Blog Tour: It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story - Lauren Morrill

 

It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story
Lauren Morrill
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Farrar Straus and Giroux
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A delicious love story with all the toppings, Lauren Morrill's It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story is a contemporary YA rom-com about love, friendship, and pizza, perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

After her mother gave birth to her in the bathroom of a local pizzeria, Beck Brix been given the dubious privilege of having minor fame, free pizza for life, and a guaranteed job when she turns sixteen—a job she unfortunately can’t afford to turn down.

Stuck with her geeky co-workers instead of taking Instagram-ready shots with her wealthy, photogenic friends, Beck finally realizes what she’s spent her whole life trying to hide: that Hot ‘n Crusty is a part of her.

Then disaster strikes the beloved pizza parlor that’s become like home, and Beck realizes that it takes losing something to really know what it’s worth.

REVIEW

Beck couldn't wait to escape her town and leave her "legacy" behind. Born sixteen years ago on the floor of a pizza parlor bathroom, she was forever known as the "bathroom baby" and the "pizza princess". She spent a lot of energy trying to play down her Hot 'n Crusty side, but after accepting the long promised job at the HnC, she started to see the pizza place in a different light. 

When I saw "love story" in the title, I was expecting a boy-meets-girl sort of thing. There was some of that, but for me, this was about Beck figuring out who she was, who she wanted to be, and loving herself. She desperately desired to be someone else. She spent time with people she considered friend-adjacent and hid parts of herself in order to fit in better with them. She tried, but never really felt like a full member of the group. When she started working at the Hot 'n Crusty, she easily bonded with her co-workers. She found she could set her inner geek free with them and be her true self. 

Morrill did a great job exploring the friendship dynamics in both Beck's groups. It seemed like a lesson in contrasts, but there was more to that story. I actually loved where she went with it. These friendships really challenged Beck at times. She was forced to see her role in the relationships, and it was wonderful to see her grow as a result of these challenges. 

Nights at work were some of my favorites! The vibe at the pizza place was fun. Beck had a boss, who I kept seeing as Eugene Levy, and a bunch of quirky co-workers, who I enjoyed getting to know. It really took me back to my food service days. Getting through tough shifts would be impossible without the friendship and support of the rest of the staff. But it wasn't all work, there was fun, games, hijinks, and pizza too. 

Let's hit the highlights! 

✅ Fantastic friendships

✅ Adorable romance(s)

✅ Fun hijinks

✅ Present parents

✅ Personal growth

✅ The "table game"

✅ Alternate post high school plans

✅ Baked goods

✅ Community

✅ Embracing your true self

✅ Pizza

This was a really sweet story about friendship and being your most authentic self. It was a bumpy journey for Beck, but she definitely was the winner at the end of it all.

* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LAUREN MORRILL grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, where she was a short-term Girl Scout, a (not so) proud member of the marching band, and a trouble-making editor for the school newspaper. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in history and a minor in rock & roll, and now lives in Macon, GA with her husband and sons.

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