Too Good to be Real was such a fun, creative rom com! It’s filled with some hilarious witty banter, a wonderful girlfriend gang, some cute wiggly butt corgis, some crazy seagulls, and a nice mix of all of our favorite romance tropes. ⁣
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I feel like I got bits and pieces of some of my favorite romcom movies with a twist and loved when some of the classics were mentioned. ⁣
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Julie a heartbroken writer who’s all but given up on love, who obsesses over rom coms with her two besties Kat and Andie, takes a leap and asks her boss if she can write for the travel column for their website. A new rom com themed LARP opens and the three girls head there to get the full experience and write an honest review about the resort. ⁣
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So many hilarious things happen, we meet all kinds of entertaining people, we get grand gestures and clever dialogue. Such a good summer feel good read!⁣
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Thank you @stmartinspress for an ARC for my honest review! #bookstagram #books #netgalley #toogoodtobereal #romance #romcom

Julia is on the verge of losing her job as a journalist and will do anything it takes to keep her job, even if its going on a writing assignment for the travel section when she hates traveling. Which brings her to Notting Hill Resort in Wisconsin on a writing assignment for a rom-com roleplaying weekend where every romantic can live out their movie fantasies. Luke took a job programming a rom-com roleplaying game because it would help his sister out, and the bonus would give him the money he needs to start his own company. Both skeptical of the experience, find themselves caught up in their own real life rom-com, but secrets of their real life threaten to unravel the relationship they form on the week away, and the lines between role playing and real life are starting to blur!

I really wanted to love this book, I mean I'm a rom-com queen, but something about it felt more Hallmark channel and less Silver Screen. I found myself skimming in some spots because I just wanted to see how it ended. However, I could totally see this being a CW series or hallmark movie for sure. Don't get me wrong, this was cute, a bit cheesy and if you like rom-coms you will like this. It was just a little cliche, and I was hoping for more. I loved Julias relationship with her friends, and I liked that when things unraveled she chose the harder route and didn't just forgive the lie. I liked that it was set partly in Chicago, where I live. And I loved that Julia and Logan weren't these perfect hot couple who were just connected after a mysterious spark that a lot of books do. They were flawed and nerdy and I loved that!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review 3.5 stars!

It’s a rom-com book centered around rom-com movies with our characters having rom-com experiences. You absolutely knew how this book was going to end, but I enjoyed the ride getting there. But honestly, the true love story was between Julia, Angie and Kat. Their best friend relationship was so believable, it kind of outshone the m/f romance at times.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Fun premise. Unique setting. Witty characters. But the writing falls flat and I was not invested. The outcome is pretty obvious from the beginning and I found myself ready for it to be over. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

The central theme of Melonie Johnson’s “Too Good to be Real” is finding out if life can truly be like living in a romcom. The story is a cross between the book/movie “Austenland” to the movie “Isn’t It Romantic” to the book “Would Like to Meet”. If you loved just one of these, you’re going to laugh up a storm and be moved during this one.

Like in half the Hallmark heroines, Julia’s job is on the line, and so she seeks out ideas to write about for her company’s website. Luckily, she discovers this resort where you can live out your romcom fantasies. "Real life dating is so bleak, who wouldn't want to spend a week in a fantasy rom-com world with your best friends?”

After arriving at the resort with her two besties, Julia experiences her own meet cute with Luke, the program director of the romcom simulations. They both hide their true identities (she as the one reviewing the program and resort and he as one of the organizers). Instead, they play along as participants and while spending time together - whether it’s walking in the rain, doing karaoke, or painting - Julia and Luke develop feelings for each other, but they also contemplate if what they’re feeling is adrenaline from the simulations or if they’re romcom relationship is very much real.

I truly laughed quite a bit, as this story is a dedication to all that we love about romcoms: the meet cutes, the sidekicks, sibling bonding, mishaps, rain, one-liners, and of course, the grand gestures. You’re going to swoon over the awkward, geeky, and handsome control freak of a guy Luke. He may have some baggage to deal with, but he’s so worth it.

This was such a fun and funny book and what a breath of fresh air. If you get a thrill of romcom movies and you truly understand the importance of meet cutes and the typical formula of a romcom, you’ll enjoy this.

I received a copy of this book from the author as part of her traveling review team in exchange for an honest review.

I was excitedly to finally receive the physical book from the previous reviewer because I have been eager to read about how corgis fit into the story. Like so many others, I love holding the book in my hands. I’ve heard so much about this book and have seen so many posts on social media about it that it didn’t take me long to devour it as soon as I could. I judge a book more by its cover - I rarely read the description because I want to be completely surprised!

The premise of the story involves a resort that is hosting a rom-com role playing event. There are so many references to rom-Vons I grew up watching, that I immediately started finding some of them on streaming networks just so I could enhance my story experience.

There is so much fun to be had by the multitude of characters in this story- but is it all part of the role-Playing game ot is it Too Good to be Real???

Join Andie, Kat and Julia as they embark on a wild rom-com LARPIng adventure!

This book just wasn’t for me. This book is a romcom and it fell a little flat for me in both categories. I wish there was more on page time with the 2 main characters - there was a lot of focus on friendships and the Luke and Julia spend most of their time with other people. I also wish there was a little more tension - I mean they are both lying to each other about who they are and they don’t seem to really care? Also the humor just didn’t work for me - little to cheesy.

I can see this book working for someone with a different sense of humor but it was not for me.

Julia is a website journalist who writes Buzzfeed-like quizzes, bored of her job and her love life at the same time. When layoffs are announced at her workplace, she offers to write an article on a new resort right outside Chicago, one that promises to recreate iconic rom-com moments and to offer its guests the full-on romantic experience. When she and her two girlfriends arrive at the resort, she meets Luke, game master and developper of the whole project. Sparks fly between them immediately, but they both choose not to disclose their true identities: he acts as a resident of the resort as well and she never tells him that the real purpose of her visit there is to write a review. But, as they immerse themselves in "When Harry met Sally", "Say Anything" and other classic rom-com moments and scenarios, they start to realise that their feelings for each other are absolutely real.

The premise of this funny, heart-warming romance by Melonie Johnson is sooo thoughtful and clever - I, for one, would also love to go to a resort that promises to simulate all of my favorite rom-com moments and tropes. I also loved the Sex and the City-vibe of Julia, Andie and Kat, the three girlfriends that visit the resort, totally disappointed in the ideal of true love (and men in general), only to find their preconceived notions mistaken, each in different ways. Unfortunately, I didn't think there was much chemistry between Julia and Luke - their love story was cheesy to begin with and very predictable. It definitely wasn't one that would make me swoon over the pages of the book and not be able to put it down. All in all, "Too good to be real" was a fun, light-hearted romance book, with a clever central theme and idea, but a kind of forgettable execution.

Julia is going through a rough patch. Her dating life is in the abysmal and she is in jeopardy of losing her job at an online magazine. With layoffs looming she makes a pitch to her boss to write about a new hotel opening that gives the full RomCom experience. Luke is the programmer in charge (along with his sister and best friend)of putting together the Live Action Role Playing at the hotel. Of course, Luke and Julia have a meet cute that involves a pooping and thieving seagull. Can our couple get past the fantasy of the role playing and move their relationship back to the real world? This is a fun, cute read and a perfect beach read. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Just by looking at the cover of this book I knew it was something I would enjoy. I mean it had a cute dog on the cover, I’m sold.

In this book we follow Julia and Luke who are both attending a week long rom com fantasy get away. Here they interact with each other in all kinds of crazy rom com-ish situations. Luke is an awkward and shy guy, while Julia is more out going and ready to have a fun experience. They both have secrets they aren’t sharing which might hurt the relationship that is just getting started.

This book is every rom com movie troupe there is all in one cute and quick read. There are references to many different popular rom com movies. There is a lot of funny dialogue between all the characters and a mischievous bird. While this book may not be the most memorable for me, I definitely had a fun time reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

I was really rooting for this book, so know that when I tell you it let me down, I really mean it. Although the elevator pitch of this book is charming, the characters fell flat and were frankly interchangeable. The plot was unnecessarily convoluted and I came away from it rolling my eyes rather than cheering the characters on. The writing was mundane, lacking any of the wit and sparkle from the romcoms referenced throughout the novel. Overall, Too Good to Be Real turned out to be just not good enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

I wanted to like this book, but I DNF due to secondhand embarrassment and the cliché tropes. I really wanted to enjoy it, because the premise seems right up my alley, but I couldn't get past the cheese.

A disappointing read. What I want out of a romcom is some good laughs, engaging characters, and chemistry between the romantic pair. Too Good to Be Real was 0 for 3 on this.

I just couldn't bring myself to care much about either of the main characters, nor, unfortunately, any of the side characters. And I didn't really feel much chemistry between the pair of them, either. In addition to rarely being actually funny at all, the plot was convoluted and messy, leaving me with a lot of questions and mental edits (never a great sign). For instance, the concept of LARPing romcoms is original and cute, and I do appreciate the allusions to iconic romcoms & romantic tropes, but it doesn't make sense the way it's laid out in this book. And why did Luke have to lie and hide his real position there in order to...get a good review? Not to mention dozens of other tinier details that just didn't hold up to even the slightest bit of scrutiny. The writing style, too, was kind of dull and flat and messy, and just didn't keep my attention.

Basically, I wanted to edit this book, not read it...which just isn't what I want out of a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advance review copy.

I wasn’t too crazy about the premise for this book, but maybe that’s because I don’t see the appeal of live action role playing. In this story, the heroine, Julie, goes with her two best friends to check out a resort featuring role-playing based on rom-coms. There she encounters Luke who has been the programmer for the resort activities. I was never clear why they needed a computer programmer to run their activities.

I enjoyed seeing the romance tropes brought in for the week’s activities and Julie and Luke’s growing romance. I just couldn’t get all that engaged with their romance. I didn’t find either of them all that interesting as characters. And it’s a rather tired trope to have each character hiding a secret from the other and then for them to face difficulties when the truth is revealed, difficulties that they soon will overcome for their HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The book is based on a movie theme type of romantic fun. Its about different types of love, new, rekindle, siblings and best friends. The games and entertainment at the resort brought extra humor to the book.

I’ve never done any live action role-playing in my life so my only even peripheral experience with it was Austenland. If you enjoyed Austenland but wanted it to be a little bit more modern, then Too Good to Be Real is the book for you. Julia is a reporter trying to save her job when she gets an assignment to visit Notting Hill, a brand new resort that promises visitors a true romcom experience. Luke is on the planning team at Notting Hill and his meet cute with Julia is the two of them literally falling into each other. I don’t know if I could personally handle protecting my emotions while really giving into the experience—what’s real and what’s make believe? I am all for Alpha heroes, but I think the part of this book that I enjoyed the most was how different Luke was from your typical romance hero. He’s tall and awkward and lanky and definitely has some self-esteem issues with his appearance. It was a breath of fresh air to have a non-athletic, soft-bodied MC for a change. This book is light and fun with minimal angst. It’s a great book for the beach (or in my land-locked case, my couch). Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book release July 6, 2021. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #stlreads #steamyreads #chicagobooks #romcombooks #netgalley #stmartinspress #meloniejohnson #toogoodtobereal

Absolutely unique and wonderful romcom about being in a romcom.

An eccentric hotel owner creates a theme of living in a rom-com. Guests are given a "character" and activities where they can interact with other guests, paid actors, and hotel staff. For couples, it gives them a chance to renew their romance. For single guests, the opportunity for a "meet cute" and live through situations they've only seen on film.

The main characters are Julia, a reporter for a trendy magazine, and her two friends. They visit the hotel where Julia runs into Luke, one of the computer programmers that helped set up the system along with his sister and his friend. While she's the actual reporter, the hotel staff initially believe it's Julia's friend Kat, since she's the one who checked them in. Lines between make believe and reality get blurred, and most all end up with their HEA.

I was a bit unsure when I started where this was going, but absolutely loved it! You'll recognize the assigned character names based on real-life romance films and series, and was an enjoyable read!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the concept, and I liked the friendships between Julia, Andi and Kat. I really loved the side characters like Patrick and David, Harry and Sally. But if I am being completely honest, Luke and Julia fell a little flat for me? I am not sure what it was, maybe they were no developed enough? Or their relationship blooming wasn’t all that relatable or real?

Bottom Line: This passed the time just fine, and I definitely had a few LOL moments. It was a cute read, but nothing I would rush to get to.

**I received a copy of Too Good to Be Real from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Julia's down on her luck. Her love life has fallen flat and she's in real danger of losing her job. Why not kill two birds with one stone? She pitches a review of a resort that allows guests to live out their rom-com dreams through live-action role-playing. Not only could she save her job, but maybe have a meet-cute, too. Although her meet with Luke, the co-runner of the resort, isn't as cute as she'd like it to be, she can't help but be charmed by his handsome, awkward self. Julia hides the fact that she's reviewing the resort and Luke hides the fact that he partly owns it. The two become caught up in the fantasy world of rom-coms and begin to fall for each other. How do they know their love isn't just part of the roleplaying? And will their secrets threaten to ruin everything?

I was hooked from the first page of this book! Julia doesn't believe in love anymore, but she has an amazing group of friends who do. Their friend group was full of three eccentric, different women who loved each other endlessly and that was so nice to see! The way they encouraged each other felt so real and kind. I loved how they were rom-com lovers, even if they had their own romantic issues, too. The resort was EVERYTHING. I wish it was real! From the different rom-com names to Sally's pie for dessert, it was the perfect experience for a rom-com lover. Luke was so cute, too! He was a gentle giant who was the biggest nerd. I loved how awkward his interactions with Julia could be, but also how sweet and honest he was with his feelings. The dual point of view served this book lots of favors because it was so interesting to get inside both of their heads and see the romantic relationship unfold. From the meet-cute to the grand gesture, this was a near-perfect rom-com. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves rom-coms, Meg Ryan, and honest love stories!

This book was cute and funny and exactly hit all the tropes any fan of classic RomCom movies will know and love. Luke, a nerdy programmer/LARP game designer is part of a team running a RomCom-themed vacation. Julia is there with her friends to write a review of the experience. The two of them have a real-life meet cute, and then spend the week falling in love. But neither of them are willing to reveal their whole truth to each other. And how do they know if what they feel is real or is it all part of the fantasy? I particularly loved that Luke wasn't your typical over-muscled, exceedingly charming leading man. And the various side characters (even the seagull) filled out this fun romp of a book.