Love Story by Lindsey Kelk: A Reading Retreat Reflection in Goa
Category: Reading Retreats
Location: Goa
Stay: Dwarka Beach Resort
Some books arrive with promise.
I carried Love Story by Lindsey Kelk with me to Goa after finishing Beg, Borrow, or Steal. The first had matched the bright energy of arrival — playful, sharp, sunlit. I hoped the second would carry me gently through the quieter half of the trip.
By the time I began Love Story, the rhythm of Goa had already softened me. The initial excitement of travel had settled into long balcony mornings and unhurried evenings. It felt like the perfect moment for a romance that promised emotional depth.
The writing was polished. The tone familiar. The premise held potential. But as I moved further into the novel, I found myself searching for something more — more interiority, more development, more reason to emotionally invest. The characters felt present, but not fully layered. Their motivations surfaced, yet didn’t deepen enough to feel transformative. And without that emotional anchoring, the plot — though structured — struggled to fully engage me.
Finishing the novel on my final evening in Goa, I felt less swept away and more contemplative. Not every book will resonate deeply. Not every romance will leave a lingering ache. And that’s part of being a reader — understanding that connection cannot be forced.
In contrast to the immersive warmth of Beg, Borrow, or Steal, Love Story felt lighter in impact. It passed pleasantly enough, but it didn’t rearrange anything inside me.
A Reading Retreat isn’t about perfect books. It’s about honest reading experiences. Love Story may not have fully worked for me — the character development felt limited and the emotional arc less compelling than I’d hoped — but it still holds a place in that Goa memory. Because reading, like travel, isn’t always about intensity. Sometimes it’s simply about noticing what moves you… and what doesn’t.
The sea was steady. The sky was open.And I closed the book knowing that even an underwhelming story contributes to understanding your own reading heart a little better.
