love progressed throughout the book. I absolutely adored Gerard. He was a breath of fresh air b/c the book was VERY heavy at times. Tons of sadness, but loads of love. Such a sweet love story. Very good book!!
Loved, Loved, Loved this book will not be getting rid of it !!I just read it about 2 weeks ago and alreay I am ready to read it again .In fact I am going to try some of Merullo's other titles !!
Ok. It was good but the end freaking sucked!! I read this while on the beach and wanted to throw it in the ocean! It left me wanting more and for the story to end on a better note.
This was a really informative book for me. We are friends with a family who's daughter suffers from cystic fibrosis and that's the topic of this novel, in addition to a love story.
Nice story, well written. I learned a lot about Cystic Fibrosis. Not a nice disease. But alos a lot about love and friendship. I really like Roland Merullo. I am moving on to another one of his books.
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ROLAND MERULLO is the acclaimed author of twelve previous books, including Revere Beach Boulevard, In Revere in Those Days, A Little Love Story, Golfing with God, Breakfast with Buddha, Lunch with Buddha and American Savior. Merullo has won numerous prizes, including the Massachusetts Book Award for both fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children.
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“I felt I was drawing close to that age, that place in life, where you realize one day what you'd told yourself was a Zen detachment turns out to be naked fear. You'd had one serious love relationship in your life and it had ended in tragedy, and the tragedy had broken something inside you. But instead of trying to repair the broken place, or at least really stop and look at it, you skated and joked. You had friends, you were a decent citizen. You hurt no one. And your life was somehow just about half of what it could be.”
—
17 people liked it
“Families are like countries. They have their own language and jokes and secrets and assumptions about the right and wrong ways of doing things, and some of that always shows in the children, the way something of
Germany or Australia always shows in a German or an Australian, no matter where they go. Outsiders like it or they don't, they feel at home there or they don't. It's like the taste of cilantro.
”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
Germany or Australia always shows in a German or an Australian, no matter where they go. Outsiders like it or they don't, they feel at home there or they don't. It's like the taste of cilantro.
”
