Love, Unscripted

A Novel

By: Owen Nicholls

Narrated by: Christian Coulson

“Nostalgic, tender, and achingly cool.”—Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December

A film-obsessed romantic rewrites the script to understand why his “picture-perfect” love story crashed and burned in this wonderfully clever debut.

Ellie had the quizzical eyebrows of Broadcast News–era Holly Hunter and the neon-red hair of Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. At least that’s what caught Nick’s attention when he met her on the night of 2008’s historic presidential election. A cinema buff and devotee of great love stories, Nick always fancied himself the Tom Hanks of his own romantic comedy, and when sparks flew with Ellie that night, he swiftly cast her as the Meg Ryan of his story. For four blissful years, Nick loved Ellie just as he loved his job as a film projectionist: wholly, earnestly, cinematically.

But now Ellie has moved out, convinced that “the fire’s gone,” and Nick is forced to sift through his memories to figure out where it all went wrong. That night was a perfect meet-cute, yes, but was their romance as destined for a “happily ever after” as he’d thought? Was he really the rom-com hero he believes he’d been? Or did this Harry let his Sally down? Peppered with references to beloved movies, Love, Unscripted explores how even a hopeless romantic can learn that in real life, love isn’t—shouldn’t be—like what we see in the movies.

Critic reviews

“A gorgeous rom-com filled with movie references and Obama-era nostalgia.”—Kate Davies, author of In at the Deep End

“A properly funny, clever, bittersweet rom-com.”—Richard Roper, author of How Not to Die Alone

“High Fidelity with celluloid replacing vinyl—an astutely observed romantic comedy that had me shaking with laughter and sniffing away tears . . . pure pleasure.”—Empire

“A delightfully sweet, funny, and heartbreaking ode to love stories, both on-screen and off.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Sometimes a book comes along and it feels dusted with magic—Love, Unscripted is one of those books. Nostalgic, tender and achingly cool, it has the same understated beauty as a John Cusack movie. A love letter to the silver screen and to all of the iconic romantic comedies—it’s book treasure, my new favorite.”—Josie Silver, New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December

The ending, how he understood many things that he had not seen before.

I love the way the narrator tells the story, and I love how the main character evolve and understand many things at the end.

Looking forward to future re-readings

Initially I tired of Nick’s introspection. He was so immature. The story plot drug a little. I almost gave up on the whole book. I’m glad I didn’t. This book is like having to listen to Trump for 4 years and then being rewarded with even just one of Biden’s speeches. (Sorry. NOT SORRY! Could not resist the political comparison).

Gut Wrenching and Funny

Unfortunately, it was the most reliable book I've ever read. Narrator did an amazing job

So boring

The only thing good about this book is the last chapter.
Boy meets girl story with zero plot twists or entertaining antidotes. Sadly, disappointing:(