Are librarians becoming a trope in romance? I hope so because I am here for it! Olivia Dade’s Lovestruck Librarian series is, as the title suggests, all about librarians in a public library system. DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION is the fifth book and the series. Having never read any of the previous books, I became completely enchanted with the rich characters and familiar setting of her world.
Constance Chen runs the library’s Bookmobile program. She loves her job and her library family, but there are two problems: One, the IT department doesn’t believe her when she says she keeps having connectivity problems on the road and two, her IT representative is hot but off limits. Sam Wolcott is the half-brother of her best friend Penny, and although their connection is electric, she knows she can’t date Penny’s brother. They are both tested when the IT department suggests Sam does a week of ride-alongs with Con. Close quarters and undeniable attraction drive these workplace enemies into friendship and eventually much much more.
DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION is the fifth book of the series, and there is a cast of characters within the world that are unfamiliar to new readers. But it’s never an issue. In fact, it works to Dade’s benefit because you’ll find you’ll want to pick up her previous books and read them all! Con and Sam are such strong characters with realistic issues, and their friends are equally engaging. As you read DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, you’ll find yourself thinking “Man, I want to read her story!” Any librarians out there will recognize that Dade too understands what equates romance to us. At one point to win Con over, Sam steals a book cart for her so she can use it in her office. Anyone who has had to shuffle piles of books across the library by hand knows what an incredibly romantic gesture this can be.
Every romance novel has that breakaway - the point where the main couple breaks up, and it’s questionable if they’ll be together again. Sometimes it can be ridiculous (kidnapped partners, miscommunication leading to hurt feelings, etc.) but DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION has a real reason for a couple to break up. Without spoiling anything, Dade uses a situation that would tear apart any newly committed couple. It’s these sprinkles of realism amidst this romantic fantasy that grounds the reader into her story. We all want our happy ending, our love story, but I’ve found that more and more often I want my romances to address the real world. DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION had plenty of commentary about immigrant families, caring for homebound patrons of a library, and real dating issues. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and love these characters in a way that’s surprising and refreshing. If you enjoy a little realism in your library love stories, the Lovestruck Librarian series will be right up your alley.
