Rom-com movie tropes and pop culture references abound in the page-turning sequel to Kerry Winfrey’s wildly popular Waiting for Tom Hanks. The zany characters, sharp wit, and tender moments in Not Like the Movies are brilliantly entertaining. But, the threads of family crisis and BFF tensions are frequently more engaging than the romance that develops between the fickle protagonist and her stalwart love interest.

Full review to post on All About Romance

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the gifted review copy.

Let me start by saying I'm late to the game on this series. I have not yet read Waiting For Tom Hanks - I have it but just haven't read it yet and plan to remedy that ASAP. I don't feel like I missed anything in this book because I haven't yet read the first one, as it's about a different character and does a good job of filling you in on the background of the plot. I will definitely go back and read it though because I LOVE Annie and want to read about her and Drew!

Not Like the Movies is about Chloe and Nick, who are the people Annie based her rom com (Coffee Girl) on. Chloe is the type of person that feels like she has to take care of everyone and do everything herself, probably because her mom left when she was 10, leaving her to take care of her dad and twin brother Milo. Now her dad has Alzheimers, Milo moved back but isn't much help, and Chloe is taking on way too much helping Annie plan her wedding. Her boss at the coffee shop is Nick, who she teases relentlessly, and is in denial about her crush on him - until she isn't.

Chloe and Nick had good (yet predictable) chemistry, and their relationship kind of reminded me of Josh and Lucy in The Hating Game (which coming from me is a HUGE compliment). He wants to take care of her and she won't let him - and they fight their attraction until they can't anymore.

I loved Waiting for Tom Hanks, so I knew I’d love Not Like the Movies... and I was right! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from @NetGalley and @berkleyromance! The book is out tomorrow (07/07/2020), and I’ve already pre-ordered a copy!
Not Like the Movies is the story of Chloe and Nick. Chloe’s best friend Annie (the main character of Waiting for Tom Hanks) has written a movie called Coffee Girl based on Chloe’s romance with her boss Nick. The problem? Chloe and Nick are not a couple. Chloe has too much going on in her life to fall in love - her job at Nick’s coffee shop, she’s trying to finish business school, her father has Alzheimer’s and is in a home, helping BFF Annie plan her perfect wedding, and her twin brother is back in town. The closer she gets to the movie premiere, the more Chloe’s life spins out of control - and the more Nick is there to pick up the pieces. Will they fall in love like they do in the movies? I mean...obviously BUT it is so worth the read to see how they get there!😍

I went into Kerry Winfrey’s new novel, Not Like the Movies, hoping for a bit of light rom-com goodness, but I have to say that I fully underestimated this book because Not Like the Movies has turned out to be one of my favorite reads of the summer so far. While yes, it has plenty of that rom-com goodness I was looking for, it also has so much more.

Chloe Sanderson is the protagonist of the story and I adored her and just found her so relatable. Chloe has a big heart, always going out of her way to do nice things for others. She also has a lot on her plate, working as a waitress and baker at Nick’s Café, going to school to finish her business degree, and, most importantly, caring for her aging father who has Alzheimer’s. Chloe’s life is further complicated when her best friend Annie, an up and coming filmmaker, writes a rom-com screenplay inspired by Chloe’s life and her romance with her boss, Nick. There’s just one problem…Chloe and Nick are not in a relationship and never have been.

When Annie’s screenplay is actually picked up by a major studio, Chloe’s fictionalized life is suddenly everywhere and everyone thinks she and Nick are together. Awkward! Things become even more awkward as Chloe starts to consider the possibility of dating her boss. She doesn’t have time for it with everything else on her plate and doesn’t even know if she believes in love, but Nick is kind of irresistible in a sexy, grumpy yet super sweet Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls kind of way. I loved Nick and Chloe’s chemistry and immediately became fully invested in the “Will they or won’t they?” pull of the story.

As much as I adored the rom-com aspect of Nick and Chloe’s evolving relationship, what really took Not Like the Movies to the next level for me was Chloe’s journey as she tries to balance everything she has going on in her life. It’s an emotional one for her because she’s always so worried about caring for others, especially her Dad, and leaves her own self-care out of the equation. Even though the journey is a struggle for her, I loved watching Chloe grow as a person, and I especially enjoyed watching her assert herself when it comes to her brother, who has conveniently stayed away and not pulled his weight when it comes to matters of their family.

There’s just so much to love about Not Like the Movies. I flew through it in a couple of sittings and even though I was completely satisfied with the ending, I was actually still just a little sad just because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Chloe and Nick yet. If you’re in the mood for a story that features romance, family drama, and friendship, this is your book. Oh and there’s pie too! Lots of pie!

“But real life is so much better than a movie, anyway.”

Kerry Winfrey writes romantic comedies about romantic comedies for people who love romantic comedies. 🤯
With tons of romcom references, tropes, meet cutes, and grand gestures, her books will put any romance lover in their happy place.
I adored Waiting for Tom Hanks, so this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year - and I think I loved this one even more. I laughed a lot and cried a little. Swooned pretty hard and definitely felt nostalgia for the good ole Nora Ephron days. I decided to make a list of “a few of my favorite things” because this review was getting out of control!

🥧 The multitude of pie references
🥧 Kerry spoke to my soul with the Target scene
🥧 The “five-minute cry” - I’m glad to now have a label for something I already did
🥧 Chloe is quirky, hard working and stubborn and I found myself relating to her emotions in so many ways
🥧 Nick, a slightly grumpy on the outside but ultra sweet on the inside hero. Man was I swooning hard.
🥧 So glad to have more of Uncle Don, Gary and other hilarious supporting characters
🥧 Loved Annie and Chloe’s friendship and never ending support of one another

When you are in the mood for a sweet romance, please pick these books up - you won’t be sorry!!

I’m sorry to say that I did not like the second installment in Kerry Winfrey’s Waiting for Tom Hanks series, Not Like the Movies, nearly as much as the first. It’s not nearly as cute or tidy, but then again, Winfrey did warn us right there in the title. The writing is actually good. Unfortunately, Winfrey’s main charachter Chloe Sanderson is a well-written mess. Her emotions, and especially her relationship with love interest Nick Velez, are all over the map. Adding to the confusion, Winfrey added details about her which had nothing to do with the story. One example is that we learn Chloe is bisexual. Since the story is about her hetero relationship with Nick, it’s an entirely irrelevant fact, except that it adds to the confusion of her personality which the reader must endure until she gets her poop in a group. Winfrey also sticks with what I felt was a flaw in the first book and that is using only one POV, Chloe’s. We don’t even get a break from her confusion with someone else’s perspective on the same story.

Nick Velez we like. He’s forgiving and gives Chloe all the space she needs. Maybe too much space. He’s definitely a man in love and we like to swoon over that kind of devotion, but I’m not sure anyone with a healthy sense of self would have waited as long as he did for Chloe to come around. Further, we don’t get to hear his thought process to justify his attachment to a woman who clearly can’t make up her mind or act on it when she does. Instead of the world’s slowest burn, it was more like, “What exactly is going on here?“ Chloe’s hot and cold actions leave Nick equally confused as the reader and hurt on more than one occassion. It’s no wonder he hides in his office a lot.

Adding to Chloe’s chaotic life is a father with dementia, a mother she doesn’t speak to with good reason, a brother who’s a self-centered flake, and a best friend who is preoccupied with planning her wedding thanks to the first book. She’s unquestionably in a tough spot, and I can appreciate a flawed character, but some of it is her own making, and Chloe does a lot of wallowing before she finds a healthier mental and emotional space. Finally, nothing happens in this story so much as Chloe resolves her issues. It kind of teeters on falling into the afflicted women’s fiction genre since it’s light on romance, but at least holds onto a sense of humor.

My Rating: C, Finished It – Liked some, didn’t like some

Adorable book that I absolutely loved more than her first book. Chloe is beyond relatable and Nick is my new book boyfriend. To read full review, go to atthecooltable.com/not-like-the-movies

After reading ‘Waiting for Tom Hanks’, I was looking forward to reading Chloe and Nick’s story.. Chloe was one of my favorite characters of that book. I was in the mood for a rom-com and I flew through this one.

Chloe works in a coffee shop and she and her boss, Nick have a connection. They have the best banter and you can tell something is there between them. So much, that her best friend wrote a screen play that turned into a major motion picture staring ‘Zoe’ who works at a coffee shop and falls for her boss… it has made things between Chloe and Nick feel a little off.

Chole has a lot going on in her life. She takes care of her father who has Alzhemier’s, her brother has just moved back into town and she’s helping with her best friends wedding. Chloe has so much on her plate and is determined to do it all herself, which I mean, relatable. What she doesn’t realize is that she has people in her life she can count on, if she’d only let them in.

I loved Nick so much. Though I liked Chloe best in the first book, Nick stole the show in this one. I guess my only bit that made this miss the mark for me is that the romance aspect was just okay in my opinion. I wanted more from these two and I wanted it sooner than it happened. I love a good slow burn as much as the next, but there were things with Chloe earlier on that I didn’t love when it came to her love life.

One thing I truly loved about this story was her relationships and friendships with others. Especially the Annie and Chloe friendship. Stories that showcase how important other relationships are, aside from romance are so important!
Not Like the Movies is Kerry Winfrey’s sophomore novel and I liked it even more than the first. It was sweet, funny, I love the cover, and overall a good read. I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future!

I loved this book even more than I did the first one in the series. I love rom coms that also have a lot of heart abs deal with more serious issues such as care taking and abandonment. This was such a lovely book.

Sometimes you need a comfy read that satisfies all of the rom-com needs you have when there are no movies on the horizon. This book gave me what I craved: great characters, a little angst, romance and a happily ever after. I am a big fan of Kerry Winfrey!

This is an easy book to review, as I loved every moment of it! I liked it just as much as Waiting for Tom Hanks, if not more. It was such a sweet and romantic story. Nick Velez is definitely book boyfriend material and swoon-worthy. I liked where the story went and all the little surprises along the way. I felt bad for Chloe with all the stress she was under, but became frustrated with her for always pushing people away and then feeling sorry for herself. However, I wanted to see if she would allow herself to accept help eventually. I liked her entrepreneurial side and her creativity.

I hope Kerry Winfrey will write a third book featuring all these characters. Maybe a dual perspective novel about Annie and Chloe or a book featuring a new character who is connected with them.

I definitely recommend both books in this series to anyone who wants a romantic escape and a good laugh (and perhaps a little cry too). While Not Like the Movies can be read as a standalone, there are some spoilers for Waiting.

Movie casting ideas (some were from Waiting):
Chloe: Bailey De Young
Nick: Adam Rodriguez
Annie: Jane Levy
Drew: Jeremy Jordan
Milo: Chord Overstreet
Fred: Corbin Bleu
Mikey: David Henrie
Tobin: Skyler Gisondo

3.5 stars
I felt like this one had a bit of a slow start. The later half of the book is stronger by far. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two, and Nick was a good love interest in my eyes.
I didn't read the first book in this series, but it stands just fine on its own.

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I really love a good romcom and was looking forward to this one. I know there were mixed reviews around book one, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed book two much more though.

I really loved the references to other movies in this one. I just love real world media culture intertwined into stories. They make them more relatable.

I was not a huge fan of Chloe in this one, but she did grow on me as the story continued.

Overall, this was a really fun and quick read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Confession, I have always wanted life to be like the movies especially a romantic comedy and in some ways we experienced some elements of it. For chloe, she loves life but does not believe in love but when her friend Annie writes a script for a romantic comedy featuring Chloe and her cute boss, Chloe is not sure that her happy ending might not be as real as the movies. While reading this book, I could not help but realize the similarities and familiarity of something else I know....my life and it's certainly not like the movies. This will be a refreshing treat for our young community and I can't wait to hear their thoughts.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Not Like the Movies is the immediate follow-up to Waiting For Tom Hanks. Annie has written a rom-com inspired by her BFF's love life and it's about to premiere. However, Chloe isn't sure she even believes in love. Don't mention the fact that she's taking care of her father with Alzheimer's, her brother just showed back up in town and her self-inflicted list of maid-of-honor duties keeps growing.⁣
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I really enjoyed the first book but I liked this one even more. I think Chloe and Nick are just my people. Their story was much more relatable as a friends/co-workers to lovers trope. I was here for it all....the playful banter...the sexual tension...the supporting cast. And truly, who doesn't want a Nick in their life?! I love him! ⁣
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Really liked this book so much! If you love cute rom-coms, pick both of these books up! I'll definitely be watching for Kerry Winfrey's next book! ⁣
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𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: We still get fun references to 90's rom-coms. Annie's wedding playlist is goals. Too bad my wedding was 7 years ago.⁣
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This was pretty closed-door romance for those who are concerned either way with steam levels. ⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘣, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊.⁣
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What an excellent follow-up! Not Like the Movies is the follow up to the fabulous, Waiting for Tom Hanks. I loved getting to know Chloe and Nick in the first book, so I was beyond excited to know we were going to get more of them. I loved seeing Chloe go through so many emotions and how they change. Kerry Winfrey is fast becoming a go-to author for romantic comedies...her books leave you staying up through the night laughing and crying and never wanting the book to end. I recommend you sit down with a delicious piece of Chloe made pie in one hand and Not Like the Movies in the other and trust me you will devour both in one sitting.

❣️REVIEW: Not Like The Movies by Kerry Winfrey, for release July 7, 2020
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Not Like The Movies is the direct sequel to rom-com inspired Waiting For Tom Hanks. It follows Chloe, Annie’s bestie. As we saw in the last book, Annie based her rom com film script off of Chloe’s life and her sexual -will-they-or-won’t-they-tension with coffee shop owner, Nick.

What I Loved:
🥧The Pie references

🥧I’m always here for endless pop culture references. No, there can never be too many.

🥧Chloe’s relationship and dedication to the people in her life, particularly her dad. Her growth as a character really shined through.

🥧Nick was an adorable little old man type hero. As with Waiting for Tom Hanks, I wanted more scenes with Drew and Nick!

🥧I loved that Chloe’s bisexuality was portayed, as well as the fact that she didn’t want kids or marriage. It would have been nice to explore that a tinge more!

Overall, it was an adorable book with such a satisfying happy ending for both couples! I highly recommend reading Waiting For Tom Hanks first, or you will be confused. Also, if you require steam, this book is very closed door.

Thank you @berkleyromance and Kerry Winfrey for access to this amazing ARC💖

I really enjoyed this continuation as Waiting for Tom Hanks was absolutely adorable and this follow up did not disappoint! I loved getting deeper into emotional issues, and though at some points I found Chloe to be annoying, I related to her, and that is the most important thing. Though I knew there would be a HEA ending, the roller coaster it took to get there made the ride a super enjoyable one!

This is a great year for romance writers who follow up books I liked last year with books I love even more this year. Winfrey's previous romance was sweet and enjoyable, but this one was everything I needed. Chloe and Nick had a Luke-and-Lorelai/Nick-and-Jess vibe that I loved, but with an edginess, depth, and badass bi woman main character that made me love it all the more. There's an "only one bed" scene, taking care of people who refuse to be taken care of when they're sick, complicated family dynamics, and acknowledgement of how hard it is as an adult when your friends' lives are moving at a different pace than yours.

If you a fan of RomComs, like I am. Then Not Like the Movies is just for you! The first book is a hit and this one had me laughing and cheering on this couple. Sure this book is filled with the typical romance cliches, but that is what makes this book a hit. It's predictable on how this couple will get this their happily ever after, but getting there was the fun part. This book had me smiling on the sweetness and chaotic ways to get there.