Love in Theory by debut author Elodie Cheesman is a truly lovely, heart-warming and joyful romance novel.
Romy, a single, twenty-four-year-old living in Sydney, works as a junior lawyer. She has a great life; supportive parents and close friends but is missing a special someone in her life. She has not been unlucky in love but when she meets someone and has a good time it always comes to a standstill. When she hears about the optimal stopping theory, she decides to search for “the one”.
There are lots of ways to know things about someone just by looking at them or watching their behaviour but that’s where science comes in. She attends a workshop on intelligent dating, reads several dating help books, and gets advice from her parents and friends before she begins her quest.
As her Tinder search begins, she is looking for a reliable, solid man with values rather than feelings of attraction when she first sees them. She recognises the tell-tale signs of falling in love, like butterflies in the stomach and not being able to get them off your brain but she wants love to develop with an intention to be with a significant other.
As Romy ventures out on dates, there are ones that are disastrous, boring, and a waste of her time. But when she meets sensible Hans the engineer and total opposite charismatic James the graphic designer, she must put the theory into practice.
I loved exploring Sydney through Romy’s eyes and going from suburb to suburb and events. Her character grew as a person becoming more confident in what she wanted. The supporting characters from her work, friends, and parents were fun, irritating, and interfering. But all very likeable.
I felt the cover of the book to be basic and it could very well go unnoticed on the shelves. Something brighter and eye-catching would catch my attention to make me pick it up and read the back.
As a debut novel, Elodie has made the book relatable for all single women going through the stages of dating and finding Mr. Right, especially this day and age and no matter how old you are! There is a great deal of storytelling done through dialogues, which shines in her writing skill.
Of course, the key to any good book is that it speaks directly to the reader, which is perhaps one of the hardest feats for a writer because it is so often the aspect most beyond the writer’s control. As a single person, I know all too well!
Love, in Theory, has plenty of emotional sensitivity, realism, and sweet moments to offer readers. I recommend it to those wanting a nice, sweet easy read.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace, and to Pan MacMillan Australia for the opportunity to read and review.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Love, In Theory by Elodie Cheesman. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
ISBN: 9781760982966
My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
Thank you for my copy of Love, In Theory by Elodie Cheesman.
This is a book set in Sydney, about Romy who is 24, not totally happy in her job and unlucky in love. Her Mum brings up the dating optimal stopping point, which is the point that the next person she dates is her best chance at happily ever after. This makes sense and her next date is with Hans who seems to fit the bill. He is sensible and a steady choice. Meanwhile, her friend James seems to date from the heart and live life with more passion. This works well initially , but then emotions complicate matters.
I found this book easy to read, enjoyed the characters including Romy and her friends. A fair few aspects of this book were predictable, but I enjoyed the way it was written and it flowed well. Not being single or knowing Sydney too well didn’t matter as I was pulled in by the personalities.
‘The School’ is a touching account of the journey of teacher Brendan James Murry and his students through one year of High School. With lots of relatable big life events, this book had me smiling and tearing up. Brendan shows empathy for his students, and we see how his job is not just all about teaching the curriculum, but how he mentors and guides (and was guided) students during such a rapid time of self-discovery.
This book piqued my interest as my first born started high school this year. It was a huge transition, and I can relate on a personal level (from my teens) and now that of a parent of a student. I often think how we cannot always remember what our teachers taught but know that they did. I feel this book portrays those encounters.
Happy to recommend this book to teachers, educators, parents and students alike. I feel it gives us perspective and much adoration to teachers but also an understanding of students and what other influences impact a learning journey in both academics and personal growth. I will keep my eye out for more of Brendan’s books.
Thank you Beauty and Lace Book Club and Pan Macmillian Australia for the reading and reviewing opportunity.
Whoops I am sorry my review went on the wrong thread ♀️
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Pan Macmillan Australia for the chance to read and review Love, in Theory by Elodie Cheesman.
In this story we follow Romy on her journey to find a life partner. Being an organised person who likes rationality and reason Romy decides to take a logical path to find “the one” rather than risk being hurt again by following her heart.
I enjoyed reading this story and looked forward to picking it up again whenever I had a few moments spare. It’s an easy read with some very interesting concepts on searching for a partner – laced with some sweet romance and feel-good moments.
I look forward to seeing what other books Elodie Cheesman brings out in future.
Elodie Cheeseman’s Love, In Theory is a charming, feel good tale of looking for love. Romy is a likeable young lawyer who embarks on a very scientific and intentional quest to find a life partner. Thorough research and extensive reading along with a professional work shop combine to produce the perfect recipe, or is it? A cast of diverse personalities gives the story depth and warmth and the armchair travel around Sydney and the snowfields is thoroughly enjoyable, especially in these COVID times. Quirky, funny, sweet, and heart warming, I would definitely highly recommend Love, In Theory and look forward to more from Elodie Cheeseman in the future. Thanks to Beauty and Lace for thr opportunity to read and review this new Aussie novel.
Love, in Theory is the debut novel by Sydney Lawyer Elodie Cheesman and was a sweet but predictable romantic comedy which explored the premise of using an algorithm for finding love. Romy is a 24 year old lawyer with a supportive family and friends who try to help her find the ‘one’.
This was a modern take on the age-old decision between following your head or your heart in the search for love.
I did enjoy this book but as I am a long way from being 24 I didn’t quite get the urgency.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Pan MacMillan Australia for my copy for review and wishing the author all the best with her new career.
Science, evidence, logic and statistics, these should help Romy break her partner drought. On the back of a suggestion from her mother for Romy to find Mr right, Romy hope onto tinder looking for her next best friend, someone grounded, someone reliable, someone with time she can learn to love. Its time, the present, now.
With the support of her friends and family she sets out, a few false starts and then, enter Hans, Mr right. Its working, science and planning has worked… or has it.
I enjoyed this read as time and dating are something i fear myself in a time where tinder and other online dating methods seem the only way to meet. If only formulae and logic were the answer. Giggle factor is high with this one, and a quick light read. Thanks Beauty & Lace and Elodie Cheesman for the opportunity.
This debut novel by Elodie Cheesman is a fun romance novel looking at the mathematical probabilities and theories around love.
Romy a single 24-year-old lawyer living in Sydney has decided that it’s time to get serious about love. She learns that she is at her ‘optimal stopping point’ – the mathematically designated point at which one should select the next ‘best person’ who comes along in order to have the best chance at happily ever after.
After meeting a few men, Hans the engineer appears – he seems to be the sensible choice – but why does graphic designer James keep popping into her head. Who will be her ultimate match?
A nice easy romance read which at times was fairly predictable (not a criticism). I liked the concept of the story and the main characters were all likeable. If you’re after a nice easy weekend love story then this one is for you.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Pan MacMillan Australia for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it was an easy book to put down and pick up anytime, as it was not a heavy storyline.
Having lived in Sydney, I was familiar with many of the places mentioned, and even though Romy is only in her 20’s, I too, having tried dating apps a few times, I could relate to so many aspects of this novel. Some caring yet irritating family and friends, but all well meaning, added a bit of variety to the story.
Romy grows up a lot as the story progresses, learning about herself, and what she really wants out of life, and most of all, what she really wants in a life partner.
The way she describes her ‘dates’ is often a mix of sad, and funny, as you are able to feel how both Romy, and her ‘date’ are both seeking ‘the one’!
An excellent debut novel for Elodie Cheeseman, and I wish her every success with her writing.
Thanks to Beauty & Lace and Pan Macmillan Australia for the chance to read and review Love, in Theory.
Thank you to Beauty & Lace and Pan MacMillan Australia for the chance to read and review Love, In Theory by Elodie Cheeseman.
This was a book that was easy to read, I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Pan MacMillan I was lucky enough to review “Love, in Theory”, a debut novel by Elodie Cheeseman.
Romy is a 24 year old lawyer, who isn’t completely happy in her life. Her mother advised her of a theory that with her age that the next person she meets should be her partner for life.
Romy sets out to find her forever partner. Her friend Paloma and Cameron help her set up an online dating profile so she can start going on dates to find “the one”.
Romy meets James, by accident, at a party she attends. They become very good friends and do lots of things together, he is the kind of guy that has always got her into trouble, the kind she is trying to steer clear from.
Romy then meets Hans from one of her dates, he is what she should be looking for in a partner, he ticks all her “must” haves and is a really nice guy. But why does she enjoy her time with James more? Her and James are only friends after all….or are they more than that and just don’t realise?
This is an easy to read book, little bit of light heartedness to it with a mix of spice and fun.