Too Good to Be Real is a contemporary romance about Julia, a journalist in Chicago grasping at straws to keep her job. She meets Luke on her next assignment at a Romantic Comedy LARP experience at a hotel, and rom-com fun ensues.

As a bordering-on-religious romance reader, I was kind of disappointed by this book. The first third was terrific, and the banter between Julia and her friends was so funny and quick and engaging. That alone merits 2 stars. The second third, which is where the romance probably should've built up and the world should've faded away, was nowhere near that. I didn't get why they liked each other. I didn't get why they would fall in love with each other. I didn't get why I wanted to keep reading about Julia and her friends more than Julia and Luke. It was unsatisfying insta-love, with a world and premise more engaging than the actual couple. The last act was, consequently, unavoidably dull. I would read an entire book about their friendships, but Luke and Julia were unmemorable together for me. The tropes and cliches, which I usually love, were exhausting by the end.

Critiques aside, I loved the premise, I loved the secondary characters-- all of them, even the animal ones--, and the author has a serious gift for fun dialogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy!

When I think of entertaining reads, I have a checklist of sorts that I would like the story to encompass, at least, a few of. This story goes above and beyond and almost checks off each item on my “perfect reads” list. Fresh and Innovative or Intriguing Plot/Engaging Characters/Unique Concept/Relatable Interaction/Romance/Humor....it has all of this and so much more! Through the story, we travel to a place called Notting Hill...one of my favorite movies of all time...and experience a week at a romantic simulation getaway through the eyes of three fabulous friends! While there, they experience the ups and downs of the “sim” and each find their own version of romance and fun interactions along the way. From beginning to end, I was thoroughly entertained. With the romantic comedy references, there was an element of sparkle added and sprinkled throughout. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining, wish-you-were-transported-into-the-story kind of book, this must be on your list! I cannot recommend it enough!!

This was a cute, quick read that I enjoyed. It was similar to other rom-cons that I’ve read lately because of the likable characters and witty one-liners. I gave it three stars because it didn’t quite keep my attention like others that I’ve read lately. I found myself picking it up and putting it down often.

This book is rom-com meets real life or is it real life meets rom-com? Julia is a writer for a trendy website trying to keep her job after another round of layoffs. She accepts an assignment for Take Me!, a travel segment. One problem, she hates travel and gets motion sickness. Thankfully a new resort catering to rom-com lovers has opened and it's not too far to travel. She goes to the resort with her two friends to review it. Luke is a computer guy who's working at the resort, Notting Hill, in order to get the money for his start up. He, along with his sister and best friend, have set up the entire experience for the guests. A lot is riding on the success of the resort. He literally runs into Julia on the first day. He convinces his sister to take over as Game Master so he can spend time with Julia as a role player. Julia decides to let the resort management think that her friend is the reviewer so that she can get the real experience. Julia and Luke spend time together and fall in love but Julia can't help but wonder if the entire thing is real or not. Luke gets outed as one of the staff and much angst ensues. Can Julia trust her heart? Can Luke convince her it's real? A fun book that really delivers. Loved it.

Relatable, enjoyable mad me laugh out loud several times. It’s a fun book to read with friends if you want a new book club read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. Who hasn’t dreamed that they could live in a Rom-Com and have an adorable meet cute? Too Good to Be Real gives us this opportunity at a Rom-Com live action role play resort in Wisconsin. Here we meet Julia a journalist sent to review the resort and Luke one of the brains behind the project. I loved the concept behind the book and loved the idea of a Rom-Com vacation. The romance was hard to connect with and I felt the two main characters story fell flat. The relationship between Julia and her friends thrives as well as the relationship between Pen and Jay, David and Patrick, and other side characters. Mainly the Seagulls stole the show and scenes with the Seagulls were delightful.

This story made me laugh and smile. I found Julia's character so relatable. As I've started to get into the romance genre more, I've found a greater appreciation for the unique story telling. I thought this was a great read, and I loved the character development and the relationship building. I can't wait to read more from Melonie.

I had so much fun with this book! It was an easy read and I found myself staying up late just to finish it. The characters were well-developed, and I felt like I was right there with him. This was a great book, and I can't wait to read more from the author!

I love the idea of a resort that hosts a role-play week devoted to romantic comedy movies! Julia is sent to review the facility. Luke is a manager there but decides to work from the role as a guest. As is classic rom com material, they have a quirky meeting, are smitten with each and keep getting thrown together. This was such a fun read! I don't know if this exists in reality but it is a great idea and made for an endearing book. And there are corgis! You can't go wrong with corgis. I read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable and amusing book. And what a great idea! Julia is a reporter and needs a story to save her job. She finds a gem of a story in the form of a hotel that lets people live through a simulated rom-com atmosphere (the name of the hotel is Notting Hill! I love it). Anyway, Luke is the developer and he and his sister and friend spearheaded development of this activity. Luke needs the bonus in order to start his own game development company. When he meets Julia, he decides to join the game. I laughed a lot at the hijinks, the thriving seagulls, the corgis, and also, the fact that Luke and Julia are written as normal people- not particularly in shape or gorgeous or good at everything. I thought it progressed a little bit slowly towards the end and it was kind of insta-love (I mean the game only lasted like a week!) which goes against the realness of the characters but otherwise, the story was so much fun!

Who has been so exasperated, tired and lost all hope for true love? Enter Julia. As an aspiring writer trying to impress her bosses and readers with a new pitch, she ends up taking part in a role-play act where she begins to question the reality of her life and feelings all in the same. Especially when she begins getting emotionally invested in the role play as if it was real life. Julia hides her true motivations for her part in the role play but can she hide them from herself too?

It's a fun romantic comedy for those that prefer this genre. There were some improvements needed in terms of the development and chemistry among characters that impacted my believability of the ending. There are certain parts that are just a little confusing to understand that also had me lost regarding the story. Overall, it is the perfect light, fluffy and romantic novel to read when you just want to fantasize about love and life!

"Too Good to Be Real" was a light romance perfect for easy reading. The premise is endearing - three best friends go to a resort for a week to experience a LARP (live-action role play) for rom-coms - and the number of references littered throughout the book was fun if you love watching those types of movies & shows.
I did find myself interested in Luke and Julia's relationship, but had a hard time buying that they were in love by the end because it felt a little rushed - it was the epitome of insta-love. They have about three real conversations amidst their intense physical attraction to each other, so while I certainly wanted them to be together, it felt a little quick that they were so in love by the end.
My other issue with the book is the number of storylines that were all happening in one novel. While Julia was definitely the lead, her two friends had their own love and emotional problems that the author brought up and tried to solve. Plus the familial issues that Luke has with his sister, so he also had multiple problems and places for growth. It was just a lot to get through and get resolved all in one book, so I felt like no one thing got the full attention it deserved.
I did enjoy the color from a lot of the side characters, from the other guests to the eccentric owner of the resort to the pesky seagulls!

All in all, while it wasn't my favorite rom-com that I've read, it was still a nice book and I would recommend giving it a read!

A fab read.

Desparate to keep her job, Julia heads off the Notting Hill resort for a week of rom-coms. Within in minutes of arriving at the resort she bumps in to Luke and there is a spark there but they are both keeping secrets so what will happen when the truth comes out.

Too Good to be Real tells the story of Julia, a writer for a popular website, and Luke, a nerd who is planning a live role-playing adventure that simulates a romantic comedy. When Julia shows up to attend the event to write about it online, she has an awkward meet cute with Luke that involves an evil seagull. Luke and Julia hit it off immediately, but they're both hiding the truth about why they are a part of this romantic comedy simulation; Julia is writing about it and Luke is the mastermind behind it.

The good:
This book is funny and relatable with some great dialogue and a very realistic depiction about friendship for twenty-somethings. The premise of a live action role-playing rom-com situation is funny and fascinating and causes some really cute scenes.

The bad:
This book is the essence of insta-love. Luke and Julia fall in love in the space of a week and it's hard for me to take that seriously, no matter how funny or interesting the story is.

[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]

Sweet and light but not for me.
Although I was hooked by the blurb and the starting point seemed great (seriously, I love rom-coms and I would go to that kind of resort right now!), I couldn't enjoy as I hoped this book.
It all begins great but at some point everithing felt wrong for me, too many misunderstandings, very little interactions between the MC, very few love moments... I don't know but at some point I felt very disconnected and I strugled reading the rest of the story.
I think this is a case of "it's not you, it's me" but, although I loved the movie references and the MC seemed charming and sweet, I didn't feel their love and I couldn't connect with the story.
But the writing is good and I think Melodie Johnson can write something that I like more..
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2'5 estrellitas
Más de lo mismo. Portada colorinchi, promesas de algo divertido y ligerito, planteamiento original, entretenimiento inicial, desarrollo regulero y debacle final.
La protagonista es una periodista que, junto a dos amigas, pasa una semana en un resort (tipo Dirty Dancing) para vivir una experiencia inmersiva en el mundo de las comedias románticas y recrearlas, para luego escribir un artículo sobre la experiencia. El maromo es el game master de la experiencia. El libro está lleno de homenajes a las comedias románticas y eso fue lo que me atrajo a la hora de leerlo pero la autora se acaba liando más que la pata de un romano. Hay demasiados malentendidos, demasiadas ganas de meter referencias y la historia de amor, que parecía mona y original, acaba siendo casi un mero accesorio, empieza llamando tu atención pero luego se tuerce de tal modo que no ves el amor por ningún sitio.
Otro libro que, para mí, prometía más de lo que ha dado.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published July 6, 2021.

Have you ever wanted to be in a rom-com? Or wanted to feel like you are in one?🙋🏼‍♀️

While trying to come up with a great pitch to give her boss and beat impending layoffs, Julia comes across a resort that allows you to experience your own romcom. So Julia and her two friends go to the resort in exchange for Julia to write a review. Soon after arriving she has her own meet cute with Luke who will also be participating in the week ahead. Julia hides the fact that she is there to write a review, but Luke has a few secrets of his own. Their experiences intertwine throughout the week and feels develop quickly. Will they realize it’s all real, or is it too good to be real?

Y’all. This book👏🏻👏🏻 my husband was getting so mad at me because I COULD NOT stop laughing. (And then I tried to explain and he was like you’re crazy🙄) I loved the friendship of Julia, Kay and Andie. I loved the meet cute that happened between Luke and Julia. I loved the resort and the activities. I would have probably been more upset at some things than the characters were, and the ending almost ruined it for me but honestly I loved this book y’all.

Rating: 🧪🧪🧪🧪(.5) / 5

QOTD: Would you to a resort like this? Either single or with your partner?

AOTD: I think it could be really fun and I loved that you got to pick your group activities and bonus activity! My husband may or may not go for it!

I really liked the premise of this book, how fun a book all about rom coms! Julie and Luke started outa so fun and promising but then it just got boring, Luke really annoyed me, I thought he was so boring and where was the banter?? I DNF'd this book about 55% of the way. I just couldn’t get into it I'm not sure why but it wasn't for me. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

A unique premise set in a hotel theme of rom coms. I loved all the references to rom coms. The main hero Luke was such a goofy and adorable man. A well welcomed break from the typical buffed up and perfect male leads.
Julia and Luke both kept secrets from each other. I knew the secrets were going to come out which put me on the edge of my seat.
I loved the opening page with Julia’s friends. Such fun banter.
At the end of the book, I had the sudden urge to watch a rom com.

If I had to give it a short phrase: “Meta Rom-Com Perfection”, “The Mother of All Rom-Coms”, Or, “The Rom-Com to End All Rom-Coms”. This book is perfect for fans of any Meg Ryan romance or for readers who loved Kerry Winfrey’s Waiting for Tom Hanks and Not Like the Movies. Too Good to Be Real isn’t hiding the conventions of romantic comedies from the reader. We know to expect a meet-cute, an elevator scene, and a grand gesture, but it is impossible to not have fun while reading it. I found myself smiling and chuckling throughout the book. You may have to suspend disbelief for some seagull shenanigans, but the love between our hero and heroine is always believable and true.
The rom-com simulation resort was such a clever place for this story, and the characters, including the furry and feathered ones, are equal parts ridiculous and delightful. I loved the multiple perspective and the side characters. Julia and Luke deserve this love story.

Bonnie and Clyde, the seagulls, clearly stole the show!

Have you seen Austenland? Or literally any rom com? Because this book is a gold mine for rom com lovers! A retreat based on rom coms? Yes, please! If you did happen to watch Austenland, this book is the same general idea. Julia is a reporter that needs a story and discovers a retreat that is based around rom coms. Julia and her friends are promised an escape to rom com world to experience what it's like in a fantasy.

This was just a delight! Pure delight. It's always fun to see two characters that have real love in the midst of a fantasy. You get to see the when it's real and discover the hardships with reality that doesn't always show up in a fantasy. Also, Luke is just too cute. Such a fun character! The Big Green Giant indeed.

If you love your rom coms, you'll love this! And you'll love Bonnie and Clyde.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.