Have you ever watched Slings and Arrows? If so, and you found it delightful (although how could you not?!) then this is a romance novel for you!
It started off with Ellepkay at the beginning of the year, and after that Act Like It has just snowballed into already one of our most read books of the year on here because yes, it is that fun. It’s a story of London stage actors Lainie (an up and comer) and Richard (actor extraordinaire and all around a-hole). They are set up into a “marriage of convenience” by the theatre’s PR in order to redeem Richard’s image. Things obviously ensue from there.
So Richard really is an a*hole. And he is both at the start and the finish of the novel. I appreciate that he doesn’t go a complete 180 because “love”. But he’s softened around the edges. He’s slower to jump to anger and sarcasm, and suffers fools a little bit longer than at the start. Also Lainie is awesome. She’s smart, confident, and has a level of patience I dream of attaining (I never will though).
The one thing I didn’t really need from the story was the continuing appearance of Lainie’s ex-boyfriend (and both their co-star). He kept doing stupid things trying to get Lainie’s attention again, but I felt like the couple themselves had enough tension with what they needed to work through without his outside, douchey influence.
So let me add another one to the pile of raves. Read this one. It’s a hoot. It would have made a great book club romance read, but I hope from so many trying it due to the love it’s showing others how great the genre can be!
LOVE your comparison to Slings & Arrows! Genius!
It’s a great comparison.
I love it when Lainie gets him to share his newspaper with her by suggesting that they talk about his feelings.
Ugh, her ex-boyfriend was THE WORST.
I’m so glad so many people loved this book, otherwise I probably never would have come across it. Hooray for Cannonball!
He is both the worst, and this book’s one true weakness (I’ll give it slack for the VERY dramatic finale act, becuase its a romance set at a theatre). He is just around too much, is all.
Yeah, the ex-boyfriend really annoyed me, and I thought the very dramatic finale with people in peril was a complication too far to throw in the way of our lover’s HEA, but I really really like this book and especially appreciate that Richard didn’t end up completely changed in his ways because of his feelings for Lainie. He didn’t get nicer to everyone, just her and those who were important to her. Which is much more realistic than him suddenly becoming a fluffy bunny of a man.