I am absolutely shocked that Book Smart is a debut novel. This sweet and funny friends-to-lovers story is incredibly well-written.

Mel is an aspiring writer, unlucky in love, who stumbles upon an article featuring 1950s dating advice for single women. In a quest to determine whether any of the advice still holds value, she launches a dating experiment, determined to heed some of the decades-old advice and write about the results.

Mel enlists the help and support of her two best friends, Ivy and Cameron — the same Cameron who has been in love with Mel since they met five years ago.

That’s right, Cameron has spent the last five years hoping Mel will notice him and realize his feelings for her. Now, he has a front row seat to her dating experiment and her efforts to charm other men. He needs to make a move before it’s too late.

This novel has been billed as a “sweet” romance. If it were a movie, it would probably carry a PG or PG13 rating. There are a couple of kisses in the story, with a reference to a bit more action in the epilogue. It’s a book you could read and recommend to your own parents or grandparents.

That said, it’s also very entertaining. Mel’s dating experiment is a series of misadventures. It’s fun to watch them each play out. There’s a little bit of other man drama that adds a touch of angst, but all is well that ends well.

The concept is creative, and the characters are engaging. I absolutely loved Cam and his backstory, which add a lot of depth and nicely balanced the comedy. Ivy is pretty mysterious, and I’d love to read her story (hopefully with cameos by Mel and Cam so we can see more of them together.)