Book Review: CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE

Title: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Author: Kristin Mulligan

Publisher: Self-published

Pages: 157

My GoodReads Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chloe Simpson, still single in her early 30s, signs up for a speed dating event for singles, to be held on Friday, February 6, a week before Valentine’s Day, allowing enough time for singles to hit it off with someone and pair up for the big day. She will meet 15 men for 5 minutes each, hoping one of them will be the man of her dreams.

When she arrives there, she meets Jude, a drop-dead handsome paramedic that she hopes she will be paired with. Inside there are other good men. There’s Lucas, a handsome accountant; Dominic, a kind-hearted farmer who appears so wholesome; Peter, a podiatrist with a foot fetish, and Dustin, the over-animated organiser of the event. Then there’s Augustine, who gives Chloe the creeps, and Warren, who is horribly sexist and rude, Tyler, who is polished but still married, and the charming Grant.

Before the night is over, Chloe finds herself trapped in a dark space, with no way of escaping. It is clear that her captor is someone related to the speed dating night. But who is it? And what plans do they have for her?

 

The book is written in the 1^st person present tense PoV of Chloe, with occasional chapters written in the 1^st person present tense PoV of her kidnapper. The chapters alternate between Now and Before, meaning Before she was kidnapped.

 

WHAT I LIKED:

The book raises questions about the fraught world of dating, with its dangers as much as the unrealistic expectations that this social ritual raises. The story also serves as a cautionary tale, in terms of alcohol combined with the malicious intentions of unknown people.

The author has thoughtfully provided a content warning for attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, physical violence and psychological stress, among other grievous crimes.

 

I liked the Main Character; her brand of honesty and self-awareness was very relatable. Her experience was so graphic and visceral that the trigger warnings made sense. I was totally hooked on the story as it played out. The writing was good, evoking imagery that was vivid and sensory.

For once, the Main Character’s profession is not just a random thing. Here, Chloe’s knowledge as an architect helps her in captivity. When she uses terms like drywall and caulk, we don’t question, how does she know.

There is a point in Chapter 9, in the Before, when Chloe tells us, I know where I’ll be held prisoner during the event, effectively and unknowingly foreshadowing the future for herself.

There are 15 men at the event who could have kidnapped Chloe. The mystery bothers us as much as it bothers her.

The name of the book, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, reminded me of the song by Queen. The chapter names are a playlist of some of my favourite songs from the 80s and 90s, and a few from the 60s and 70s too, songs I haven’t heard in ages. I’m going to listen to them once I’m done with this review.

The song titles cleverly evoke reactions and emotions that are the opposite of those evoked by the songs whose names they bear. Coupled with the story of unhinged love, the chapter names take on new meaning.

Here are some examples of the naming of the chapters:

Chloe finds herself trapped in a dark space = Come Undone (song by Duran Duran)

Chloe is increasingly frightened after her cries have brought no help = Take My Breath Away (song by Berlin)

Chloe first meets Jude = Can You Feel the Love Tonight (song by Elton John)

Chloe finally remembers = It’s All Coming Back to Me (song by Celine Dion; this title was rather clever)

Here's a list of all the songs that have been referenced in the chapter titles, besides the ones named above:

Friday I'm in Love -- The Cure

Every Breath You Take (I'll Be Watching You) -- The Police

I Want to Know What Love is -- Foreigner

Careless Whisper -- George Michael

Isn't She Lovely? -- Stevie Wonder

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing -- Aerosmith

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us -- Starship

Said I Loved You But I Lied -- Michael Bolton

I Swear -- All 4 One

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You -- Bryan Adams

Kiss From a Rose -- Seal

You Make My Dreams -- Elvis Presley

Right Here Waiting -- Richard Marx

Wicked Game -- Chris Isaak

Can't Fight This Feeling -- REO Speedwagon

Let's Get It On -- Marvin Gaye 

Unbreak My Heart -- Toni Braxton

Faithfully -- Toby Mac

How Deep Is Your Love -- BeeGees

Endless Love -- Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Tainted Love -- Soft Cell

All Out of Love -- Air Supply

Truly Madly Deeply -- Savage Garden

From This Moment On -- Shania Twain

I Would Do Anything for Love But I Won't Do That -- Meat Loaf

Crazy Little Thing Called Love -- Queen

Hungry Eyes -- Eric Carmen

Didn't We Almost Have It All -- Whitney Houston

(I Just) Died in Your Arms -- Cutting Crew

Save the Best for Last -- Vanessa Williams

 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Nothing

 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

There was one mistake, where the narrator tells us that Dustin has just made a wildly inappropriate remark. But Dustin hadn’t said anything at that point.

At one point, the captor reveals that the first woman he ever kidnapped escaped. We are never told who that woman was or what happened to her. This felt like a loose end. 

 

ALL SAID AND DONE: The premise of unhinged love is not an uncommon one. But the clever way in which the author has packaged this story, showing us the danger posed by obsession and unhinged love, and the manner in which she has written it wins a big recommendation from me.

 

(I read this book on NetGalley. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.)