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Love by the Book
Jessica George
Publication Date: April 7th, 2026
St. Martin’s Press
336 Pages
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Genre: General Fiction | OwnVoices | Women’s Fiction
Love by the Book is about friendship love, not the romantic kind. It follows Remy and Simone, who meet at a bookstore while both feel they are being left behind. Remy is an author who had success with her first novel, which was based on her friends. These friends are now drifting apart as they move away, start families, and get mixed up in other relationships, and this causes some very bad writer’s block. Simone is a kindergarten teacher who is very close to her family. She has a second job to make ends meet, and when her family finds out about it, they cast her aside.
I liked how the story showed how feeling alone can affect us, especially when we drift apart from those who are supposed to love us most: our friends and family. The development of Remy and Simone’s friendship was written like a romantic love story, and I loved that. They even had their own “meet-cute.” Of course, there are miscommunications and misunderstandings along the way, but they felt natural and real. The book also touches on the topic of sexuality, especially around Simone’s second job. This is a very character-driven story that I found to be realistic and heartfelt.
Jessica George writes amazing characters with big feelings. Their dialogue rings true and is very witty. I remember how much my friends meant to me in my twenties and thirties, and reading about Remy and Simone leaving the past behind and going forward with this new friendship was very heartwarming and emotional. I liked them both and was cheering them on—and even shaking my head at them sometimes. Yes, there are a lot of serious themes in the pages of this book, but there is also a lot of humour, laughter, and love. While the pacing in the middle feels a bit slow because this is literary fiction, the emotional impact is completely worth it. It’s a love letter to women’s friendship, and it says that it’s okay to grow up, grow out of, and evolve from some friends. In my opinion, I think we should, as it means we are evolving.
Overall, this was a truly touching read that shows the sadness of outgrowing old friends and even family while being strong enough to make new ones. The meet-cute for a friendship was a lovely addition to the story and just goes to show that chemistry in a friendship can and should be just as important as the romantic kind.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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