Review: The Paper Boys by D.P. Clarence

Title: The Paper Boys

Author: D.P. Clarence

Length: 384 Pages

Category: Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4 Stars

At a Glance: D.P. Clarence delivers a sweet and angsty romance amidst a brewing government scandal, in a book filled with humor, conflict, and colorful and supportive family and friends.

Reviewed By: Lisa

Blurb: In the cutthroat world of British political journalism, rivals Sunny Miller and Ludo Boche are about to discover that the biggest scoop of their careers might just be love.

Sunny, a working-class reporter at the trashy tabloid The Bulletin, dreams of writing hard-hitting stories that change the world. Ludo, a privileged musical theatre fanatic turned journalist at the prestigious Sentinel, can’t seem to enter a room without causing chaos.

When an unexpected scoop lands in their laps at the same time, thrusting them into a web of political intrigue, these arch-nemeses find themselves reluctantly working together—and fighting an unexpected attraction.

From the bustling newsrooms of London to a questionable hotel on a remote Scottish island, Sunny and Ludo navigate class differences, family expectations, and their own prejudices. As they uncover corruption and confront their feelings, they’ll learn that the story of a lifetime might just be their own.

Review: “If there’s one cast-iron rule in the business, it’s that you never date another journalist. After all, how could you possibly trust them?”

D.P. Clarence delivers a sweet and angsty romance amidst a brewing government scandal, the explosive sort of corruption that, once exposed, can make a reporter’s career. It’s the path to a front page, above the fold story with blaring headlines. But to ruin that same career only takes adversaries who will lie, cheat, steal, and use any means at their disposal to get what they want.

Sunny and Ludo are at odds on the job from the start. Ludo is the political reporter for his father’s well-respected newspaper. Sunny is the same for a tabloid paper. It’s not quite the National Enquirer, but nevertheless, it’s a sensationalist rag that doesn’t come with much journalistic integrity, but make no mistake; Sunny takes his job every bit as seriously as Ludo does. That’s where the friction comes into play, in the competition, not to mention a heaping helping of prejudice from Sunny towards Ludo for inheriting the job rather than having to earn it. Their romance doesn’t come to fruition easily; they both have misperceptions and ingrained prejudices to overcome, but, unsurprisingly, their attraction to each other doesn’t obey their competing and conflicting jobs.

Amidst the wrongdoing and coverups, Clarence presents two charming and, yes, flawed characters in Sunny and Ludo. They are at once committed to their distrust while also finding each other utterly irresistible. It isn’t until Ludo’s father breaches his son’s trust and privacy (Ludo is a saint, really) that the dramatic arc peaks amongst a family tragedy. His and Sunny’s issues could have been lessened, if not resolved, if they’d simply talked to each other instead of jumping to conclusions, but, then again, what’s a romance novel without the obligatory 3rd act breakup?

The absolute bonus in this book is its side characters—the supportive friends, the colorful family member, and most especially Uncle Ben, Ludo’s beloved hero, mentor, cheerleader, and inspiration. There is a touching undercurrent in Ben’s wisdom and love for Ludo that added so much warmth and heart to this story.