I love this book with my entire heart.

As a thirty-two-year-old woman, I definitely felt the nostalgia with this one. The story follows Ella Cole in dual timelines; when she is a teenager and meets Lowe Archer for the first time and in the present when she is in her early thirties and has just bought a house with her partner Jackson.

Teenage Ella has a 'love at first sight' moment with Lowe but in order to protect herself, she puts herself in the friendzone. The two are the best of friends over the next decade, always there to support each other, but each time he gets a girlfriend, Ella's heart breaks a little. Their story is absolutely beautiful to read.

Lowe's band that he plays in becomes more and more famous and something happens (no spoilers here from me!) and the two don't speak for a ten years. Following his band's break up, they then reconnect.

The way that this book is written is stunning. There is real depth when it comes to teenage Lowe and Ella's families which adds another dimension and Dockrill's humour just bounces off the page. I really resonated with Ella's teenage years and this novel encapsulates what it's like to have a first love.

I love that all of the male love interests of Ella's were genuinely nice, no villains in this story, they just weren't Lowe. I cared so deeply about these characters. I laughed and even shed a tear at some parts. It gave me everything I want in a novel.

As I always do, I did a little research on the author after reading and discovered that there are autobiographical aspects in there with Ella and Lowe's relationship and Dockrill and her husband. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was in The Maccabees as I played 'About Your Dress' on a loop as a teenager in 2007 and I'm pretty sure I had a line from First Love as my MSN screen name for a while. CRINGE.

Anyway, read this book. It's bloody brilliant. I will 100% be buying a physical copy too.

I went into this read just expecting a typical rom-com but it was so so much more and I could not put it down.
Amazing characters that were so relatable, strong & resilience you can't help but be transported back to your own teenage years.

It's the perfect mix of romance, an emotional rollercoaster but with funny and lighthearted aspects.

A simply beautiful story that you will struggle to forget.

I thought this was going to be a light and easy read but it was not the fluffy, holiday read I expected. It's actually a deep and sincere book that is written super well and is very warm hearted all the way through.

I absolutely loved this book. It took me right back to my teenage years ad was such a trip down memory lane. highly recommended.

What an absolute belter of a blast from the past! Crammed with nostalgia, teenage angst and the most perfect will they won’t they plot. One of my favourite binge reads of the year so far - is it too soon to want both a tv adaptation and another book by Laura Dockrill?

💭 If you are a fan of One Day or Normal People you will love this book. Ella and Lowe meet when they are teenagers. Over the next 20 years their lives take many twist and turns. The novel takes us along on this journey. The phase of awkward teenagers, to the mistakes of their 20s and eventually catching up with the pair in their 30’s. The relationship of Ella and Lowe is complicated, frustrating and beautiful and it was utterly brilliant to read.
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What I would say if you are going to read this book is stick with it, there are horribly frustrating parts to this book, those who are not a fan of the miscommunication trope may struggle ( I did) but I am so so glad i preserved. Laura Dockrill has created a very beautiful and emotional story. Highly recommend.

This was fun to go back to the 90s & 00’s for the references that were noted & a love story that transcends over time. A cute love story with a good ending.

I loved how this book truly captured the angst of being a teenager, as well as the feelings people in their late 20s/early 30s. Some quotes felt like they could’ve been taken from my own brain. The ending felt rushed; I would’ve liked that to have been explored a bit more. However, overall I enjoyed it.

Ahh, this book was so enjoyable. It was a massive nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. Being a teenager in the 2000’s I can relate to so many of the little gems of references to the time. To glitter and body sprays coming free with magazines, making mixed tapes, and calling your friends using the house phone that your parents could pick up on the other handset.

The story encapsulated first love so well. The intensity of all encompassing feelings for someone when you are a teenager. The fear of them knowing, not knowing if they feel the same. The deeply felt pain when you hear they kissed another girl.

A poignant and lovely story of the friendship of these two characters spanning 15yrs of them growing up and following their dreams while staying in, and losing touch with each other.

Would recommend you read this if you want an emotional nostalgic and bittersweet read. This is not a fluffy romance book!

Thank you to @netgalley and @hqstories for a copy of this book for review.

Very reminscent of One Day in that the main protagonists, Ella and Lowe meet unexpectedly in 2000 as teenagers and the novel follows their friendship/relationship over the next 15 years
The journey is both physically and mentally draining - fruity and emotional in equal measure
So nostalgic - pre-dating before mobile phones and the internet
This novel would work amazing as a TV adaptation
Fall in love with Ella and Lowe
Thanks @lauraleedockrill @hqstories & Netgalley for the amazing nostalgic read

This was a bit of a gamble for me. I'm not usually a huge fan of contemporary fiction - especially with such a modern, wry voice. It took some getting used to but I'm pleased to say I was ultimately charmed by I Love You, I Love You, I Love You. Not least for the noughties nostalgia and the narrator's amusing frankness. A great holiday read for anyone craving a juicy (cringe-inducing) love story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I was looking forward to a modern, light hearted, will they/wont they story and this was perfect for that! I'm going with 3 stars because I did question how much I liked both the lead characters in the love story at various points!

The main thing I did love about this book was the nostalgia. For any readers born in the mid eighties to mid nineties in the UK - this will bring back some memories for sure! It was uncanny just how many of my childhood memories were right there!

Thank you to @netgalley and @hqstories for the opportunity to review.

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This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Thank you for the free arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this when I heard about it at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately it was a DNF around the 20% mark. The writing style was very reminiscent of early noughies chick flicks, but I didn’t vibe it with. At times I found the writing and the language too cringe and it kept putting me off reading further or picking it back up.

I may give it another go in the future, but for now, it didn’t hold my interest long enough to enjoy it.

This is how it’s done. Laura Dockrill writes romance like someone who remembers exactly what it’s like to be in like and in love for the first time . It’s full of brilliant observations and pitch perfect pop culture references and reads like a letter from your best friend. Written with Dockrill’s beautiful kitchen-sink poetic voice, it’s a love letter to love but even more - to being young and in love. I chewed through it like a Kinder Bueno.

This book was such an enjoyable read. Relatable and funny, with a character and romance you are bound to root for. I really enjoyed Dockrill's distinctive writing, humour, and perspective on relationships. Definitely recommend this!

The description of this book really called out to me and I felt like I could relate to the FMC so much!

DNF

I'm torn on this one honestly. I ended up grabbing the audiobook, which I think is why I was able to last as long as I did before DNF'ing. It felt familiar in the way it was written and I was certain I must have listened to the author narrate something else but it seems I haven't, though I definitely would like to again in future.
However I did find it a little jarring the way it felt like an attempt at lite-slam poetry and I just couldn't settle into it. Perhaps it was the added setting of the 00s that put me off, I don't know.

I feel like 2 stars is harsh but given I felt it wasn't worth bothering with I can't really rate it any higher.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Cantering on Ella and Lowe, two teenagers who when they meet instantly have a connection/attraction. Staring in the early 2000’s, I felt I could really resonate with the characters and references of that time, being of a similar age.
Ella’s excruciating self doubt was extremely relatable, combined with Lowe feeling similar, we see the two characters becoming instant friends, but never crossing the threshold into a relationship. The bond was undeniable and the twist and turns throughout the years, where we wait with bated breath for them to get together, yet always somehow just falling short!
This book was sweet and charming and I can’t recommend it enough. I loved the characters of Ella and Lowe, (though there were times when I just wanted to shake Lowe!!)
Ella’s friends are also great in this, especially Aoife!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this! Such a beautiful read! I love that it was based on a true love story! Thank you again NetGalley for sending me a copy