Sometimes, my pleasure reading leans towards the light and fluffy, especially while on summer vacations.

PLOT - Twenty-eight year old, American expat, Lauren Cunningham, is living the single life in London. She decides to embark on a love experiment. She will spend every month of the next year, trying a different dating technique from various self-help love books. What advice will work best? Should she pursue men or let them come to her? Slutty or virginal, which has more appeal? Will this swirl of conflicting advice help or hurt her ultimate goal of finding love?

LIKE- Love by the Book is 100% typical chick-lit. This isn't a negative, but it helps to have that expectation going in. I knew what I was in for and I enjoyed Pimentel's story for what it is; light entertainment. Pimentel has created a likable heroine in Lauren and it's easy to join along in her dating adventure. I like the setting of London, as it added another layer of dating conflict for Lauren. I have a British husband, and I can attest to the cultural differences that arise. This dynamic made for a engaging read.

DISLIKE - Unfortunately, the gimmick begins to grow old mid-way through the story. I think the resolve could have been in giving more weight to Lauren's non-dating life, creating a better balance in the story. By the middle of the book, it seems like she is just going through the motions of this experiment, checking off boxes and men, with each passing month. It's less fun as the story progresses. Also, the various love experiments are unequally entertaining.

RECOMMEND - Possibly. Overall, I enjoyed Love by the Book. It was a quick read that made me smile. However, I have the feeling that I will quickly forget about having read Pimentel's novel. Enjoyable and light-hearted, but not a stand-out in the genre.