Summary of Hannah Orenstein’s “Love at First Like”
Hannah Orenstein’s novel “Love at First Like” is a romantic comedy about a lady called Eliza Roth who unintentionally posts a phony engagement photo on Instagram and becomes an overnight phenomenon.
Eliza owns a vintage bridal boutique in Brooklyn and has been struggling to make ends meet. One day, she decides to snap a selfie of herself wearing a vintage engagement ring from her store and put it on Instagram with the phrase “I said yes!” as a marketing tactic.
However, the photo goes viral by accident, and Eliza is quickly bombarded with messages of congratulations and requests for interviews.
As the attention and pressure build, Eliza tries to maintain her phony interest. She enlists her friend and business colleague, Rachel, to portray her fiancé, and the two of them negotiate the world of social media and public scrutiny.
Eliza encounters an attractive and affluent businessman named Blake along the way, who is first captivated by her because of her Instagram fame.
But as they spend more time together, they develop true feelings for each other, and Eliza must decide whether to come clean about her phony engagement and risk losing everything she has worked for, or to keep the charade and risk losing the love of her life.
Eliza learns crucial lessons about honesty, authenticity, and the true nature of love as the novel progresses. “Love at First Like” is a lighthearted, joyful, and relevant narrative about modern romance and the power of social media.
Themes from “Love at First Like”
Hannah Orenstein’s “Love at First Like” explores the following themes:
Authenticity: The novel explores the significance of being genuine to oneself and resisting the pressure to present a perfect picture on social media.
Social media: The book delves into how social media may alter our ideas of ourselves and others, as well as the effects it can have on our relationships.
Love and relationships: The novel delves into the complexity of modern romance and the difficulties that arise when social media enters our lives.
Honesty: While Eliza battles with the decision to come open about her fake engagement, the necessity of honesty and communication in relationships is a constant issue in the book.
Friendship: Eliza relies on her friend and business partner, Rachel, throughout the story, emphasizing the importance of great friendships and the support they bring.
Characters from “Love at First Like”
Here are some of the main characters in Hannah Orenstein’s “Love at First Like”:
Eliza Roth: The novel’s protagonist, Eliza, owns a vintage bridal boutique in Brooklyn. She becomes overnight famous after unintentionally posting a phony engagement photo on Instagram.
Blake: Eliza’s love interest and rich businessman, Blake is initially drawn to her due to her Instagram celebrity but gradually develops genuine feelings for her.
Rachel: Eliza’s best friend and business partner, Rachel is a caring and devoted friend who assists Eliza in navigating the difficulties of her phony engagement.
Max: Eliza’s ex-boyfriend, Max, is a failing artist who reappears in her life, causing friction between her and Blake.
Eliza’s younger sister, Mia, is a college student with her own take on social media and relationships.
Vera: Eliza’s grandma, Vera is a Holocaust survivor who provides Eliza with knowledge and direction throughout the story.
Gigi: Eliza’s opponent and a social media influencer, Gigi is a prominent antagonist in the story who epitomizes the rigors and hazards of the social media world.