So Not My Thing: A Romantic Comedy (Love in New Orleans Book 1)

I hated Miles Crowe more than itchy socks, “namaste” puns on yoga tank tops, and chigger bites. Combined.

26-year-old New Orleans native Elle Jones used to be the internet’s most famous meme for rejection thanks to an embarrassing teenage TV appearance. But she’s finally put that past behind her and now she’s killing it as a commercial real estate agent in the coolest neighborhoods in the city.

When Miles Crowe—the former pop star who made her notorious—insists on hiring her to find a property for his jazz club, she’ll do everything she can to get herself fired before he realizes who she is.

But Miles has grown up too, and Elle soon discovers that he is as passionate about the city as she is…and even sexier now than he was then. Will she risk exposing her humiliating past to claim a future with the guy who once nearly ruined her life?

Whitney Award winner Melanie Jacobson returns with her trademark wit and warmth in this delightful story about taking a chance on love.

Author Profile

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. She grew up in Louisiana and now lives in Southern California with her family, a miniature schnauzer, and a series of doomed houseplants. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is the four-time Whitney Award-winning author of nineteen romantic comedies and several novellas.

A Slow Burn Sweet Romance

Non-review Rant

This is my seventh book in September 2023. Am I a bookworm or what? But you’re reading this in December 2023 because knowing me, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with this pace. I need to space out the review to be more consistent. It’s one of my personal quirks, and nobody can do anything to change it. Seriously, don’t even try.

Recap

Elle Jones has been humiliated at the hands of Miles Crowe 12 years ago. And then life brings her face-to-face with the man she hated with all her guts. From spending too much time to get ready to meet Miles to being his real estate agent to finally falling in love, this story is the slow-burn romance I crave.

Review

This book was only 236 pages but it felt much longer because it takes it’s time in developing the “feelings”. The review is going to be much longer because I have a lot to say.

First up, I am a sucker of romantic comedy when it’s done right, and this novel shows us how to do it right, in abundance. Without delving much into the other aspects, let’s first look at my Kindle notes. It will show us what I mean by humour and romance and witty narration.

Some of the Many Lines I Loved

This list also shows the reason I loved this book so much. The humour of this book was so on-point, the kind I dig, the kind that’s not-so-easy to find.

Chapter One – Page 3

Chapter One – Page 6

Chapter One – Page 7

Chapter Two – Page 13

Chapter Eight – Page 56

I’m easy like Sunday morning.

Chapter Nine – Page 67

“I’m sure. You’ve thought about it. That’s what I wanted to know.”

Chapter Eleven – Page 87

“Why not fire him?” Chloe asked. “He’s my cousin.”“Oh,” Chloe said. In Louisiana, everyone had that cousin.

Chapter Fourteen – Page 112

“Miss Jones, I’m going to have to call BS. I don’t think that’s what you meant at all.”“You’re wrong, but even if you weren’t, a gentleman would let it drop.” He gave an exaggerated look around the room. “I don’t see any gentlemen here.”

Chapter Twenty – Page 153

Feelings aren’t logical, so I won’t try to talk you out of them.

Chapter Twenty – Page 154

“Siri, what is the difference between love and a crush?” Because what I felt for Miles had the same intensity it had when I was fourteen. But wasn’t twenty-six too old for a crush?

Chapter Twenty – Page 156

Love is a deep affection based on knowing them.

Chapter Twenty – Page 156

“I think I’m in love with Miles Crowe!” The wind didn’t answer. Neither did Siri. But neither of them had to say anything. The pit in my stomach said it all.

Chapter Twenty-One – Page 158

HOW DID SMILES WORK?

Chapter Twenty-One  – Page 165

The Two of Cups,

Chapter Twenty-Two – Page 171

“I think I’m going to kiss you right now, Ellie Jones, so if that’s not what you want, say so.”

Chapter Twenty-Six – Page 212

But I’m afraid the second possibility is more likely, which is that you’re going to get in your own head too much, and then you’ll get in your own way. In some ways, your tendency to overanalyze has made you successful at work. But in your personal life…it holds you back.

Chapter Twenty-Seven – Page 215

I hadn’t given Miles any reason to stay, but he had. He had a dozen reasons to leave, but he hadn’t. Miles Crowe is the goods.

The Characters

I loved the main characters. They acted their age-mature, know-what-they-want, confident. I read many a books where an adult acts like a five-year-old. Hhave you read Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella? Doesn’t Becky come across like a spoilt kid? 

I digress. So, Elle and Miles both act like adults, Miles moreso than Elle. The other characters also play important role in the narrative, don’t just serve as props for the main characters. From Chloe to Miss Mary to Dylan, we come to care for these people as well.

However, as time passed, Elle slowly started to get on my nerves. She was a big baby, you know. Little kids don’t know why they are throwing tantrums, they just do. Elle knew what she’s doing is wrong, but she did it anyway.

• I know what kinda property Miles needs for his jazz club, but I won’t tell him. Instead, I will show him crappy properties that aren’t even matching the brief.
• I will test him if he is “worthy” of living in Bywater locality. Because this place to precious that nobody else is allowed in. You know, I “own” this place.
• I love him, but I wouldn’t say it first. It’s his “job” to say the three magical words. 
• When he calls me “girlfriend”, I will accuse him of making unilateral decisions.
  • Girl, he has been into you since day 1. He called you GF because you started sucking his face. If not now, when is the right time to give the salutation?
• When there is a tricky situation during an interview, I would call him names, blame everything on him, and run away.

And, as you might have guessed, these aren’t exactly her words, but you get the drift.  I’d like to refer to the quote from chapter 26 from Miss Mary’s letter:

But I’m afraid the second possibility is more likely, which is that you’re going to get in your own head too much, and then you’ll get in your own way. In some ways, your tendency to overanalyze has made you successful at work. But in your personal life…it holds you back. 

And that describes Elle so well. Read that line again, it sounds so good.

I understand that the writer was going for this character sketch, but Gabi/Elle turned out to be quite annoying at the end.

The Plot

This book has so much to offer and so many subplots intervowen into the narrative. Referring to my notes, so much is packed in this book. New Orleans, Bywater culture and vibe, food, music, real estate tours, more food, tarot cards, running a kitchen, setting a jazz club, playing a piano… And it all worked out well without overwhelming me (I’m easily overwhelmed when too much comes my way). I have never been to New Orleans but I surely felt home while reading it.

And, the writer has done a fantastic job with it all. It was only at the end of the book, in the acknowledgment section, that I noticed how much effort she has put in to get things right. Bravo, girl!

The “attention to detail” also reminded me of Sophie Kinsella. I always admire how in-depth she is, but then it gets a bit too much to handle. I felt the same way with this book. Like the details, love the details, and then start to hate it.

The last chapter reminded me of an Indian version of singing couple: Sing With Me by S. M. Bikanu. It’s one of my favourite enemies to romance book. Slow burn, oh-so-romantic and full of music that I know and understand because it’s Bollywood.

I may not like a couple of things, but overall, simply LOVED this book.