Guest post by London On My Mind author Clara Alves
Clara Alves has always been passionate about books. She studied journalism and has worked in publishing for years, but she left that all behind to pursue her biggest dream: to be a full-time author. She is the author of the bestselling Conectadas, which has sold more than 100,000 copies in Brazil and received the Unesco Cátedra de Leitura prize from PUC-Rio in 2019. She is also the author of Romance Real, published as London On My Mind in the US. Clara‘s work has appeared in YA short story anthologies and has been self-published on Amazon. She lives in Rio de Janeiro with her partner and spends most of her time reading and writing heartwarming cliché romance novels.
About London On My Mind: Red, White & Royal Blue meets A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow in this unlikely London romance by debut author Clara Alves!
In London On My Mind, sixteen-year-old Dayana has always dreamed of visiting London. It was supposed to be a thing between her and her mother. But the trip of her dreams turns into a royal nightmare when her mother passes away. Now, Day must leave Rio de Janeiro to live with her estranged father and his new family in London — and the UK doesn’t seem so magical anymore…
Until she runs into the girl of her dreams. The witty, funny and mysterious Diana takes Dayana through a journey around London — and makes her feel like she’s living her mother’s favorite movie: Notting Hill.
So, popcorn ready, it’s time for a list!
Here’s a selection of five 1990s romcoms for you to watch after reading LONDON ON MY MIND:
Notting Hill (1999)
I agree with Dayana that Hugh Grant has this awkwardness that would always annoy me. Despite that, I believe I’ve watched every romcom he has played a role on. And loved them all. But Notting Hill is, by far, my favorite.
In Notting Hill, he’s William Thacker — a book shop owner who lives a rather normal, uneventful life in Notting Hill, London, until one day Anna Scott (the gorgeous Julia Roberts), a hyped actress, enters the store. They, of course, start slowly falling in love. But being a nobody dating someone so famous may not be as easy as they think.
She’s All That (1999)
The popular guy from high school makes a bet that he can turn an unattractive girl into the school’s prom queen, after he got dumped by his popular girlfriend for a college guy. They both obviously fall in love — but she doesn’t know she’s being the butt of the joke between his friends.
You‘ve Got Mail (1998)
During the 1990s, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were the biggest romcom stars. I absolutely loved them. In You’ve Got Mail, they both meet on-line and fall in love without knowing each other in person. So they’re also unaware that he is the owner of a bookstore chain who is trying to shut down the little shop she runs.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Julia Roberts again! Another favorite.
Edward Lewis is a prominent and successful businessman who needs an escort for some social events. When he meets Vivian, a beautiful and witty prostitute, he decides to hire her… only to fall in love.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Cameron is in love with Bianca. But Bianca’s father doesn’t allow her to date until her anti-social older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. Since all is far in love and war, Cameron pays a mysterious boy, Patrick, to charm Kat. But they’re awkwardly perfect for each other.
These are a few of my favorite romcoms from when I was growing up. I used to love watching them and dreaming about being the main character of a real romantic comedy.
There was only one little problem: these were all starred by heteronormative couples.
So I grew up — and decided it was finally time to take control of the narrative and write my own sapphic romcom-inspired love stories.
