Review: Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau (2023)

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For me, Jackie Lau’s style works really well in her novellas and short novels. Her writing is tight and the stories are focused on the central budding relationship, without a bunch of extraneous subplots. Not Your Valentine, which clocks in at 40,000 words (or 135 pages), is no exception. The plot centers on the interactions between Helen and Taylor—dates, flower deliveries, a hot weekend away—and Helen’s reactions to them. There’s just enough space around the edges to give secondary characters some personality as they interact with Helen (but not enough for them to develop problems of their own). Helen’s mom steals every scene that she’s in.

Like Lau’s other Kobo Original (The Unmatchmakers), but unlike most of her other books, this book is told from a single point of view, and that choice absolutely works for this story. It is patently obvious to the reader what Taylor’s feelings are, and, since this is a romance, we also suspect that he and Helen are having similar angst about whether or not to make their real feelings about this fake relationship known. The single perspective allows Lau to get deeper into Helen’s angst, and avoids the repetition of both characters processing similar feelings.

My favorite part of this book, hands down, is Helen. I loved that she was a grumpy misanthrope who hates sprinkles and cinnamon hearts and probably also rainbows and unicorns. I loved that Taylor was a true sunshine hero, who just unabashedly likes these same things, along with talking to people and trying new things. There is a bit of the dynamic where the sunshine coaxes joy into the grump’s life with their unabashed enthusiasm—but it never veers into manic pixie territory. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic was great, but I especially loved being in Helen’s head as she recoils in horror at the thought of cakes covered in sprinkles (while also thinking that Taylor sending her pictures of them is kind of adorable).

I also really liked that Helen and Taylor’s relationship centers on doing things to make the other person happy. It starts one-sided, with Taylor always planning activities for them to do together that Helen would really enjoy. But the important thing here is that Helen recognizes that this is their dynamic—and appreciates that Taylor is so kind and careful with her. (Of course, this brings up feelings of “How would he treat me if I were *really* his girlfriend?” and all the associated longing that goes with it.) Even more importantly, Helen reciprocates. The scene where they go to the light art installation, which is sooooo not Helen’s jam, and she watches the joy on Taylor’s face and therefore enjoys herself, is a really lovely encapsulation of what mutual care can look like. Plus it’s hella romantic and ends with a hot make out session.

A final note: this book is hot. Turns out Taylor wanting to please Helen also spills over into the bedroom. But the hotness also veers into weird territory, since Helen has a bunch of sex dreams about Taylor that involve bowling shoes. 

😬

This is a fun, fast read. If you’re looking for something light and cute, Not Your Valentine is a great way to while away an afternoon—especially if you’re feeling like a misanthrope about all those pink hearts that are everywhere.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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Buy Now: Kobo Original

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