Just like in the Movies by Heidi Rice

My rating: ****

Genre: Romance

Tags: M/F, Forbidden love, Dysfunctional family, M/M, Films, Found family, Suicide

When Matty Devlin dies, Ruby is devastated. He wasn’t just her employer, he was her best friend, and her father-figure, and so she is determined to honour him by showing films he loved at work, which just happens to be an independent cinema that he owned.

Luke Devlin is Matty’s long lost nephew, who just so happens to look identical to his late father, a very famous actor, and when Luke shows up at the funeral, tongues are wagging.

This is quite a heart warming story, with a fiercely independent female lead in Ruby, and a pretty broody male lead in Luke!

There are a lot of references to films throughout this book, some of which shape the book.

I enjoyed the story, and found the characters to be quite diverse and believable.

I was given this book in exchange of an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Heidi Rice.

A romance book about films just sounded perfect, and Just Like in the Movies was exactly what I needed! I loved the premise of trying to save a beloved independent cinema in London, and a romance forming around a classic movies season, as it interweaves two of my favourite things, and I thought it was done really well. I do always worry a bit with romances set in London in particular that landmarks and neighbourhoods are going to be referenced incessantly to appeal to international audiences who love to romanticise the city, but this wasn't the case at all, and didn't rub me the wrong way, which is a massive win. I wasn't the biggest fan of Ruby in the beginning, as she came across as quite ditsy, but I grew to really root for her success, both in love and in life, and I thought that she and Luke had really good chemistry.

Just like the movies by Heidi Rice

Ruby inherits half of a movie theatre that’s been in her life since she was 12 . The other half is owned by Matty's nephew Luke . The theatre is facing financial crisis and imminent closure and a cynical co-owner can ruby sVe the theatre that is so close to her heart.

A really easy and charming read . I especially enjoyed the references to some of the classic films that used to be shown in the old theatre. A really nice read if for some a tad cheesy though as a film lover I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A bit cheesy but growing up in a home filled with classic films, I quite enjoyed this sweet and sometimes steamy book!

This book was just okay for me. It was easy to walk away from and I would have likely just put it aside had I not downloaded it on Netgalley.
What I liked: the film buff backdrop. The author did a great job not just using an aging indie cinema as the setting but weaving in lots of film/movie knowledge from celebrity crushes to movie quotes. There is definitely a moment that seems "just like the movies" with what I thought was the grand gesture - super romantic and if the book had ended there, I might have liked it better. But it went on....
As for the bits I didn't care for. Which mainly was the sense that it was so pretentious at times. Spoiler: [ Ruby won't let Luke put up the money to save the theatre because she can save herself and she doesn't want to make him responsible for her. Which, on one hand, is admirable but on the other - it's a romance, men love being the hero and Luke wanted her to have the theatre!! #sigh. Also, there was quite a bit of self-righteous, moral grandstanding throughout the book (hide spoiler)]
I also was really sad at the lack of development (and quite frankly participation) in the supporting characters. There were a few older generations that would have added wit and wisdom for both Ruby and Luke as they fell in love. #missedopportunity. Also, there was a spicy scene that required several page swipes to get past.

Readers in a younger generation will probably like this book.

I received a dARC from the publisher via Netgalley; this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this. It was an easy read and the story line kept me up turning pages into the morning. Would definitely recommend to all I know.

A charming read and I loved the reference to films. I loved the wit and also the steam. .
Many thanks to Harpercollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

As the movie theater, The Royale, becomes a character in this story, we learn of the late owner's affinity for making a make believe life come to everyone who works there, including a lonely young woman. At his death, this young woman will become partners with a man who could not be more her opposite if she had cast him herself. But as they work together pulling the theater from the brink of closure, they will find that opposites Do attract and maybe the late owner had a plan of his own. A really "cute" story, lots of movie references and some interesting interactions between the two new owners made this an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this one.

It was a cute story that had a lot more depth then I was expecting.

I liked the dynamic between Ruby and Luke. And how they navigate things after Matty leaves them the theater.

They both have such different opinions on the world around them. And I thought it was very well described the way their personal worlds shaped and affected them.

Plus this story wasn't afraid to delve a little into the emotional side of things when dealing with loss and whatnot. And I liked that it gave this book so much more depth because of it. And really made the characters relatable and understood.

As predictable as it was; it was a fun read and would read others by author, Heidi Rice. I wish I could’ve made more of a connection with the characters.

This has been on my NetGalley shelf for over a year, and I still haven’t picked it up. I've tried, but it just isn't for me (right now). I hope other people enjoy it more than I did.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

This was such a great grumpy-sunshine read! I really connected to the FMC and found myself really loving her background and her development. It was great to see her fall in love and grow as a character. Im not a huge film/movie person but I feel like if you are, this will be a perfect read for you!

Starting any book with a chapter filled with Wizard of Oz references will instantly win my heart. The writer filled the pages with fun references for any movie buff (book clubbers could read the book AND watch the movies she includes).

I enjoyed the main characters: Ruby and Luke. I liked how she "surprised" him sometimes as they bickered or spoke. She was a likable and relatable character. The dual pov wasn't jarring and it was nice to be in both characters heads. There was room for a bit more character development on some of the side characters but overall the story moved along fine.

Contemporary Romance: 3.8 stars out of 5
Spice: 3.3 out of 5
Grumpy vs. Sunshine, Chick Lit, Rom Com

Thank you to Heidi Rice and NetGalley! An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an open and honest review. #JustLikeInTheMovies #NetGalley

I loved this cute story! Fun, really enjoyed the movie references and loved the characters. Enjoyable read with a feel good vibe xx

The books was amazing and I couldn’t stop reading. It was interesting and love every part of it. Anyone that loves movies this book is for them, with all the movie references. And the romance with comedy in this book was absolutely perfect.

Cute little grumpy vs sunshine rom com read

Ruby a movie fan/but/fanatic but who inherits half of a cinema

Luke who grew up in Hollywood inherits the other half

I absolutely adored the movie references throughout this book and found myself smiling and the different points of view of the FMC and MMC of a particular movie that the chapters were based on - very clever and sweet

Cute story for anyone looking for an easy read on a Sunday

I really loved the cinema and movie references throughout the book. It was a sweet rom com. But just wasn't really for me I didn't really connect with the characters at all sorry.

Ruby works at a cinema in Notting Hill and when the boss (and her best friend) passes away, he leaves the cinema to her and his nephew.

Luke is the nephew, a rich American with a famous mother and rumoured film star dad and he wants nothing to do with the cinema and wants Ruby to sell up.

Ruby makes it her mission to get Luke to fall in love with the cinema and save her beloved Royale.

This is a really cute rom com, I really enjoyed it. All of the characters are great and although it was predictable I still liked it. There are some slightly darker themes but it remains pretty light hearted throughout.

I was very on the fence about this book. It has pros and cons for me.
I enjoyed the cinema references and the dialogue between the characters but for me this was the best bit. Other than this I found the story to be severely lacking in context and the characters needed building up more.
Unfortunately, it just wasnt for me.