Ciara SmythCritiques

Contemporary romcoms are not my genre, so I am not very familiar with the references to staple scenes in romcoms. Both the plot and humour hinged on being self aware of the genre, but I didn’t fully get those. As a result I didn’t really care about the romance.

I did like the way the large questions around hereditary dementia were written. The main character deserves to be angry at both her dad AND mom for landing her in her situation.
Mom willfully put a child on the world knowing she would have to leave her child early and possibly have the child go through the same. Dad chose to act on his feelings for another woman and remarry within a year instead of sticking with Saoirse.
This wasn’t swept under the rug, and it’ll take a long while to make peace with it after the book ends. As it should.

I laughed and I cried. Just a really good read.

Part of me wants a sequel to this book. Part of me doesn't. Honestly, it's such a perfectly contained story, I don't think it needs anything else. Do I want to know what happens to the characters after it? Of course! But maybe they could just be background characters that pop up for a scene and move along, just to let us know that they're doing alright.

That said, I loved this book. It was warm and comforting in the same way that a romantic comedy should be, which makes sense given the theme of romantic comedies. I loved how the movies were woven in, and how they tie in so well to the Grand Gesture. Saoirse is such a funny narrator, even though at times she's incredibly selfish. Ruby is wonderful, and I think they make a great pair. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ciara Smyth in the future!

I really enjoyed this book, it was so easy to read and relatable, the ending was not what I was expecting at all which was nicely realistic but also a little disappointing. The rest was pretty predictable but still an enjoyable read

I’m actually obsessed

I actually liked the family relationships more than the actual relationship, and I liked the romantic relationship. The family relationship was just so strong I wouldn’t have minded an entire book focused on that.

well this was an utter charmer. i loved just about everything about this, and found it so relatable and realistic, well done and well written.

saoirse overreacts and overdramaticizes so much, but it felt so true to life (especially for a 17 year old in her situation) and fit her character so well that it didn't bother me at all, when normally i think it would have. she was just so endearing, even as she was making poor and hurtful choices. i loved seeing her relationship with ruby and with oliver change and progress, and how her maturation was reflected in those relationships. (as well as with beth, izzy, and hannah.)

the romcom aspect of this book was pure fun. it was an homage to - while also poking soft fun at - classic romcom movies (only one of which i actually am familiar with; i'm sure this is even better if you know the quotes and scenes they're talking about) and was just so delightful. i just loved saoirse and ruby's interactions, and what they brought out in each other.

same with saoirse and oliver. their banter was even better than that between saoirse and ruby. i really loved watching that friendship grow and become something real, and seeing saoirse realize how many assumptions she'd made, first about oliver and then ruby and even about everything and everyone else as well.

this was deeper, too, though, and dealt with saoirse's mother's dementia and her own possible future diagnosis. how to move on from that - bother living if it'll be taken from you early on? should her dad be allowed to be happy with someone else or is that abandoning her mother? these are handled deeply, and well, and create the backbone of saoirse's conflicts and growth in the novel.

additionally, the relationship between saoirse and ruby is meant to be a summer fling, with no feelings and a definitive end when summer ends. of course feelings happen, and it's sweet, but they still end the relationship at the end of the summer. there is no long distance, no moving to another place for the other. it is the end. it was meaningful, and it is over. and this is both refreshing in a romcom, and perfect for this book, where the main thing that saoirse had to learn is that just because it had to end doesn't mean it wasn't important or that it shouldn't have happened. still, i didn't expect it to happen, and was so gratified when it did. the ending is just perfect, as saoirse starts to open herself to other experiences that she wasn't able to before ruby and their summer. truly, i was just charmed from beginning to end.

(also, i loved listening to the narrator's irish accent.) between 4.5 and 5 stars.

**spoiler alert** Spoilers
"The Falling in Love Montage" by Ciara Smyth is the story of Saoirse a teen lesbian who doesn't believe in relationship after her heart gets broken who meets Ruby her total opposite where they later have a summer fling inspired by Ruby's fav movie the falling love montage, but it doesn't go according to Saoirse plan, and they fall in love.

I would give "The Falling in Love Montage" by Ciara Smyth a 5-star review because, 1; I could connect with the characters 2; I liked how this novel didn't really focus on their romance but also more serious matters 3; I'm not really a romance reader but the romance between Saoirse and Ruby was just sooo cute and adorable 4; just overall this is one of my fav novels.

I really enjoyed listening to Not My Problem This Irish novel appeals more to high school students.

Aideen begins the novel with a small life. She watches carefully over her mom who falls off the wagon of sobriety and drinks, using money that could be used to pay bills and buy food. Aideen also has one friend: Holly. Aideen is funny and snarky and good-hearted with a bit of a potty mouth. She struggles in school, often missing to take care of her mother. She has one enemy: Maebh. Everything starts when Aideen finds Maebh having a meltdown. She jokingly says she can help and offers to push her down the stairs. Maebh sees this option as a great solution. Thus begins Aideen's new life.

Aideen discovers that she really enjoys helping people and ends up with a helper: Kavi. Kavi loves to monologue, which allows for distraction and trust. Kavi begins bringing people to Aideen for her to help them in return for a favor. Maebh has to help Aideen with the next project, which allows Aideen to see that Maebh isn't the person she has always assumed she was. Each "help" is amusing and entails problems because nothing goes off without a hitch. It's madcap farce at times as more and more people move into Aideen's life. As the novel makes you laugh at the antics and Aideen's snarkiness, you also get pulled into the drama of the students' lives who all face stressful situations.

I absolutely loved this novel that deals with alcoholism, friendship, love, growing up, bravery, honesty, and courage. Aideen sacrifices herself to help others but fails to realize that others would do the same for her. Aideen learns what true friendship is and makes mature, hard decisions to help herself. I'm purposefully saying little because the novel is delightful and should be experienced as it unfolds. Loved the reader--she was fantastic! Listen to this outstanding YA novel that will make you laugh and smile.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was lighthearted and fun while still discussing difficult issues. This book was such a great read and kept me hooked from the beginning. The friendships that are formed in the book are realistic and filled with love. The portrayal of having a difficult home life and abusive friendships is done incredibly well. You are taken along for the journey of recognising when things aren't right and when you need help. I loved the queer representation and really enjoyed the romantic portrayal. Great Read!

I enjoyed that immensely and am irritated that Ciara Smyth only has one other book published.

Plot-wise and humour-wise, this book was amazing but the secondary characters were not as fleshed as I needed them to be and I kept losing track of them, or this would have got the full five stars.

I would have given this a higher rating if not for the fact that there is no HEA/HFN. Why are you calling it a romance, people?!
It’s a love story, yes. Call it that.

I have a lot of thoughts about how the romance is secondary to the family stuff, but that’ll have to wait until I’m not typing on my phone.

Anyway, girls in love yay!

UPDATE, 7/21/20:
This review will be posted on the blog in a couple of weeks.

Told entirely from one character's point of view, this reads less like a romance and more like a coming-of-age story. That's fine, but I was told it was a romance. The cover copy says nothing about the fact that Saoirse's mother has early-onset dementia and is in a long-term care facility. Nothing about how Saoirse's parents divorced for financial reasons and that while her father is still heavily involved in her mother's life and care, he's getting remarried and a lot of the plot deals with Saoirse's anger and fear. (She has a good chance of ending up with early-onset dementia as well.)
The cover copy promises a sapphic rom-com with rom-com montage shenanigans and it has all of that! I loved their relationship, in fact. It was funny to read about them getting trapped on a ferris wheel, to steal a swan boat, etc. However, they don't end up together. The book ends with Saoirse off at college, meeting a cute girl for the first time. She and Ruby are not in a relationship and only communicate by sending each other occasional small items in the mail.
I regret my pre-order.

Content Warnings: early-onset dementia, Ruby's brother is undergoing surgery off-page

I received a digital copy of this book for review but purchased it because I make poor choices.

Aideen has plenty of problems she can’t solve. But when she stumbles upon overachiever Meabh Kowalska having a full-blown meltdown, she sees one that she can actually fix. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help—by pushing her down the stairs.

Problem? Solved. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule. But when one of their classmates learns about their little scheme, more “clients” start asking for Aideen’s “help”—kicking off a semester of traded favors, ill-advised hijinks, and even an unexpected chance at love.

Fixing other people’s problems won’t fix her own. But it might be the push Aideen needs to start. Quite the enjoyable book.½

De falling in love montage. Door Ciara Smyth.

Dit is het vierde boek uit de Querido Glow reeks (met lhbtqia+-hoofdpersonen) dat ik lees. Ze waren allemaal goed maar dit steekt er toch nog boven uit.

De falling in love montage is grappig, ontroerend, triest en verrassend tegelijk. Het is een klassieke romcom maar dan wel met 2 meisjes als hoofdpersonen (hoera!) en eigenlijk ook niet echt een geslaagde romcom, hoewel dat wel de bedoeling is van Saoirse (dat spreek je niét uit zoals bij de gelijknamige actrice) en Ruby.

Ze leren elkaar kennen op een eindexamenfeestje. Saoirse heeft de liefde afgezworen, ze kust enkel nog met heteromeisjes en na de zomer gaat ze naar het buitenland studeren. Ruby is enkel voor de zomer daar, ze logeert tijdelijk bij haar familie en ze is dol op romantische komedies. Hoe ze elkaar leren kennen (Saoirse norsig en nukkig, Ruby dol enthousiast over alles) blijft een beetje de rode draad in hun ‘romcom dates’.

Het fijne is dat ze zo levensecht van het papier sprankelen. Het verhaal is naast romantisch ook vaak super grappig (zeker in de dialogen). En ja, er gaat vanalles mis. Ze worstelen beide met allerlei nare zaken, waar vooral Saoirse niet over kan/wil praten en die tot pijnlijke situaties lijden. Maar dat worstelen heeft niets met het lesbisch zijn te maken. Wat ik een enorm pluspunt vind.

Van mij mag dit boek direct verfilmd worden. Als een vrouwelijke Love, Simon. Maar dan nog beter. Alle personages in de DFILM zijn boeiend, de dates zijn geweldig (een grote plastic zwaan, plassen in een reuzenrad, skinnydippen,…), de dialogen meeslepend, en het liefdesverhaal is hartverwarmend/hartverscheurend. Wat wil een mens nog meer? Vraag me niet te kiezen tussen Ruby en Saoirse, ik sloot ze allebei in mijn hart.

Lees dit boek, word net als ik halsoverkop verliefd en verlang mee naar een vervolg én een verfilming! Merci Querido voor deze prachtige reeks. Merci Ciara voor dit bijzondere boek.

I would read anything this lady writes! :)

This was such a good read! It was such a cute read but at the same time there were many moments where things were serious and it evened out the book with that which I like.

So what's it about? The novel is about how a girl, Saoirse, deals with her relationships when her mother is put into a home for dementia. She sets rules for herself to make sure that all her relationships with girls are strictly no-strings-attached so she doesn't get hurt. Of course, she meets a girl, Ruby, that makes her plans all go flying into the trashcan.

Dad shook his head and looked at the roof. That was his "silent prayer for patience" look. Don't know who he was praying to; if he really wanted help, he should have been looking in the other direction. Only Satan could help him now.

I really liked the book. I found the humor of the protagonist refreshing and realistic. She acts like a 17 year old, the characters all seemed their age unlike some other books I've read. Reading about how Saoirse's mother's dementia affected her life was heartbreaking. I laughed a whole lot while reading the book but my eyes were welling up with tears when I read through those chapters too.

I heard a plea for absolution in those words. I saw it on his face. Tell me I'm not a terrible person.

I don't typically read romance novels like these but this made me want to read more! I'm excited to see more of Ciara Smyth's work, this book definitely did not disappoint!

Saoirse ( pronounced seer-sha) met Ruby at a party and it was instant attraction. But, having broken up with her girlfriend, Hannah, months before, Saoirse was hesitant to start a new relationship. Also, her mother has early onset dementia, which has some hereditary aspects, so why do something when the chances are you won't remember it? Added to that, her father is remarrying a year after her mom was put in a nursing home devoted to people with her ailment.

Yet, as you can guess, Saoirse's resolve falls apart.

There's a lot going on in this book...a family dealing with early onset dementia and the strain it puts on them, a young girl dealing with a step mother when her own mother is incapable of recognizing her, a girl's fear of contracting the same disease and fear of commitment. Yet through it all, The Falling in Love Montage is an easy and enjoyable read, although I wasn't totally happy with the ending. It was realistic but who wants realism, huh?

I heartily recommend The Falling in Love Montage.½

(I'm too old for YA; every time a parent ends the book without an apology from their cranky child I demand JUSTICE.)

Folks...this was so heartwarming. I went in thrilled to find a goofy f/f romcom, and discovered instead something very sweet, poignant, and fun, that was full of personality & energy. And it also had one of my favourite things which is teenagers written like teenagers (even if that sometimes requires no parent apologies to happen).

Saoirse was a joy. An infuriating joy, but I was always on her team. She was someone I truly felt like I understood and I kept finding ways where she reflected me even if she was, overall, so crazy different from anything I've ever experienced.

Sometimes it was awkward and sometimes the pacing went nuts in the very moments it shouldn't've dared, but overall I loved this for its unexpected depth and fantastic characters. Another book I am just, like, weirdly glad it exists?

give me sapphic rom coms with ALL the cheesy tropes!