As someone who just re-watched “The Matrix” films, I was in the mood to feel the Keanu Reeves obsession. And that’s one of my favorite aspects of Lu in How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days. Keep reading this book review to see my full thoughts.
Summary
Bethany Lu Carlisle is devastated when the tabloids report actor Keanu Reeves is about to tie the knot. What?! How could the world’s perfect boyfriend and forever bachelor, Keanu not realize that making a move like this could potentially be devastating to the equilibrium of…well…everything! Not to mention, he’s never come face to face with the person who could potentially be his true soulmate—her.
Desperate to convince Keanu to call off the wedding, Lu and her ride-or-die BFF Truman Erikson take a wild road trip to search for the elusive Keanu so that Lu can fulfill her dream of meeting her forever crush and confess her undying love. From New York to Los Angeles, Lu and True get into all sorts of sticky situations. Will Lu be able to find Keanu and convince him she’s the one for him? Or maybe she’ll discover true love has been by her side all along…
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
My feelings for How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days is all over the place. First of all, it was so easy to get caught in the plot momentum once it got started. It takes a while at the beginning to begin this pursuit you would expect from the title. But that’s because Jackson spends this time introducing us not only to Lu and Tru, but to their chemistry and friendship. Second of all, I loved this combination of tropes – childhood crushes and friends to lovers – talk about some of my favorite smushed into one!
Thirdly, I love how Jackson delves into Lu’s obsession. Too often I think we have this idea of a ‘fangirl’ and it being absurd (or at least the discussions I see on the internet), when that’s really just a way for sexism to mock women’s obsessions. I loved how Lu’s journey explores her obsession with Keanu Reeves as well as for her own reflections on it. Fourthly (is this too many things on this list??), Tru was this little spark of precious cinnamon roll.
It’s easy to fall in love with Tru. The way he’s pining for Lu and how he is fighting his feelings. In many ways, Tru is okay with being vulnerable and open to Lu. However, Lu is extremely guarded. She’s worried that their feelings could not only destroy their friendship, but she seems to also be scared of admitting it. Of accepting that this could be a good thing. While I wanted to love Lu, her guarded nature comes across in her perspectives in this dual POV story.
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And while there’s value in Lu processing her feelings regarding her brother’s death and her art, it took longer to get to know her. To see behind the wall she’s hiding behind even within her self. Like I said, I think that’s part of the plot movement, especially their romantic tension, it was just harder for me to be as obsessed with Lu as I wanted to be. All in all, I enjoyed How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days because that premise is just gold. I definitely had a favorite POV, but this delivered all the tension and road trips.
Find How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookhop.org & The Book Depository.
While I’m not really a huge Keanu Reeves fan, I mean I enjoy his movies, but don’t find him attractive, the idea of the obsession in this story is what made me interested in it. I feel like I get that way about the celebrities I have a crush on. I picked this one for my BOTM club pick and hope to get to it sometime! Your review makes me glad I picked it.
me too! this idea of being SO obsessed with a celebrity is so fascinating to me and what lengths people will go to!