Title: Love, Literally
Author: J.T. Tierney
Publisher: Curtiss Street Press
ISBN: 9798990417113
Pages: 212
Genre: Romance / Contemporary
Reviewer: Gabriella Harrison

Read Book Review

Love shines through when all hope seems lost for a beaten-down woman in author J.T. Tierney’s uplifting romance novel Love, Literally.

Love, Literally isn’t just another romance novel. It celebrates second chances, friendship, and compassionate support during life’s setbacks. This heartwarming novel focuses on forty-two-year-old Hallie, who faces destabilizing setbacks — ghosted by her lover, laid off from her set-design job due to COVID, and abandoned by her roommate to pay the rent alone. She is unsurprisingly confused about her next steps. Fortunately, Maria, her best friend, supports her by offering her a place to stay while she figures it out. Soon, she joins Maria and her husband’s friends Lisa and her husband at a mansion in Cape Cod. Hallie becomes the fifth wheel but isn’t the odd one out. Quinn, Lisa’s friend who is a widower in his fifties, joins them on their getaway and is instantly drawn to Hallie.

The narration alternates between Hallie, Quinn, and Maria’s points of view, providing insight into their lives and the other characters. Tierney does a lovely job making the characters personable, and engaging readers in the story with easy-flowing dialogue and witty humor amongst friends. Hallie enlivens her environment through her cheerful disposition and lively contributions to every conversation. She uses this same liveliness to transform her environment from just words on a page to an actual place for readers through enthusiastic descriptions, such as when she first arrives at the mansion, she remarks: “When I step out, ocean air, briny and thick, hits my senses like a slap from Poseidon himself. I hoist my suitcases and duffels out of the back, plunk them on the cobblestone surface, and gawk up at the huge, gray-shingled house. It’s so massive I wouldn’t be surprised if it has its own zip code.”

While its central focus is Hallie and Quinn’s burgeoning romance, the warmth of her friendship with Maria is refreshing. Their love for each other developed through twenty years of standing by each other in both good and bad situations is inspiring. Another positive aspect of the book is how Tierney provides insight into the realities and challenges of dating later in life, with Hallie and Quinn trying to hold onto their desire to remain together amid emerging obstacles such as a new job opportunity, a revived ex, and disapproving children. Admittedly, these obstacles and how the characters navigate them make the story more engaging.

Love, Literally by J.T. Tierney is a lovely romance novel with something for everyone who enjoys this genre. It is best for readers who enjoy a persevering love story and genuine friendships. It is also a lovely option for anyone who enjoys easy-flowing prose and is looking for a pleasant book to kill some time.