True Love Way [Kindle Edition]

Nancy Scrofano (Author)

Book Description

Marlo Spencer relishes all things retro. Old TV shows, classic movies, and even the collectible lunch boxes to go with them. In fact, she’s quite cozy in her Malibu apartment, surrounded by her treasured knick-knacks and vintage memorabilia. It’s her best friend, Nik, who doesn’t get her fascination with all that “old junk,” as he calls it. He especially doesn’t understand why she’s so keen to get back to their hometown of Napa when her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris and nary a single phone call, eager to reunite with her. So, when Marlo heads up north to wine country to rekindle her relationship with Josh, Nik tags along, claiming he was already planning to visit his sister, Savannah, Marlo’s gal pal. Once they reach Napa, however, dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and past betrayals are revealed, leaving an unsuspecting Marlo to pick up the pieces. Can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The romance is entertaining, but what really makes the book special is Marlo... True Love Way is definitely worth reading... Fans of Emily Giffin and Jane Green are sure to enjoy this charming story..." -Chick Lit Cafe

"A wonderful, fun, romantic story that flows so beautifully... Supporting characters were all so well developed... could have honestly seen them each as the main character of their own books... Scrofano has a brilliant way of engaging readers, making them constantly wonder what would happen next... Amazing debut novel." -Turning the Pages

"A really fun chick lit read. Scrofano has a talent for creating characters... really great debut..." -Chick Lit Plus

"True Love Way is amusing. And definitely a book I'd like to read again soon." -Girl Who Reads

"This book is great! I love the story... Marlo is perfectly written." -Cheryl's Book Nook

"A quick and fun read. All the characters are believable, and the storyline is filled with twists and turns. At the end of each chapter, you'll want to begin the next! I couldn't put it down!" -Chick Lit Goddess

From the Author

Initially, I wanted to write a novel about friendship. Specifically, childhood friendships that turned into adult friendships and how they transitioned and changed throughout the years. I wanted to see what would happen if something forced two childhood friends to work out whatever problems they had as adults. I knew the main character would be stuck in the past because the story would essentially be about how she finally moves forward with her life. I wanted to give her a huge obstacle that would be the ultimate test of friendship and forgiveness.

Marlo Spencer is the heroine of my novel, True Love Way, and she loves everything retro. She's someone who thinks she should have been born in another decade, probably the forties or fifties. Marlo is an old soul, so she's very enthusiastic about the past. Particularly, she loves old TV shows and films and oldies music. Marlo is definitely an individual and not afraid to be passionate about stuff that other people may not understand. She feels an affinity in her heart for bygone eras and refuses to let go of the nostalgia. 

My own love for classic TV and films and vintage memorabilia inspired me to create Marlo. Her interests are intensified versions of my own. I wanted to portray someone who believes that it's okay to be different and it's okay to love what you love, regardless of what anyone else thinks. People can be afraid to show who they truly are because they worry that they won't be accepted by others, but Marlo doesn't hide who she is from anyone. That's what her friends and family love about her. 

My favorite show is I Love Lucy. I grew up watching it, and I think I got my sense of humor from Lucy. I've studied her comedy from watching the episodes over and over, and when I was a kid, I always tried to mimic her. My admiration for her runs deep, and when I watch her shows, I feel like she's a kindred spirit. It's like I should have been there and like that time period is where I belong. That's how Marlo feels, and sometimes, feeling out of place comes along with that. 

Marlo and I are a lot alike, but we're different, too. Her story is completely fictional. None of what she goes through in True Love Way happened to me. We share similar personality traits and interests, but our stories are not the same. Marlo is quirky and sincere, and she has some growing up to do without sacrificing who she is. I think you'll enjoy going along with her on her journey. 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 485 KB
• Print Length: 358 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Simon & Fig (April 17, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007VA4AZI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,693 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An adult story which should have been written as a YA. September 16, 2012

By Wanda (Good Choice Reading)

Format:Kindle Edition

When Nancy Scrofano emailed GCR and requested a review. Upon reading the blurb for her novel, I was quickly intrigued. I'm a huge sucker for a romance and happily ever after stories. So I quickly accepted to read and review it. However, as I began reading, I felt a little frustrated. For one this novel was very predictable. And towards the first half of the book, I felt I was reading a YA rather than an adult contemporary.

The main character Marlo was hanging on to her past, to a guy who left her 12 years ago with not even a goodbye. Now I understand how someone may need closure to let go of someone or something. But in my opinion this main character acted and thought like a teenager. Her ex came back into town and requested to see her and instead of thinking about to seeing him to clear things out, she was thinking about how she can get things back to the way they were before he left. That way of thinking is too immature for an adult. Now if this was a YA, then this wouldn't have bothered me so much because young adults aren't always mature enough to make a smart decision.

The author however does shake things up a bit and this helps Marlo in my opinion grow up a bit. This is when I actually start enjoying the main character and her story. She becomes more mature and start making wise decisions. She finally opens her eyes wide enough to see what or rather who is she has before her. That's when the story became what I expected, a true love story. I fell in love with two characters in this story, which is Nik (her best friend) and her Aunt Madge. Those two characters made the story so much better.

I know I kind of rambled on in this review but the main character really annoyed me throughout the first half of the book. But after she matured and opened her eyes, I started enjoying the story more. I was rooting for Marlo to find her closure and to find True Love's Way. I give this book a 3 stars because of the frustration I felt towards the main character towards the first half of the book. But after that the story picked up and I really enjoyed myself.

[...]

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It's the story of a girl named Marlo ... September 23, 2012

By cupcake TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

I remember watching The Brady Bunch and other sitcoms of the '70s and '80s. And when I Love Lucy is on, I'll still watch an episode every now and then. But my interest in these shows pales next to that of Marlo Spencer, a devotee whose love of all things retro in television knows no end.

Fortunately, Marlo's best friend, Nik, indulges her passion. He even accompanies her to dinners with her wacky aunt. Nik's sister, Savannah, is Marlo's other best friend, and lives with her precocious daughter in the friends' hometown of Napa. It isn't that Marlo's life in Malibu is idyllic, but it's peaceful. That is, until she receives a message from Josh, her high school boyfriend who she hasn't heard from in over a decade: he'd like them to discuss the promise they made before they broke up after graduation.

Marlo is stunned. Yes, she and Josh promised each other that if they were 30 and not married that they would marry each other, but the last she saw of him, he left Napa and headed to France to culinary school. Even though Marlo broke up with him, she's still hurt that he never invited her to visit him in France, much less kept in touch. She agrees to go to Napa to see him when he heads back home, and Nik decides to drive and accompany her.

To say that Nik does not like or trust Josh is a fair assessment of his feelings. And we know why: Nik loves Marlo for himself. When we meet Savannah and see her reaction to Josh's return to Napa, our suspicions ignite, far more than Marlo's. In fact, if there is one thing about Marlo that vexes us it is her penchant for overlooking the obvious. We see the connections long before she does, so by the time her outrage hits, our shock has worn off and we're kind of over it.

Yet you can't help but like Marlo, and you can't help but really like Nik, just as you can't help but distrust Savannah and Josh. Nancy Scrofano presents Marlo's kitschy devotion to classic sitcoms with just the right touch: any firmer, and we would find Marlo annoying and obnoxious. There is a reason why people like Marlo, and it has everything to do with her open, sweet disposition - a disposition Nik adores but Josh attempts to manipulate.

You can see the ending of this book from its opening pages, but that doesn't mean that Scrofano does not make the inevitable an enjoyable turning of the pages. She clearly likes her characters, and we in turn come to care about them as well. For those of us who came of age in the '70s and '80s, there is the added bonus of flashing back to television shows we recall with a nostalgic glow.

True Love Way is much like its characters: cute, adorable, and sweet.

Published on cupcake's book cupboard. @VivaAmaRisata
Thanks to the author for the preview.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut! April 22, 2012

By Kimberly

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

True Love Way is the debut novel by Nancy Scrofano, and what a debut it is! I immediately could relate to the main character, Marlo, and her difficulties in giving herself freely in love due to her past experiences. The settings of Malibu and Napa are just as much a part of the story as the other characters you will meet and appreciate along the way. This would be a perfect beachside read over the summer.

More About the Author

Nancy Scrofano is the author of True Love Way and Cupid On Deck. She is a freelance writer, and she is the founder and managing editor of The Chick Lit Bee, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women's fiction. Nancy is at work on her next novel. For more information, please visit http://www.nancyscrofano.com.