In Search of a Love Story

Love Story #1

by Rachel Schurig

Emily Donovan doesn’t have a romantic bone in her body.

At least, that’s what her friends Ryan and Ashley keep telling her. They’re convinced her bad luck with men is directly related to her life-long lack of interest in all things romantic. When Emily’s latest relationship crashes and burns, she decides to go along with her friends’ plans for a romance research project. Sure, the idea that she’ll have better luck if she learns about the great romances of literature and film seems a little silly, but Emily figures it can’t hurt.

In no time at all, Emily finds herself buried under a mountain of romance novels, chick flicks, and sappy love songs, hopeful that her hard work will pay off with true love. When she meets Greg, Ashley and Ryan are convinced she’s found prince charming—after all, he’s rich, handsome, and totally into Emily. What more could she want? And why does it seem that her friend Elliot isn’t exactly happy for her?

Faced with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a seemingly endless string of missteps, she is nevertheless determined to give true love a try. In doing so, Emily will eventually find that true romance, the kind that lasts, has little to do with stereotypes or clichés, and everything to do with finding out what’s in her own heart.

This is book #1 of the Love Story series. Don't miss the sequel, An Unexpected Love Story, available now!

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Amazon

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2012

Reviews

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about as girly as chick-lit gets.

It's frustrating enough to have you sighing out loud about Emily and her troubles, but not so frustrating that you want to throw the book across the room. You just want to carry on reading so you know that she's going to get away from a certain guy, who is NOT Mr Right, and finally fall in to the arms of the perfect man for her. How could she be so blind?!

The beginning of this book is Emily moping around after finding out that her Mr Right Now is not a good guy. He's a dick. But Rachel Schurig doesn't let Emily mope for long. By the end of chapter three we see the end of ice-cream and pizza and alcohol and Emily mans up and gets back out there.

Is predictability bad in a chick-lit? I found is reassuring. I kinda knew where the story was going - and was pleasantly surprised at times. This is a perfect summer read and just the type of book I'd like to start my birthday with, especially with such an up-beat, happy, and perfect ending.

Have some wine or some shots while you read this!

I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.

[Obsidian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why my review on this disappeared. Someone asked me yesterday about this since they saw I had read books 2 and 3. I quickly skimmed to refresh my memory on this one and then it all came back that there were definitely parts of this I did not care for. Unlike with "The Three Girls" series that Schurig wrote, this one didn't showcase the best of female friendships I thought. We do get confirmation though that this series exists in the same universe as "The Three Girls" does though. Another reason why I only gave this three stars is that the main character, Emily allows herself to get "bullied" in essence by her two best friends Ryan and Ashley that the reason why she keeps having bad relationships with men is because she hasn't embraced romance. You know what, just typing that irked me so I dropped my review a star. It is now a 2 star review. The other characters are not very developed I thought and the ending just took forever to finally wrap things up.

"In Search of a Love Story" follows Emily Donovan. Emily's friends, Ashley and Ryan want to do a romance makeover of her in order for her to finally get the man that she deserves. This is after Emily deals with another break-up. What does this entail, apparently watching a lot of romantic movies and reading romance novels for her to be less than in order to attract a guy. When Emily meets Greg, she starts to think her friends are on to something. Or are they?

Emily was too wishy washy for me. I really wanted her to tell her friends to pound sand like a thousand times. And also Schurig didn't develop her very well. What do we know about her really in this one? She dresses like a "tomboy" and that she doesn't understand romance. I just found myself bored by her.

The writing got very repetitive and the flow was just all wrong. I think someone else said the first 40 percent was really slow and it was. It just felt like it took forever for anything to happen in this one.

The ending is telegraphed fairly early I thought, but unlike with most romance books, I just didn't enjoy the rote to get to the HEA.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book in the least. The pace was way too slow and the initial plot too pathetic. The whole story begins with the protagonist, Emily, being short in luck in the man department, and her friends accounting for her misfortunes in love as the result of her scarce education on the topic. So they decide that to change she has to read chick-lit, classic romance, and watch as many chick flicks as she can. I mean, how lame is this? I found it so stupid it verged on irritating.
The first 40% of the book was excruciating to get through, as it was so boring and uneventful. Towards the end, it gets slightly better, but not too much.
I’ve started this book right after finishing three girls and a baby, which I had found easy and entertaining, so I was utterly surprised to find this story to be so completely inferior, not only for the writing style, but as well for the content. It seemed written by a completely different author and it was a major disappointment.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and easy to read friends to lovers story. Yes, it's a tad predictable, yes, it's full on girly chick lit but it's just so sweet and funny and I really enjoyed it.

[Jyanx · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I won't lie, this book frustrated me at different points. I liked Emily, don't get me wrong, but she let other people push her around, and made decisions based solely on other people's input rather than listening to her own heart, and mind. I understand why she felt insecure, but it was frustrating seeing her make the right decision for herself, and then talk herself out of it because it might seem childish, or not meet with other people's approval. I was waffling between a two, and a three star rating until just about the end, and this book won me over. It was nice to read a romance novel where the female lead makes such strong decisions, and grows over the course of the story. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I will say it's refreshing to read a romance that doesn't end in the typically clichéd way.

The secondary characters were pretty well done, I especially liked her friend Brooke. Even thought she could be a bit overbearing, I liked that everything she did, and said was based on how much she cared about Emily. I wasn't as wild about Ashley. It's not that I didn't like her, it was just I didn't think the whole project seemed like something a real friend would try to do. Ditto with Ryan. He seemed a bit shallow, and it was hard to get a real read on his character. I think it was mostly because while he was friends with Emily they weren't as close friends as she was with say Chris or Brook. I did like Chris. I liked how he tried to help Emily see what her friends were trying to do, even if they didn't mean to, was making her change in ways that weren't necessarily good.

I liked her love interests. Even though one is very clearly right for her, and one is not, the one that is wrong for her isn't necessarily a terrible person just wrong for her. I like how much the person who is right for her respects her, and doesn't try to change her into someone who will suit his needs, or desires. I like that sort of respect in a love story.

Overall it was a good story with an even better ending. I will look forward to reading more about Emily's friends in future books. If they are anything like this one they will make great summer reading material.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosy friends to lovers, slow burn

Very enjoyable and cosy book. Friends to lovers, slow burn.
Gives you that fgf and he's.
Really cute and adorable
Loved it
Schurig is definitely a romance and romcom writer. The characters were just like good friends and I loved them all.
Quick read too
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am officially a Rachel Schurig fan. I devoured Three Girls and a Baby and I loved In Search of a Love Story almost as much! (I say "almost" because Three Girls is still my fave.)

In this book, the main character Emily has just found out that her boyfriend is a cheating douchebag and she is determined to give up on men forever. Her friends Ashley and Ryan won't have it and are convinced that Emily will have better luck with men if she immerses herself in chick flicks and romance books and learns what types of men are keepers and which should be tossed aside. Since Emily is more of a tomboy, she's not too keen but decides to give it a try anyway.

I love Schurig's writing style - the voice is so easy that the pages turn themselves. But my favorite aspect of her writing is the character development. Each character, from down to earth Emily to her corny roommate Ashley, to her promiscuous gay best friend Ryan, to her self-assured best friend Brooke to her protective male best friend Chris to her nature loving colleague Elliot was so well drawn out and easily distinguishable and the chemistry between the characters was believable and spot-on.

I honestly wish I had less books clogging up on my Kindle because I truly want to read the other parts of both of Schurig's series (Love Story and Three Girls) right now!

[Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it hard to concentrate on this book and found myself wandering off and reading others in between this one, seven others to be exact.

It is not this it is not well written, it is, I just didn't connect with the characters, especially her friends. The main character switched from being a complete doormat to very angry.

This may sound harsh but I didn't really care who she got together with in the end.

The story line would probably have been better suited to a younger couple, I.e. not a grown adult who had been in several relationships.

Maybe it was too predicable and I want more unpredictability in a book or at least some hardship in finding the one you are meant to be with. It just seemed to straightforward Elliott and Emily.

[Layne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time rating this book. The author has so much potential, but the behavior of several of the main characters in this book drove me crazy at times.

I had to come back and edit this review because I realized I'd mixed up another book the author wrote with this one...so yes, I liked the author well enough to read another of her books. That should tell you something of my mixed feelings.

The author is definitely promising. I didn't like the profanity, or the excessive drinking that occured, but I enjoyed the idea of the story itself, and appreciated the way friendships and true love were relayed.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Emily's boyfriend dumped her, her friends decide that her lack of knowledge in romantic movies or books is the reason that she keeps falling for the wrong guys, because according to them you have to read „Pride and Prejudice“ to know that you should go for the Mr. Dacys instead of the Mr. Wickhams of the world. So the lessons begin and finally Mr. Perfect shows up, true to form rescueing her from being hit by a truck.
This was a light and quick read, I loved the references to movies and books and the dynamics between Emily and her friends, being schooled in romance fiction however it is very clear for the reader from the start how things will end, I would have loved some twists and puns of the genre, some more self-irony.
The characters are loveable but the way the heroine (narrator) actually sees and describes all the hints about the guys in her life including her own feelings but doesn't get them while the reader knows from her first stomach flip who is right for her was getting on my nerves at some point.
But it is a classic feel-good-book, which I overall enjoyed. This was only part 1 of a series, the next 2 parts will focus on Emily's friends and I am curious to find out about their stories.
(A free digital copy of this book was given to me via NetGalley.)

[Nenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is another trilogy from Rachel Schurig. A chick lit through and through, but looking past that, it was sweet, short, and thoroughly enjoyable.

The first in the series talks about the unlucky streaks of romantic relationships for Emily. She seems to be too old to not have a clue or not know what she wants, but somehow, all her "misfortunes" led to her being better and of course, the realization that "the one" has been there all along.

[Leigh Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from Rachel Schurig, there was a minor error near the end where it said Ashley was kissing Ryan when it should have said Chris.

I loved all the characters but Greg was an arse and I was so glad when Emily finally saw sense. I was rooting for Elliott all along and was glad when they ended up together even though it was predictable

[Shell Roush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute(albeit predictable) love story. There are more in this series- books that revolve around her friends. I'll read them, but only if I can get them as free Kindle books like I got this one.

[Isabella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. I've put it down and picked it up to give it another chance at least ten times, but it's just not bearable...

[Aneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book...

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

nothing original or interesting about this.

[Um mar de fogueirinhas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly and not worth it. I like my chick lit fun, with solid characters and light laughter.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy summer reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! After a long string of failed relationships, Emily finds out her current boyfriend Dylan has been cheating on her. She despairs at ever finding the right guy, but friends Ashley and Ryan decide she needs a crash course in how to spot the "wrong guys" and avoid them. So they start her on the "Romance Research Project," forcing her to read classic romance novels, watch classic romantic movies with them, and analyze the men in the stories, good and bad. Then they give her a makeover, updating her wardrobe, styling her hair differently, urging her to pay more attention to her appearance. After a couple of false starts in the dating arena, Emily finally meets Greg, who seems to be perfect. He is handsome, well dressed, taller than her, with impeccable manners, a good job, lovely apartment, nice car, and lots of money to spend on sweeping her off her feet. He gets real serious real fast. "What more could she want in a man?," asks Ashley and Ryan, who are totally gaga over him. But her long time hometown buddies Chris and Brooke are not so impressed, nor is Elliot, her best friend at work. They don't like the way Emily is changing herself to please Greg and call her on it, which angers her, but only echoes some of her own secret doubts and misgivings. How Emily resolves her feelings about men in general, Greg in particular, finds true love, and comes to terms with herself and the other important people in her life makes for a very entertaining "love story." If you like quick, light, easy, romantic books that leave you with a "happy face" long after you've put it down, then you can't go wrong with this one!

[Chelsea Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this a one star but I thought that was a little unfair. I'm not sure what everyone else saw in this book. Initially Emily starts off as a strong character. Her attitude is a little lackadaisical when it comes to love but you giver her the benefit of the doubt. Right off the bat she's introduced as a wreck when her boyfriend of four months dumps her on their anniversary. But simply based on how she describes his reactions to her, you have to think about what kind of person she is. I think this foreshadows everything else she goes through. She has a group of friends that tries to help her because they believe she's romantically challenged. So they make her watch classic romance films and she has to realize the lesson gained from every film and apply it to her life. It's an interesting concept but in actuality its the dumbest thing in the world. Everyone knows you cannot push your self to find love. Because when you try to hard it just doesn't work out well, and in her case it didn't work.
I just didn't really like this book. There was nothing about it that stood out to me. Emily is a tomboy, then she's letting her friends take control of her love life, now she's playing dress up to appease her big shot boyfriend, now she's confused about who she really is, then she's sure about what she wants, but wait no she's confused again. She was frustrating to me. Even though her character isn't badly written I still feel like I didn't know who the hell she was. Also, the author truly needed to seek a thesaurus because her descriptions of voicing did not match what was being said. If I had to read about a character saying something dryly or being surprised in a non-surprised setting I was going to pull my hair out.

[Suzanne Paschke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy reading, but also equally as frustrating.

I kept waiting for the main character to grow a backbone. Initially she seems a feisty, independent woman with a bit of bad luck in the man department which I was really pleased about. But ever so quickly she became someone that didn't seem to know who she was, changed herself to please a man and I was so disappointed.

Yes, it was very obvious from the outset who she was going to end up with, and that's fine. In fact I like that - seeing how a story is going to unveil itself and bring two people together. But here just as Emily seems to start figuring out who she is again she's back in a relationship again. Yes, perhaps with a man who isn't going to change her, but I would really have like to have seen her alone for some time before she and Elliot got together. Just to have seen a bit of independence and surety of who she is when she is alone before going from relationship A to relationship B.

An okay read, but it could have been so much more. 2/5

[DEBLEENA PODDAR · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is literally my first chick lit...
Oh my god... Things were so girlish and cheesy at times...

Here we see our main character Emily being dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning. Being tom boyish she intended to give up on guys all together. But... Her room mate Ashley and her gay best friend - Ryan are determined not to give up so easily. They convince her to read cheesy romance and see chick lit movies to gain experience. But gradually things dont go as planned.

The writing style is simple and lucid. The plot was quite predictable. But what I greatly enjoyed while reading this book was the character developments. Each character was well thought of and then beautifully portrayed. They had an aura of their own. Though Brooke and Emily were besties they were quite the opposite. While Brooke was level headed, Emily was clueless on most occasions. Overall the story was well written where I felt as if I was sitting right by the characters while everything unfolded itself.

I would recommend this book as a light read..

Ratings: 3/5

[SANDYE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect sappy chick-lit romance

Emily has gone through life changing herself to try to please those around her in order to gain the love and acceptance she'd been missing ever since her mom passed away when she was just 12 years old. Going from one failed relationship to the next, Emily's friends all weigh in offering advice on romance and how to find her one true Mr. Right. When Emily is faced with life changes, New opportunities, and an unexpected scare...she suddenly realized who she truly is, and what she truly wants.

A perfect romance full of laughs, heartwarming friendships, love, tears, and references to several popular movies and books! Enjoyable from beginning to end!!

[Jaime Fiction Fangirls · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I just couldn’t seem to get past how annoying Ashley was about Emily’s love life. I mean, we all want the fairytale, romcom, Knight is shiny armor love story but it seems like Ashley would have been more aware of her friends actual feeling and less focused on some fictional idea of romance. Especially because she was living her own REAL rance.
Honestly, the bright spot of this whole book was Elliot. Chris and Brooke can stay too, but I could’ve done without Ashley and Ryan.

[Barbi Huhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.
Emily is a gal who has just come off of a bad breakup and has sworn off men for good! Her friends, Ashley and Ryan decide that she needs to watch romantic comedies and read romance books to see how to "be more girlish". She is willing to try anything. She ends up meeting a guy, Greg, but is he the one or is she just trying to try out her new found knowledge.
Throw in her other friends Chris, Brooke, and Elliot and some of Emily's physical therapy patients and you have a very entertaining read!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

Easy read but a little disappointing. The lead Emily is definitely lacking in depth and her back story falls short as does her best friend Brooke’s. Somehow it does not gel for me and although I read it all the way to the end there were times I felt I was pulling teeth. Her friends, Christopher, Ashley and Ryan are never really explained how or where they came from to get together other than Christopher she has known for a long time. Read it for yourself and make up your own mind. 2.5 Stars from me.

[Sumayya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first ever book, what an experience I'm in love with Rachel Writing, amazing story, that's my first book i have read and Emily was the first character which is taken place in my heart, no regret where I'm completing the complete series of LOVE STORY, all the characters was memories by heart I just loveeeeeeeeeee the story is not about love, its about self choice, friendship, Family
I'm from India, and exploring the different country, cities, food, lifestyle by reading was a another amazing experience I Just simply rate 4.5 out of 5

Sumayya Sayyad

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily has bad luck with men. As she was brought up by her father she’s grown into a tomboy so her friends think she needs to watch chick flicks and dress more girly. But Emily soon starts to realise that she’s not being true to herself and her romantic happy ever after has been right under her nose all along. - An enjoyable read. I thought the controlling romance Emily had with Greg was well-written and almost uncomfortable to read. The rest was not quite so good and a bit shallow. I also felt that the ending was all a bit rushed.

[Tommy Statham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book from Start to the end. It is the kind of book I enjoy spending time in . It's just a good weekend read. Once you picked it you don't want to put wn so donut down till you see the words THE END. Btw it ends the way it..


Great Great Book
This is THE book you been look. ing for with a happy ending . It ends the way Ir should. Oh lots of turns and twists before you get there but don't lose hope.

[Karen Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable book! The main character of this book, bless her heart, goes through a time. Learning self worth and seeing what she is worth and valuable is what her lessons are in this book. I will not give any spoilers. She for sure deserves a big hug. Give it a read and follow her path, in her search of a love story. I look forward to reading more from this author, from what I got out of my read in this book.

[Nina Derr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of hard to give this book a good review without spoiling it for everyone else. It was fun and a quick read but a little predictable in some areas. It proves that sometimes no one knows what's best for you except you and the something, or someone, you need can very well be right in front of you.