Field Notes On Love by Jennifer E Smith

Title: Field Notes On Love 

Author:  Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Publishing Date:  March 5th, 2019

Pages: 320
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

Having just been dumped by his girlfriend, British-born Hugo is still determined to take his last-hurrah-before-college train trip across the United States. One snag: the companion ticket is already booked under the name of his ex, Margaret Campbell. Nontransferable, no exceptions.

Enter the new Margaret C. (Mae for short), an aspiring filmmaker with big dreams. After finding Hugo's spare ticket offer online, she's convinced it's the perfect opportunity to expand her horizons.

When the two meet, the attraction is undeniable, and both find more than they bargained for. As Mae pushes Hugo to explore his dreams for his future, he'll encourage her to channel a new, vulnerable side of her art. But when life off the train threatens the bubble they've created for themselves, will they manage to keep their love on track?

I have really enjoyed Jennifer E Smith books in the past. I haven't read them all, they are all on my list, after reading this one, I need to get to the others asap. This book reminded why I love her books. I am very picky when it comes to contemporary romance, she is one of those authors I just can read no matter what. I know I will love them. This book was fun and wonderful. 


This is a story about a boy that had a wonderful train ride across the United States planned with his girlfriend. This girlfriend dumps him shortly before the trip but still tells him to go on the trip by himself. Boy thinks wonderful, one tiny problem... every ticket and every hotel room is in her name. no refunds, no exchanges, no transfers.... well crap. So boy puts out an ad to find another girl with same name as now ex girlfriend,  to take the trip with him. 

This is a story about a girl. This girl needs an adventure, to broaden her horizons, to find that spark to put into her films... so she can get into film school. Her name is the name of above boys ex girlfriend. She finds the add, contacts boy and next thing you know they are taking a train trip together. 

On this train ride adventures happen, a film is made, fears are conquered, and boy and girl fall in love. 

This book was so cute. Let me say first, I do not condone taking a long train ride in the same train car, across the country, with a stranger. Doesn't sound smart but hey its a book right. Well good thing this is a romance and not a thriller. Could have gone either way. I liked it as a romance. It just had a lot of joy in this story. There were some tough parts and some squabbles and some surprises... but it was  joyous and fun and just all together good. 

I enjoyed both characters but I did prefer Hugo over Mae. Mae was a bit cold at first. She just didn't believe in love, didn't ever want to let her guard down. She was hard. Not too hard,not to cold. First of all she could laugh and enjoy life... just not love... unless it was family love. She had two great dads and a grandmother all whom which she was very close too. But love for the soul mate... didn't believe it could exist. 

Hugo was fun. He was not a serious type... but he was a bit immature and not very level headed. He needed to get a way from his huge family. He needed some time to grow up on his own.  To find himself. Unlike Mae, he was more the hopeless romantic. Of course falling in love with someone new and a stranger at that was not in his line of sight. 

Well things happen and they fall in love. Yes it was a short train trip. About a week. But they did it all together. They let their guards down, their true self show, their hopes and dreams and regrets came out. There were some family hurt that was shared and also some disappointments. They were stuck together all this time, they made it work and it did work. It was sweet and fun and swoony. I just loved it. 

Really it's a love story but it's also a story about life and dreams and finding oneself. It was good and I so really loved it. Light but had depth. It made me smile so very much throughout the entire book. 

Oh I so loved it! 

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of eight books for young adults, including WINDFALL and THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her writing has been translated into 33 languages.