✨ "Maxine ate challenge for breakfast and washed it down with a glass of spite. There was nothing she couldn't do with enough embittered feminism and classist rage." ✨
SOME SPOILER-FREE THOUGHTS: The way this book was a breath a fresh air with some bite to it is still blowing my mind. Comfort is a phenomenal writer with a massively impressive vocab (as per the characters!) and a wholly original story that had me invested, captivated, and rooting not only for the love story, but for the game show. As a lover of Jeopardy and the "know-it-all" of my friend group loved every single second of Maxine and Teddy's journeys. I want more, but it was so perfectly wrapped up I don't need more at all and I'm so incredibly happy that I read this book! Go do the same!
Author: jen comfort
Finished: august 6, 2024
Reading Method: e-book
Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️
What To Expect:
✨ Rivals to Lovers
✨ Opposites Attract
✨ Trivia Game Show Training
✨ He Falls First
✨ Medium Burn
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Chaos FMC
✨ Nerdy MMC
✨ Bi Representation
✨ ADHD Representation
✨ Student / Professor Vibes
✨ No Third Act Breakup
✨ Happily Ever After
TW: parent with alzheimer's / dementia / memory loss & loss of a parent
SPOILERS IN
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2...
1...
✨ "Teddy wondered how she couldn't see it. That he'd happily let her ruin his entire life—if only she'd stay in it afterward." ✨
Category: 21st Century Literature
Answer: This 2024 novel by Jen Comfort is a must read rom com for anyone who loves trivia, the rivals to lovers trope, and tapping on big, unknown words in their kindle to pull up the definition.
Question: What is What Is Love?
Oh my gosh, I am so upset I did not know about this book sooner! The fact that there was a full four months that this book existed without me reading it is a true travesty that I may never get over. Truly, those four months will forevermore be known as the dark days and we shall not speak of them.
Ok, I'm being a little dramatic, but that is how much I loved this book. The writing was beyond witty and captivating and it was killing me every time I had to put the book down (darn you, life!). Comfort has officially been added to the tried-and-true authors list and I can't wait to read more titles by her!
Now let's get down to business!
As much as I love a good rivals rom com, I was all in at "quiz show." I love trivia and was so excited for a Jeopardy-like game show rivals story! And let me tell you, it was everything I could have dreamed it to be and more!
Teddy is an in-the-lines professor who lives by the books, doesn't stray from expectations or schedules, and always plays it safe. He's literally the tattletale kid from middle school. But his world is turned upside down as soon as Maxine splashes her own unique color into his black and white life. He knows the second they kiss on the first night they meet that he is undoubtedly in love with her. But his lack of confidence in what he has to offer an exciting woman like her has him believing that even if he managed to entertain her for an evening, she would be bored of him by the morning and leave.
Maxine is chaos in human form, with a heart of gold in the center. She's been through a lot and at the end of the day she's only ever been able to rely on one thing: herself. I had absolutely no difficulty believing her hesitancy in trusting Teddy and I totally understood her sarcastic nature and need to deflect with jokes. I loved when we finally started to see her walls come down in front of him. The second her vulnerability made an appearance he didn't even think twice about telling her that he loves her, which (despite him literally jumping out of a plane) was his first major risk. Through it all, his biggest fear is losing her. And thought she realizes it much later, Maxine feels the same.
In between the deep character development—of which there was so much, that I absolutely loved!—we got some spicy scenes where the buttoned-up professor gets (literally) unbuttoned. With a steamy kiss on the first night they meet and a second base make out sesh when Maxine shows up at Teddy's place to make their lesson arrangement it felt like a medium burn leading up to something good, but WOW! I will never look at jumping out of a plane or maps the same way again (in the best way possible!). Extra points for creativity!
And as someone with very close family ties to Alzheimer's and dementia, my heart absolutely melted when we learned that Teddy donated all of his initial winnings to fund memory study research that wouldn't benefit his father, but would help future families. Maxine wasn't the only person who fell in love with Teddy at the moment... but let's be honest, I already loved Teddy far before that.
Overall, this was such a clever and fresh take on the classic rom com. In a genre that can sometimes feel recycled and formatted (though I actually love that about romances!) this was a completely new story that had me continuously guessing what the next page would bring. I loved anticipating where the story would go, what choices our characters would make, and if / how Hercules would be brought down in the final tournament.
Honestly, it doesn't matter what type of tropes you enjoy, What Is Love by Jen Comfort is just a good book that's extremely well written with dynamic characters and a fun plot with twists you don't necessarily see coming. You should just read it! And it's available on Kindle Unlimited with the audiobook!
Fun Fact: This book brought me so much joy and I hope it does the same for you!
All My Love,
Jane-Anne
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