Love By Chance, by Kacy Cross

🍄🍄🍄🍄

I recently read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling. After finishing the second book and movie in the Harry Potter series, I really needed something light and fluffy. Love By Chance, by Kacy Cross, which was published in 2019, fit the bill. It is based on the Hallmark movie with the same name, which was released three years earlier in 2016, starring Benjamin Ayres and Beau Garrett. Benjamin Ayres is no stranger to Hallmark, but Beau Garrett was new to me. Sign her up for more Hallmark movies, please! I recently watched the movie and I really enjoyed it, so I read the book. The book is very similar to the movie, with one noticeable difference at the end.

Claire is a pastry chef who is laser-focused on building her struggling business with her partner and confidante, Marco. Eric is a successful pediatrician who is in a relationship with a fellow doctor who is too busy to make much time for him. Helen is Claire's meddling mother who desperately wants her daughter to find love. By chance, Helen meets Eric and she convinces him to meet Claire, but not to tell her that her mother was involved in the setup. Eric and Claire meet, and when they do, they immediately form a strong connection. All the while, Claire thinks their meeting happened by chance and Eric struggles with living this lie. What happens when the truth is revealed?

I enjoyed spending time with every character in this book, including the supporting cast. However, my favorite aspect of the story is that there is a lot of dialogue between the two leads and between Claire's parents. They too have issues to work through. Claire and Eric talk about the big stuff and they talk about the little stuff. All of it strengthens their bond, and as a result, they get to know each other better. Their conversations feel natural. I don't necessarily agree with everyone's actions in this story, but the dialogue is the key to why it works so well. I even had some sympathy and understanding for the meddling mother.

After the last chapter in the book, we are treated to an epilogue that isn't in the movie and it elevates the story even more. However, I will say I do have one gripe about what happens at the end in both the movie and the book. In fact, it happens twice in the book. I don't want to share any major spoilers, so I'll just say it's something that Hallmark tends to do a lot and I cringe every time. This is minor, though. Up until this point, it was a five-star story. 

If you are looking for a light and fluffy read with happy vibes, I highly recommend Love By Chance, by Kacy Cross. It is a clean romcom that, if you're like me, will leave you feeling like you're floating on a cloud without a care in the world while you're reading it. I recommend watching the movie, too.

Have you seen or read Love By Chance? I'd love to know in the comments below!