What happens when you’re just friends but you end up in New York, and one of you might be leaving…. what would you do, and how would you spend your time? Would you take a chance at being more and change your life?
Cole Kimball and Laila Olivet have been best friends their entire lives. Cole is the only person (apart from blood relatives) who’s seen Laila in her oversized, pink, plastic, Sophia Loren glasses. Laila is always the first person to taste test any new dish Cole creates in his family’s restaurant . . . even though she has the refined palate of a kindergartener. Most importantly, Cole and Laila are always talking. About everything.
When Cole discovers a betrayal from his recently deceased grandfather that shatters his world, staying in Adelaide Springs, Colorado, is suddenly unfathomable. But Laila loves her life in their small mountain town and can’t imagine ever living anywhere else. She loves serving customers who tip her with a dozen fresh eggs. She loves living within walking distance of all her favorite people. And she’s very much not okay with the idea of not being able to walk to her very favorite person.
Still, when Cole toys with moving across the country to New York City, she decides to support her best friend–even as she secretly hopes she can convince him to stay home. And not just for his killer chocolate chip pancakes. Because she loves him. As a friend. Just as a friend. Right?
Graphic: Death, Grief Moderate: Abandonment, Terminal Illness, Death of a Parent Minor: Sexual Content
My Review
Hilarious as always. Relatable quirky MC, but this time I honestly saw myself in the character of Laila in so many ways 😂 Best friends who are remarkably close, and a potential move separating them was an interesting conflict. Their relationship was super open – especially for a friend relationship between a guy and girl – but it was actually nice to see a somewhat healthy friendship/relationship for a change! I loved the tv and movie references thrown out in the NY setting. It was like being in on the joke. Several moments of laughing so hard I almost fell onto the floor, so you know it was a good one for me.
Would I Recommend This Book?
Yes! Bethany Turner books are always fun to read, and this was witty, heartfelt and a great time.
Similar Books You Might Like
If you are thinking what kind of books would have similar feel, themes or content, here is a list that you can consider:
Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other (Bethany Turner)
A great movie, that I have seen many times… and apparently based on a book! So I’m putting it to the test to see which is the best…
There is always a level of cutting things out when you go from a book to a movie, but this one was more about the small moments that Andrea went through being cut out and instead being replaced by a more easy to follow thread of related events. Her family life however, was basically eviscerated – a best friend that was removed and replaced instead by two others in the film and parents and a sibling that she saw somewhat regularly was replaced with the rare email and one moment of her Dad coming to New York.
Though I will admit that Andrea not dealing with an alcoholic best friend, distancing boyfriend and parents that worry about her wasn’t that disappointing. Removing the funny security guard at the building was sad, and the combination of various characters at the office merged into Nigel was a genius move! I loved his character in the film, so much that I missed him in the book. Yes, some of his characteristics were taken from other characters but it wasn’t the same.
The relationship with Emily was a little different, it was more confrontational in the Movie (which is a switch, as usually people aren’t as nice in the book), and more in the trenches together. I liked that part of the book, with more detached disinterest rather than outright distain. It was also interesting to see barely anyone talk about Andrea’s lack of interest in fashion being a factor in her job or her life.
The little changes like how Emily ended up not going to Paris (getting Mono, instead of the car accident… which in the book happened to Andrea’s personal friend instead and actually leads to her telling Miranda just where to get off), how her relationships dissolved, what job her boyfriend had (teacher, not chef), and where she ended up in terms of what writing job she gets after leaving… it wasn’t the end of the world/story.
I did miss seeing the human side of Miranda in the film, the book never offers much in the way of giving her a human side – it just begins and ends with her being sharp and demanding. Though I will admit that the line “Why is no-one ready?” is a personal favourite of mine… I actually say it quite a lot so props to Meryl Streep for that amazing line read.
There was no ‘I’ll do better’ and no ‘glow up’ type of scene, just a gradual acceptance that these things would rub off on her. Christian was given a way larger role in the movie, and I couldn’t believe it when I read in the book that Andrea told Miranda where to get off… then promptly got fired. I was never worried about Andy being fired in the movie, but in the book it was a constant worry…
So, which was better? Well, I did start with a little bias in loving the movie… but I think even if I looked at it objectively, it would still win out. There was a greater sense of urgency for those around Andy in the film when Miranda wanted something (probably due to the chaotic shots and music), but the personal fear was more prevalent in the book. The movie just had something about it that I enjoyed more… the fashion, the actors, the music… whatever it was, I feel lie the Movie wins out.
It might just be me, but the TV shows we get today are just not as good as what we used to get. Some of the classic shows that I know and love, and rarely known about by people my age and particularly younger than me. Anyone under the age of 30 has either never heard of them, or only know about them because of some pop culture passing mention… and I think that’s a travesty!
So, to remedy this I decided to recommend a few of the BEST older TV shows that are definitely worth the watch:
I Love Lucy (and The Lucy Show)
A married couple that have wacky adventures with their landlords and best friends. I Love Lucy was revolutionary at the time – the first sitcom tv show to use multiple cameras to film, the stars Lucy and Desi owning the film and being able to start a production company, and comedy in a way that people hadn’t seen before. Lucy was the wacky, slapstick queen of getting into ridiculous situations and roping her best friend Ethel into getting out of it. She wasn’t afraid to dress up in silly costumes, be an idiot on camera and stand up for herself and what she wanted out of life – including getting into her husbands showbiz life. Meanwhile, Ricky Ricardo was a band leader and singer who just wanted a little peace in his life.. and also struggled to remember all the American idioms. With their friends the Mertz’s always being dragged along for the ride, it is something fun and entertaining to lose yourself in. A marriage where the people love each other so deeply, that even the craziest scheme can’t break!
The Lucy Show came after, and was just Lucy and Vivian as single mums and still having the same cooky adventures. It was actually split into two parts, with the first half of the show including Viv, and the second focussing more on Lucy and the grouchy Mr Mooney. Gone are the kids, and in come the celebrity clients of the bank that Lucy can interact with and embarrass on a whole new scale! Plus, it was in colour!
Gilligan’s Island
“All the rest…” apparently was the hill to die on for theme song enthusiasts and the cast of Gilligan’s Island. There were seven cast aways on the small uninhabited island where the crew and passengers of the cruise ship end up being stranded. And boy, the adventures they get to have while trying to get rescued! Again you have the loveable goof, but this time Gilligan just doesn’t know how to make things right. He tries to help, but he is just a little short of all the marbles and this means that while he tries very hard, he often comes up short and accidentally sabotages the potential rescues again and again. Often described as a safe babysitter, it’s pretty much fun for any age and always gives you a laugh.
Remington Steele
The Girl Boss and Pretend face of an investigation firm in the 80s – plus conman Pierce Brosnan…. yes please Laura is a fantastic investigator, but because she’s a girl people don’t take her seriously. When she invents a pretend man as head of her company and a con man takes advantage – they’re stuck together! He genuinely seems interested in playing detective, and it makes Laura’s life more difficult, if not more interesting. The banter, the mysteries and the fashion choices are excellent while not being too violent or graphic!
I Dream of Jeannie
Naive blonde Jeannie just wants somebody to love… and Major Anthony Nelson, the astronaught is the one she’s picked. Even though he sets her free on the first day they meet, and doesn’t want anything from her except to be rescued on the deserted island he’s on – she decides to stick around. Another bit of a goofball, after being locked in her bottle for two thousand years, she doesn’t quite understand how the world works now (or at least in the 60s) and it leads to hilarious adventures. It also doesn’t help poor Tony that he can’t afford anyone to find out that he owns a Jeannie, and he does everything he can not to annoy her so she plays a trick on him, while also not encouraging her so she marries him (something that may not be sustainable).
Get Smart
A spy that is half James Bond, and half Inspector Clouseau Maxwell Smart, agent 86 of Control is pretty much the ultimate. NOTHING like the movie that came out in recent years (it’s way better) Max somehow muddles his way into winning against his encounters with Kaos – the organisation for evil. With his trusty partner Agent 99 – a beautiful and in love with him agent – they manage to help the Chief against the forces of evil. Trusty shoe phones and lipstick lasers are the norm, with truth, justice and the American way taking a backseat to again… goofy antics that win the day!
Those are only a handful of great shows that pretty much anyone should watch… and it doesn’t even count the shows that hit after the 90s! Maybe my next suggestion post will include that era, but for now Happy Watching!
To write a review of this without spoilers is almost impossible (pun intended)…. But let me try
I liked it overall. It took a very surprising turn that totally flipped what I thought it would look like – which was nice. The writing was good and I liked the email elements. There was a bit much swearing and other throw away attitudes that I didn’t appreciate, which contributed to at least one star down in my rating. I liked the characters and their “impossible” love story was quite interesting. The ending… I am on the fence as to how I feel about it but will say it punched me in the stomach, but by the final line, I was almost okay with it… almost. (I listened to the audiobook and loved the two voices for the two characters).
I didn’t care that this book was somewhat predictable, because I had so much fun reading it. The characters had great chemistry, they were flawed but willing to do something when they had a chance, and there was all the drama! I love books about readers and writers, so this was IT for me. Editors meeting in the margins over the course of a month and working on a book? Yes! There was a lot of really funny but genuine moments, and the BANTER was just so great. Melissa wrote this book with a great flow and it was easy to speed through and stay up way too late just to finish it!
Loved this one – it was funny, entertaining, and somehow made you forget the Groundhog Day trope being so overdone. I didn’t mind one bit, and instead got to thoroughly enjoy myself as we followed Em throughout. Funny, entertaining and relatable. I thought some of it became predictable and I could see the direction, but I enjoyed it in spite of that. The characters had a natural feeling progression and sometimes surprised you. This one was beautifully executed and I loved listening to the audiobook!
I must admit, this book surprised me. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, but the characters were fun, the story quite good and even though it was a trifle similar to many other books written in the time period, I think it stood its ground. I didn’t enjoy some POV head hopping, and I would have liked an extended ending, but otherwise it was most enjoyable.
It is kind of surprising HOW MANY movies are actually based on novels. I had no clue that Father of the Bride was based on a book that was released in 1949! I will admit, I have only seen the Steve Martin version of the film, though the earlier make would be fun to watch also. When I realised, I decided it simply HAD to make it onto my list of Book vs Movie reviews.
It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these, and this is the first time I’m doing a more in depth blog post about it, so let’s get into things!
For a change, this book didn’t feel like it had been condensed for the movie. Normally, you get the distinct feeling of a compressed storyline for film, which is totally understandable. You don’t often get the time constraint for a novel, whereas a movie takes place in 1.5-2 hours. Even though not all the same antics take place, you don’t feel like the story missed out on several key factors. I think the main reason for this, was because the book was actually quite short. It was only 230 pages, and covered a lot of wedding aspects.
Which leads me to the next point, not every moment in the book was copied in the film/s, BUT the main points and themes were. I will admit that in the book, I missed certain film elements (which I will cover next), but for the most part the gist of the story was taken across into a film format. It’s a good example of a movie doing WELL by the book – though I have only watched the Steven Martin movie for this comparison, so I couldn’t say about the others.
One thing that I will say, is that I MISSED Franck! One of my favourite element of the film, was Martin Short’s portrayal of the difficult to understand and over the top wedding coordinator. The closest we got to this character in the book, was a snobish caterer – but he wasn’t nearly as interesting.
In terms of the characters we did still have, there were some notable changes. The names for one thing. Though the last name “Banks” was the same, all the first names (and the surname for the fiancé) were different. Not such a huge deal, but different none the less.
Also, the character of the daughter (Annie for the movie, and Kay for the book) was a lot more immature, whiny, and bratish. I didn’t like her in the book, but not because she was an unlikable person – we didn’t actually develop her character outside the wedding, so it would be hard to like or dislike her at all – just that she seemed so unsophisticated as a supposed adult.
Because this book was written in the 40s, the language is more “old world” and uptight. This is always a challenge for me to read, as it isn’t my preferred style. I also noticed that there was A LOT of italics used (somewhat like me using CAPITALS a bunch so far in this post.. but worse). The writer, Edward Streeter, seemed obsessed with italics.
A great feature in the book, were the illustrations. Almost every page or two, there was an image of Mr Banks and party in the various antics from that or the previous page. It gave the book a light and humorous feel which was quite nice.
Finally, and most important (in my view) was the theme of Fathers and Daughters in the context of weddings. This is where, I believe, the movie did a much better job than the book. The whole story is focussed on a father helping his daughter and wife put together a wedding. The character of Mr Banks, in both iterations, was somewhat frustrating. They were worried about the money, the damage, the number of guests, and making the day special for their daughter. Though they were different in many ways, that was a constant. However, I feel like the character in the book lost the heart that Steve Martin put into Banks for the film.
It really did come down to how much he loved his daughter, and wanted her to have the best in life and in her wedding day. There were a lot more comedic and neurotic moments in the film, which I think were best placed in the film with a comedic timing. Though I admit it was better for that format, I do miss that element in the book. Less prudent and sensible, and more neurotic and falling into pools is what I say!
Okay, so let’s do an overall thoughts to finish this post off. I think, though the book had some great points, the movie wins hands down. It had more heart, more humour and more Franck! I did enjoy seeing some of the different points and aspects the book take (particularly from the perspective of a 50s style wedding), but the film just had something the book did not.
I LOVED this movie, and I still do… but when I found out it was first a book, I had to add it to the Book Vs Movie pile!
Estimated Reading Time: 6min
I have a confession. I am secretly the Princess of Genovia…Okay, no. That’s Mia Thermopolis. But after finally reading The Princess Diaries and comparing it to the Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews movie, I discovered there were far more differences than I expected.
In fact, one of the first things that surprised me was that the movie doesn’t just adapt the first book. It actually pulls material from multiple books in the series. I reached what felt like the middle of the movie and realised I had already reached the end of Book One. So let’s talk about the changes.
As always, spoilers ahead.
The Book Is Actually a Diary
This sounds obvious, but it’s something I never really thought about until I picked up the novel. The Princess Diaries is literally written as Mia’s diary. Every entry comes directly from her perspective. Some days have multiple entries, some days are skipped, and the entire story unfolds through her personal thoughts. As someone who read quite a few diary-format books as a teenager, I actually enjoyed this style. It also makes the title make a lot more sense.
In the movie, the diary itself isn’t a huge part of the story. Outside of a few moments, including the ending, it almost fades into the background. In the book, it’s the entire framework.
Mia’s Dad Is Alive
One of the biggest changes is Mia’s father. In the movie, he’s already passed away before the story begins. In the book, he’s very much alive. The reason Mia becomes heir to Genovia isn’t because her father died. It’s because he has recently undergone cancer treatment and can no longer have children. That means Mia is the only heir. It completely changes the dynamic. Unfortunately, it also introduces a character I didn’t particularly enjoy. Mia’s father is stiff, snobbish, and deeply entrenched in royal life. While I appreciated seeing another side of the story, I definitely preferred the movie’s approach.
The Grandmother Is Nothing Like Julie Andrews
I need to talk about Grandmère. Because wow. The movie version played by Julie Andrews is elegant, strict, and occasionally intimidating, but she’s still charming. The book version? Not so much.
She mostly speaks French, expects Mia to speak French, insists on being addressed a certain way, and generally treats everyone around her as though their feelings are an inconvenience. She isn’t elegant. She’s entitled. And honestly, she was one of the most frustrating characters in the entire book. The movie took a difficult character and transformed her into someone audiences could actually enjoy spending time with. That was a very good decision.
Where Was Joe?
One of my favourite characters in the movie is Joe. His friendship with Clarisse adds so much warmth and humour to the story. So imagine my disappointment when I discovered he doesn’t exist in the book. Instead, there is a driver and bodyguard named Lars. Lars does his job. That’s about it. He lacks the personality, humour, and charm that Joe brings to the film. I missed Joe the entire time I was reading.
The Book Introduces an Important Character
One of the biggest additions in the novel is Tina. She’s the daughter of an extremely wealthy man and constantly has a bodyguard with her. Because of that, most students think she’s strange and avoid her. When Mia learns she’s a princess and suddenly has security around her as well, Tina becomes one of the few people who understands what she’s going through.
I actually loved this part of the book. Tina was kind, supportive, and brought an interesting perspective to the story. I understand why the movie simplified the cast, but Tina is one character I genuinely missed.
Being Called a Freak Matters More
The movie briefly touches on the idea that Mia is considered weird. The book explores it much more deeply. Characters like Tina help establish why being labelled a freak feels so devastating in that school environment. It’s not just a throwaway insult. It’s a social identity. The book spends more time examining how teenagers treat people who don’t fit in, and it adds another layer to Mia’s struggles.
The Supporting Characters Were Very Different
Several characters received expanded roles in the book. Mia’s teacher spends more time in the story. Lily is significantly more unforgiving. Michael and Lily are both portrayed as exceptionally intelligent. Josh is still terrible. In fact, Josh might somehow be worse. The book also spends more time exploring some of the less appealing aspects of his personality, making his actions feel even more selfish. The overall result is that many of the supporting characters feel rougher around the edges than they do in the movie.
The Makeover Isn’t What You Remember
One of the most iconic scenes in the movie is Mia’s makeover. The dramatic hair transformation is unforgettable. In the book? Not quite. Instead of transforming her hair into the sleek style from the movie, they simply cut it very short. She ends up with something much closer to a pixie cut than the glamorous movie makeover audiences remember. As a result, the scene doesn’t have quite the same impact.
The Movie Made Everyone More Likeable
A theme kept appearing while I was reading. The movie made almost everyone nicer. Mia remained likeable in both versions, but many of the people around her were far harder to enjoy in the book. Her father was less sympathetic. Her grandmother was significantly worse. Lily held grudges longer. Several relationships felt harsher and less forgiving. Meanwhile, the movie softened many of those rough edges without losing the core story.
Book vs Movie: Which Was Better?
For me, the movie wins. There were elements of the book that I enjoyed, particularly the diary format and the addition of characters like Tina. But overall, the film made smarter choices. The relationship between Mia and Clarisse worked better. Joe’s addition was fantastic. The decision to make the grandmother elegant rather than unbearable was a huge improvement.
And most importantly, the characters were simply more enjoyable to spend time with. I still liked Mia in the book. I just didn’t like many of the people around her. The movie fixed that.
Have you read The Princess Diaries or only seen the movie? Which version did you prefer?
Love letters, fake dating and a Netflix phenomenon… so I had to get on board
Estimated Reading Time 4min
When To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before hit Netflix, it quickly became one of the platform’s biggest romantic comedies. It spawned two sequels, launched plenty of internet crushes, and introduced a whole new audience to Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky. Naturally, I had to find out whether the book or the movie did the story better.
As always, spoilers ahead.
The Movie Made the Characters More Likeable
This is a complaint I seem to make in almost every book-versus-movie comparison, but this time it went the opposite direction. The movie improved the characters. A lot of the characters in the book felt more cynical, sarcastic, and difficult to like than their movie counterparts. Margot was probably the biggest example. In the movie, she came across as responsible and protective, with a genuine love for her sisters underneath it all.
In the book? She was just mean. I understood that she was trying to fill a parental role, but she lacked much of the warmth that made her work in the film. The same thing happened with Lara Jean’s friend Chris. Movie Chris is rebellious in a fun, slightly snarky way. Book Chris takes that much further, regularly skipping school and making questionable decisions. Even Peter wasn’t quite as charming in the novel. He wasn’t unlikeable, but he definitely wasn’t the Peter Kavinsky that became a fan favourite on screen.
Some of the Small Changes Actually Worked
One thing I appreciated was how the movie handled some of the setup. By including more backstory before Margot leaves for college, the film gave the family dynamics a little more context right from the start. There were also plenty of smaller changes. For example, in the book, Peter is the one who suggests the hand-in-pocket idea. It’s a tiny detail, but it gives him an extra layer of sweetness that I really liked. These little adjustments didn’t dramatically change the story, but they helped shape how I viewed the characters.
The Book Foreshadows Later Events
One thing I noticed while reading was how much groundwork the first book lays for the rest of the series. There are references to places and characters that don’t become important until later books, including the retirement home where Lara Jean eventually volunteers and reconnects with John Ambrose. The movie doesn’t include any of this setup. It’s not necessarily a problem, but it was interesting to see how much was already being established behind the scenes.
Josh’s Role Was Surprisingly Different
Josh remains much more involved in the family’s life in the book. Even after Margot leaves for college and everything becomes awkward, he continues coming over for dinner and spending time with the family. In the movie, he mostly fades into the background after the initial conflict.
Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this change. On one hand, he’s been part of their lives for years, so it makes sense that those relationships wouldn’t instantly disappear. On the other hand, it definitely created a strange dynamic.
Kitty Was Much Younger
Another major difference was Kitty. In the movie, she feels only a few years younger than Lara Jean and often steals scenes with her confidence and sass. In the book, she’s significantly younger. And it shows. She feels much more like a child.
Because of that, the family dynamic changes. People treat her differently, and some of her actions feel more like childish mistakes than calculated mischief. Personally, I preferred the movie version. An older Kitty brought a lot more energy to the story and made the sisterly interactions more entertaining.
The Letters Were Much Harsher
One of the most surprising differences involved the letters themselves. In the movie, they feel like private love letters that were never meant to be sent. In the book, they read much more like goodbye letters. Lara Jean isn’t simply expressing her feelings. She’s actively trying to move on. Some of the things she writes are surprisingly harsh. She lists flaws and annoyances in an effort to convince herself she no longer has feelings for these boys.
When Peter later references some of those comments, I couldn’t help thinking that reading those letters would have been genuinely painful. This was one change I actually preferred in the movie. The softer approach felt more believable and less unnecessarily hurtful.
The Ending Changed Everything
The biggest difference between the book and movie comes at the end. The movie gives us the classic romantic-comedy ending. Lara Jean and Peter get together. Everyone is happy. Roll credits. The book does something very different. It ends with them broken up. Lara Jean begins writing another letter, setting up the sequel P.S. I Still Love You. Now, I understand why this was done. The series continues.
But it felt a little manufactured. Instead of feeling like a natural ending, it felt like the book was intentionally creating drama to make readers pick up the next installment. Knowing there was another book made it fairly obvious they would eventually find their way back to each other. For me, the movie’s ending worked much better.
Book vs Movie: Which Was Better?
This is one of the rare occasions where I preferred the movie. The book was enjoyable, and it provided additional context for several moments that only receive a brief mention on screen. But overall, the film improved the characters, streamlined some of the weaker elements, and delivered an ending that felt more satisfying. That’s not something I say very often in these comparisons. Usually, the book wins. This time, however, the movie takes it. And honestly? It wasn’t even particularly close.
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