Customer Reviews

The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Louise Plummer has taken the romance novel to a new level, and YA readers will get a kick out of how she has fun with the conventions of romance novels while at the same time spinning an enjoyable, and funny, story about a girl who falls in love. For teachers, this book presents many opportunities to discuss writing and the writing process; Kate, the narrator, includes revision notes that reflect on what she has written and how she might revise her romance novel.

I read this book for the first time over ten years ago, and it still holds up as one of the best YA novels I have ever read. Superficially, the writing is quick and bright, the characters are engaging, and the pace is spot on. Don't even finish this review, just go read the book.

If you're still on the fence, here is my list of three great things about TURoKB:
1. Kate...Here is a protagonist that anyone love, and bookish young women the world over can identify with. She's intelligent, she's a genuinely good person, and she doesn't spill any ink on youthful indulgences like self-pity or unnecessary rebelliousness. Cheers to strong, self-possessed women.

2. Kate's family...At one point in the novel, Kate decides that her parents are simply too darling and sympathetic, so she makes lists of their faults to incorporate. The resulting lists are some of the funniest moments in the book, and only serve to make her parents seem more endearing. It's hard to write convincingly about a good, stable family without making it seem utterly boring. Plummer succeeds, making us believe that the Bjorkmans really could live down the street.

3. Fleur St. Germaine...She is the revelation of the novel. First, we see one of the loveliest depictions of female friendship and generosity in print when she mentors Kate through romance that the title promises (a necessary counterbalance to the supposed friendship between Kate and Ashley). Second, she makes explicit the undercurrent of feminist ideas that Kate and her family subtly embody. Third, if the reader is so inclines, Fleur can be read as a lesbian. Nothing in the text contradicts a queer reading, and several of Fleur's jokes establish the supporting subtext. As a young woman who's access to even the tamest queer material was restricted, this book was a godsend.

I got this book from the library in the eighth grade and absolutely loved it! Kate's story is so easy to relate to and her commentaries are absolutely hilarious! Every teenage girl I know has been in her situation and she makes it so funny that you can't help but love the story. The Christmas backdrop maskes the book perfect. It's romantic, funny, and a great holiday read!

Kate is a ordinary girl whose had a crush on that she has had forever. When Richard, her older brother's best friend, comes for a visit over the Christmas holiday, Kate gets a chance to show Richard what shes made of. The problem(s): her annoying, overly flirty best-friend Ashley, and Richards firlfriemnd (or not), Fluer. But Kate, who every girl can relate to, deals with it all amazingly. This book is fun and fresh, and a nice read any time you want a little break and some refreshing holiday love and mush.

If you're looking for a romance novel with gorgeous blond leggy beauties and three paragrph kisses go look somewhere else. But if you're looking for laughs, and a light sprinkling of a witty and REAL romance you've come to the right place. This story is a novel written by Kate Bjorkman (complete with revision notes) and it tells of her life-long crush on her older brother's best friend Richard. With witty repiparte from her surrounding friends and family not to mention The Romance Writer's Phrase Book this made for a definite A plus book.

Wow, I wish that experimental writing existed in YA books when I was a pre-teen. Well, I suppose it actually sorta did, but not in the thorough and engaging way that Plummer does it in this book. _Unlikely Romance_ is a great read -- the characters are well-shaded and vibrant, the setting is wonderfully evoked, and then, of course, there is the humor and the voice of Kate herself, which make this novel a sheer joy. Forget about this being a good "YA book" -- it's a terrific book, period.

The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman was a wonderful book. All the characters were very well thought out and were clear to understand. Kate, the main character, was great! Her personalilty was enjoyable and is someone to relate to. The arguement of Bjork (Kate's older brother) and Trish (Bjork's wife) were very realisic and were easy to relate to also. The romance between Kate and Richard was awesome and very interesting. I loved that Kate's mom and dad were included throughtout the book. Their personalities were definate and were a great part of the book. Fleur (Bjork, Trish, and Richard's friend) was a great character. The way her personality was so positive throughtout the book was great! Even when it seemed like everyone was fighting, Fleur always had a smile on her face, or a comment to bring happiness to the other characters. The book was enjoyable and kept me interested! I couldn't put it down!

This book is so cool, and funny, and all around great! I've read it six times, sometimes back to back, and I'm still not sick of it. If you love romance novels this is tottaly the book for you!

This book is just awesome! Not only is it funny but it is definitly a book you can read over and over again. This book is definitly isn't a typical romance novel. The main character is a six foot tall girl who is revolted by the idea of romances. It's definitly a funny and interesting story to read. I think Louise Plummer has really made an awesome peice of work.

This book is a must read for anyone out there who loves a very real romance. This is not the romance with the skinny, petite, gorgeous female, and the handsome, strong, popular male. This is a very realistic novel about two unsuspecting people who happen to fall in love. The relationship between all the characters in so real, you can feel all the emotions they all feel. It's like Kate (the main character) is talking directly to you in a conversation. Once you pick up this book it is so hard to put it down. You can't tell what will happen untill you read it all the way to the last word. I definately recommend it to anyone who craves a good romance and even anyone who doesn't!