I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson

Title:  I Think I Love You
Author:  Allison Pearson
Pages: 336
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source:  Planned TV Arts/a division of Ruder Finn Inc.

1974, Wales. Thirteen-year-old Petra and her best friend, Sharon, are in love with David Cassidy and obsessed with The Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz, a contest whose winners will be flown to America to meet their teen idol. 1998, London. Petra is pushing forty and on the brink of divorce. While cleaning out her mother’s closet, she finds a dusty letter—a letter her mother had intercepted—declaring her the winner of the contest she and Sharon had labored over with such agony and bliss. Twenty-four years later, twenty pounds heavier, the girls reunite for an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to meet their teen idol at last, middle age—theirs and his—be damned. [via GoodReads]

Although David Cassidy was before my time, I do remember having major teen star crushes (most of the guys from Beverly Hills 90210 and NKOTB) as well as running to my nearest supermarket in desperate need for the latest edition of Tiger Beat.   So obviously when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I would be able to relate to it in some way.  

It's 1974, Petra and Sharon, two 13 year old Welsh girls, are head over heels in love with none other than David Cassidy.  Ms. Pearson captures these girls so perfectly.  The craziness of crushing over a teen idol, the make-up, the best friends forever, the magazines... although set in a time frame that I wasn't even born in, I can still remember the early 90's when I was  going through the same thing.  Fast forward 25 years, and now at 38, recently divorced and grieving for the loss of her mother, Petra discovers an old letter revealing that she had won a trip to meet her old heartthrob, David Cassidy.  What is a girl to do?  Claim her prize of course!  Who cares if its decades later.

This is the epitome of a feel-good story.  It will have you smiling, laughing out loud and even shedding a nostalgic tear or two.  It highly revolves on love - first love, the love of parent and child, the love of a husband and wife, the love of friends and even the love of a fan for a teen idol.  I found the beginning a bit slow, but I recommend you persevere.  You will find this to be a sweet, charming and joyful story - it'll have you giggling like a school girl and basking in its glow.

My Rating:

GIVEAWAY: I have 1 copy up for grabs - coming directly from the folks over at Planned TV Arts/a division of Ruder Finn Inc.

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Rules: This contest is open to U.S. & Canada residents. International followers feel free to enter giveaway as long as you have someone in the U.S. or Canada willing to accept the book for you.  Winners will be drawn Friday, March 18.