You might want to skip For Love and Bylines

Hi book lovers and romance babes! Today, I have another Reylo fanfic turned romance novel to review today! Would I say it’s become a mission of mine to read published fanfiction from the Reylo fandom? Unintentionally yes! I am picking up the ones that look interesting! With Ali Hazelwood’s debut, the Love Hypothesis, an influx of fanfictions have been reworked and published as novels and honestly good for the writers. 

That said, if you see me reading more of these novels after I said it wasn’t my new mission-shhhh. I’m just following the vibes.

Summary:

Ava Thompson has been chasing her big break since she began working for the New York Times, so when her boss offers her an undercover investigative role, she jumps at the opportunity. So, Ava enrolls at a private high school in the hopes of exposing corruption and embezzlement, but she ends up crushing on her English teacher, Nico Adams instead.

Nico and Ava have chemistry and a mutual love for classic literature. Plus, the universe ships them and keeps pushing them together.

But when Ava’s editor in chief notices the sparks between Ava and Nico, he decides that uncovering the truth behind Nico Adams, is Ava’s assignment. Ava now must chose between protecting a possible future with Nico or advancing her career.

Thoughts:

This novel is inspired by the movie Never Been Kissed- starring Drew Barrymore-but the interpretation is loose. While this novel did entertain me, and I did read most of it, there were times I thought of shutting it close completely. But let me start with the things I did enjoy.

Overall, For Love and Bylines was an entertaining read, and that’s what kept me reading this story. As mentioned, this novel was a fanfiction, and some of its vocabulary hints at its roots. I loved this. I may be a Star Wars super fan or something because I did not get the ick with the constant reiteration of the word Kriff.

I also like that the main love interest was a broody english teacher. Because Ava worked as a journalist, I felt like they were well matched. Although I did think it was a bit icky that Nico hinted that he was attracted to Ava despite her pretending to be his student. However, the pair do not go out until Ava reveals that she’s an undercover reporter.

Ava was a bit boring, but her bestie Chole and her family that she befriends are great. I really enjoyed the women’s friendship in this novel. Ava’s only family member is her foster brother, so when Chole family’s accepts her, I thought that was a great found family/chosen family moment.

That said, the concept of this novel is definitely weird. Ava is 24 in this novel, and although she eventually confesses to Nico that she’s undercover, I wish she had told her best friend Chole, because it is a bit weird for Ava to drink with the high schoolers and have sleepovers with them. 

While I did enjoy the story, I think the conflict in resolves too easily. Ava’s main conflict is choosing between her friendship with Nico and her employer, who is pushing her to expose him. And Ava doesn’t hesitate when she chooses Nico. And although this is the sound choice, the only consequences she recieves is a verbal warning from her annoyed boss. While that’s good for Ava,  it made the story boring. Personally I think Ava’s getting fired would have been much more dramatic.

Additionally, this story has multiple epilogues. What do I mean by that? Well I’m sure readers are familiar with novels having novellas, which typically take place after the conclusion of the novel. Novellas are great because they serve as a glimpse into the characters’ happy ending. That’s what the last few chapters of this novel felt like. Readers’ catch glimpses of Ava moving in with Nico, marriage, and childbirth along with an update on her adopted brother Nate. This could have worked if Nate had a connection with readers. I felt like he was only a supporting character in this novel, so his epilouge felt unnecessary.

I think this ending works well in fanfiction, but it didn’t translate well into published fiction.

This novel features no sexual content, so keep that in mind if that something you like in romance novels. Although I wasn’t the biggest Fan of For Love and Bylines, I think if you’re a fan of Reylo fanfiction you’ll probably enjoy this novel.

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Grief, Death of parent, pregnancy

Thats all for now readers! I want to apologize again for posting so sporadically. This year has been very difficult and every time I think I have a balance on things…turns out I don’t. I love posting on this blog, so I am going to keep trying to make it a priority. Thank you for visiting the blog and continuing to read my reviews.

until next time readers,

Gabriela

PS. Reylo lovers keep an eye out for my next post. You’re in for a treat!