Title:Field Notes on Loves
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publication Date: March 5th, 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 5/5 Stars
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Summary:
Having just been dumped by his girlfriend, British-born Hugo is still determined to take his last-hurrah-before-college train trip across the United States. One snag: the companion ticket is already booked under the name of his ex, Margaret Campbell. Nontransferable, no exceptions.
Enter the new Margaret C. (Mae for short), an aspiring filmmaker with big dreams. After finding Hugo’s spare ticket offer online, she’s convinced it’s the perfect opportunity to expand her horizons.
When the two meet, the attraction is undeniable, and both find more than they bargained for. As Mae pushes Hugo to explore his dreams for his future, he’ll encourage her to channel a new, vulnerable side of her art. But when life off the train threatens the bubble they’ve created for themselves, will they manage to keep their love on track?
My Thoughts:
Ship: Hugo & Mae
Fave Cinnamon Rolls: Hugo, Mae, the Surrey Six
Needed BROTP: Hugo & Alfie
Favorite Quote: “I’m Starting to realize that a lot of people don’t put much stock in dreams. They think of them like these faraway planets they never really epxect to reach. I was only supposed to step out of my life for a week, but that’s another thing nobody tells you: that once you get there, it’s never enough. There are always more planets to see.”
Actual Review:
“Trains are meant to be in motion. People too. They should be on their way somewhere, slicing through the dark rather than huddling here beneath it.”
This Review is 100% my opnions. I received this ARC for fun from a booth at Y’Allfest in Charleston, Nov 2018.
First off, the premise of this story is absolutely adorable. Boy meets girl because boy was dumped but has cross-country trip planned under ex’s name and therefore needs Girl with ex’s exact First & Last name. It sounds like an odd premise but it was absolutely adorable. Then make the boy British and the girl headstrong and videographer and it’s gonna be even better.
” It’s not supposed to reflect reality, ‘ she said. ‘ Reality is all well and good. But sometimes you just want to pretend the world is a better place than it actually is. That great and wonderful things can happen. That love triumphs over everything.’ ”
Hugo Wilkonson is an 18 year old who has just been dumped by his girlfriend of 3+ years, and he is getting ready to go to the local college with his 5 brothers and sisters because of a scholarship that was bequeathed to them at their birth. That’s right, Hugo is one of the Surrey Six in Surrey, England and his superhero of a mother had Sextuplets. And a major stipulation of the scholarship is that all 6 of the Surrey 6 attend the University of Surrey and take part in all the press and publicity the school has arranged. But before that, Hugo has decided to go out on a limb and still take part in the Cross-America trip he had scheduled with his then girlfriend, problem is SHE booked it all under her name.
Enter Margaret ‘Mae’ Campbell. Mae is a New Yorker who just got just got rejected from her dream Film School at USC in California. And in serious need of some life experiences. SO when her best friend sends her an online add for a Margaret Campbell, she gives it some real consideration. This leads Mae and Hugo on a week of adventure as they travel from New York City to San Francisco with stops in Chicago and Denver. And of course Mae has brought along her camera with a determination to make a new video to wow the Admissions people at USC with. What Mae finds is people, people with stories of trips and lives, and at the center of it all, stories of love.
This book is a delightful short contemporary story that is cute and kitschy and great, fast read. It will be perfect by the pool or on a plane. There are so many adorable scenes and touching quotes that i had to get out tabs and markers which is something I never do. But this is a story worthy of tabs and marking up.
“Everyone grows up dreaming of something different, Hugo. And that’s okay. It’s what makes life so interesting.”
I can’t wait for it to come out in March and will for sure be pre-ordering a finished copy.
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