Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
Berkley, 2019
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*banjo intro* There’s a new wind blowin’ like I’ve never known, I’m breathin’ deeper than I’ve ever done…*
Sorry. I have that Keith Urban song stuck in my head now because I just finished Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher, a delicious retelling of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.
I have a feeling that this is a love story that’s going to hit the “swipe right” generation right in the feels. Or is it swipe left? I’ve been with the same dude for 13 years so you’ll have to forgive me…like…we were still using AIM when we started dating…this is awkward.
Anyway.
Not the Girl You Marry is biting wit and jagged edges but also features complex, endearing characters. And its gender-flipped reimagining of a classic romcom is very fun.
But it’s emotional too. Particularly with regards to Hannah. Hannah is struggling with her biracial identity when it comes to romantic relationships. But she’s also battling that malignant sense of being ‘too much’ and yet also’ not enough’ that is so poisonous to the female psyche. I can relate to that.
I loved that Jack was so crazy about Hannah but I still found some of the things he did to her while trying to “lose” her to be hard to read. But I do think they were both just what the other needed.
I’m a fan.
Not the Girl You Marry is set to release on. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the chance to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.