I had been looking for a copy of The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth for quite a while, and when I finally saw a copy at my local bookstore, I was so excited! I had been on the market for more positive LGBTQ+ stories with happy endings, and this one seemed to check all those boxes. However, when I started to read it, I realized I raised my expectations a little too high. As usual for my reviews, there will be spoilers, so if you want to read this book, tread carefully, for spoilers ahead!
The Falling in Love Montage follows Saoirse Clark in the summer before she starts university. After a disastrous breakup, she is swearing off relationships. That, and the fact that she is scared that she’ll develop early-onset dementia like her mother, she doesn’t see a use for going to university or finding love.
However, she meets Ruby, the cousin of her “arch enemy” Oliver, and is instantly smitten. The two of them decide to make a pack to have all of the stereotypical “rom-com” dates throughout the summer, and at the end, have a nice, clean break-up. No heartbreak, no tears (but of course, we as readers know that will NEVER happen).
Throughout the book, Ruby is also dealing with the heartbreak of her previous relationship and the loss of the best friend who took the ex’s side (as Saoirse put it), her father deciding to remarry at the end of the summer, and her mother suffering from dementia and living in a care home.
Some of my favorite instances in the book were the two main characters going on these dates, only for them to be disastrous or end hilariously, like Saoirse drinking too much soda and then going on the Ferris wheel with Ruby (and almost running into her ex). Along with these dates is an example of what rom-com they came from, as it is established that Ruby loves rom-coms and knows so many by heart. Another one of my favorite parts was Saoirse and Roby making the very important point of how there weren’t a lot of cheesy sapphic rom-coms (there are a bit more now, but there can always be MORE).
I also loved Saoirse and Oliver’s friendship, as I wouldn’t call it a “rivalry.” More awkward acquaintances that grow into a begrudging friendship?
However, I really, really wanted to like this book. I had been wanting to read more queer books, and I admit I raised my expectations for this one a little too high. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that Miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes in literature (and in media in general—as much as I love the film White Christmas, I still can’t get over the fact that a lot of the second half could have been avoided). And while this book doesn’t have any Miscommunication as a rom-com trope, it does have Lack of Information (which I just made up and if it has a real name then I’m sorry).
What I mean is, Saoirse refused to tell Ruby about her dating history (which, personally, is a red flag in general, or at least a yellow/orange one), or her mother’s dementia, or the possibility of her having dementia in the future, or her father choosing to remarry. I understand that this is part of her “secret set of rules” (which, again, she didn’t tell Ruby about—if you’re going to have a fake dating trope I would assume you would explain the rules you’ve come up with to make the fake dating work, right?). I understand that she’s doing this so she doesn’t actually fall in love with Ruby. And I also understand that, per the agreement the two girls made, they would be broken up by the end of the summer. Which is why Saoirse didn’t want to tell Ruby her deep dark secrets. But…Saoirse’s stubbornness is rather difficult to sit through some times. I mean, you can just mention your made-up dating rules and then go on with it?
I will admit, I have not read a lot of books under the “fake dating” trope, so I might be holding this book to a different regard than I should.
It doesn’t feel like Saoirse has a character arc until the VERY VERY end. Like, the ending of the book end. From how I see it, Saoirse seems to just push everyone away, then wonder where they have gone. Another part of the story that left me feeling a bit off was that she got what she wanted at the very end. She got to stay close to her mom, which again, is understandable, but I had assumed after the intense discussion with her father about the dementia that she would have learned to live her life to the fullest and go to Oxford.
She also never got the girl and had the breakup like she wanted, however there was the end part where the two of them said that they would meet up again in a few years. Which was sweet, but as someone super invested in their relationship, it felt sad. One would assume that, once you pick up a rom-com, the characters are going to live happily ever after and everything will be resolved nicely. Spoiler Alert. That didn’t happen in this book. And don’t get me wrong, it made sense why Saoirse and Ruby didn’t stay together (although I had hoped that I would have been like Annie on My Mind), where they reconnect after some time has passed.
Maybe I’m being too cynical, as rom-coms make me cynical most of the time. Maybe I’m jealous because having a bunch of dates inspired by the montages of rom-coms sounds like the cutest and most wonderful thing. Don’t get me wrong, it was a wonderful read, it just didn’t end how I expected it. If I come back to it after a while, like Saoirse and Ruby will, and find new appreciation for the ending. After all, Saoirse was able to open her heart to new love, so maybe I can open mine to something new too.
E. A. Young Writes 