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The Truth about Romantic Comedies
Sixteen-year-old Timothy Gephart’s life is a chronicle of loser-hood. Trapped by the decaying walls of his family’s trailer and saddled with the responsibility of caring for a grandmother stricken with a wicked combination of Alzheimer’s and cancer, Timothy isn’t exactly thriving in the teenage chapter of his life. To make matters worse, his girlfriend inexplicably dumps him through a text message. Heartbroken, Tim drives his grandmother to and from her radiation treatments as if the last page of his life has already been written. And then the enigmatic Rachel Wilson struts into the cancer center’s waiting room.Self-proclaimed social scientist Rachel Wilson hasn’t reconciled herself to her mother’s cancer, but she’s doing her best to stay positive…and distracted. With his dry wit and easy acceptance of her bright blue hair, Timothy might be the answer to a prayer Rachel hasn’t had the strength to ask.As a fast friendship blossoms into something more, Timothy and Rachel learn that Rachel’s father’s job will soon take her family to a new life across the country. Knowing that their time together is running out, Timothy and Rachel go all in on an experiment that will put every romantic comedy cliche to the test, to say nothing of the foundation on which their relationship was built. Happily-ever-after has never been so hard.
312 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2019
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Sean C. McMurray
2 books10 followersSean C. McMurray (1984-present) grew up on the mean rural roads of southwestern Ohio where he honed his storytelling skills on anyone willing to listen. Now he does it professionally as an author and history teacher. Sean still lives in rural Ohio with the love of his life and his favorite audience, their three little children.
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January 20, 2024If you like realistic Christian YA that doesn’t sugarcoat sin or the realities of the world, I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely book! 🧡
July 19, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/PVFw5fuVvIw
This was such a fun read! I found Timothy to be a great protagonist to cheer for and found myself rooting for him until the end (including wanting to give him a hug when he didn't make the best decisions). I also really liked Rachel and just love their story.
The Truth about Romantic Comedies really captures a great romance and thought its "quirkiness" of testing the romantic comedy clichés was fantastic. Throw in some awesome friends, comic books, and a genuine interest of getting to know one another, and you have a perfect mashup for a standout YA novel.
Now, even with those fun elements, the author does tackle some serious situations that both Timothy and Rachel face. It leaves your heart breaking and then mending together over how powerful forgiveness and grace is. (What a wonderful message!)
Though the cover might be slightly misleading in that this story is strictly for young adult female readers, I think young men would greatly relate to Timothy too. With that said, I would recommend this clean, fun story to readers who like romance and comedy!
*(I received an e-copy from the author. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
This was such a fun read! I found Timothy to be a great protagonist to cheer for and found myself rooting for him until the end (including wanting to give him a hug when he didn't make the best decisions). I also really liked Rachel and just love their story.
The Truth about Romantic Comedies really captures a great romance and thought its "quirkiness" of testing the romantic comedy clichés was fantastic. Throw in some awesome friends, comic books, and a genuine interest of getting to know one another, and you have a perfect mashup for a standout YA novel.
Now, even with those fun elements, the author does tackle some serious situations that both Timothy and Rachel face. It leaves your heart breaking and then mending together over how powerful forgiveness and grace is. (What a wonderful message!)
Though the cover might be slightly misleading in that this story is strictly for young adult female readers, I think young men would greatly relate to Timothy too. With that said, I would recommend this clean, fun story to readers who like romance and comedy!
*(I received an e-copy from the author. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
February 2, 2021
The Truth about Romantic Comedies is a smoothly written teen romance that kept my interest. With both humor and pathos, it traces the romance between Tim, a fatherless teen often charged with babysitting his ailing grandmother, and Rachel, a Christian girl enamored with social experiments who disavows teenage love.
The characters and conversations were authentic as were their circumstances and challenges. I'll look for more by this author.
The characters and conversations were authentic as were their circumstances and challenges. I'll look for more by this author.
May 3, 2021
This was an interesting book. It's a funny, YA contemporary romance... written from a guy's perspective. I have never read a YA romance from a guy's POV. But to you girls that like to read about contemporary romances, this is a need to read. I've always wondered what the boys are thinking whenever I read YA romance. This book showed me a glimpse.
No language, no content. A clean book by Anaiah Press.
No language, no content. A clean book by Anaiah Press.
April 10, 2019
This was a good book. I think there is a lot more I could say about this read but I want to sum things up as simply as possibly before I begin with my review. This was a good book. It was an excellent romantic comedy, a very wonderful YA romance, and probably the sweetest and most innocent Christian contemporary I have ever read.
I’ve seen a lot of people in other reviews mention John Green in comparison to this book, I won’t do that. I will not say this reminds me of anything by John Green because I have read multiple books by John Green and regretted every one. I do not enjoy his writing and I did enjoy McMurray’s writing, so no—this is not similar to John Green’s work at all by the simple fact that its actually good and worth reading.
I will say, however, that this book is actually what it says it is not. This book claims to point out every cliché in romantic comedies as if to make fun of them—and it does do that—but it does it while falling into every cliché you can think of in a romantic comedy.
Your protagonist is a young man who is not exactly the most popular kid in school, a quiet guy with a dry humor and an odd interest in water—which I never truly understand but hey, does anyone understand every metaphor or hidden message in a YA romance? This slightly unpopular water boy gets dumped, has to take care of his sick grandmother and just when he’s reached the edge of depression, in walks the romantic interest; an outgoing beautiful girl who’s just as much of a reject as her male counterpart but in just the right way to make her cool. You know… weird but in a hipster sort of way so that technically makes her not-weird.
Beneath the clichés that are very present in this book, I actually enjoyed the story. The humor was quirky and funny and made me want to cry as much as laugh. I felt something for the characters, and I enjoyed their backstories. As a Christian, I loved the inclusion of God and faith and I think the message was done very well. I’m very happy to have read this book and I would certainly recommend it to others. If you’re not really into reading about slightly depressed teenagers trying to find the good in life, then this might not be the book for you. But if you have even the smallest interest in romance or comedy, I promise you will find this read worthwhile.
YA readers will gobble this down in one sitting but I think Christian audiences and romantic nerds will certainly appreciate this book.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I’ve seen a lot of people in other reviews mention John Green in comparison to this book, I won’t do that. I will not say this reminds me of anything by John Green because I have read multiple books by John Green and regretted every one. I do not enjoy his writing and I did enjoy McMurray’s writing, so no—this is not similar to John Green’s work at all by the simple fact that its actually good and worth reading.
I will say, however, that this book is actually what it says it is not. This book claims to point out every cliché in romantic comedies as if to make fun of them—and it does do that—but it does it while falling into every cliché you can think of in a romantic comedy.
Your protagonist is a young man who is not exactly the most popular kid in school, a quiet guy with a dry humor and an odd interest in water—which I never truly understand but hey, does anyone understand every metaphor or hidden message in a YA romance? This slightly unpopular water boy gets dumped, has to take care of his sick grandmother and just when he’s reached the edge of depression, in walks the romantic interest; an outgoing beautiful girl who’s just as much of a reject as her male counterpart but in just the right way to make her cool. You know… weird but in a hipster sort of way so that technically makes her not-weird.
Beneath the clichés that are very present in this book, I actually enjoyed the story. The humor was quirky and funny and made me want to cry as much as laugh. I felt something for the characters, and I enjoyed their backstories. As a Christian, I loved the inclusion of God and faith and I think the message was done very well. I’m very happy to have read this book and I would certainly recommend it to others. If you’re not really into reading about slightly depressed teenagers trying to find the good in life, then this might not be the book for you. But if you have even the smallest interest in romance or comedy, I promise you will find this read worthwhile.
YA readers will gobble this down in one sitting but I think Christian audiences and romantic nerds will certainly appreciate this book.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 28, 2019
What a delightfully surprising novel! This was fresh, funny, unexpectedly poignant towards the end, and once I’d picked it up I had a hard time putting it down. One of the biggest reasons for that was Timothy’s voice. (A) He’s a teenage male—big originality points; (B) The characterisation was spot on; and (C) The humour was effortlessly dry, droll, and self-deprecating. It was an addictive combination, and it only became more so when he was with Rachel or his best mate Brandon.
One of the other attractions of this novel was the relaxed nature of the relationship that developed between Timothy and Rachel. Even when their friendship developed into romance, it still retained its relaxed feel—helped no doubt by the quirkiness of their interactions. It was just right for a teenage relationship and a young adult audience.
I also liked the way this story plants spiritual seeds. Timothy isn’t a Christian at the beginning of this novel but he begins to think about what that would mean to him through his interactions with Rachel and their trip to the Midwestern Christian Youth Life Convention. There’s no Bible bashing and no conversion scene (although it’s implied by the end that Tim is at least taking steps towards making such a decision, if he hasn’t already) but the story brings the grace of God front and centre—not just His grace towards us, but the way in which we can reflect His grace in our relationship with others.
And that ending . . . well, one part in particular. It brings up a very relevant issue for teens, and once I got there I could see how it had been subtly forshadowed throughout the story. It doesn’t dwell on the subject, just says what needs to be said and moves the story to its conclusion, but I think the simplicity with which it was handled—at a moment where the story has already taken a poignant turn—is exactly what will draw teens in to think about the characters’ actions and responses long after the story is finished.
Even if you’re not normally a YA reader, I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this story. I certainly did.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
One of the other attractions of this novel was the relaxed nature of the relationship that developed between Timothy and Rachel. Even when their friendship developed into romance, it still retained its relaxed feel—helped no doubt by the quirkiness of their interactions. It was just right for a teenage relationship and a young adult audience.
I also liked the way this story plants spiritual seeds. Timothy isn’t a Christian at the beginning of this novel but he begins to think about what that would mean to him through his interactions with Rachel and their trip to the Midwestern Christian Youth Life Convention. There’s no Bible bashing and no conversion scene (although it’s implied by the end that Tim is at least taking steps towards making such a decision, if he hasn’t already) but the story brings the grace of God front and centre—not just His grace towards us, but the way in which we can reflect His grace in our relationship with others.
And that ending . . . well, one part in particular. It brings up a very relevant issue for teens, and once I got there I could see how it had been subtly forshadowed throughout the story. It doesn’t dwell on the subject, just says what needs to be said and moves the story to its conclusion, but I think the simplicity with which it was handled—at a moment where the story has already taken a poignant turn—is exactly what will draw teens in to think about the characters’ actions and responses long after the story is finished.
Even if you’re not normally a YA reader, I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this story. I certainly did.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 28, 2019
This is such a cute book! It took me a couple chapters to really get into Tim's character, but I found it easy to like him once I did. He's caring and sweet, funny and a little bit awkward. The romance develops in that classic, sweet way with bumps and unexpected reveals here and there keeping it interesting.
Only a couple small things stuck out to me as not working, and they're all pretty minor. If a girl dyed her hair as often as Rachel did, I think it would all fall out. At one point I kind of expected that Tim would discover her hair was all wigs. Ha. But she's quirky and fun, always a bit of a mystery to Tim, which again, made THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES a fun read.
Later in the story, Tim goes with Rachel to a youth convention and listens to a speaker talk about online bullying. I liked the message, but it's kind of a pet peeve for me when a story includes a long sermon section. It feels like taking a time out from the novel for a PSA, which most of the time doesn't work. It's just the one scene, and it's not that long, so it's kind of a minor deal.
On the whole, THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES reminded me a little bit of ZAC & MIA, another contemporary romance with a pretty straight line narrator and quirky love interest. Plot-wise, it has a little of the John Green (think PAPER TOWNS or THE FAULT IN OUR STARS in terms of the list element) vibe to it in that Rachel and Tim have a list of things (romantic comedy clichés) to do together before their relationship ends.
I highly recommend THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES to anyone looking for a sweet, funny contemporary romance.
Only a couple small things stuck out to me as not working, and they're all pretty minor. If a girl dyed her hair as often as Rachel did, I think it would all fall out. At one point I kind of expected that Tim would discover her hair was all wigs. Ha. But she's quirky and fun, always a bit of a mystery to Tim, which again, made THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES a fun read.
Later in the story, Tim goes with Rachel to a youth convention and listens to a speaker talk about online bullying. I liked the message, but it's kind of a pet peeve for me when a story includes a long sermon section. It feels like taking a time out from the novel for a PSA, which most of the time doesn't work. It's just the one scene, and it's not that long, so it's kind of a minor deal.
On the whole, THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES reminded me a little bit of ZAC & MIA, another contemporary romance with a pretty straight line narrator and quirky love interest. Plot-wise, it has a little of the John Green (think PAPER TOWNS or THE FAULT IN OUR STARS in terms of the list element) vibe to it in that Rachel and Tim have a list of things (romantic comedy clichés) to do together before their relationship ends.
I highly recommend THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANTIC COMEDIES to anyone looking for a sweet, funny contemporary romance.
February 28, 2019
If you’re looking for a clean read that deals with real life circumstances, look no further. Without being cheesy, this book brought a smile to my face and after it was over all I wanted to do was hug the book. If you don’t understand that feeling just read the book!
Writing:
This was the first book I’ve read by McMurray and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I seamlessly fell into the book as his writing gripped me from the first chapter. It reminded me of the likes of John Green. This was a quick read for me! I loved it so much that I couldn’t seem to put it down.
Character / World Building:
I mentioned above that I wanted to hug this book and I can’t find any other words to describe that feeling. I fell in love with the characters as they unraveled their past and what they were currently learning in their lives. There was the message of God in the book, but it revealed in such a real way that it made me smile. Being raised as a Christian, I understood the difficulty of carrying that label all too well. The expectations of how you’re supposed to behave, who you’re going to hang out with, even down to your choice of words were always so high. At least, that’s how I felt. But this book revealed a message in the end that was so beautiful. Please read it, you won’t regret it!
Extras:
As I mentioned above, this book was given for free in exchange for an honest review. I loved it so much that I wished it wouldn’t end. The characters stayed with me long after the story was over! I hope to read more from this author in the future. Thanks again, Sean, for sending this my way!
Writing:
This was the first book I’ve read by McMurray and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I seamlessly fell into the book as his writing gripped me from the first chapter. It reminded me of the likes of John Green. This was a quick read for me! I loved it so much that I couldn’t seem to put it down.
Character / World Building:
I mentioned above that I wanted to hug this book and I can’t find any other words to describe that feeling. I fell in love with the characters as they unraveled their past and what they were currently learning in their lives. There was the message of God in the book, but it revealed in such a real way that it made me smile. Being raised as a Christian, I understood the difficulty of carrying that label all too well. The expectations of how you’re supposed to behave, who you’re going to hang out with, even down to your choice of words were always so high. At least, that’s how I felt. But this book revealed a message in the end that was so beautiful. Please read it, you won’t regret it!
Extras:
As I mentioned above, this book was given for free in exchange for an honest review. I loved it so much that I wished it wouldn’t end. The characters stayed with me long after the story was over! I hope to read more from this author in the future. Thanks again, Sean, for sending this my way!
January 20, 2019
I laughed. I cried. I became very concerned about fictional characters, but, as one of the characters quips, “in the best possible way.”
Real characters filled these virtual pages. The dialogue was pitch perfect as was the interior monologue of our hero. I loved his dorky nature and the female love interest's moments of distance, as well as her vulnerability, really shone. Every one of the secondary characters had their quirks as well.
There was witty banter, e.g., how they decided to end all of their texts conversations. There was the our-hero-throwing-pebbles-at-her-window scene. And I loved the balanced perspectives in that she used the Comic-Con to try to see his world and he went to the Youth Conference to try to see hers.
Were the characters perfect specimens of Christian faith? No. Was forgiveness granted? Yes. This book is filled with real human beings with flaws, but who also experience growth and maturity. And also made me smile.
Spoiler:
Real characters filled these virtual pages. The dialogue was pitch perfect as was the interior monologue of our hero. I loved his dorky nature and the female love interest's moments of distance, as well as her vulnerability, really shone. Every one of the secondary characters had their quirks as well.
There was witty banter, e.g., how they decided to end all of their texts conversations. There was the our-hero-throwing-pebbles-at-her-window scene. And I loved the balanced perspectives in that she used the Comic-Con to try to see his world and he went to the Youth Conference to try to see hers.
Were the characters perfect specimens of Christian faith? No. Was forgiveness granted? Yes. This book is filled with real human beings with flaws, but who also experience growth and maturity. And also made me smile.
Spoiler:
January 13, 2022
Tim’s life is falling apart. His grandmother is sick, his single mom is overworked, and his girlfriend just broke his heart—over text. But when he meets the quirky Rachel, things begin to look up. Ready to find something to keep his mind off his problems, he’s happy to help Rachel on her mission to test romantic comedy cliches. But, just as things start to get interesting with this new relationship, Rachel reveals some bad news. Despite this new complication and her faith that he doesn’t quite understand, Tim remains determined to get to know this intriguing girl.
This book was a surprise. There were so many things that I enjoyed. The poignant moments amid the light-hearted story. The witty dialog. The faith aspects. And, the interesting main characters—especially Tim who was such a solid guy, despite some tough blows in his young life. The relationship between Tim and grandmother was especially sweet.
The middle felt a little slow, but the storyline kept me turning the pages. Overall, this book has a lot more depth than I first assumed. There were some really powerful messages about teen relationships, family bonds, and forgiveness. The truth is, this book for older teens was a touching romantic drama/comedy.
This book was a surprise. There were so many things that I enjoyed. The poignant moments amid the light-hearted story. The witty dialog. The faith aspects. And, the interesting main characters—especially Tim who was such a solid guy, despite some tough blows in his young life. The relationship between Tim and grandmother was especially sweet.
The middle felt a little slow, but the storyline kept me turning the pages. Overall, this book has a lot more depth than I first assumed. There were some really powerful messages about teen relationships, family bonds, and forgiveness. The truth is, this book for older teens was a touching romantic drama/comedy.
December 3, 2019
Thoroughly entertaining, highly recommend!
Wow. This book was amazing! It was a Christian read but not preachy. Realistic, funny, charming, unique and romantic. I loved the natural progression of Rachel and Tim’s relationship, and all the quirky analogies the author used. Hope to see more from him!
Wow. This book was amazing! It was a Christian read but not preachy. Realistic, funny, charming, unique and romantic. I loved the natural progression of Rachel and Tim’s relationship, and all the quirky analogies the author used. Hope to see more from him!
January 21, 2019
Good story
I like how the story pulls the reader in. It is easy to follow. I would recommend this book for readers of all ages. As usual Sean has a gift of story telling and it was a pleasure reading this book. Can’t wait for the next one to come out.
I like how the story pulls the reader in. It is easy to follow. I would recommend this book for readers of all ages. As usual Sean has a gift of story telling and it was a pleasure reading this book. Can’t wait for the next one to come out.
March 4, 2019
This is an amazing book! It's from a different perspective than I'm used to, as typically it seems like these books are from the girl's perspective and this one is from the boy's perspective, and I genuinely loved it! I felt like the characters were very relatable even though they have their own quirks. I found myself ending each chapter wondering what was going to happen next, will Rachel's mom beat cancer? how will their relationship end? and how will their novel end? All these questions kept me reading and reading until the book was finished, and I got all my answers. I highly recommend you read this one, and I truly believe your teens and young adults will love this book!
**I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
**I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 30, 2023
This book was written by my 7th grade social studies teacher Mr.McMurray. Alongside being a wonderful teacher he is also a wonderful writer.
This book was a fun easy read and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I read it for my ELA class that year and right after I bought my own copy and also go it signed by him. I loved the main characters and the storyline was easy to follow. I will never stop recommending this book.
This book was a fun easy read and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I read it for my ELA class that year and right after I bought my own copy and also go it signed by him. I loved the main characters and the storyline was easy to follow. I will never stop recommending this book.
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