Holly’s review of It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Contemporary romance reissued by Avon 24 Jun 08
This is one of those novels that’s really hard to grade. I absolutely loved it while I was reading it, but once I finished I realized there were a lot of flaws with it. The hero is an ass, the heroine plays dumb and uses her looks to get ahead in the world and the secondary characters are all football players. Oh, wait, that’s actually a point in it’s favor. Mmm, football players. But I digress. The point is, though it’s flawed, it’s still a well written book that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.
Phoebe is definitely an interesting character. Though we see right from the beginning that she has more depth than she pretends to, it’s still painful at times to watch her stumble along, playing the blonde bimbo. One of the best parts of this novel is when Dan realizes she’s just playing a game, and isn’t really as shallow as she seems. Actually, Phoebe is the best part of this novel, period. It’s wonderful seeing her become strong, standing up for herself, realizing she’s worth more than men give her credit for.
If Phoebe is the best part of the novel, Dan is definitely the worst. He’s the quintessential man, courting a virginal pre-school teacher wh
o he thinks will make good wife material while screwing the blonde bimbo. Plus, he’s convinced woman are either made for making babies and being wives, or having sex with. He doesn’t think women can own/run football teams or anything else. And yet, I didn’t hate him while I was reading. He actually made me all melty inside. It’s not until after I finish the book (each and every time I re-read it) that my inner feminist pokes her head up and says, “WTF? Oh hell no.”
So, let’s recap: I love this book. Love the sissy little dog, the secondary characters, the heroine, the hero, the setting, the plot. Until I finish reading it. Then my inner feminist screams at me and I realize, DUH, this book encompasses everything she hates. But, I love it.
Where does that leave us? With a solid read that obviously engages the emotions, pushes all my buttons and still leaves a good impression.
Grade: B++
The Summary:
The Windy City isn’t quite ready for Phoebe Somerville—the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars’ head coach Dan Calebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Calebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises—a meddling bimbo who doesn’t know a pigskin from a pitcher’s mound.
Read an excerpt here
Book one in the Chicago Stars Series
Holly, you’ve put your finger on exactly why I’m ambivalent about this book — I have a love/hate relationship with it. It’s the first football romance I ever read, and it made a huge impression. Love Phoebe, love the idea of a female owner in the high-testosterone NFL setting, but Dan is such a butthead.
It had to be boobs…
I was in high school when I read this, and I remember loving it, but being disturbed by Dan’s view of women. At that time it was just another reason to hate the football players. Now my thoughts have changed.
On football players, that is. I have to re-read the book. I think I have the new boobs edition.
I’m sorry, but I just can’t help thinking that that bra doesn’t fit well. I want to go “ouch” – it’s cutting into those puppies. Which, to be honest, I find ironic given the alternate cover…
You really sum up how I feel on just about every S.E. Phillips book that I have read!
Love this series but Dan is the reason I don’t love this book the bestest. LOL poor dan
The double +/-! We’re allowed to give those! I’m going to have to re-read this… I read it in college, and had I think the same issues. Of course, the whole point/not point is that Phoebe is raped which creates to her at-risk behavior then facade… Hm.
I think only Holly is allowed to give “++” b/c she’s Sybil’s favorite.
And I agree, Georganna. I read these a long time ago, and the heroes were all knuckleheads. It made it extra nice to see them get their romantic comeuppance, but they were all idiots with the ladies.
Dude, I’m the favorite? WooT!!
I agree about her heroes being jerks. Oddly enough though, my two favorite SEP heroes are Gabe and Alex, the two biggest jerks of all.
Not sure what that says about me.