Page 5 of The Romance Rivalry

I close my eyes for a brief moment and try to gather myself.

Aiden Jeon appeared in the online romance review circles a few months ago and has already built a huge following. For some reason, it’s the hot new thing for a guy to read and love romance. And if he’s good-looking (I mean, I guess Aiden is objectively decent in the looks category, though I refuse to be wooed by those dimples), then forget about it... he’s gonna take off.

He’s also the bane of my existence. The thorn in my side. My nemesis.

Because where I like to be as positive as I can about books in my reviews, Aiden takes a more critical approach. I like characters. He likes plot. I love books that make me feel. He prefers books that make him think. I will squeal over a good epilogue. Aiden finds them superfluous. Worst of all, he’s unpredictable. I never know what he’ll like or dislike.

And all our disagreements and opposing opinions would be just fine if he didn’t enter my space and comment on my reviews, challenging my take on the trope in question. When he does, his followers always come along to troll me.

When I finally feel fortified enough to face it, I open my eyes and read his comment.

@aidentheguyreadsromance: While I agree with you that the author did a good job of not falling into the love-as-a-savior angle, I still felt we needed more explanation as to why the heroine put off love for so long.

She put off love because it wasn’t a priority! She was living a life of struggle where there was no room for love!

I let out a shaky, fury-laden breath and brace myself for a showdown.

As I’m getting ready to form my response, a new notification appears. I look down at the reply to Aiden’s comment.

@spoilerqueen: Takes one to know one? Makes you wonder why Irene always loves the virgin romances. Ha

Excuse me. You don’t know me. So I’m a late bloomer. There’s no shame in that.

The next comment appears in thread.

@TheBookWasBetter: Irene reviews romance like a person who only knows it through a book. I like how Aiden reviews romance like someone who’s lived it.

Um. Ouch.

What? Is Aiden Jeon some dating expert or something?

Followed by another.

@SilentBookClub569: This book didn’t work for meat all. It was weird that the FMC was a relationship therapist but had never been in a relationship. Don’t you think that lacks credibility?

Aiden’s one comment challenging my point of view opened the floodgates for others to not only question my review, but to question me and my experience, or lack thereof. Why, all of a sudden, does it feel like everyone cares aboutmylove life?

My hands start to sweat and my veins are thrumming like I’ve been jolted by a live wire. My anxiety spikes as I read the accusations and wonder...

... are they right?

How many times have I worried in the back of my head that the fact that I’ve never fallen in love, that I don’t know what a true HEA feels like, might affect the way I review romance books?

DoI lack credibility? What if people start to see me as a fraud?

And with this potential brand deal looming, one where I’m being selected for being an expert on the romance genre, someone who knows it best, I can’t afford to be questioned or doubted. This could put the deal with SKCupid at risk.

Here, in my safe space, I’m suddenly feeling anything but safe.

I quickly close my laptop and shut out the harsh wordsfrom my sight. I grab my journal and a pen and go sit in my bed. I need the hug of a pillow and a warm blanket for this.

People wanna question my ability to review romance books because I’ve never experienced love? Well, I’ll show them. No one knows and understands these books better than me. And I’m more than willing to fall in love to prove it.

I open the journal to a fresh page and write my motto:

The answer to all of life’s questions can be found in romance books.

And this is where I begin to plant the seeds of my foolproof plan to find love.

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