From the author of the best seller I Don’t Know How She Does It, a follow-up that promises to be one of the most widely read and talked-about novels of the season.

1974, Wales. Thirteen-year-old Petra and her best friend, Sharon, are in love with David Cassidy and obsessed with The Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz, a contest whose winners will be flown to America to meet their teen idol. 1998, London. Petra is pushing forty and on the brink of divorce. While cleaning out her mother’s closet, she finds a dusty letter—a letter her mother had intercepted—declaring her the winner of the contest she and Sharon had labored over with such agony and bliss. Twenty-four years later, twenty pounds heavier, the girls reunite for an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to meet their teen idol at last, middle age—theirs and his—be damned.

Poignant, hilarious, joyful, profoundly moving and uplifting, I Think I Love You captures what girls learn about love through the universal experience of worshipping a teen dream. It will resonate with readers everywhere.

Petra and Sharon are typical 13 year old girls. Well, typical 13 year old girls with a borderline unhealthy obsession with David Cassidy. When the opportunity arises for the chance to meet the one and only both Petra and Sharon do everything in their power, including keep things from Petra’s mother, to win the contest. Unbeknownst to them the heartfelt letters returned and contest is actually the workings of a young man who works for the fan magazine, Billy. Eventually thwarted by her mother, it isn’t until Petra is much older and suffering the pains of an unfortunate divorce as well as her mother’s death that she discovers the hidden winning announcement. Capitalizing on the moment she takes a shot at a second chance with her one time heart throb. Are second chances everything they’re cracked up to be and will it truly be love at first site when Petra finally meets her teen idol, David Cassidy?

This really was such a fun read. It’s one thing to revisit my own childhood teen idols, like New Kids on the Block, but another to somewhat relive my mom’s teen idols. She was more during the Beetles and had that as a huge influence during her teen years, but I definitely had previously heard of David Cassidy as I grew up from her experiences. One of the things that resonated a great deal with me was Petra’s relationship with her mother and how opposed she was to her obsession with David Cassidy. Now, as I mentioned, my mom wasn’t obsessed with David Cassidy, but she and her brother loved The Beetles. Unfortunately for them this was also around the time when parents of Beetle fans were trying to prevent their children’s obsessions. At one point my grandfather broke ever LP in my Uncle’s Beetles collection (including his copy of The White Album) because he believed rock’n'roll was “of the devil.” Pretty hilarious to think about now, but really interesting to consider when hearing and reading about. Which was definitely a point I could appreciate about Petra’s teenage experience.

In regards to her adult years, I simply felt bad for her. Her mother dies and her husband cheats on her and then leaves her. But of course she’s a gluten for punishment and allows him to creep back in through various ways. I just wanted things to work out for her, if not for all of these things than for her troubles in her youth as well. Pearson captures the feelings and emotions of both Petra’s youth and adulthood incredible well though and overall I really enjoyed her character.

In addition to the main character there were also others including her best friend Sharon and Bill, whom much of the story is centered around through his narration. It was nice to have Bill’s thoughts and reflections, especially those centered around the death of a girl at a David Cassidy concert (an event that actually did occur in real life in fact). Not only that, but I felt Billy’s thoughts and contributions later in the book added some much needed humor at that point. As for Petra and Sharon’s relationship, I loved seeing how Pearson incorporated friendship both good and bad throughout the book and their relationship was no exception.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed I Think I Love You. Filled with remembrances of years gone by, readers young and old will no doubt relate to having Petra’s youthful teen longing at some point. Based in the real world with a true to life teen idol, David Cassidy, there will absolutely be fans who need to pick this book up regardless of the fictional lives the story revolves around. Petra’s home and school life will no doubt break your heart, but with a small cast of supporting characters you will be reminded of the importance of true friends who will stop at nothing to ensure your dreams come true. A delightful read for fans of chick lit.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Knopf Doubleday Publishing, for providing a copy of this book for review!

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