Sweet, frothy and heartbreaking all at the same time, You, Me And The Movies shows us the romance between film studies lecturer Mac Bartley-Thomas and student Arden as it unfolded decades earlier, showing us how it shaped their lives for years afterwards.  It’s unusual because while you’re busy following their romance, shown in flashback, at the same time you’re also rooting for a very different love story. 

It’s hard to say much more about the plot without giving it all away, but part of its charm was the way the story used famous films to bring Arden and Mac’s relationship vividly to life.  Bags of nostalgia, too, for what was, in a way, a more innocent, hopeful time.  I want to be clear, though, this isn’t only a romance, although there’d be nothing wrong with it if it were, this is a book which is as much about finding yourself and the value of friendship as it is about a love story. And, it was refreshing to read something which avoided the usual boy meets girl tropes.

Beautifully written, really vivid characters and setting. Oh, and don’t worry, you don’t need to have watched all the films in question in order to enjoy the book.  It kept me going through several train rides, drove me to fish about in my handbag for a tissue at one point, and has made me want to watch Pretty Woman all over again.