This Is Not a Love Story

Contemporary Lesbian Fiction

Fiction - LGBTQ
300 Pages
Reviewed on 02/15/2021
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

Scarlet was used to watching men leave her mother. Marie was an alcoholic with a shopping addiction to match. She excelled at manipulating people, including causing Scarlet to feel guilty for leaving for college. Scarlet made friends with a librarian. Amy was deaf and Scarlet found that learning sign language was second nature to her. The first week she developed a crush on Professor Rhys. When Rhys showed kindness to her, Scarlet believed the feeling was mutual. Meanwhile, a drunken Marie got into a car accident while drunk and with no insurance. The other driver was Amy. One evening, as Scarlet was working on an assignment in the library computer lab, she discovered that Rhys and Amy are a couple. Crushed, Scarlet goes home depressed. Marie discovers an answer to making money by manipulating Scarlet's feelings. When she returns to school and has fallen behind to the point of failing her classes, Marie calls a powerful attorney. Does Scarlet stay loyal to her mother or does she recognize that she is being used?

This Is Not A Love Story by Emma Wallis paints a vivid picture of a toxic dysfunctional family. Emma Wallis did an excellent job in adding dramatic suspense in This Is Not A Love Story. I felt pity for Scarlet because she really did attempt to be a good person. Her insecurity and bewilderment at people being nice reflected how callous Marie had been as a mother. I understand how she misinterpreted Rhys' kindness as a possible reciprocation of affection. I found Amy's independent nature fascinating, despite her disability. The ending of the story was unique in a way I would have never thought of. If you like coming of age LGBTQ books, this is definitely a worthwhile story to read.