Once again, Holly has managed to write a brilliantly engaging story in which a lot of teens and young adults will be able to see parts of their own lives reflected, but at the same time has included important points and situations that we don’t often, if at all, read about in YA. While not explicitly stated in the book, Audrey experiences vaginismus (difficulties in having penetrative sex due to incredible pain) and it isn’t just glossed over, it’s explored and I think that this is incredibly important. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn't mean things are easy. Because real love isn't like the movies… regardless, theres just something that kept me from truly connecting with the story, the writing, and the characters. but the message is a good one, so kudos to HB for that. Holly Bourne worked as an editor and relationship advisor for a youth charity for six years before becoming a full-time author. Her bestselling YA fiction includes It Only Happens In the Movies, which was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018, and the critically acclaimed Spinster Club series. Holly is an advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health problems and has a keen interest in women’s rights. She lives in Lewes. I felt my thoughts drift to that scene in The Notebook -- the one where Noah and Allie lie in the middle of the empty road. You could not be that romantic in England. I'd get frostbite of the bumhole if Harry and I lay on the ice tonight.”

I’m happy to announce, though, that It Only Happens in the Movies was delightful, and my cover buy paid off. And now I have yellow books to use in my pictures, so it’s a win all round really. Vaginismus affects around 17% percent of women between fifteen and sixty-four in the UK, but almost 50% of women with vaginismus are between fifteen and twenty-four, highlighting exactly why this representation is necessary in YA. I’m so grateful to Holly for including this and showing that this isn’t a case of there being something “wrong” with the woman as Audrey believe, but many (often treatable) factors. Is it a great romantic story, like in all those movies everybody knows? Probably not, but it hurt anyway. Because we have to admit it: it hurt, now and before.The greatest love story ever told doesn’t feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichés. Oh, and zombies... The moment he stops flirting....she can't stop thinking about him- are you kidding me?! SERIOUSLY! I'm sorry but I felt like there was more important stuff that she should have worried about. The whole plot-line regarding her family life or her friendship was much better because hello they are more important than a boy who she hardly knows. Her family and friends are people she knows and that play/ have played a significant part in her life. NOT HARRY.

Audrey can't forgive Harry beacuse she says he hurt her by cheating on her. What was Harry's fault in this? Harry, the love interest, is the typical “bad boy charming romantic”. You know he’s trouble from the beginning but you can’t help but warm to him as the story goes on. Despite Harry and Audrey falling in love with one another, Audrey calls him out on his shit repeatedly, and I think it’s refreshing to see that it’s ok to love someone and disagree with their views and actions at the same time in a YA contemporary novel. The kiss: “Grand gesture kisses. One where they hire out a baseball field, or stop a party to make a huge speech or something. Essentially kisses where there is applause from random members of the public.” Plus, I'm not happy with the whole Harry thing at all- can you tell? He felt so, so, so fake. He was irritating and I couldn't stand the fact that in their first date, he forces Audrey on a stupid ride when she clearly didn't want to go on. (It felt obvious I tell you.) And yes she told him off but I'm still not happy.Bad boys turned good, kisses in the rain, climbing through bedroom windows... It only happens in the movies. Not only does Audrey have a pretty difficult home life (thanks to her dad for leaving their family for another woman, who was pregnant with his kids), she’s also suffering from heartbreak after her then-boyfriend dumped her one week after their failed sexual encounter. Audrey is embarrassed and bitter and swears off boys - especially boys like Harry, who just scream trouble, and who have the ability to break her already fragile heart. But can you really choose who to love? I liked Audrey and Harry's relationship while they were working at the cinema. They were really cute together, lots of playful banter and it was easy to see them as a couple. However, their relationship outside of the cinema didn't work, with Harry being either full on or distant with no in-between, constantly hanging out with his friends, getting wasted and smoking weed.

After finishing this, I vowed to read the rest of Holly’s work, but the second and third books in the Spinster Club series are still sat on my bookcase… I will rectify this shortly, promise! When I heard that Holly was writing a new YA book, I just had to get my hands on it. But wait, did I just say romantic? I guess I did even though the main purpose of the book is to contradict everything about romantic movies. It’s actually a blatant deconstructive analysis of romantic movies proving that real life romance is completely different. Holly Bourne definitely has all the right to say that It Only Happens in the Movies. Meet Harry. A typical bad boy, with his charming good looks, swept-up hair and cheeky personality, he’s the epitome of who to avoid. Known for his love of directing his own zombie films, Audrey approaches with caution, but will she be the girl to change Harry’s laddish ways? It Only Happens In The Movies is a a very mature, true-to-life book – romance isn’t always sunshine, glitter, and happy endings. Relationships require a lot of hard work and for the most past, things will be difficult. The book reminds us of that in an engaging manner, and will make you think twice the next time you watch a rom-com.

By the end of the novel, we see Audrey has blossomed from a sad, isolated and lonely shadow into a confident, capable and re-energised individual who has used her trauma to help become the best version of herself. It’s refreshing to see that the loveable character has shed her old skin, coated with loathing, betrayal and worry and has replaced it with energy, self acceptance and confidence.