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.
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You think you have no luck in love? Well, let me introduce Emily Donovan.

To say that she does not have a romantic bone is take it easy.
Do you know someone who NEVER heard about Mr. Darcy? Well, SHE's the one.
After learn everything she needs to know about relationships and the right guy - watching romantic movies and reading a lot of novels - she goes to search of him.
But who could be the right guy for HER? ( )

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! ( )

This is a nice little romance. I love the matchmaking friends. The MC seems a bit lost, but at least she finds herself in the end. All the supporting characters are interesting, although Brooke is a little pushy. Has a Jane Austen feel to it.

Net Galley Feedback
[book:In Search of a Love Story|13638998]
[author:Rachel Schurig|5049499] ( )

After her latest relationship ends because of a cheating boyfriend, twenty-five year old physical therapist Emily Donovan is done with men and dating. But her friends Ashley, Ryan and Chris think she has bad luck with men because she is clueless about romance and what type of guy she should be looking for. Emily isn't your typical girly girl who's into romance books and chick flicks, she's always been more into comedies, action and thriller movies and books. So what's a girl to do when she really wants romance in her life with the right type of guy? Take a crash course in Romance 101! Ashley and Ryan set Emily up with a research project that consists of reading romance novels like Pride and Prejudice and watching chick flicks like When Harry Met Sally to learn the ways of romance and dating. Is Emily sabotaging her love life because she is clueless about the ways of romance? Will the crash course in Romance 101 lead Emily to discover what she needs to know to find romance and the right guy in her life?

In Search of a Love Story is an entertaining chick lit story about finding love, self-discovery, friendships and relationships. Author Rachel Schurig weaves a fun tale written in the first person narrative told by sassy Emily Donovan, who takes the reader along for the ride as she embarks on a research project to learn everything she needs to know about romance and finding Mr. Right. This story has humor, quirky characters, and a fun but predictable romance storyline with a happy ending that fans of Chick Lit adore. Set in Michigan, the story is so much more than one woman seeking romance, because the author mixes in subplots like dealing with friendships, father-daughter relationships, finding the right Mr. Right, and a journey of self-discovery and learning what is really important in life. The best part of the story is the message that Emily eventually learns: that sometimes people look too hard for love in all the wrong places, instead of really seeing what has been in front of them all along.

Emily is a sassy girl with a heart of gold, she has her flaws but she is likable and the reader can relate to her dating issues. Emily's friends Ashley, Ryan, Chris and Brooke are an entertaining bunch who are true friends, they look out for their friend and I loved the camaraderie that they shared. I loved Elliot, Emily's friend and overlooked admirer, while I wasn't a fan of Greg, Emily's conquest after she takes the romance crash course. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the quirky set of secondary characters: Mrs. Z., Frank Carter and Philip Jackson, Emily's funny and flirty geriatric patients.

In Search of a Love Story is a lighthearted and entertaining story that has humorous antics, memorable characters, romance and relationship issues that readers can relate to, and a happy ending that in true chick lit fashion will leave a smile on your face.

In Search of a Love Story is the first book in the Love Story series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

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