Since November 2009Book Review: Love Struck by Chantel Simmons
May 1st, 2010 by Danielle
When twenty-seven-year-old image consultant Poppy Ross discovers that her handsome and seemingly devoted husband Parker is having an affair, she is dumbfounded. Before she has chance to confront him, however, he is struck by lightning. When he regains consciousness, he has lost his short-term memory—including that of the affair. Given a chance to erase history and possible save her marriage, Poppy decides to remake herself in the mistress’s image, so that Parker might never be tempted to stray again. Her quest to become his perfect woman has disastrous and hilarious results—and might turn out to be the worst thing possible for her marriage.
Most of her life Poppy has been “that” girl, you know? The fun one, the pretty one, the one who can always get the fun guys, the best jobs, the right clothes, and she never second guesses. Until she meets and marries Parker. In a humiliating series of events Poppy discovers there is a possibility her oh-so perfect husband has cheated on her with someone she considers on the same level with Angelina Jolie in beauty. Interestingly enough her husband has no memory of it after a freak lightening strike wipes his memory clean. From this point on Poppy’s journey is nothing short of hilarious and mildly tragic.
Isn’t it something we all do? We love someone so much we’re terrified we aren’t the right one for them, that someone else could do a better job for them and that maybe we might just make enough mistakes to make them unhappy with us. Sure, there are those of us who like to say we don’t rely on someone else to make us happy, but are we really being honest? Think about it. Yes, maybe we could be happy without that other person, but it’s something so completely different when you allow yourself to be loved by another. It’s not that you are dependent on them, but you do live in their love. Poppy has felt this way about Parker for some time, though her passion for that feeling may have faded just slightly since making their marriage vows. And when she learns of Parker’s betrayal all she can think about is what she can do to win him back.
In what I found to be somewhat a comedy of errors Poppy decides to “makeover” her image. What’s extremely ironic about this is that Poppy’s career is that of an image consultant. So nearly everything she does to “make herself over” is in complete contradiction to who she truly is. Some of the more laugh-out-loud makeover scenes happen when she goes to get a spray tan for the very first time, after getting a “Cher-esque” weave to have long black flowing hair in place of her short blond locks, and my personal favorite fake nails with bright red polish. Seriously, every scene had me laughing hysterically and everyone in my home wondering what I exactly I was reading.
The only fault I found with the book was that after some time Poppy’s character begins to be a bit annoying. After all the quirky scenes had passed there were points when I wanted to tell her to snap out of it and go talk with her husband already! In fact her mother and best friend make some similar statements to her as well.
By the time I finished I was grinning and happy to have gone on such a whimsical journey with Poppy and Parker. Love Struck will have you laughing out loud and constantly hoping, “please don’t do what I think you’re going to do.” Poppy and Parker’s story will also help you remember to value the relationships you hold most dear and take the time to help them remember how much you care for them in return. A great read for the coming summer and one I am so glad I didn’t miss.
Posted in 2010 releases, Book Reviews, Rating: 4/5 | 5 Comments »
I really want to read this, it sounds fun!
I think this sounds a fab book, the cover caugh my eye at first then read the entry and loved both of them.
I have read this and I absolutely loved it, it’s the most adorable book I’ve ever read
Where did you buy your copy from? Really want to read Love Struck, can’t find it on Amazon though
Hi Helen: You can buy Love Struck at Indigo - or amazon.ca if you’re in the US rather than amazon.com since it’s not out in the U.S. yet. Thanks for all the sweet words!