Monsters: A Love Story by Liz Kay is a story about a young Nebraska widow who writes poetry and a Hollywood playboy/movie star who has actually read her poetry. The widow’s book is made into a movie, which is how the unlikely couple meet and eventually fall in lust, and finally in love. I was bothered by how often and how much both of the characters drank alcohol in the book. Much of their relationship revolved around their drinking, and that was disturbing, especially as both characters are parents. As to the two primary characters, the widow with young children, should have been a sympathetic character to me, as a mother myself, but I did not like her very much. Because the female character successfully pushed the other characters away from in her grief, she also managed to push the reader away. I felt more empathy for the Hollywood movie star, who demonstrated typical “bad” behavior, but drew people in. ( )

This book cover kept catching my eye, so finally, I gave in. I really enjoyed the story, characters, and dilemmas that occurred, though I did feel a bit removed from it all, (but at times so did Stacey, so I guess I'm excused.) There was a lot of hard living, drinking, and more uses of the f-word than even my mother (which says a lot). But overall, I came away glad I read it. The snippets of Stacey's work were interesting, and I'd kinda like to actually read her poem that was based on Frankenstein, even though it's got a lot of grimness in it. (The book was about the poem, which was a book, itself, becoming a movie.) I will look for more by the author.

Tags: 2016-read, first-novel-or-book, great-cover, i-liked-it, made-me-look-something-up, read, will-look-for-more-by-this-author ( )

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Stacey Lane's husband died unexpectedly and she and her kids are still grieving his death and trying to find their balance. Things are going reasonably well until she receives an email stating her book of poetry is being optioned for a film. Life as she knows it will never be the same in Monsters: A Love Story by Liz Kay.

Stacey Lane's life changed when her husband died. It changes again when she meets Hollywood superstar Tommy DeMarco. Tommy wants to adapt her novel-in-verse into a film. Stacey knows next to nothing about film adaptation, but she's pulled into the process from the very beginning simply because Tommy is enthralled with her book and becomes enamored with her. Stacey begins to fly back-and-forth from Nebraska to California to work on the script, watch the filming, etc. She and Tommy begin to have a highly dysfunctional relationship that isn't quite a romance, or at least it isn't to Stacey. As a result of the film, Stacey's book is in the spotlight and she's invited to numerous book festivals. Between her travels to California and other places, her children begin to spend just as much time with her sister as they do at home. In an effort to bring more normalcy to her life, Stacey begins to date again and before she knows it she's engaged to be married. Unfortunately, her children don't really like her fiance, Tommy is furious about the engagement, and Stacey's isn't quite sure why.

Monsters: A Love Story is a fast and fun read about a dysfunctional romance at its best and worst. Stacey and Tommy come across as two intelligent people, but when it comes to their quasi-relationship they become ignorant of what the other wants or expects. They share late night phone calls, text one another constantly, and Stacey spends all of her time at Tommy's house (and in Tommy's bed) when she's in California. It was interesting to watch their relationship evolve, as well as watch the perceived devolution of Stacey's role as a mother and evolution of Tommy's role as a father. Stacey and Tommy aren't the perfect couple and they don't come across as idealistic about romance. Tommy is jaded about romance and Stacey just comes across as somewhat clueless when it comes to Tommy. To say that Monsters: A Love Story isn't the typical romance is a massive understatement, and that is part of its charm. Monsters: A Love Story is an entertaining story about two unlikely people falling in love in unusual circumstances and is, perhaps, the perfect choice for a lazy weekend. ( )