Book Review: Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

About the Book:

Title: Just Haven’t Met You Yet

Author: Sophie Cousens

Page Length: 400

Publication Date: Nov. 9, 2022

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes a heartwarming and hilarious tale that asks: What if you pick up the wrong suitcase in an airport, only to fall head over heels for its unseen owner?

Laura’s business trip to the Channel Islands isn’t exactly off to a great start. After unceremoniously dumping everything in her bag in front of the most attractive man she’s ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel only to realize she’s grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation? The irresistibly appealing contents of the case: a copy of her favorite book; piano music; and a rugged, heavy knit fisherman sweater only a Ryan Gosling lookalike could pull off. The owner of this suitcase is Laura’s dream man–she’s sure of it. Now, all she has to do is find him.

The mix-up seems written in the stars. After all, what are the odds that she’d find The One on the same remote island where her mom and dad had first fallen in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their epic romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents’ footsteps. And if beneath Ted’s gruffness lies a wit that makes their cab rides strangely entertaining, so much the better. But as Laura’s long-lost luggage soulmate proves difficult to find–and as she realizes that the love story she’s held on a pedestal all her life might not have been that perfect–she’ll have to rethink her whole outlook on love to discover what she really wants.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

We must be guardians of stories more significant than our own.

Laura is a journalist and hopeless romantic who interviews people who have had real-life meet-cute romances. When she travels to Jersey for work, she is tasked with retracing the places where her parents fell in love. However, after a mix-up at the airport where Laura accidentally takes the luggage of a mystery man, Laura determines to connect with the owner and, hopefully, have her own meet-cute, happily-ever-after. Finding her mystery man isn’t as easy as it seems, and Laura is glad to receive the help of a grumpy but charming cab driver to chauffer her on her journey. While trying to connect with her mystery man, Laura also delves into her parents’ romance, and she learns more than she ever bargained for. Her situation becomes even more complicated when she finally meets the man behind the luggage and likes him because her feelings for Ted, her cab driver turned friend, feel way more than friendly. As Laura falls in love with the place where her parents first met, will she also find her own love of a lifetime?

Just Haven’t Met You Yet is a charming and heartwarming story with great characters. I especially like Laura. She goes through so much over the course of the story, including learning secrets of her parents’ past, dealing with dissatisfaction and intense pressure at work, and wanting her own epic romance. Laura lost her father when she was young and lost her mother not long ago, which has definitely changed her. It’s clear Laura is still missing her mother, and as she retraces the love story between her mom and dad, Laura gets a chance to reconnect with and learn more about them. Laura finds out a lot about her past that changes everything she knew about her family, yet instead of letting these heartbreaking secrets defeat her, Laura learns from them. She reflects on the past and uses her learnings to chisel out the future she wants. I enjoyed Laura’s journey as she realizes that life is not always as perfect as it seems, and memories aren’t always completely factual. She is such a relatable character, as is Ted.

I’ve never been to Jersey, but it sounds like a magical place, especially to Laura. A bit biased because of her parents’ epic love story, Laura sees the romance in this quaint place, which is a great backdrop for her own love story. Of course, her romance doesn’t go as planned, and Laura is faced with a difficult decision – does she embrace the potential romance with the mystery man or follow her heart and act on her feelings for Ted, who often gives mixed signals?

Ted has been burned by love and seems to have lost his way a bit. A grumpy cab driver who has the beard of Tom Hanks in Castaway, Ted doesn’t make the best first impression. However, he is very different from this initial meeting. Kind, caring, and patient, he isn’t the man Laura is searching for, but he just might be the man of her dreams. Their budding relationship proves that sometimes love happens when you least expect it. When they first meet, Ted isn’t interested in a relationship, but being with Laura changes him. I like how Ted learns to embrace life again and how his connection to Laura makes him see the possibility of a fulfilling future.

Gerry, Ted’s father, is a wonderful addition to the story, and I love his little words of wisdom. He is a wise man, and he has an incredible outlook on life. Though he’s been through a lot and is still going through some life-changing situations and serious medical issues, he never loses his optimism and zest for life. Other characters, including Ted’s neighbors, the mystery luggage man, and his family are other unique and intriguing characters that I enjoyed learning more about.

I love the humor in the story, and there are many laugh-out-loud, comical, and sometimes cringe-worthy and embarrassing moments, especially for Laura. From flying tampons in the airport to an unlikely experience with cows to witnessing relations between older paramours, Laura gets herself in some unusual and really funny situations. I love these comedic moments, as well as the witty banter between the characters. It makes for a fun and cute read even though many more serious issues like grief, loss, divorce, betrayal, illness, and more are also highlighted.

I really enjoyed this read. It was fun and charming, but it also explored some heavier and more serious topics. It is well balanced and well-paced, and Laura’s story is compelling. I felt for her when she struggled and grieved and laughed with her when she got in over her head. I think readers who enjoy contemporary romance with lovely messages and a dynamic protagonist will love this book.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romance!

The strong messages.

The humor.

Favorite Lines:

When was the last time another person’s touch last game me goosebumps? Seriously, when? I literally can’t think of a time, unless you count two weeks ago, when someone barged into me holding a frozen chicken in the freezer aisle at the supermarket.

All I have left of Dad are secondhand memories and these objects he left me. If I let go of what he treasured, I worry his edges will fade until there is nothing left of him at all.