Not Your #Lovestory by Sonia Hartl
Page Street Kids, Releases September 1st 2020, 288 pages
Trigger Warnings: Sex-Shaming, financial issues, violence, bullying
About the Author: “Sonia Hartl is the author of Not Your #Lovestory and Have a Little Faith in Me (Page Street), which received a starred review in BookPage and earned nominations for the Georgia Peach Book Award, YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, and ALA’s Rise: A Feminist Book Project
List. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s enjoying pub trivia, marathoning Disney movies, or taking a walk outside in the fall. She’s a member of SCBWI and the Managing Director for Pitch Wars 2020. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two daughters.” (Bio taken from the author’s website.)
Instagram: @hartlsonia
Twitter: @SoniaHartl1
Website: https://soniahartl.com
When Macy, a small-town Midwestern YouTuber, runs into Eric at a baseball game, her entire life begins to change. After dumping a hot dog into his lap, a bystander posts the whole interaction live to twitter. The whole interaction eventually goes viral; however, it not only brings fans, it brings internet haters too. While scared this might impact her real-life relationships, she agrees to an online relationship with Eric in order to continue to grow her internet presence. But there comes a time when Macy has to choose between faking her online relationships and truly participating in her real-life ones.
Not Your #Lovestory perfectly portrays the current climate of social media and how it impacts a teenager’s everyday life. The idea of a fake relationship meant solely for the internet is not entirely unconceivable, and is something that main character, and rising YouTube star, Macy and her meet-cute boyfriend partake in. I think that what the plot-line is trying to point out through a series of uncomfortable dates and Twitter posts is extremely relevant today. This novel shares a message with young adults to not let social media, and the internet as a whole, change who you truly are and impact your real life. With one almost-real relationship, and one online relationship, the reader is constantly on their toes, wondering what Macy will choose: fame and success, or happiness and integrity.
Not Your #Lovestory releases September 1, 2020.
(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.)
PRR Writer, Leah Kist
Pick up your own copy today!
