It Only Happens in the Movies

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is feeling cynical about love, especially after witnessing a difficult parental separation or a painful first breakup. It tackles the often-jarring gap between the fairytale romances seen in movies and the messy, complicated reality of relationships. The story follows Audrey, a teen whose parents’ ugly divorce has shattered her belief in love. For a school project, she sets out to prove that romance is a lie, but her partnership with a charming aspiring filmmaker named Harry challenges her carefully constructed cynicism. This book explores themes of identity, family trauma, anxiety, and friendship with unflinching honesty. Appropriate for older teens, it contains mature language, frank discussions about sex, and realistic portrayals of mental health struggles like depression and panic attacks. It's an excellent choice for a teen who appreciates smart, witty, and feminist perspectives. It validates feelings of disillusionment while offering a path toward realistic hope, encouraging critical thinking about the media we consume and the stories we tell ourselves about love.