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 who 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