The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean by Ann Rose Book Review

I really wanted to love "The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean.” From the title alone, I was expecting a quirky rom-com or, at the very least, an engaging coming-of-age story. Unfortunately, the way the story was told made it really hard for me to get into it—and that’s a bummer because I had high hopes.

First things first: the time jumps. They were everywhere, and not in a fun, "keep-you-on-your-toes" kind of way. It was like I’d just get settled into one moment in the present day, and then—bam!—we’re thrown back in time or fast-forwarded into the future. I spent way too much energy trying to figure out where I was in the story, which killed any groove I’d finally gotten myself in. I think it would've worked better if we went back in time, wrapped up that period, then returned to the present, instead of constantly hopping between moments.

As for Amanda (or Mandy), our leading lady—I really wanted to like her, but it just didn’t happen for me. It felt like her character stayed surface level throughout most of the book. I felt pity for her in some of her relationships, but overall, I didn’t see many redeeming qualities. And listen, it’s not that every character has to be 100% likeable, but when you’re the main character, I think we need "something" to root for. Instead, I found myself gravitating toward Isa, her on-again-off-again love interest in the book. Isa had more depth and was way more likeable, in my opinion. Honestly, if the book had spent more time diving into Isa’s perspective, it could’ve been so much stronger!

Now, I wouldn’t categorize this book as a romance or a comedy. Sure, there are elements of both, but I’d say it leans more toward a coming-of-age story with a sprinkle of romance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best coming-of-age story I’ve read, either. It speaks to the feelings of giving yourself to love and opening yourself up to relationships, but many of Mandy’s relationships felt superficial or unimportant. Especially when you could kind of get a sense of how things were going to go (with the time jumps and all.

On the positive side, Isa really shined for me, and I wanted way more of her. I also liked Mandy’s relationship with her parents and how that influenced her own view of love. I also really appreciated the diversity shown in the character of this book. It made it feel more modern and natural.

Plus, shoutout to Sophie and some of the other side characters! They were way more fun to follow than Amanda, which I didn’t expect going in.

Overall, I’d say this book was just okay. The love story is there, but it didn’t pack the punch I was hoping for. It wasn’t the romance I expected, and it didn’t hit the mark as a coming-of-age story. And the jumbled layout just made it hard to stay engaged. I’d give it a 2.5/5—it’s not bad, but it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. Sorry!