I really enjoyed this book. The drama drew me in and Sloane’s anxiety felt very real. I enjoyed watching Sloane find herself. I appreciated how this book showed us that how we present ourselves to others might not really be exactly who we are. I thought that the romance between Sloane and Joseph felt real and raw. I slowly fell for Joseph and began to understand how he got to who he was.

I didn’t appreciate some of the things her family said and thought about Sloane. It was complicated but I enjoyed the layers and how it played out. It felt like the perfect mix of family drama and romance.

This book was romantic and full of what it takes to make a movie.

3.5 ⭐️

Refusing a period piece that her family is filming, Sloane is invited to become a consulting producer. Little does she know, her nemesis and ex-costar, Joseph Donovan is casted as the male protagonist. When the female lead is fired, Sloane steps in. Their close proximity opens up a new connection amidst the chaos of her crazy family. But, could what Sloane and Joseph have be something real?

This was more family drama than it was a love story, in my opinion, but not necessarily a bad thing. The quirks and nepotism, the behind the scenes elements were at the center, which I felt made the romance portion lack a little in the chemistry. I did like how no matter how diverse Sloane's family was, in terms of exes and sexual orientations, they came through together and had her back.

I recommend to fans of Schitt's Creek, Twice in a Blue Moon meets You Had Me at Hola, and LGBTQ representation.

It isn’t the fault of the book of the author at all, that it’s getting published at a time when my own personal view of celebrity life has soured to the point where I can barely look at the tabloids anymore without begging for some perspective all around given the unbelievable amount of tone-deafness in what’s being reported.

As a result, ‘Love Scenes’ is one that made me an undecided mess, as it felt like an entire smokescreen that’s the Hollywood film industry (as portrayed by Bridget Morrissey), where much ado about nothing seems to be the case in point.

It feels like a story about characters—of fiction mirroring reality perhaps?—moaning about the things that give them the privilege to lord it over ‘normal’ folks, of getting to be petty because they’ve been misrepresented, about behaving the way they want do simply because they can, of how they’re perceived in public versus the way they want to be perceived…and the story goes on.

In the light of the tabloids and the celebrity news these days, I’ll admit that despite this being fiction, there is some measure some revulsion I do feel for these self-absorbed characters—as reality flows over fiction and vice versa.

For a debut novel, Morrissey however, confidently takes the story on its head by weaving a drama that, if you’re into a treatise on performance, acting and channelling your emotions while juggling a public/private persona, would probably be one that keeps you up all night devouring the pages. Oh the drama, the divas, the volatility…and also the two-facedness of it all.

Obviously this celebrity-high-life-distaste belongs to me and me alone, where I couldn’t really find any liking for any of the protagonists or the secondary characters; they all seem too full of themselves in a way or another in this glitzy life far above the normal mortals and are simply impossible to connect with, even though there’s still a slow-burn romance that happens in the middle of it.

I tried. Really did. But ‘Love Scenes’ is just…not the book for me, sadly.

This one didn't blow me away, but it was a quick and nice read. I actually didn't buy the two main characters together - eek! As in, I couldn't really sense their chemistry. I think I've also read one too many books where the main female character's mother is absolutely atrocious, and I've reached my breaking point. Justice for good mother representation!

The biggest thing that saved this from 2 stars was the convo about not constantly killing off gay characters to "further the plot". I liked that it was brought up, but even that part felt inorganic. Like, it was brought up merely to make the point but it didn't feel natural. I hate that I'm coming off so negative about this book, because there's definitely a group of readers who will be allll over this one. But it's just not for me.

In Bridget Morrissey's novel Love Scenes, Sloane Ford is the famous daughter of a large, messy, very famous Hollywood family. She's also recently unemployed, having been unexpectedly killed off her TV show mid-season, and after having turned down the lead in a movie written and directed by her step-father, co-directed by her sister, and starring her mother (who's also the producer) and step-mother. Yes, MESSY. Her mom offers her a made-up job on the movie set, but Sloane is adrift and facing a crisis of confidence.

It doesn't help things when the leading man, Joseph Donovan, Sloane's drunken, feckless co-star from an earlier film, shows up stumbling over his lines in this newest project. He's the reason she almost quit acting altogether several years ago, and the reason she turned down this role. Suddenly, her made-up job has real responsibilities, coaching and rehearsing with Joseph. For his part, Joe has sobered up and wants nothing more than to prove to Sloane that he's turned over a new leaf.

Sloane is an appealing first person narrator, and her frustration with herself, her family, and Joseph is palpable. She's a bit at sea, and being buffeted from all sides. It wouldn't really be a spoiler, because it happens very early in the book, but there's one more Really Bad Thing going on and it's such a kicker of a line, that I don't want to mention it here. I enjoyed picturing real movie stars who might fit the bill in all the different Hollywood characters and situations. The secondary characters were well-drawn, if often maddening with their casual cruelties toward Sloane (seriously, thank heavens for all the step-parents!). The hero, Joseph, is perhaps a bit one-dimensional--unfailingly charming and ingratiating--a peril, I guess, of the single, first person POV.

Love Scenes is a fun, well-written book. I found Sloane to be a funny, down-to-earth heroine with a lot of baggage but a heart of gold, and I rooted for her.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley, opinions my own.

The story was pretty predictable, but I still enjoyed Love Scenes! It was a fast-paced, fun read. Sloane is reunited with Joseph Donovan after a previous tumultuous experience filming together. Now that Joe is sober, he wants to prove to Sloane that he is a changed man. Love Scenes checked all the boxes for an entertaining romance - slow burn, enemies to lovers, humor, and self-discovery. I loved Sloane and Joseph together. Sloane's family - while incredibly unconventional - also added an interesting dynamic to the story. There were parts of the book that weren't particularly realistic, but I enjoyed the storyline and the characters so I didn't really mind too much. It was an overall a fun and lighthearted read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so much more than I anticipated!
The romance was an amazing slow burn that was done incredibly well, but it also painted a beautiful picture about how we present ourselves to the people around us and the importance of family and friends.

It also gave a really amazing, detailed and very believable glimpse at the making of a movie and what goes on behind the sevens. I really enjoyed this one!

This book was fine. You could see all the beats coming but I still found the characters enjoyable. Some of the storylines seemed a little to cliche for me, but I did really enjoy all of the extended family and their interactions.

I can't even convey how much I LOVED this book. The premise is fabulous, but the characters were what made this title stand out for me. They were flawed and messy and lovably big-hearted. Sloane and Joseph had me swooning the whole time. I really felt emotionally connected to each of the characters and was so sucked-in that I had to bring my Kindle into the shower to keep reading. This author is an auto-buy for me from now on!

Posted on GoodReads (February 25, 2021)
Review linked.

4/5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an E-ARC of this book for an honest review.

I was so excited about this book when I saw its cover and read about its synopsis. I could not wait to get my hands on a copy and read about it. If you don't know, I grew up in LA, and both my parents are in the film industry, so I love a good Adult Romance that is set in the film industry, especially one that talks about the glamour while also discussing the darker sides of the industry.

This book did exactly what I wanted it to. I usually don't love Adult Romances that focus so heavily on family drama, but I feel like this had the perfect mix of family drama and our romance with the sexy and adorable Irish Actor, Joseph Donovan. One of my favorite things about this romance is that it felt honest and reel. None of the characters felt idealistic or like caricatures. They all felt like real people with flaws and hardships, friendships and epic love stories.

I absolutely loved both Joe and Sloane's characters because I didn't fall in love or connect with them right away... I know that sounds strange, but honestly, it's true. I fell in love with their characters slowly and over the course of the novel, and by the time their story was done I was rooting for the both of them!

I also really loved how this book portrayed the film industry. Bridget Morrissey really did her research. It felt like I was on a real, working movie set, and I loved how she didn't hide away from discussing some serious topics like female agency and power in film, and the unfair treatment of women and LGBTQ+ people in the industry and by the media.

Overall, I really loved this book. I loved how diverse Sloane's family was, I loved all of the side characters and their own individual stories, I loved Sloane's story about finding her own confidence in herself and her career again, and I loved seeing her fall in love with the wonderful Joseph Donovan. I really recommend reading this book to anyone who loves film and Adult Romances!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
A great story with wonderful characters. Not just a romance, but a family drama.

“My whole life has been about movies. But real life doesn’t always end in periods or exclamation points. Real life throws out questions with no intention of ever answering them.”

Freshly out-of-work actress Sloane Ford is in desperate need of a new project. When her family (every member as famous in the movie industry as Sloane) ropes her into working as a producer on their World-War II-era romance, they fail to mention that the film will be headlined by Joseph Donovan, Sloane’s least favourite co-star of all time. Still smarting over the way he treated everyone and made her life a living hell the last time they worked together, Sloane is not here for Joseph’s “new and improved” version. When filming gets underway and everything that can go wrong, does go wrong, Sloane is forced to take on the leading role opposite Joseph, which means they’ll have to act like lovers. Sloane isn’t convinced that Joseph really has changed, but the show must go on, as her family reminds her. Yet the more time the two co-stars spend together, the more sparks fly and eventually, the lines between on-camera and off-camera begin to blur. Sloane and Joseph will have to ask themselves how much “natural” chemistry goes before it turns into something more.

Let me preface this review by saying that I am an absolute sucker for movie star romances. I love everything about it, including the rehearsing romantic lines, the meta elements when the actors’ and characters’ story arc suddenly align perfectly, not to mention all the drama that comes with being on set. And whoo boy, does Morrissey deliver on all of these points.

Sloane Ford is an amazing protagonist to follow. She’s approachable and witty, but above all, she is incredibly relatable. She’s not perfect, just like any of us she makes mistakes and is kind of a mess, but a loveable one at that. Having been burned by her ex-boyfriend—a musician who dedicated his entire second album to exposing all the vulnerabilities and fears she shared with him during their relationship—Sloane doesn’t know how or who to trust when it comes to romance. Finding herself faced with none other than the man who made one of her first filming experiences a living hell soon after that very public breakup, Sloane wants nothing more than to ignore the lingering sparks between her and Joseph, scared to be burned all over again. The chemistry between Sloane and Joseph is palpable and I absolutely love how Joseph is held accountable for how he behaved during their last filming experience. Yes, he has extenuating circumstances as we learn, but that does not mean his actions were okay, and he himself knows that and tries to make up for it with both words and better actions. It added a deeper layer to their relationship and made me root all the more for them to find their way to each other.

While the romance in this is very much a enemies-to-begrudging-partners-to-friends-to-eventual lovers, the focus of Love Scenes is on the Ford family dynamics. Some may balk at that in what is marketed as a romance novel, but I loved it. Intricate and flawed family dynamics are so hard to get right, but here, they’re so intriguing you won’t be able to put the book down. We not only get to see the tension between Sloane and her mother, Sloane’s fears concerning her dad’s health, but we also get to see the extended family and their dynamics—from Sloane’s mother’s relationship with her ex-husband’s new partner or Sloane’s relationships with her younger sibling that she doesn’t get to spend all that much time with. I found myself so intrigued by this messy family and their issues, which are rarely resolved since everyone in that family is as stubborn as Sloane. But through it all, you can tell these people are in each other’s corners, always, and I wish that there was a comedy series about the Fords because god knows I’d binge every season following their eccentrics.

An in-depth exploration of a patchwork family and their dynamics, with a slow-burn co-stars-to-lovers romance, Love Scenes is the perfect read for anyone who can’t resist a good escapist romance and loves well-done redemption arcs.

Yeesss! This book ticks all the boxes of a devoted romcom fan like me!
Blasting chemistry: check!witty, rich, ultra entertaining dialogues: check!
So much likable MCs and fantastic supporting characters! Check! Check! Check!
The sarcastic, confused, heartbroken heroine Sloane we can easily relate and groveling, tempting, hot Irish hero Joseph Donovan( cousin of Ray Donovan! Okay I’m kidding but his father is Michael so close to Ray’s mischievous father Mickey Donovan: even the fathers’ characters are the same) we may yearn steal our hearts! Let’s not forget the heroine’s crowded family dynamics. Two younger siblings at the movie industry: Tyler: debut director, Powell is movie composer. Two actor divorced parents marry again with different partners! Then the father divorces again, dating with a new girlfriend. But interestingly two ex wives are getting along so well, playing lovers at the last movie Tyler is directing!( that’s not the only fire at the set! ), friendly new girlfriend( her father dates a girl two years younger than Sloane but who cares, they were truly in love)- soon to be fiancée of her father and sweet little 11 years old stepsister are already part of their dysfunctional, noisy, entertaining family!

Sloane’s stepfather is legend director and after seeing the introductions you may understand her path is already defined when she was younger. She involved in the movie business like her entire family did. But now she seems like she lost her way. She doesn’t like to be called privileged young daughter of power couple. (Even though she was exactly privileged young protégée of the legendary couple)

She wants to be remembered with her own efforts and she’s stubborn enough to work for tv series that she’s not pleased to perform! And now they cut her character. She already rejected the leading actress part at the World War II romance movie which will be her sister’s directorial debut. They already casted someone but they still insist she can be part of the project as producer.

She tries to adjust in her new role even though a family with no boundaries like hers could give her hard time at movie set after she lost her last gig and huge part of her confidence. And she realizes that’s not the worst part of the job: the leading actor of the movie is Joseph freaking Donovan who turned her life into hell when they worked at a romcom movie before. She was so close to leave acting job after she endured his nightmarish, egotistical manners at the movie! Now her job is helping him work on lines together because he’s not doing a great job at the first day of the set.

Joseph a. k.a. Joe insists he became a better man and apologizes about his past manners nonstop, nearly groveling to earn her confidence. Interestingly Sloane cannot resist his charms and she surprisingly builds a friendship with enemy.

But after her mother fires the leading actress and offers her role to Sloane, she takes it against all risks! What can go wrong being around Joe and having intense sex scenes in front of her entire family! Well, you know the answer, don’t you?

I loved Sloane and Joe’s incredibly chemistry!
I loved Sloane’s big, complicated, freaking crazy family!
I loved everything about this book! This is hot! This is entertaining! This is sweet! This is emotional!

It’s like watching movie inside another movie and having time of your life!

Definitely earned five war era, romantic, enemies to lovers, dysfunctional family, feel good, laugh out loud, fantastic stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing For Sharing this reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.