In the fabulous 1980s, days of big hair and shoulder pads, Elaine can choose The Good Life or risk following her heart
Socially awkward Elaine Richards has the university education, comfortable home, and credit cards her parents provide, but never filled in a resumé, operated a washing machine, or shopped for groceries, despite her desire for independence. Hoping she’ll settle into a socialite marriage like her parents, her father introduces her to Ken, a handsome young lawyer. At the same time, she’s entranced by Roland, an equally attractive maintenance manager, with his large, loving, working-class family.
As Elaine struggles to balance the expectations of her parents and best friend with her own dreams, she tests her ideals of love. Before she can sort out her tangled feelings, unplanned complications derail her life. Now she must finally choose whether to give in to her father’s plans for an affluent marriage or try to make her own way with the help of Roland and his sisters.
With new responsibilities to consider as well as her own heart, is happy enough really enough?
Romantic women’s fiction set in 1980s Saskatoon
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Is this book based on the movie? Nope. For most of its life, its working title was “Love Story.” (I suck at titles.) Originally, I thought it was a romance, before I’d heard of women’s fiction. Which is a terrible name for a category but nothing better has yet been invented. Women’s fiction is a genre that centers on a character’s emotional journey—the inner growth that drives the story. These novels span every setting and subgenre, including science fiction, united by a focus on transformation and human connection.
Wanting my title to evoke the 1980s, eventually I struck on “Valley Girl North” but that wasn’t right. (Remember, I suck at titles.) Only a couple months before publication, my WFWA mentor gave several title suggestions that focused on choice/decision and I thought “dilemma.” Hence I arrived at “A Valley Girl Dilemma.”
I hope you enjoy!
Reviews:
Taking a jaunt back to the 1980s in this romance novel is an absolute delight. The story features Elaine, a strong yet endearingly naive protagonist whose journey is frustratingly believable and compelling.
~Micah, reader
This story is a cozy read. The plot twists and turns, though sometimes shocking and surprising, make this story much more intriguing. Elaine is immediately likable, and you care about her, and the other characters.
~Victoria, reader
I liked the main character and that she was determined to make the right decision for herself despite outside pressures. While I was pretty sure I knew the path she would choose, the story kept me guessing, and there were unexpected surprises right through to the end. It’s a fun romance with just the right amount of spice, and I recommend it to romance readers and anyone nostalgic about the ’80s.
~Ashleigh, author