At first glance, Some Girls Will Some Girls Won’t by Joe Smalle may appear to be a story about an ambitious young man, an unusual money-making idea and the complications of romance. However, beneath its entertaining surface lies a much broader exploration of grief, family responsibility, social mobility, morality, loyalty and the unpredictable consequences of personal choices.
Set against the atmosphere of Britain in the 1970s and early 1980s, the novel follows Kevin “Bubbles” Tyler, a young man whose outlook on life is shaped by the sudden death of his father. The tragedy leaves Kevin and his mother facing emotional loss and financial uncertainty. Watching his mother struggle becomes one of Kevin’s strongest motivations. He does not simply want wealth for luxury or status; he wants to create security for the woman who has sacrificed so much for him.
An Unusual Route Out of Poverty
Kevin’s opportunity comes from an unexpected source. After reading about a university survey concerning relationships and first dates, he develops what he believes is a marketable “secret formula.” Inspired partly by conversations with friends and classified advertisements in adult magazines, he turns the idea into a mail-order venture.
The scheme succeeds far beyond his expectations. Money begins arriving rapidly, giving Kevin access to opportunities he once considered impossible. Yet the novel does not present financial success as a simple happy ending. Instead, each new bundle of cash creates another challenge. Kevin must explain his income, manage multiple accounts, protect his secret and decide how far he is prepared to go to preserve the life he is building.
Through this journey, Joe Smalle raises an important question: Does money solve hardship or does it simply replace old problems with new ones?
Romance Without a Formula
The title may suggest a playful examination of attraction, but the novel gradually reveals the limits of Kevin’s assumptions about women and relationships. Although his business is built around a supposedly reliable formula, his own romantic life remains uncertain and emotionally complicated.
Kevin’s interactions with Kathy and Debra show that genuine affection cannot be predicted or controlled. Love requires honesty, patience, vulnerability and trust, qualities that become increasingly difficult to maintain while Kevin hides the true source of his wealth.
This contrast gives the story much of its emotional strength. Kevin may understand how to sell an idea, but he still has much to learn about commitment and human connection.
A Wider Story of Loyalty and Loss
The novel also expands beyond Kevin’s experiences through Albert “Tank” Daniels. Tank’s story introduces themes of companionship, bereavement, justice and revenge. His relationship with Linda Marshall brings warmth and tenderness, while later events pull the narrative toward darker territory involving crime and unresolved anger.
These interconnected storylines transform the book into more than a personal rags-to-riches tale. It becomes a sweeping account of people trying to rebuild their lives after loss, protect those they love and find purpose when circumstances change without warning.
With its memorable characters, period music, British humour, romance, business ambition and mounting suspense, Some Girls Will Some Girls Won’t offers readers an engaging journey through both the lighter and darker sides of human nature.
Joe Smalle’s novel reminds us that success is never measured by money alone. It is also shaped by the relationships we protect, the secrets we carry, the choices we make and the consequences we are willing to face.
Some Girls Will Some Girls Won’t is now available on Amazon for readers who enjoy character-driven stories filled with ambition, emotion, humour, romance and unexpected danger.
