As Seen on TV is a fun, charming rom-com with a Hallmark movie vibe and a modern twist. The story follows Adina, a journalist who heads to a small town expecting a picture-perfect love story—but what she finds is more real, messy, and heartwarming than she imagined.
I enjoyed the humor, the small-town setting, and the slow-burn romance. Adina is quirky and relatable, and her growth throughout the story was really satisfying. A light, feel-good read perfect for fans of cozy romantic comedies.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Book: As Seen on TV
Author: Meredith Schorr
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


This was a cute book that gave me Gilmore Girls vibes. I really enjoyed the comparisons to Gilmore Girls and I had high expectations for this book because I love Gilmore Girls, but it just wasn't as great as I was expecting.

I unfortunately did not connect with this story so after about 25% i decided to put it down. There was a slight disconnect between the writing, the characters and the plot and for that it just did not work for me.

The perfect blend of Hallmark movie charm and the rawness of reality!

As a devoted fan of small-town romance stories, I was excited to dive into this book. While it embraces many of the familiar elements of the genre, it also subverts expectations by offering a more grounded portrayal of small-town life. Rather than presenting an idealized, picture-perfect setting, the novel highlights both the warmth and the challenges of these close-knit communities. Despite this realistic approach, I still found the story incredibly enjoyable and engaging.

Reading this book felt like stepping into the shoes of the main character—I, too, felt the excitement and anticipation of a dreamy, small-town romance, only to be confronted with the realities that often come with such places. There were moments of disillusionment, where the small-town magic didn’t quite align with expectations, yet this only made the story feel more authentic. What I truly appreciated was how the romance remained endearing and heartwarming despite its realism. The connection between the main character and the love interest was well-developed, with genuine conflicts and emotional depth rather than overused tropes or exaggerated, cheesy dialogue. Their relationship felt natural and compelling, making it easy to root for them.

One of the absolute highlights for me was the abundance of Gilmore Girls references! As a huge fan of the show, I adored every nod to it. Given that Gilmore Girls is the ultimate comfort series for lovers of small-town settings and bookish protagonists like Rory, it made perfect sense that this novel would pay homage to it. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, this book is a must-read—it captures a similar cozy yet realistic small-town atmosphere with all its quirks and charms.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys small-town romance with a touch of realism, heartwarming relationships, and a dash of nostalgia.

this took far too much effort to read, which is not something i should be saying about a romcom. adina's character was so so whiny & naive, and the writing was flat & uninteresting. the book ultimately was far too convoluted and too drawn out to have any sparkle. skip this one.

Here was a fun and steamy romance. Felt like a hallmark movie and helped that Adina was a fan of those movies as well. Great characters, funny moments. Overall a fun read. If you love gilmore girl vibes and hallmark movies - this book is for you!

The main character of this novel, Adina, is a young journalist from NYC travels to a small town in NY called Pleasant Hollow, having pitched a story about how the town is threatened by a big real estate developer. To her shock, she discovers that everyone there is actually pretty happy about the new construction, and that the town is nothing like her Hallmark movie/Glimore Girls dreams of cutesy small town life. But just maybe she can find romance there anyway?

This one was just ok for me. I think Adina was perhaps intentionally written as a bit of a naive idiot, but I just found her insufferably annoying. I didn’t love the pacing of the romance either. It was a cute enough story and I did like the Jewish representation but not going to be a memorable one.

AS SEEN ON TV by Meredith Schorr was such a fun rom-com! As someone who's all-too familiar with the New York dating scene, this book was both hilarious and relatable. I also love how our protagonist is a journalist -- her job was so interesting to read about!

DNF @ 8%

The writing in this one was too repetitive for me and was missing an element of “show, don’t tell” that makes me really get lost in a book while reading. The main character felt very immature in her understanding of the world and her assumption that a small town would feel exactly like a Hallmark movie. Maybe it was just a little too meta for me being a book about a woman going to a small town to write an article and try and live out her best Hallmark movie vibes.

You may enjoy this book if the humor of this scenario speaks to you!

Meredith Schorr’s *As Seen on TV* offers a light-hearted and engaging glimpse into the world of reality television and its impact on personal lives. While the novel provides an entertaining and often humorous take on its subject matter, it ultimately falls short of leaving a lasting impression due to some predictable plot elements and character dynamics.

The story follows the journey of the protagonist, who finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the limelight of a reality TV show. Schorr does a commendable job of capturing the glitz and glamor of reality television, as well as the behind-the-scenes drama that accompanies it. The novel's setting and premise are fresh and engaging, and Schorr's wit shines through in her portrayal of the industry’s eccentricities.

The characters are lively and relatable, particularly the protagonist, whose personal growth and challenges offer a degree of depth. Schorr's writing style is accessible and infused with humor, making for a light and enjoyable read. The romantic subplot adds a layer of charm to the narrative, providing some feel-good moments amidst the drama.

However, *As Seen on TV* does suffer from some predictability in its plot. Many of the story’s twists and turns follow a familiar formula, which can make the narrative feel somewhat formulaic. Additionally, some character interactions and resolutions lack the complexity that might have elevated the story from a pleasant diversion to a more memorable experience.

In summary, *As Seen on TV* is an entertaining read that provides a fun look at reality television and its impact on personal relationships. Meredith Schorr’s humor and engaging writing make it a worthwhile read for those seeking a light, escapist story. However, its predictable elements and conventional plot may not offer much new for readers looking for a more innovative or deeply impactful narrative.

A small-town romance with Jewish rep? Sign me up! I'm excited to share this one with audience since it hits on so many of my top tropes.

As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr is a delightful rom-com that will captivate readers who adore small-town romance, quirky characters, and a dash of humor, making it a perfect fit for fans of Hallmark Channel and Gilmore Girls who crave a lighthearted and hopeful tale of love and self-discovery.

I don't know what to else to say except that I'm bored and I won't be finishing. Wish I liked this one more.

I read 20 pages, put it down and then never even thought to pick it back up again so... I tried. :/ I like the idea of it but I guess not really the execution.

Great book. I enjoyed Reading it. The characters and plot were interesting life like and easy to connect with.

As Seen on TV shows that the best romances are messy, real, and don't always follow Hallmark movie storylines. However Hallmark movies are the bomb!

This read like a cheesy Hallmark movie and not in a good way. Nothing seemed realistic and I found myself losing interest quickly. Thank you for the advanced copy.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

soooo cute! A Hallmark movie hug in book form. just perfect 🥰 I loved the characters from the beginning, such a comfort read.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the rom com vibe as well as the "small town" feeling. Adi goes looking for a story about a small town charm, but the town doesn't exactly have all those Hallmark move and Gilmore Girls activities and feelings that she expected. But she runs into a bit of a dilemma when she starts to fall for the guy who is part of a big real estate company planning to expand into the small town she finds.

I found this to have lots of humor, romance, and spice. I also loved how it was so relatable as we all look for the Gilmore Girls towns, but have trouble finding that.