*2.5 stars*
I wanted more from this book. More characterization, more depth, more honesty of characters. It’s so weird because I enjoyed Julia and Luke (our leads) together (not also for their chemistry but banter), but not so much on their own. The pacing of the book also fell short for me.

I did laugh and enjoy the sismance and the seagulls!

Thanks to he Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of the book.

Julia heads to Notting Hill resort for their Rom-Com experience, and she meets Luke. The book overall and the resort experience have tons of references to other classic romantic comedies and couples. As they participate in the role play, they have more and more difficulty sticking to their assigned characters as they fall for each other.
I wish the book had developed Julia and Luke's relationship a bit more. I felt like a lot of the focus was on Julia's time with her friends and her job, and Luke's interactions with his sister and best friend. The characters to me seemed younger than they were supposed to be. I thought this book was just ok.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

The premise behind this is cute, but there's maybe one too many rom-com plots happening at the same time - I get that it's the point and what the book is going for, but it also made it just a smidge too uncanny valley overall. There are a lot of characters that speak either entirely in plot exposition or Explaining How LARPing Works, and the jump between perspectives can be a little tough to follow who's doing what at times. That said, it's also frothy and fun and you can finish it in a sitting.

If you love rom-coms like I do, then you'll love this book. It's the romcommiest book ever--like a modern LARPing role-play mixed with Austenland and all of your favorite rom-coms blended together.

To save her job, Julia makes a deal with her boss, grabs her two besties, and arrives at a hotel promising to give you a rom-com experience. The meet-cute with Luke was unscripted, but she keeps running into him, and there's definitely chemistry from the get-go. But she's here for a story, and a misunderstanding with the staff allows her to be quasi-undercover as she researches for the story to pitch. Because a girl needs an income with benefits, and a little romance couldn't hurt.

Luke is not supposed to be in the role-playing rom-com fantasies, he is the tech guy behind the hotel, and along with his sister and best friend, everything rides on the success of this week, and the promise of a bonus so he can do the tech work of his dreams.

As Julia and Luke are thrown together by accident, and sometimes on purpose, the lines between role playing and the heart are blurred. And even though both are technically working, they're having a lot of fun. And as they're about to do a skit, their secrets are revealed, and it threatens everything, including their budding romance. Cue the black moment.

This book has romance, comedy, lots of corgis, an eccentric hotel owner, crazy seagulls, a few wrong turns, and Julia and Luke have to decide if everything happened for a reason, if there's a chance for a future, or if it was all Too Good to Be Real...

This is your mid-summer beach read!

**I received a Netgalley from the publisher**

I was first attracted to the cover of this book (and this says something as I don't really usually look at the covers), and then I was attracted to the blurb - I mean, who wouldn't want to live out their rom-com dreams?

Julia and Luke get to live out their Lloyd Dobler, Tom and Meg fantasies at a Dirty Dancing-esque hotel, and had my romcom loving heart swelling.

I did wish that there was a bit more communication between our lovelies, which might have given them a bit more chemistry, but this is probably just a me thing.

I loved the secondary characters just as much, and I would love to get some more of them at some stage, even if it was just novella.

I look forward to whatever Ms Johnson brings us next.;

Okay, I don’t get to read a lot of romcoms, but I do love them. This book was corny, cute and a light read. I liked the premise. I mean a romcom resort?? That sounds like amazing fun right?!

I wish there had been a little more romance though. It also was lacking more of the comedy side that I get in other romcoms.

Overall, definitely one to put on your summer reading list!

Thank you to @stmartinspress, @NetGalley and the author for the #gifted copy.

3.5 stars

This book was a lot of fun! If you enjoy rom-coms, I feel like you'll like this story, too. The characters were good and the story was entertaining.

Overall, though, it was predictable and the story was a bit too fast paced for my liking. You kind of have to suspend disbelief in order to truly enjoy your time. But I don't think that's it's too big of a deal.

Although this book definitely isn't the greatest book of all time, I still enjoyed my time with it!

Julia Carpenter is tired of the dating life. When her job at an on-line website is threatened to layoffs, Julia needs to come up with an excellent idea to stay employed. Julia ends up finding about a new Rom-Com type resort opening up a few hours away and manages to score invites for her and her two best friends, Kat and Andie. Together the friends will spend a week there while Julia is undercover and then she can do a write up on the new resort for her company.

Just after arriving, Julia crashes into Luke O'Neal and has a fun, but not-so-fun meet cute. The attraction is there but Julia wonders if it is all real. During the week Julia and Luke keep spending more time together and things are escalating quickly. In between all the fun Rom-Com things Julia is starting to think things with Luke are real. Just when it looks like Julia may have found her soul mate with Luke, things come crashing down because of secrets both of them are keeping. It will take a lot of soul searching on both of their parts to finally realize that what they have is truly real.

I just loved Too Good to Be Real by Melonie Johnson. Ms. Johnson creates such fun characters and equally entertaining stories in all her books. Julia loves Rom-Coms and many movies people love get weaved into the story. Julia was a fun and cute character. She went into this job not expecting to find love but then surprising does. Luke, the nerdy, computer geek was certainly not expecting to find love at the resort but it just came crashing into him. I loved both of these characters....they just worked. I also adored all the other characters. This story kept me laughing and swooning the entire time. I highly recommend this book!

Julia and two of her closest friends set out for a week of fun at a rom-com get away. Sounds like a cute premise for a novel.. However, the meet cute that brings Julia and Luke (the other MC) together wasn't all that cute! A little too much insta-love for me. I really didn't feel the chemistry between the two MCs. (I also felt like the chemistry between the minor characters and their respective love interests were also very one dimensional and flat). Both MCs were pretending to be something they were not, at a place where people are already supposed to be pretending to be something they were not.

Overall Melonie Johnson's "Too Good to Be Real" is a light, cute, quick read, but was relatively predictable, and perhaps not my favorit rom-com of the summer.

If you like Rom-Con movies you'll love this book. This is a fun, witty story that will have you laughing in enjoyment.

I really enjoyed both Julia and Luke. They are great characters. The type that keeps you reading and wanting more. I also liked her Andie and Kat. Some of the best parts of the book in between the three of them. You really get the sense of a long-lasting friendship that the three girls share.

There are so many of this book that I really enjoyed. I'm not the greatest fan of Rom-Cons and only decided to read it because of liking Johnson's other books. I'll let you in on a little secret, I might only read romances but I don't usually watch them.

As I mentioned, there is plenty of fun, good times in this book and I think you'll really enjoy it. It's the humor that kept me reading the story. Plus the fact that it's very well written. It didn't hurt the cute cover either. I love corgis.

DNF @ 14% -- I just couldn't get into this one. All the bones were there, but I wasn't connecting with ANY of the characters. I have a feeling if I'd plowed on, it would have ended up being a 3 star...definitely not a bad book, but a bit forgettable.

This sweet yet sexy rom com put me in such a nostalgic mood. It's got so many great references to the rom com movies of years past, and I liked the easygoing, laidback vibe. It's perhaps a little too long and a little TOO laidback, but I enjoyed the story as a whole. This one will work best for those who love romance that's got humor, heart, and just a touch of heat.

The story follows Julia, a journalist whose career is in jeopardy. She's been tasked with reviewing a destination, and it can't be anywhere too expensive. So when Julia discovers that there's a real life romance retreat opening up not too far from her home, it sounds like the perfect option. Her friends join her on a vacation that promises to make them feel like they're in a movie come to life, and that's definitely what happens. Julia has her own imperfectly perfect meet cute with an adorkable guy, and their romance seems almost too good to be true. And you know what? Maybe that's because it is. Julia and Luke are both keeping secrets that threaten to hit their fairytale romance with a heavy dose of reality.

I will say that I found this to be slow-moving and frustratingly charming at times, but I still liked the vast majority of it. Readers who love a low angst, laidback romance will likely fall for the story though - it's classic with a twist, and the premise is pretty unique. I liked that the characters are flawed and have insecurities, which added some authenticity to the stylized rom com vibe. Luke is a great guy, a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows he's not the typical romance hero. And Julia's group of friends make this a well-rounded read that hints towards future books. It may have been a little slow (this sits between 3 and 4 stars for me), but there's something to be said about a story that is just so charming. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this rom com.

Thank you NetGalley, author Melonie Johnson, and St. Martin publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4 stars
What if you could reenact every romantic comedy you have ever seen in a live action role play event in order to find your one?
This book was a very fun and interesting book. I loved the characters especially Julia's friends. They were such a close group and I laughed a lot at their discussions that took place about human anatomy and all the crazy activities each of them participated in during their week at the retreat! I did not really buy into the romance between the hero and the heroine. I did not feel like they really had a whole lot of chemistry to make the relationship believable. I would have bought more into a friendship between them rather than a romance. The writing especially all the movie reference activities had me smiling. I had no problem flying through this book, in hopes of reading more about the crazy seagulls! Overall, while the romance was a little underdeveloped, I found I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to those who is a fan of rom-coms. I look forward to reading more book by this author in the future.

I had such a blast reading this smart, funny and adorable book! It was the perfect book to indulge in during the long holiday weekend. I loved the dual character POV, the side characters who also had their own love stories/predicaments and as a Midwesterner, it took me back to summers in the Midwest.

With impending layoffs threatening her job, Julia, a writer for a popular website, must come up with a pitch that will save her job. When she stumbles on a Rom-Com themed resort, where guests are promised they'll live out their rom-com fantasies, Julia decides it could be the story that saves her job. Tired of the dating apps and less than stellar dates, she convinces her two best friends to join her on this week long vacation as she reviews the resort.

Although Julia and her friends love rom-coms, Julia is skeptical about getting too carried away during their week-long getaway. She is determined to focus on giving a professional and well-written review of the resort. But those plans go out the window when she literally bumps into Luke her first day at the resort. As Julia tries to keep a heart guarded as she spends time with Luke, she begins to feel like she's in her own real-life Rom-Com. Can she spend time with Luke, keep her heart from getting broken and write a career-saving review? Only time will tell.

If you're look for a fun, flirty romance that will literally sweep you off your feet, I can recommend this book enough. If you're a fan of rom-coms, you'll love the rom-com references, cute corgis that make an appearance and some very feisty seagulls.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is truly a shame that a rom-com resort doesn’t actually exist because after reading Too Good to Be Real, I desperately want to go to one.
The book follows Julia, a journalist for a popular website, who, in a desperate attempt to keep her job, volunteers for the website’s new travel column. As she’s searching for the perfect place for her pitch, she stumbles upon every romantic comedy lover’s dream: a resort where you can actually live out various rom-com scenarios. When she’s checking in, she meets Luke, the game master of the resort, in more of a meet-ugly than a meet-cute.
Smitten with Julia from the start, Luke decides to join the game as a participant, but there’s a problem: Julia doesn’t know he works for the resort, and Luke thinks that Julia’s friend is the reviewer instead of her. Despite the secrets they’re keeping, the two develop fast feelings through a series of adorably awkward encounters.
A romantic comedy about living out romantic comedies is risky but Too Good to Be True manages to toe the line between delightfully corny and amazingly self-aware. I loved how it didn’t shy away from making as many rom-com references as possible, and I had so much fun reading through and trying to place them all. The developing relationship between Julia and Luke is enjoyable to watch. The struggle they have finding the difference between fantasy and reality was realistic and well done.
I also loved how well all of the side characters’ stories were developed, from the existing couples at the resort to rekindle their relationship to the single participants finding love in unlikely places. Overall, this was a cute and quirky read. If you love rom-coms, this is definitely the book for you.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Too Good to Be Real, billed as a love letter to romantic comedies, is certainly a fun read. Filled with movie references, a wonderful female friendship trio, and several animal friends, this romance had the potential to be a knockout.

However, when it came to the actual romance, I found myself not being able to get fully onboard with the central couple. I felt like there was a lot of telling and not showing in the relationship and while there were a few moments that worked, Julia and Luke never completely hit the mark for me. This disappointment didn't completely obliterate my feelings toward this book, but I do wish there had been a little bit more development.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

While her friends wish for meet cutes worthy of their favourite rom-coms, Julia is ready to give up on love. Swiping right has replaced getting swept off your feet and good old-fashioned romance has become, well, old-fashioned. A writer for a popular website, love becomes the last thing on her mind when impending layoffs threaten her job. As Julia searches for the ultimate pitch to impress her boss Cleo, she stumbles upon a resort offering guests a chance to live out their romantic comedy dreams.
At the resort, Julia literally falls into a not-quite-meet-cute involving an aggressive seagull and an adorably awkward guy named Luke who is also participating in the rom-com experience. Julia hides the fact she is there to do a story, but Luke harbours a few secrets of his own. Among further encounters with thieving seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and even a karaoke serenade, their feelings deepen quickly.
A hugely entertaining book that had me hooked from the first sentence & had me smiling all the way through. If you’re looking for a light hearted, entertaining read with great characters then settle down with this little beauty plus you may find some rom-com movies to watch. I read this book when I was feeling a bit down & it lifted my mood, I loved both Luke & Julia who fell for each other hard & fast but they were both keeping secrets so things were bound to go pear shaped. The secondary characters were delightful & the situations are different & fun. A well written, captivating read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book was great for a beach read! A truly charming story that actually reads like a movie! I'll be recommending it for sure!

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued... and then skeptical. I mean, how does a resort for romantic comedies work? Wouldn't it all be fake? I mean, how can you *stage* a meet cute? But after hearing how much humor and heart this story brought from friends, I ended up deciding to give it a go, and I'm glad I did!

From this very first page, Johnson brings laugh-out-loud humor, which carries through the book. Rom-com movie lovers are sure to appreciate the umpteen quotes from classic films like Notting Hill, serving of *the* pie from When Harry Met Sally, and paint ball scenes straight from 10 Things I Hate About You. While the premise of this books invariable leads to the two leads hiding major secrets from each other and basically starting a relationship under false pretenses, which likely will make some readers uncomfortable, there was at least a balance to the deception, and with dual-POV chapters we knew everyone's heart was in the right place.

I think the idea of a rom-com hotel would have been better if there weren't actors involved and it were just all singles or couples. While I understand this whole concept is fictional, the idea of an actor swooping off my feet consistently rubbed me the wrong way. But as a huge fan of murder mystery dinners and weekends, the idea of a week or weekend enthralled in the world of rom-coms is certainly something I would sign up for!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and author Melonie Johnson for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

I really wanted to love this one, especially with the premise - it really grips you with the hilarious dynamic amongst the friends. It just didn't ultimately grip me with the connection amongst the love interests, there wasn't a believable spark or connection to follow for me.