This book truly has the worst characters. Adi is so self centered and pouts when things don't meet her unreasonably high expectations. Her emotions are all of the place, as is her relationship with Finn. I knew it would happen all along, but the way it happened was so random and just didn't work. I should have DNF'd this, but at least it was short. ⭐️⭐️

If you like Hallmark movies where the woman rushes off to the small town, and meets quirky, loveable townsfolk...This kind of flips it in reverse. The MC, looking for a scoop to write about goes to a small town that's being taken over by a corporation and is...fine with it. It's kind of funny, but the main character is kind of clueless for a NYC girl. It was...fine. I honestly think I'll forget about the plot in a day or two, but it was a pleasant way to pass the time.

This is the first book of Schorr's that I've read and it was so good! I loved the MC, Adi, who is a journalist, believes in Hallmark magic, and isn't willing to settle! The male MC, Finn, was fabulous, and Adi's best friend, Kate was the best friend everyone wants! While this was very much based on Hallmark movies, it was a fun spin of the small town not being everything expected of it!

Read this if you love:
🎞️ Hallmark movies
👭 Gilmore Girls
🌳 Small towns
🌆 NYC
🥧 Pie

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t really know where to start with this one…but I can say that this book really wasn’t the book for me. If I hadn’t been reading it as an e-arc, I would have put it in the DNF pile and moved on.

The first half of this book was painstakingly slow, the second half definitely picked up but I still struggled to get through it. Thankfully short chapters made me force myself to read one small chapter here, one small chapter there.

I think the main character was a little too immature and honestly, Finn didn’t really do it for me as the main male character in this story.

I never want to discourage someone from reading a book, as always read it and form your own opinion. I’ve read books I’ve loved that others didn’t like, or didn’t like a book other people love. My only advice is, reading shouldn’t be a chore!

I wanted to like this book so much but unfortunately it was a bit off a miss for me. It's blurb says it's a delightful rom‑com about a city girl who goes in search of small-town happiness, only to discover life—and love—are nothing like the TV movies. And I absolutely love small town romances and Hallmark movies so I was excited for this book.

The book felt a little too immature for me. It seemed like Adina had never left NYC and couldn't wrap her head around that all small towns aren't the TV depicted small town. I had to laugh when she was like people on the street didn't immediately want to know her life story and invite her to the next town festival (which she was shocked didn't happen here). And thinking a town is going to be enraged over a new condo. Maybe I'm just jaded by life.

If you don't mind a younger heroine who is still trying to find her place in the world this could be a cute romance. It definitely felt more New Adult or YA to me and maybe if I knew that going in I would have felt differently about this book.

CONTENT WARNING: alcoholism, verbal abuse

I was so excited to read this book, especially considering that it features a Jewish MC, written by a Jewish author, during Jewish-American Heritage Month. And while I have never in my life watched a Hallmark movie, I fell in love with this story.

It started off kind of slowly, with plenty of references to Hallmark and other made-for-TV romance movies, as well as Gilmore Girls (which I have seen and enjoyed thoroughly). Like Adi, I’ve never spent much time in a small town, and must admit that I have also drawn similar conclusions about these locales being idyllic paradises.

However, when she arrives at the town, it’s anything but what she expected. The people aren’t warm and welcoming, the town isn’t a cohesive and cooperative place, and the real estate development isn’t the big villain that she expected. Adi is simultaneously jaded about dating prospects in NYC, and wearing rose-colored glasses about what she’ll find in Pleasant Hollow.

She didn’t come across as a very good journalist, often making disastrous first impressions and not doing her proposed job very well. But she wound up being more of a Carrie Bradshaw than anything else, and I was HERE FOR IT. The story is fairly slow-paced, but it was still a really quick read, and who wouldn’t fall in love with Finn, the LI? I know I did. It also captured that period in life where you haven’t achieved goals, and are still figuring out the whole adulting process, as well as learning more about yourself.

The Jewish representation wasn’t heavy in this story, but it was there and I greatly appreciated that. In addition, there’s other types of representation as well—Adi’s best friend is Asian-American, and her aunt is a lesbian, although the aunt doesn’t play into the story heavily.

“Mom and I weren’t observant enough to go to temple, but we did honor all the major holidays, the Jewish New Year being one of them. We always invited friends, including Kate, over for a celebratory dinner.”

This was a fun and fast read, and once I really got into the flow, I couldn’t stop reading. It was a cute, fluffy story with some laugh out loud moments, and it was the perfect thing to sandwich in between heavier reads. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Schorr’s books.

I had a lot of hope for this book, but it ended up being a bit disappointing for me.

Firstly, the romance was meh. I wasn't even sure who the love interest was going to be, and when I did, it just felt incidental. I wanted much more chemistry,

Secondly, I thought the conflict wasn't engaging enough for me to stay interested throughout the whole novel. The stakes weren't high or interesting enough.

I liked the flip on the small-town charm idea, but overall, AS SEEN ON TV wasn't a winner for me.

A thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

My rating 3.5 stars

This was a fun one!
Adina Gellar, a New Yorker, living with her mother, trying to break into the journalism industry. She loves Hallmark movies. The small town settings, the quirky townspeople, and of course the love story. When she gets a chance to write a story about a small town with a big investor coming in to build condos, she dreams this is her chance to jump start her journalism career and with any luck, her very own Hallmark romance.
Finn Adams has had a tough past but is so grateful for the job that will help lead him to his dream position. Just as soon as he gets these condos built in the small town of Pine Hollows.

I'm a huge Hallmark movie lover so I absolutely knew this book would be a good one. I absolutely loved that this small town was the exact opposite of what you see in Hallmark movies, or even small town romances for that matter. I was actually laughing out loud at the townspeople she comes across. The author couldn't have done a better job creating the anti-small town romance feels. I also liked the references to real Hallmark movies, actors, and Gilmore Girls!

What I didn't care for was the hero, Finn Adams. In my opinion he never really redeemed himself in the end. I don't feel he deserved forgiveness for what he stood by by and allowed to go on. The simple sorry he gave wasn't enough in my opinion.

3.5 - This is a sweet story that accidentally becomes the antithesis of a Hallmark movie. Adina Gellar is over dating in NYC, so she pitches a story to an online magazine about a small town in upstate New York where a real estate mogul is building a large apartment complex. She sees this as the opportunity to become the protagonist of her own Hallmark movie, but when she arrives she brutally realizes small towns aren't what they seem like on TV.

Adina is a lovely protagonist, and I loved her inner monologue. She has a clear focus throughout the book as she needs to finish her story to land a full-time position at the magazine and help her mother financially. The story moves fast and doesn't get bogged down by too much exposition. Finn is a typical, swoon-worthy love interest with no shortage of his own problems. Adi is confident that she can handle anything Finn can throw at her, including whatever about him makes being in a relationship "complicated." I also really loved that the author provided a more realistic view of a small town as a place where everything is not charming.

I do wish there was a bit more depth to the story. The author touches on some deeper ideas such as alcoholism, homelessness, debt, and financial insecurity, but we never dig too deeply into the issues. For both Adi and Finn, their issues feel like they're only on the surface and didn't give me an emotional connection. There are moments that feel just a tad cheesy, but I think that fits in with the Hallmark movie theme.

Overall, this is a quick, sweet read that I think anyone who likes Hallmark movies will love.

Adina Gellar loves Hallmark movies - You know the ones: typically set in a small town and "against all odds" the two main characters fall in love. Well, that is exactly what she is expecting in the Pleasant Hollow (which is just a few hours outside of New York). Except Pleasant Hollow doesn't care about the big-city developer moving in on their town, nor do they have quaint little events in the town square. Pleasant Hollow doesn't even bake their own baked goods! It's a travesty really. That is until Finn Adams. Is Finn her dream man that she was supposed to meet? Or just another one of those disappointments from Pleasant Hollow?

Despite being well written, I just couldn't get into this novel. It took me waaaay longer than it should have to finish a 300-some page book. I mean, I liked Finn as a character well enough, but Adi? I found her to be very annoying. Once she realized that Pleasant Hollow was not a cozy town like in Gilmore Girls or any other made-for-tv romance movie, she still does not group up. She felt like a teenager to me, instead of a full grown 25-year old woman.

I wish I had more to say about this book, but like I said, it just wasn't for me. It didn't grab my attention. I hope others have better luck with this one! I see lots of good reviews, but I just can't give it more than 2/5 stars.

review: as seen on tv by meredith schorr
rating:3 stars
release date: june 7

i would like to preface this by saying, i love rom-com books but dislike hallmark movies. does that make me a contradiction?? anyways…

this book plays into hallmark tropes (especially the perfect small town where the city girl goes to fall in love with a guy who wears flannel) BUT in a new way! when Adi goes to the small town of Pleasant Hollow what she expects to find is a Hallmark Town with sweet residents who are angered at the recent real estate mogul’s apartment complex in their neighborhood. oh and maybe a small town boy to fall for?? what Adi DOES find is the exact opposite: the people of Pleasant Hollow are crabby (at best) and completely unbothered by the encroaching city – in fact, they kind of *want* the city life. the other thing she finds? a city boy. who, of course, she falls for (because life is not as seen as on tv.)

this one is cute and quick to read. i liked it but didn’t *love* it, here’s why: i found it very predictable (kind of like hallmark movies). i didn’t feel overly invested in the characters and while i understand that the whole theme was “things aren’t as they seem” i do wish there was one small town resident who had a redeeming quality and more of a role in the narrative. the best part of this book was the end (and i mean that in a good way; it’s worth getting to!). i loved finn’s grand gesture… and the epilogue was super creative. also, really enjoyed how schorr called out real places in NYC!! (love bubby’s pie with my whole heart)

i recommend! thank you to netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a fun little rom com! However, I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters as much as I would have liked; I think I was just looking for a little more depth. I did really like Adina’s mother and I got a laugh out of how Pleasant Hollow wasn’t the quaint little small town that Adina assumed it would be. The book overall was well-written and had a pretty good story line - I would recommend if someone is needing a cute, light romance with mild spice.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

Well, that was cute. Was it the next great novel? No. Was it a pleasant day of reading? Yes, yes it was.

If you are (like me and approximately 98% of the population) and are obsessed with Hallmark....Gilmore Girls...Hart of Dixie (thank you Meredith for that reminder...I love that show) then you should pick this one up. It's cute and has a sweet little ending that I really enjoyed.

I was drawn to this book based on the blurb and the Gilmore Girls/Hallmark comparison. While part of it takes place in a small town, it's more about Adi's comparing Pleasant Hollow to every small town show or movie ever made and her disappointment that it's nothing like that. The pacing felt too slow for me, and there is a 'sugar causes diabetes' joke in there that I will forever call out as unfunny and untrue no matter what book it's in. All that being said, it is a sweet story. I did, for the most part, like Adi and Finn's relationship. The writing is good, and the story flows, but it just wasn't for me.

I DNF this at about 40%. I loved the hallmark references and the plot had so much potential but the main female character drove me crazy. She was supposed to be a journalist but she lacked the basic skills and kept trying to mould the people and surroundings into the story she wanted to write. A lot of people loved this book though so I may try to finish it later but I wasnt excited to be reading it anymore so moved on.

I really enjoyed this book! Adi and Finn are interesting characters who meet in a town so different than the ones found in Hallmark movies. The idea that all small towns reflect those found in the movies was certainly dispelled in this book.

Adi is a free-lance journalist hoping to gain a full-time job with an online magazine. She currently lives with her Mom, but desperately wants to start her true adult life. She has 2 other part-time jobs in addition to her free-lance work, but there are not leading her to the career she truly wants.

After she successfully pitches her idea for her story to a prospective employer, she sets off to write a story set in the small town of Pleasant Hollow. Her assignment is to get the town’s perspective on a new large development project which is currently being built. The town is filled with plenty of quirky characters that kept me highly entertained.

Finn is the attractive construction manager who is in charge of the job site. He’s also staying in the same Bed and Breakfast as Adi is. As they two begin to learn more about each other, it’s easy to see their chemistry. But what they truly want for their own lives is something very different.

I enjoyed the Gilmore Girls-like relationship between Adi and her mother and the references to the show throughout the book, including the town’s name and Adina’s surname (same as Rory’s friend Paris). On a more serious note, the author does a great job of discussing difficult subjects such as alcoholism with compassion. This balance of comedy and serious subjects makes for an enjoyable read.

As Seen on Tv is a sweet romance book. I found the characters to be relatable and enjoyed the storyline especially watching Adina grow from thinking the ideal romance would be a Hallmarkish romance to realizing that real romances can be messy.

Adina is a freelance journalist, barista and spin instructor, but her dream is to be a fulltime pop culture and entertainment writer. When a night viewing of Million Dollar Listing inspires her for an idea for an article to an online magazine, she is hoping to get a fulltime position with, Adi leaves NYC for a visit to Pleasant Hollow, NY. A big-time developer is building a condo complex and Adi is thinking that the residents of the small town clearly must be upset at the rich developer coming in to ruin their town. Picturing a small town reminiscent of Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow, with quirky locals and town activities, Adi is shocked to find Pleasant Hollow not so pleasant. The saving grace is Finn, who is actually there from the city, overseeing the project. Adi continues to try to find her story but trying to encourage Pleasant Hollow to be the small town from a Hallmark lover's dream. Then there is her relationship with Finn... is it something more or is it just a small town/break from life fling?

I loved the idea of this book. As a lover of Gilmore Girls and small-town romances, the thought of someone going to a small town and it being the antithesis of Hallmark movies and Gilmore Girls made me laugh. The relationship between Finn and Adi didn't click for me. Adina felt very immature. They didn't have much chemistry. Her attachment to him after such a short time and her expectations on him felt very forced. And his whole personal situation that caused conflict felt unfinished... the stuff with his sister was thrown out there but never served much of a purpose to his development or the story. He may as well have been an only child. His relationship with his dad was clearly unhealthy and being fixed so easily in the end was unrealistic to me. I wanted to love this book, but there are so many great romance books I've read recently and since I couldn't connect to Adina, it was hard to root for her and her happy ending.

The "Gilmore Girls" meets Hallmark comparison is what caused me to one click this title, and while I don't regret reading it, I also don't feel like it will sit with me for long either. The romance genre has really upped its game lately, and there are so many remarkable books being published that it does make it more difficult for authors to compete in this market, so if you're looking for a fine, easy read, this will do. Perhaps what was missing was the charming elements that I'm used to coming across in feel good romance novels. The lack of quirky characters, small town vibes, and community banding together did feel like a bit of a bummer, but there are still some great qualities to be found here, along with an eye pleasing cover. Please give this one a try for yourself if you are looking for a breezy summer read!

This was a fun, steamy romance featuring an aspiring NYC journalist and Hallmark movie enthusiast who hopes to find inspiration in a quaint, Stars Hollow-esque town. When Adina arrives in Pleasant Hollow she thinks she'll be able to find a made for tv movie type style of love story good enough to sell to an online magazine. Instead she finds the town isn't the picture perfect one she had envisioned and Finn, the hot NYC transplant, isn't the man she thought he was either.

Full of heart, humor and great characters. I loved how the author doesn't shy away from tough topics, like homelessness or the challenges of having an alcoholic parent. Adina and Finn have to fight for their HEA and I soooo enjoyed the ride. Perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copies!