All You Need Is Love
by Emily Franklin
Published by NAL Jam Books
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Love Bukowski has had to leave the London Academy of Drama and Music, and boyfriend Asher Piece, to return home to Massachusetts because her beloved Aunt Mable is in the advanced stages of breast cancer. She's returned to Hadley (a prep school where she is a day student) to learn that her time in London will not count toward her graduation credits because, while she's actually doing the work, she is not in attendance. She's required to complete a special project if she wants to graduate on time.
Love misses her life in London, but is drawn to her ex-boyfriend Jacob who's matured since she left town. Her nemesis Lindsay Parrish hints at a relationship with Jacob.
Love's male friend Chris is her support system and introduces her to Haverford and Chilton, the new 'kids' at school. And Aunt Mable provides Love with information about her mysterious mother who left her when she was an infant.
Her father has a new love interest and he struggles with his daughter's 'growing up.' But what Love wants is for school to get out, Mable to get well, and her friend Arabella to arrive from London for a visit--and of course, Asher's trip across the pond is what she lives for. But Asher has other ideas.
All You Need Is Love had the potential of being a wonderful story, but there were just too many characters and storylines that were never fully developed. I didn't feel as if I got to know any of the characters (except for Love) and the conflict and tension that would have added much to the story, fizzled. I was also distracted by the way scenes ran together and changed completely without an obvious break.
There will be another Love Bukowski book released in the near future, but I don't think I'm going to read it.
Armchair Interviews says: A good story that could have been better with fewer characters and more clarity.