"This Is Not A Love Scene"

“This is Not a Love Scene”

Written by S.C. Megale

Review written by Diana Iozzia

Reading about a young woman with muscular dystrophy finding herself and discovering her first love sounded like a lovely idea to me. I was very hooked by the premise, thinking this would be a very cute, but serious book about first love and disability. However, I was completely disappointed by this book. Here are some thoughts on the book.

To begin, Maeve, is an eighteen-year-old woman, who has muscular dystrophy. She offers a very interesting perspective into her world and informs us readers of things we didn’t know about being disabled. For that, I felt that I enjoyed those portions of this ‘own voiced’ book. She is interested in seeking out a degree and future career in film, so we see her meet an actor and film with her and her friends. This is the basic story arc, but most of this story is her relationship.

1. I feel that this book is not written for the appropriate age. Yes, I understand that books about sexuality in high school are not very common, but this was so edgy, it felt that it was not appropriate for younger readers. Young adult fiction is often appropriate for students 15 and up. I felt that this book would have been great, if it was for adults, instead of teens.

2. The dialogue seemed very juvenile for me, especially so. I understand that as a 23-year-old woman, my language is not going to be equal to that of a 16-year-old. However, it felt very foreign and alien-like. I guess I have come to grips that I prefer young adults to act a little more adult than this, but there are so many better books for teens with much better and more realistic dialogue.

3. I did not connect with most of the main characters. The characters I did like were barely in the book and given strange plot lines and actions to take. I did like Mags, K.C., and Elliot, but neither of these are the main protagonist and her love interest. Our main character, Maeve, is very self-absorbed and conceited, denouncing others’ actions when she makes similar choices.

4. There is also a very strange dynamic between Maeve and her “old man friends”, who she often meets online. There is an anecdote, where she was at an event, met an old man who bought her ice cream, and spent the whole day with her, before asking if he could kiss her. Also, one of her main communication styles is through e-mail with one “OMF” about her getting ‘action’ with teen boys. Highly inappropriate. I understand that most older gentlemen are completely innocent, but I felt this sent a slightly muddled message.

5. I am a prude. Okay, I said it. But I cannot be the only reader who doesn’t want to hear silly, bathroom humor or sexual jokes in every paragraph. The flirting is strange and out of place. If I found out my (future) child talked like this!

6. I love a good romance. This was not. I did not enjoy the love interest! I feel that a good romance makes you fall in love with the characters a little, or we would not be able to connect and love vicariously. I felt the characters barely interacted, and when they did, it fell flat. This title is right; this is not a love scene. This is just awkward, boring teens + sexual feelings.

7. Lastly, there is a very strange side story about one of the characters and a mental health issue. This felt very weird and out of character. We sort of understand, because there is a major reference to a book about romance and disability. So, I see how Maeve’s character is set out to change that stereotype and be a hero, but it felt really odd. I felt it was handled very poorly.

In conclusion, this was not the book I thought it was going to be. I do not mind if a book for teens handles more serious topics, but I would have preferred this book to be different in almost every way.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an advanced reader’s edition in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes.