Such A Ginger Read: I Believe in a Thing Called Love

Where I read a book and then label it as "Such a Ginger Read" because, well, it is such a Ginger read. To see my first edition post of this new feature, please click here.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
Published: May 30, 2017 by BYR
Source: e-ARC from publisher

Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends.

So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study.

Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama. [goodreads]

Oh this book! It had me laughing out loud (literally) from the first chapters. It's the kind of story that will have you giddy, yearning for page after page, completely smitten with its charm and quick wit. This is what entertaining YA is all about, in my opinion. Throw in a delicious romance, an unforgettable heroine, and a completely fun storyline and you have the makings of Such a Ginger Read!

Desi's voice was authentic from the first page. Immediately I felt a familiarity to her and we were bonded. I couldn't not keep reading. She has always excelled at school, at sports, and even at her extra curricular activities. So why has she always failed when it comes to romance? She discovers that if she sets a plan, there's no reason she can't succeed. So a plan is what she creates to get the hot new kid to fall for her. It must work, right?!

Oh the drama and laughs that ensue! Yes, the "plan" was hysterical to witness, but there were these quiet moments in between when Desi's insecurities bled through and you saw a girl who just wants to fall in love. Her relationship with her dad was by far my favorite aspect of the story. He's been a single dad since she was little, stepping in the shoes of both parents. Their dynamic was solid and I felt really catapulted this story along.

In the end this is such a fun, enjoyable read that went much deeper than I ever expected. I'm already wanting to re-read it, just so I can laugh hysterically at some of those Desi moments again. But also so I can swoon and fall in love with this comforting, yet so relatable writing. When it comes to contemporary YA, this has Such a Ginger Read stamped all over it.