The Falling in Love Montage

Seventeen-year-old Saoirse has sworn off relationships after watching her mother's early-onset dementia and her girlfriend's departure for university. During a party, she meets Ruby, who proposes they have a summer fling inspired by rom-com movies. The two girls embark on a series of classic romantic comedy dates and adventures, with one key rule: their relationship must end when summer does. Saoirse juggles this new romance while dealing with her father's upcoming wedding, her mother's declining health, and her own uncertainty about university. The story navigates first love, family obligations, and the tension between protecting oneself from pain and opening up to new experiences. Through Saoirse's perspective, the novel examines how people cope with loss and change, and questions whether following movie-perfect romance scripts can work in real life.

Readers highlight the authentic portrayal of grief, family dynamics, and teen romance. Many note the balance of humor with serious themes around dementia and relationship fears. The Irish setting and cultural elements add depth according to multiple reviews. Readers appreciated: - Sharp, witty dialogue - Complex parent-child relationships - Realistic portrayal of lesbian teen dating - Discussion of memory and dementia - Rom-com film references Common critiques: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Secondary characters need more development Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (230+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 Notable reader comments: "Perfect mix of rom-com tropes while subverting expectations" - Goodreads reviewer "The dementia storyline hit close to home" - Amazon reviewer "Wanted more resolution for side characters" - BookBrowse reviewer

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🌈 The book features an openly lesbian protagonist, Saoirse (pronounced SEER-sha), who has Irish heritage - reflecting author Ciara Smyth's own Irish background. 📚 This young adult romance novel challenges rom-com tropes while simultaneously celebrating them, particularly through the characters' self-aware discussions of romantic comedy clichés. 🧬 A significant subplot deals with Huntington's disease and its hereditary nature, exploring how the possibility of inheriting a serious illness affects life choices and relationships. 🏆 The Falling in Love Montage was shortlisted for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature. 🎬 The title references the classic movie montage technique where couples are shown falling in love through a series of quick, happy scenes - which the main characters deliberately recreate despite knowing their romance has an expiration date.