Nicole Smith

A Review of Meets Girl by Will Entrekin

Every so often a book comes along that makes me sit back, once finished, and ask myself “Where do I begin?” Meets Girl by Will Entrekin made me do just that.

I don’t want to give away any of the story, but at the same time, I want to provide enough insight into the book so that it encourages you to purchase a copy because it’s definitely worth a read.

Now let’s get to it. *rolls up sleeves*

To begin, I could certainly focus on a few errors that I noticed while reading the book, but I’m not going to because I don’t think they detract from the story in any way, at least not for me. I’m not going to dock Meets Girl any stars for spelling and punctuation issues when you see books on the bestseller list from the likes of Clive Cussler, Jodi Picoult, etc. that have contained minor errors, as well. It happens. No one’s perfect. I’m certainly not, and neither are the stories that I write.

Now, as for my likes/loves, there were many, so it’s hard to know where to start.

The beginning of Meets Girl transported me back to my own childhood and early teen years and the many hours I spent pining over a certain boy. (Unrequited love, you ask? Perhaps. I did like said boy for a long time, from second grade on, in fact. But he never liked me in return. Ah, such is life.)

I also loved how it felt like I was being directly spoken to in the story. Because of that, I was able to close my eyes and picture the entire story unfolding in front of me. I felt the excitement and sadness, the rejection. The author’s style of writing brought the book to life and made me feel connected to it, like I was a part of it. Although, I did feel like a bit of a voyeur during the sex scenes. (Mr. Entrekin is very adept at writing a love scene that can still make your heart race without getting too explicit. Nicely done!)

I also loved the writer’s internal struggle over what he wants in life when faced with the ultimatum of having to choose between the girl of his dreams or a successful writing career. It’s definitely a struggle I can relate to. I think it’s one we all face in some way at some point. That moment of having to choose one over the other. Which do you choose? And will you regret it for the rest of your life?

Since I’m a mom, it’s especially prevalent. For a long time I thought I’d never be able to follow my dreams. I honestly thought I’d forfeited all my hopes and dreams once I became responsible for another human being. But I realized over time that I can do both. I can became mommy, and I can be a writer. I don’t need to choose between the two, which is great because if push came to shove, I’d have to choose my children.

And while others may have expressed some disappointment in the way the book ended, I’m not one of them. I loved it! I didn’t see that ending coming, but I love that Will chose to end it that way. For me, it added a whole new layer to the story. What was real? What wasn’t? I believe it’s left up to the reader to decide, to interpret the way he or she wants to. I love when books do that. And I tried to do the same thing with A Second Chance. On the surface it seems very obvious what happened, but there are unanswered questions that I wanted my readers to answer themselves. Meets Girl allowed me that same liberty.

I also loved how Meets Girl made me ask questions of myself aside from “Where do I begin?”

1. Why do I write? Do I do it solely to make my parents and brother proud? The answer is no. While their opinions are extremely important to me, I write because it’s as vital to me as eating, breathing and sleeping. I’m not me without it. And when I don’t write, I feel lost, like part of me is missing.
2. What do I want from life? I want what everyone wants. I want to be happy and healthy. I want to know that someone loves me for me. I want to see my kids grow up and accomplish all of their hopes and dreams. I want to inspire others with my writing. I want to make a difference. I want to know that I have no regrets when it’s all said and done. I don’t want to look back on my life and ask myself “What if…?”
3. Where do my ideas come from? I’ve addressed that very question in the past. There are times that my stories seem to come from somewhere else, from an outside source, like I’m the vessel hired to carry someone else’s story to the distant shore. Other times, they come from personal experience, both the good and the bad.
4. Is life truly what you make it? Yes, it is. I firmly believe that we all can make our lives what we want them to be. Sure, it’s not an easy undertaking, but we all have that power within us. We just to have to be willing to work hard and not give up. And honestly, if you knew my entire story, you’d see it’s true. I’ve worked damn hard to get where I am today. Why? Because I knew that I had control over my life. I could let it pass me by. Or I could take the reins and lead it where I wanted it to go. And I’m glad I did.

So in conclusion, Meets Girl was beautifully written and has left a lasting impression on me. As for Will Entrekin, he has a brilliant, creative mind, and there’s no doubt he’s got a very bright future ahead of him. I can’t wait to read his next work of art. (Will, if you need a review, let me know.)

Total Stars: 5

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Amazon Description:

“Once upon a time, I fell in love with a girl who didn’t love me in return.”

New York City, circa 2006. A young man lucking into any temp job he can while following his dream to be a writer. A dream girl and a bad case of unrequited love (is there any other kind?).

If the story ended there, it wouldn’t be extraordinary. It would be just another tale from the big, bad, glorious city; just another romance that never was; just another friendship that never got the chance to be anything more.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Angus Silver won’t let it.

Angus Silver knows what people love and whom, and he offers that young writer who fell in love with that girl who didn’t love him in return a simple choice.

The choice is easy. Making it is not.

Making it will break someone’s heart.”