Love Requires Chocolate (book) by Ravynn K. Stringfield
Bibliographic Information
Title: Love Requires Chocolate
Author: Ravynn K. Stringfield
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Copyright Date: May 4, 2024
ISBN: 9780593571545
Page Count: 288
Genre/Format
Romance/Book
Awards or Honors
None currently
Reading Level/Interest Level
12-18 (Kirkus Reviews)
Plot Summary
Whitney, a 17 year-old young woman is attending a prestigious school in Paris for a semester to study theater. She has a very long to-do list that focuses on touristy things in Paris, but her (cute young male) French tutor may be able to show her some off the beaten path spaces in Paris that are also wonderful. She has a goal to write a one-woman play about her idol, Josephine Baker, who was also an American and traveled to Paris. As she visits locations throughout Paris to hone her script and play on Josephine Baker, she navigates new friendships, a foreign language barrier, and a fledgling romantic relationship that she hadn’t planned for.
Author Background
Dr. Ravynn Stringfield is an author, scholar, and artist living in Virginia. Love Requires Chocolate is her debut novel. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in publications such as Shondaland, ZORA, and Catapult Magazine. She enjoys making illustrations of Black girls being happy and their magical selves. She also enjoys coffee, sunflowers, and her dog Ghenghis. She co-hosted a podcast, Dreaming in the Dark, that “brings together stories” the fantasy scholar authors wished they had as kids (Stringfield, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation
To an American who just spent a week in Paris doing touristy things, the setting felt as real as it can in a short romcom. I could picture myself walking in Whitney’s footsteps as she described the different places she visited. The plot feels a little predictable for me, and I sort of had a bad taste in my mouth for our protagonist and narrator as she strong-arms her tutor into showing her around Paris while hanging a good review that he needs over his head. She feels a bit self-absorbed, but I guess that is the nature of most teenagers. She does mature some in the second half of the book, but I felt like the climax of the story was a little silly & she was a little too dramatic, but she is 17, so maybe it really does fit! I wish some of the themes that she touches on were developed more, but I think teens will probably love this short and sweet love story!
Creative Use for a Library Program
The library could host a book discussion with croissants and chocolates as snacks.
Speed-Round Talk
Whitney Curry is a Black American high school junior who is spending a semester in Paris with a long to-do list of traditional Parisian sights to see and experience. She is partnered with a local Black teen as a language tutor who is grumpy (in her words). She explores new friendships and focuses on her senior thesis, a play about her idol, Josephine Baker, but will she experience her first love in the City of Love?
“This generation’s Anna and the French Kiss, give it to fans of Emily in Paris. Highly recommended.”
Not me wishing I had the romantic moment making chocolate
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
I can’t imagine why this book would be challenged. The teens are hardworking at school and in life. They are close to their families, and they slowly explore a romantic relationship. There is a little bit of consensual kissing. There are no drugs or alcohol at a teen party. The teens do drink some wine when celebrating a family dinner with their families (however the legal drinking age is 18 in Paris).
Reason for Inclusion
I picked up this book from my library because there was a cute cover, and I just got back from Paris. Paris is having a moment with the Olympics and the TV Series, Emily in Paris, so this book will likely appeal to a lot of teens. The book is a cute romance escapism book that feels wholesome and warm. Many of the characters are Black, and the author lightly explores some themes related to racism as they pertain to an international space. This is a great book for kids who want a romance, but don’t want a lot of spice.
References
Hallmark Channel [HallmarkChannel]. (2019, February 17). Lacey Chabert love romance chocolate GIF [GIF]. Giphy. https://giphy.com/gifs/HallmarkChannel-hallmark-channel-love-romance-chocolate-and-NRPDFHxRiTPsMxCnFb
Kirkus Reviews. (2024, June 1). A sweet, escapist romance that stumbles due to some inconsistencies. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ravynn-k-stringfield/love-requires-chocolate
Rummel, J. (August 1 , 2024). [Review of the book Love requires chocolate by R. K. Stringfield]. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/review/love-requires-chocolate
Stringfield, R. K. (2024, May 4). Love Requires Chocolate. Joy Revolution.
Stringfield, R. K. (n.d.). About. Retrieved September 11, 2024. https://ravynnkstringfield.com/about/
Stringfield, R. K. (n.d.). About [photograph]. Retrieved September 11, 2024. https://ravynnkstringfield.com/about/
*Book Cover Image is property of publisher, Joy Revolution; taken from Amazon.