Book Review: It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill

The Details

I have received a copy of this book, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review.

Media Type: Ebook
Title: It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story
Author: Lauren Morrill
Publisher: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Pages/Length: Ebook; 352
Release Date: March 9, 2021
Source: Author/Xpresso Book Tours

Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon

A delicious love story with all the toppings, Lauren Morrill’s It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story is a contemporary YA rom-com about love, friendship, and pizza, perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

After her mother gave birth to her in the bathroom of a local pizzeria, Beck has been given the dubious privilege of having minor fame, free pizza for life, and a guaranteed job when she turns sixteen—a job she unfortunately can’t afford to turn down.

Now she’s stuck with her geeky co-workers instead of taking Instagram-ready shots with her best friends (and her epic crush).

But maybe the pizza people aren’t all bad. Maybe that pizza delivery guy is kind of cute. And maybe there’s a way to make this Bathroom Baby thing work for her. Because when disaster strikes the beloved pizza place that’s started to feel like home, she’s going to need a miracle—one that might even mean bringing her two worlds together.

The Review

Well the title couldn’t be more accurate for this adorable story. It’s full of the perfect amount of cheese and gooeyness. If you’ve been with us for a while you know that I absolutely adore coming of age stories and this could easily be categorized in that genre too.

Beck is a local celebrity because of the fact that she was born in the bathroom of local pizza place, but she doesn’t really enjoy that. When she accepts a job working there, Beck feels like she’ll never outgrow being the Pizza Baby. Her only focus for the future is moving away so that she can start fresh.

As she gets to know her quirky coworkers and spends less time with her friends from school, Beck realizes that working at the pizza place isn’t all bad. Perhaps, maybe, even more fun than being with her friends who she is starting to feel that she may not have as much in common as she originally thought. Enter Tristan, the cute and elusive delivery boy. After exchanging barely a word as he moves in and out of the restaurant, he finds Beck crying outside the back door and tries to cheer her up. This begins their unusual friendship.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Beck and her various friends. Her growth in understanding about how even when you aren’t explicitly picking on someone, not including them can be just as mean. She has to figure out how to balance work, friends, and even a boyfriend. As she grows apart from her school friends and closer to her work friends, Beck has to decide how to manage her new social life and which friends are more important.

I really enjoyed the commentary on the importance of college and future plans that the author touches on through Tristan. So often there is a pressure and presumption that going to college is the best option for everyone, when in reality there are lots of ways to move into adulthood. Tristan is confident in his choice to not go to college but Beck has trouble coming to terms with that decision, especially when Tristan challenges her rhetoric.

I loved one of Beck’s friends in particular, Tasmin. We don’t get to know her backstory but I loved how direct and honest she was with Beck, even when she wasn’t happy about the current state of their friendship. She came to help, she spoke her mind, and she was supportive but also called Beck out for not being a good friend.

All in all I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a low stakes feel good read. It’s the perfect amount of cheesy teenage drama and a heartwarming story about embracing who you are and not losing your friends in the process.