It Only Happens in the Movies book review

I have previously loved Holly Bourne books but found that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the one I read in 2024 so was a bit anxious going into It Only Happens in the Movies however I had no need for that anxiety because this book was exactly what I wanted and more.

It Only Happens in the Movies follows Audrey who is over romance after her parents divorce that has left her stuck in the middle, a tough break up and teenage friendship struggles. When she starts a new job and meets Harry, Audrey tries to stay away however she can’t help falling for him even if she knows she shouldn’t.

When I first started I was unsure about the book with the elements of romance however I was pleasantly surprised. Holly Bourne built up a character who I understood and felt relatable. The book had the expected message present in almost all Holly Bourne books which made the story more impactful and me wanting to keep reading to see how things worked out.

All the characters were well-developed and I felt that I understood who they all were. Audrey particularly was a character who as I kept reading and saw what was going on in her life I understood why she felt the way she did. The way all the other characters behaved added to the way that me as a reader felt about Harry and what was going on in the story. You could see the warning signs and why Audrey still found herself falling for him.

As like all Holly Bourne books the setting felt real, like a sixth-form college you could actually end up in and teenagers you could come across. This helps make the story feel more impactful as you could see what was going on actually being something that happens in a teenage girl's life.

As I previously said this book had a message I would expect from a Holly Bourne book that is powerful and important for teenagers to read and understand. As I work my way through Holly Bourne’s books I find it really interesting to see how she incorporates these messages into her stories and I think that this may be one of the most powerful ones that I have read so far.

I am so glad that I loved this book and I have both successfully found another Holly Bourne book I love and no longer feel the anxiety going into her books. I will definitely be recommending this one as the year goes on and I look forward to reading my final backlist Holly Bourne book and her 2024 YA release later in the year.

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