One-Star Romance - by Laura Hankin (Paperback)

About the Book

"A struggling writer who's worried she's running out of time to make her dreams come true is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend's wedding with a conflicted academic who gave her book a one star rating, from delightfully, witty author Laura Hankin. Natalie and Rob don't have much in common beyond their devotion to their respective best friends. Nat's a messy aspiring artist, trading stability for a chance to pursue her dreams. Rob's a rigid academic on a strict schedule. These two opposites are forced together not just as guests of the same wedding but also to walk down the aisle together--as Maid of Honor and Best Man. To make matters worse, just minutes before the ceremony, Nat discovers that Rob is responsible for the one-star review of her newly released novel. Nat believes the only possible explanation for Rob's bad rating? He's a snob who doesn't get her. Whereas Rob, who thought Nat a beautiful, intelligent creative, now thinks she's a selfish artist. Over the course of ten years, this Best Man and Maid of Honor are reunited each time their fast-track best friends celebrate another new chapter. Through christenings, housewarmings, and amazing job promotions, Natalie and Rob try to make sense of their own choices, changing dreams, and the real meaning behind the one-star review. Headed towards a crossroads, will they choose their own happy ending?"--

Book Synopsis

A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend's wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin, screenwriter of the Netflix film Don't Say Good Luck.

Natalie and Rob couldn't have less in common. Nat's a messy artist, and Rob's a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends--who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob's best man.

Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.

When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they'll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they're forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices--and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.

After all, even the truest love stories sometimes need a bit of rewriting.

Review Quotes

Praise for One-Star Romance

"Laura Hankin has written a deftly tender love story about growing up, getting better, and finally learning to see each other clearly. A joyful read."
--Elle

"Hankin performs a magic trick with this book, turning the most unlikeable (and relatable) of characters into flawed protagonists worth rooting for. Natalie and Rob are the definition of "right person, wrong time," and because the story spans multiple years, we get the pleasure of seeing them make mistakes, grow up and grow together. It's real, refreshing and romantic."
--The Washington Post

"A terrific novel! It had a great slow burn, thoughtful maturity about what it means to grow up, and was laugh-out-loud funny. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
--Jodi Picoult

"One-Star Romance will go down in history as the most ironically named novel ever. I give five giant stars to this funny, twisty and emotionally authentic story of true love and long friendship. I absolutely adored it."
--Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer

"Laura Hankin takes a nightmare premise for any writer--the dreaded one-star review--and with her signature charm and humor weaves it into a perfect dream."
--Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants

"I love romantic comedies, of course. But I love books that delve deeper, too, and One-Star Romance is just that. Fully realized, delightfully imperfect characters navigate heartfelt and relatable issues in this winner of a novel."
--Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Pack Up the Moon

"ALL OF THE STARS! Is it mean to take so much pleasure in two characters bumbling their way through life? If so, call me a monster because I fell HARD for Natalie and Rob. These two imperfect humans trying (and often failing) to figure out this whole adulting thing felt so real and relatable. Flat-out fun, laugh out loud funny, and voicey as hell, this is the book I will be shoving into friends' hands this summer and demanding they fall in love with these characters, too!"
--Becca Freeman, author of The Christmas Orphans Club

"Hands down, the best romance I've read this year, if not ever. Laura Hankin is brilliant and funny and I laughed out loud so many times. Buy it! Read it! Thank me later."
--Colleen Oakley, author of USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

"...[M]y favorite rom-com of the year... You'll laugh. You'll cry. Ultimately, you're going to get a great romance, but even if you come for the romance, you'll stay for the heartwarming friendship."
--Book Riot

"Fans of not only romance but women's fiction as well will enjoy this multilayered, realistic novel from Hankin."
--Library Journal

"'[A] breath of fresh air, rich in character growth, chemistry, and comedy.' Take it to your nearest beach now!"
--Rich Text

"If you need a good laugh and crave a storyline reminiscent of early aughts rom-coms, pick up Laura Hankin's latest ASAP."
--Beyond My Byline

"Hankin's rom-com has all the workings of an entertaining story, and it's bound to leave readers rooting for its main couple by the end. It's an unconventional setup for an enemies-to-romance story, but that's precisely why it's so great."
--Screen Rant

"Hankin takes a lighthearted hook and two mismatched protagonists and spins them into a lovely, memorable tale."
--Washington Independent Review of Books

Praise for Laura Hankin

"Smart and witty."
--Woman's Day

"Wickedly smart."
--PopSugar

"Outrageously entertaining."
--The Nerd Daily

"Absorbing."
--OK! Magazine

About the Author

Laura Hankin is the author of Happy & You Know It, A Special Place for Women, and The Daydreams. Her musical comedy has been featured in publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post, and she is developing projects for film and TV. She lives in Washington, DC, where she once fell off a treadmill twice in one day.