In Love with Love

I am, appropriately, completely smitten with In Love With Love by Ella Risbridger, which is a literary and deeply heartfelt exploration of an under-appreciated genre. It is heaven from start to finish. Risbridger writes like the cleverest, funniest, most moving, most warm-hearted angel. Everyone's getting it for Christmas -- India Knight * The Times * There's no one I trust on love more than Ella Risbridger. This book is funny, wise, and joyfully obsessed with its subject -- Monica Heisey, author of <i>Really Good, Actually</i> A celebration of romantic fiction, its rich history and many forms, taking both a literary and personal approach to a genre that is so often disparaged * i Paper * Endlessly witty, breathtakingly clever, a book you'll read in one sitting and then quote at dinner parties forever. Risbridger writes with a warmth and an expertise that is deeply earned yet lightly held -- Caroline O'Donoghue, author of <i>The Rachel Incident</i> This passionate and profound love letter to the love story will make any romance reader's heart beat a little faster -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine * The love letter the genre deserves -- Mhairi McFarlane, author of <i>Cover Story</i> Mills & Boon novels of every stripe are accorded the kind of sustained attention more usually given to Proust, while Judith Butler's theories of gender are buttressed by a deft analysis of Rupert Campbell-Black, caddish hero of the Rutshire chronicles by the late, great Jilly Cooper -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian * A joyful and brilliant book by a joyful and brilliant writer. I'm in love with Ella Risbridger's mind! -- Jessica Stanley, author of <i>Consider Yourself Kissed</i> While it may seem like romantic fiction is having a moment, Ella Risbridger proves that romance books have always been culturally important in this love letter to our literary love. From romantic tropes to romantic leads, Heathcliff to Darcy (Austen's and Bridget's), the author of Midnight Chicken brings her characteristic passion and knowledge to a much-loved but often overlooked subject that not only considers what makes us love romantic fiction, but what makes us love at all? -- Chrissy Ryan * Stylist * Risbridger's knowledge of this type of fiction is both broad and deep . . . There are some marvellous, laugh-out-loud sentences . . . The chief joy of In Love with Love is that the reader will come out of it with a long and varied list of other books to read -- Caroline Crampton * Observer * This is a cosy, clever treat of a book! To use Ella's words, it gave me a ""warm buttered toast"" feeling. I shall continue to read ~silly novels by lady novelists~ on repeat. Imagine listening to someone at a dinner party tell you about the amazing book they just read. This is that book -- Emma Gannon, author of OLIVE Clever, comforting, sharp and funny, In Love with Love is as enjoyable and compelling as the most satisfying romance - the happiest coupling of subject and author -- Lisa Owens, author of <i>Not Working</i> Risbridger writes about the romance novel with the care and attention of a romantic hero. This book has the intimacy of a midnight conversation with a close friend and the thrill and discovery of a new lover. I look forward to pressing it into many hands in the future -- Sarvat Hasin, author of <i>The Giant Dark</i> I have such a big crush on this book! Fascinating, fun and flirty - just how I like my romances. It's so delightful to have someone as passionate and smart as Risbridger celebrating the belittled and beloved world of romance novels. To take silliness seriously is no small feat, and In Love with Love does it with zest and wonder -- Billy Lindon, author of Double Booked What an utter delight for readers - and writers - of love stories. To read this is to throw the windows of your soul right open - to nod along, cheer, dance, and yearn for more. I swallowed this book whole. Full of warmth and - you guessed it, love - this is an astute, thoughtful and literary exploration of a subject that is often regarded as the opposite; there's nobody I'd rather read on matters of the heart, and this book covers ALL of those matters. It'll stay on my ""books on writing"" shelf forevermore, underlined and dog-eared and beloved, just like the stories she writes about. Long live kissing books, and all hail Ella -- CLAIRE DAVERLEY, author of Talking at Night With warmth and wit [Ella Risbridger] examines familiar tropes and stereotypes, delving into the themes, dynamics and relationships that define the genre. Her enthusiasm for the topic is infectious, and her insightful commentary reveals why romantic fiction remains so enduringly popular and relevant. This book makes an ideal gift for the friend who tears up at movies, adores dissecting character dynamics and proudly wears their heart on their sleeve. Her analysis is overflowing with literary references, so keep a notebook handy to jot down new titles for your reading list as you flick through this book's addictive pages. In Love with Love will make you want to get cosy and read romantic literature all winter long * Press Association *