My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

by Elodia Strain

[Leah]

My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend is a rare book indeed: It was made into a movie before the novel was written! Oh yes, it’s a movie-to-book adaptation so when I saw on Netgalley what it was and I read the synopsis, I figured I’d give it a shot. I started the novel and got about halfway through when I decided to watch the movie before I continued with the book (whenever possible, I like to read the book before seeing the movie as usually the book comes first so in My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’s case, I wanted to see the movie before completing the book). I watched the movie – it was really cute – and it was time to finish the novel!

My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend is one of the cutest books I think I’ve ever read. Honestly, it’s a super-quick, super-cute read that I finished in two days on my Kindle. From the synopsis above, you can see what it’s about: On the day Jesse meets Ethan at the coffee-shop where she works, she also meets Troy. And ends up dating them both. Although that might seem predictable – and be a plot line to millions of other Chick Lit novels, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend has a big, massive, out-of-the-blue twist that really does set it apart from other novels (and movies). Honestly, usually I see book (and movie) twists coming but I was totally surprised at how My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend was resolved. I don’t think you’ll find a more surprising end to a novel, it was hugely satisfying and it definitely got my vote.

Obviously, the book lends heavily from the movie. I’m talking whole quotes and conversations lifted right out, which I liked. It was turned into a book from the movie, so I can see why it happened. I found myself smiling at the words on the page as I remembered them being said in the movie. There are a few differences though – nothing that really affects the plot of the book or the movie, but in the book Jesse works for a family friend whereas she works for a no-name coffee shop in the movie and in the book we’re introduced to Laurel, her best friend and she runs an art class whereas Laurel and the art class aren’t in the movie. In the book Troy’s business partner is a woman, in the movie Troy’s business partner is a man. Small changes, nothing major like I said, but it did make it feel a teensy bit different.

For me, I liked both the book and the movie. The book was more believable it has to be said as it tends to be way over-romantic as apposed to how most books/movies go, but I thought the movie was sweet nevertheless and it makes a change for the romance to go on throughout rather than only happen in the final, dying seconds. Despite preferring the book, I’d still say watch the movie first because it came first. And it stars Chris Gorham (Henry in Ugly Betty, though you knew that, right?). The book is a nice companion to the movie. It compliments the movie and I think Elodia Strain has done a nice job of making it translate well. It made me laugh, it made me swoon and mostly, it made me happy. I like a book that makes me happy. It’s honestly one of the sweetest books I’ve ever read. It’s syrupy sweet and although that’s not to everyone’s taste, I liked it.