D Lovell Books
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D Lovell Books
An Emily Strauss Story
by D Lovell
A romantic comedy about a bestselling author who's great at writing love stories—and terrible at living her own.
Twelve dates. Two unhelpful inner voices. And one woman learning what happens when she stops experiencing love through fiction and starts experiencing it IRL.
Love, Literally by D Lovell
Bestselling romance author Emily Strauss is a genius at writing love—and a certified disaster at living it.
After a public meltdown at a book signing goes viral, Emily's publisher gives her an ultimatum: date twelve men in twelve weeks, or kiss her next deal goodbye. What follows is a whirlwind of awkward dates, literary chaos, and the constant, conflicting advice of two unhinged inner voices. While in the middle of all that chaos, Emily stumbles into an unexpected connection with a man who might just be brave enough to see the real, unscripted Emily.
Told with biting humor, messy heart, and a main character who weaponizes self-deprecation like a shield, Love, Literally is a story about vulnerability and what happens when you finally start experiencing love IRL instead of through fiction.
Can Emily write her own happy ending, or is she destined to be the awkward subplot in her own life?
Perfect for fans of Tia Williams, Talia Hibbert, Emily Henry, and anyone who’s ever been told they were “too much.”
Note: This book contains mature themes and is recommended for readers 18+
“Love, Literally is a sweet story about Emily, a romance novelist that struggles to find love off the page. She admits at a book signing that she often "Gaggles" how her romance scenes should work, which sets off a the somewhat silly but intriguing plot. Emily's publisher tells her she has to go on twelve dates and hand back notes and summaries of each one in order to save her book deal. This leads Emily on a series of awkward, cringe, and some downright terrible dates. In the midst of this, she meets and falls for Jonas, who is charming but extremely closed off. She also deals with the news of her parents divorcing as well as writer's block. All of this culminates in a minor breakdown followed by a major break through. This book was sweet, silly, and awkward in the best ways. My favorite parts of the book were when Emily's inner voices, Tess and Nova, popped up. Tess's classic, reserved nature in contrast with Nova's bold and sexy persona quite often made me laugh. Emily's best friend, Chloe, was always a support for Emily, but she also told her the truth and held her accountable. Emily's interactions with her parents, specifically her mom, and her publisher, Harper, are often frustrating, which is incredibly relatable. But Emily falling for Jonas despite trying hard not to was real, from the sweet moments to the hard and harsh conversations. Emily's character only got stronger, with more resolve and a clearer vision of who she is and what she wants out of life. Following along with all the shenanigans, from the dates to the Gaggle searches to an unforgettable silent retreat, was a treat from start to finish. Love, Literally was a gem of a read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.”
Giavanna Serrano, Amazon
“This book takes “ doing it for the plot” to a whole new level. Author D Lovell combines the problems romance authors face , with the hijinks of a 2000s romantic comedy to create a novel about experiencing life and love on a timeline. The novel is told from a third person point of view; following the FMC Emily. It does not take much to become invested in Emily’s journey. From all of her embarrassing moments, to feel her becoming disillusioned with the idea of having a love life of her own. Though the driving force of the plot sounds obscene for a contemporary romance , Lovell finds clever ways to seamlessly tie everything together. My only complaint is that I felt like I was being rushed through the dates. I could barely picture the suitors let alone the locations. Overall I did enjoy the book and look forward to more of Lovells works.”
Books and Blushes, Kobo
D Lovell is a former program manager turned writer from Indianapolis, Indiana.
D Lovell is a former Sr. Program Manager of Inclusive Policy and Advocacy turned writer. After losing her job, not knowing what came next, she leaned into her love of writing. She journaled a lot as a teenager and wrote songs as a way to calm her overactive mind. But, she's been intentionally honing her craft for five years. Her taste is very eclectic when it comes to reading. And her writing—well, she tends to follow wherever her stories lead her. And when she's not writing, she's tending to her lovable Great Dane pup Lennox, catching up on her favorite reads, and enjoying time with family and friends.
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