I was excited to read an ARC of As Seen on TV. I wanted a light hearted, feel-good romance and As Seen On TV delivers. I love Hallmark movies, Gilmore Girls and live in a small town so this ticked lots of boxes for me. Adina is an aspiring writer holding multiple jobs trying to launch her dream career. She lives in NYC and has a highly romanticized view of small town and romance. She and her mom still live together and are facing financial challenges. Adina pitches an article to write about a small town being corrupted by a big business. And just maybe she will meet a local, small town, eligible bachelor to fit her expectations. The first half of the book was a slow start for me. The characters were slow to develop and I had a hard time cheering for Adina’s article. Midway through the book the characters became more developed and I became far more invested in their stories. While the story is a fun romance the characters are relatable and flawed as are most people. It will be a fun beach read this summer

Overall, I was really intrigued by the premise. The concept sounded like a fun twist, and I had high hopes. Unfortunately though, the story was just okay. It fell a bit flat as I had a hard time rooting for Adina. She didn't seem to know much about being a journalist, and while I love a day dreamy heroine, she wasn't one. Instead, she came across as wilfully (and lazily) insipid.

Also, from how this book was pitched, I was expecting a rom com/romance, but the romantic plotline is underdeveloped, and comes across a bit superficial.

I wanted to like this one, but it just feels like it misses the mark.

What happens when a small town doesn’t live up to the Hallmark dreams of a big city writer?

Adi’s single, looking for love, and a staff position at a digital publication. Her way in to the writing gig is a story comparing a nearby small town to the setting of a Hallmark movie, complete with a NYC real estate developer building a big condo complex.

Adi’s determined to defend the town’s unique charm but when she arrives in Pleasant Hollow, it’s the opposite of her beloved Hallmark vision. No festivals, the locals aren’t angry about the new development, and Finn, the onsite rep for the developer? Turns out he’s gorgeous, funny, and friendly. Now what does she do?

What you get:

Humor
Insta-attrraction
Close proximity
Hallmark tropes stood on their ear
Gilmore Girls references
Close friendships
Single parenting
Jewish rep
SATC-loving handyman
Cozy read
Look inside writing for a Buzzfeed-esque site
Love of things NYC like bagels and pizza


Adi’s relatable in trying to conquer the career path that she’s chosen. And also being tired of not getting what she wants from relationships. And also the love for how magical Hallmark movies make small towns appear - who wouldn’t want apple picking, Harvest festivals, impromptu snowball fights, friendly faces everywhere, and delicious pie?!

I love the callouts to all of the Hallmark tropes. The scene with the teacher/volunteer firefighter/animal shelter volunteer had me laughing out loud.

The desire and conflict between Finn and Adi felt very relatable. Even when it’s insta-attraction, relationships can have big hurdles to overcome.

The author does tackle serious subjects like losing a parent and alcoholism.

This is a quick, cozy read that’s perfect for Gilmore Girls fans and Hallmark movie bingers.

I'm sad that this book didn't work for me at all. I couldn't get into it. The writing was very good, but the characters and the story were not my taste.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one, but it was simply a case of not the right reader for this book. That being said, I'm sure it will be the book for plenty of others.

I thought the cover art was cute and intriguing and I loved the premise – as a fan of Gilmore Girls and a lover of all things small town romance, I had high hopes for this read.

I went in hoping for a lighthearted, romcom type read – complete with sassy, fast talking mother/daughter duo (a la GG) and the quirky, loveable small town folks and charm. The story had some cute moments and was lighthearted but did not really deliver for me on the romcom-esque feel I was hoping for.

For me, when reading a book there are a number of factors that go into it. One of the things that can make a book stand out for me is the characters and my engagement. In this case, I had trouble connecting with the main character, Adi, and I wasn’t grabbed early on in the story. I will say that Finn was a character that I did like more, it helps to have some connection with at least one of the mains. I think the lack of initial hook and my lack of connection with Adi made it hard for me to connect with the book. The ending was satisfying and the last bit of the book came together a bit better for me.

This one is more 3.5 stars but I decided not to do half stars again this year and I bumped it up to 4 because the story kept me very engaged and I didn't want to put it down. I should start off by saying that I do not like Hallmark movies and find them to be very tedious. This story follows Adina who is an aspiring journalist and gets the chance to write a story about a small town. Adina loves Hallmark movies and gets into her head that the town of Pleasant Hallow is going to be just like the movies she watches. Of course when she gets there nothing is like the movies. I kept getting frustrated because she felt very naive to me to think that all small towns will be Stars Hallow and when it's not she gets the idea to make the town what she wants. Eventually this narrative quieted down and I really liked the story from there. Her growth was fun to watch and I really liked her love interest Finn. Finn was so cute but also going through his own problems and their story is about learning to let go of their ideas and decide if they want to try. If you are a fan of cute romances set in a small town then I think you should check this one out. Thank you Forever for my #gifted copy for review, this one comes out June 7th.

A lighthearted romance whose last few chapters really elevate it. I wouldn't go so far as to say that AS SEEN ON TV is funny to the point of reaching the 'com' in romcom, but it defenitely has its cute moments.

To be honest, I'm not entirely endeared to the characters. I find some of their characterization to be a little awkward, and our heroine Adina is too vapid for me--there's a difference between being quirky and being (stupidly) naive. Twenty-five is a suitable age for people not to assume that everything they see on tv reflects reality..but that's apparently not the case here, as it forms the very premise of this book.

The first 60% is also a little droll, as we see Adina going through the same thought processes over and over and over, whether it be in terms of her writing assignment, realizations about the town, or feelings for Finn. The story could be tightened up a bit more as well; currently some parts are unnecessary and could definitely be cut out for better pacing.

Despite it all, I do like this book. Adina's journey towards her final Pleasant Hollow article is satisfying; I really like the consent casually portrayed; Finn isn't an asshole (is that a low bar?); and the romance is quite cute in the last couple chapters. Recommending this for anyone looking for a quick romance read.

really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. As someone who *loves* made-for-TV romances, the premise of a struggling journalist visiting a small town facing development in hopes of getting a Hallmark type story was promising. I liked the twist that basically the small town wasn't what she was expecting at all and there was no Hallmark story there.

I simply found the main character, Adi, incredibly irritating. The character is naive, immature, and really not very good at her job. She pitches a story with very little research, and spends a good chunk of the book trying to create harebrained scenarios to suit her preconceived views of what the town would be like, rather than actually doing her job competently.

The romance was sweet, but shallow, and just didn't work for me.

I received an ARC from Forever and NetGalley, and this is my (unfortunately) honest review.

Really didn’t love this one. The main characters felt forced, and I felt like the whole “just like hallmark” stuff was way over the top and way took over the story.

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for As Seen On TV. This was a cute small town vs Hallmark movie town. I love the relationship between Adina and her mom and how determined Adina was to be successful to help her mom.

The interaction with the town people was cute. I wasn't a fan of Adina's behavior and she just felt so self centered when she dealt with Finn and his family.

Overall, I thought that this was a pretty cute and quick read. Adina Gellar is a struggling journalist from New York City as well as a huge fan of made-for-TV romance movies (aren’t we all? 😂). She believes that she’ll find love in a small town. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, she believes it’ll be like all the movies she has seen and is the perfect news story. There, she meets Finn, and realizes that maybe what she imagines small town living is in movies might not be so true.

I really liked the premise of the story as I am a huge fan of Hallmark movies and what I see on TV. One thing I really liked was the nods to TV and movies that were scattered all throughout the book! I thought the idea of the story was pretty original, and I liked the overall execution of the story. I also really liked how this rom com showed how real life can be so different than a rom com. I thought it was a different and unique take on romance books.

But as much as I wanted to love this story, I just wasn’t able to connect to the characters, especially Adi. I just was not able to connect to her, and I sometimes felt like she was a bit immature. Then, there was Finn, who I liked, but again, felt like I wasn’t able to connect to. I think that is because I would have liked to know a bit more about him. There was information about him and his past, but I just felt like I wanted a bit more. I also felt like his character journey was a bit confusing… I also felt like their chemistry felt a bit forced at times… This made it a bit difficult to get invested in the story and sometimes made the book feel a bit long and dragged out.

Overall, I don’t think this story was for me. I loved the overall premise of the story and the idea behind it, but felt like it was lacking a bit for me and fell short of what I wanted from this book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for this ARC!

3⭐

This is a new author to me. I definitely enjoyed this book. It had a good storyline and I really enjoyed the characters. I was grateful to receive an advanced copy through Netgalley to read and review.

I wanted so badly to love this book, but instead of being cute and cheesy, this veered into cringey for me. Honestly, this was an enjoyable read, and I loved that it showed the reality of small towns - they're not all Hallmark movie settings! I think part of my problem is that there are so many amazing options for high quality contemporary romances that this one just didn't meet the mark.

The writing and story telling are strong. I also love that this has Jewish representation without it being a central part of the conflict - it's just a fact of their normal lives.

Give this one a read if you're looking for an over-the-top cheesy romance read, it's not the best one ever, but it's still fun.

Adina Gellar is a recent college graduate , a true New Yorker, and an aspiring journalist. She is also obsessed with Hallmark-esque and Lifetime-like romance movies. She and her bestie Kate believe that small towns are just like that of the romance movies. When Adina finds out that a developer is building a huge condo complex in a nearby small town she proposes a story idea to a small-online magazine as if it were a Hallmark Movie.

When Adina heads to the small town, she finds herself confronted with the truth of small towns, but does that align with her views or is she shocked to find out that whats on tv isn't real? And does the man she meet end up being some sweet local or an out of downer? Does Adina find love or a vacation romance?

Read this fun, sweet, sexy romance novel, As Seen On TV to find out the real scoop on all things Adina, small towns and romance! Its well worth the read!

This book is great for anyone looking for a hallmark story with a twist. It focuses on the realities of small town living and how it doesn’t always live up to the movie, while showing that life can be found in the most unexpected places. Adi and Finn are a cute couple together who will appease anyone looking for an easy romance and a happy ending!
I was hoping for more from the story, as the narration fell a bit flat for me and I wasn’t fully bought into the romance, but that is just personal preference

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, or that’s what Adina Gellar, a New Yorker, thinks. Her obsession with the Hallmark Channel drives her infatuation with life in a small town, and she firmly believes that she would be happier there (and so would her dating life). When she ventures to the tiny town of Pleasant Hollow for work, she finds that her preconceived notions of small town life may not be true after all, but there is the matter of a handsome guy named Finn in town that keeps her interested in writing her story.

With tons of references to the Hallmark Channel and its movies throughout, this story was very enjoyable for a fan of it like myself. I liked hearing familiar movies, actors, and actresses mentioned and thought it was a fun addition to the story. The spin that this novel had was that it added some steamy scenes and language that would not be featured on any of the romantic Hallmark movies, and I really appreciated that. It made things more realistic and not as fluffy, as real life is not that way. This was a very cute read and I flew right through it - it really held my attention. I truly enjoyed it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me the opportunity to read this Advanced Review Copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.

This premise is kind of silly but I had hopes for some romcom shenanigans. 25-year-old Adina moves into a small town in New York, planning to write an article about its Hallmark TV type qualities. She also thinks she has a good chance of falling in love. But what she finds in Pleasant Hollow is a regular town with regular problems and an annoying real estate developer, Fin.

The characters are flat and immature and did not have much chemistry. I did like the ending gesture and some of the townspeople are funny and cute. 2 stars

Where do I even start? This book has the least immature 25yo protagonist I've ever seen. Who thinks that any small town would look like the small towns in Hallmark movies?  

Our homegirl Adina is trying to make it as an writer and one night gets an inspiration to write an article about a real estate developer going to a small town (a sleepy upstate NY town) and  changing the fabric of this charming town, town people resisting the change, you know the whole spiel if you've seen any Hallmark movies. Adina thinks she lives in the Hallmark world. She thinks she'll step into town, will meet the bachelor mayor or hot single hunky firefighter and fall in love. and somehow also write an article about herself (?) it is not clear what her angle was. Anyway the town turns out the be your run of the mill town, no charming cafe with in-house bakery (it turns out this is a deal breaker for Adina), no bed and breakfast with a grandmotherly owner, no bar where the town gets together, you know this fictional Pleasant Hollow is not our beloved Stars Hollow, Adina meets Fin, an attractive guy who is also a fellow New Yorker and who works for the enemy (the real estate developer) but Adina is disappointed because she thought she would fall for a small town guy and Finn is not it. and the town is not the town she had in mind. So what does she do? She tries to turn the town to a more Hallmark-like town. How you ask? I know it sounds ridiculous. She interviews small business owners! She tries to convince the local bar owners to host Oktoberfest activities! I know I use a lot of exclamation marks. Feel free to replace the exclamation marks with eye rolls.

Long story short, Adina and Fin do some horizontal activities, but Fin thinks he is not boyfriend material, and even though Adina was very eager to start this initially physical relationship she gets disappointed by Fin's reluctance. Oh and she is still trying to write an article that makes some sense!

The ending of the book was the only silver lining for me. There is a sweet grand gesture. and the article she writes at the end is not half as bad. But reading this book was almost painful. It wasn't for me.

4 stars based on the quote that spoke to me... The main character, Adina, is talking about an ex-love interest, "So many times he'd blown me off when something else suddenly came up. When I called him on it, he would insist our plans had been tentative, then turn it around on me and call me needy or overly sensitive for being upset."

I can't even count how many times this has happened to me, except I wasn't blown off, it's just my husband thinking he told me one thing when really he said the opposite. Needless to say, that quote got me. It's so. Freaking. True.

The first third of this book felt slow. Really slow. Like molasses in winter time on the set of a cold Hallmark movie with big fat snowflakes drifting down through a midnight sky. Yes...that. At 40% was where I was hooked and felt invested.

Adina wants to be a journalist, but lives at home with her mom and works two jobs before she can make journalism her mainstream gig. Got it. She goes from NYC to a small town to freelance a story. Cool. The people don't invite her in for tea, have a parade, or a town festival ready to greet her. Adina has to cope and find a new story center, pronto. Not everything is all sunshine and roses Adina. Welcome to the real world with the rest of us. Adulting is hard, but you get used to it.

Adina meets Finn, and he comes with his own baggage. Baggage that he's reluctant to share with Adina for reasons he ends up explaining later on. But they make a muddy mess of things and come back to their own Grand Gestures and everything is sorted out at the end. Life is messy. You clean it up and live it as best you can. Adina and Finn are no exception.

AS SEEN ON TV - Meredith Schorr

💖 A beautiful and cute rom-com about city girl Adina Gellar who goes in search of small-town happiness and love. Only to discover life in general and love are nothing like the TV.

👀 Adi is determined to fulfill her dream of being a journalist. Sometimes naive , but overall funny , cute and smart. I liked how relatable she is and how she never stopped believing in her small town romance. Such as searching for her own Luke Danes in Pleasant Hollows.

✨I devoured this book in 2 hours. I didn't see the time go by so much I was in the middle of the characters.
The cute cover and the title made it a must read for me.
Being already a big fan of Gilmore girls, I loved the universe of this book.

🖊 The author’s writing was smooth and well-paced. The book itself is well writing. The plot and the pacing of the story was entraining. I enjoyed the romance between Adi & Finn. Their ending is really cute.
I identified with the characters, and attached myself to the story that the author delivers to us.

🎞 There are a lot of pop culture references ( Sex and the city , Gilmore girls , Heart of Dixie , Bachelorette .. )

🍿 Anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies , homemade pies and small town romance novels will love this book.

💭 My favorite quote from the book :

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨"

♥️ I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley , Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author for the opportunity to read and review this adorable story.