I am having a hard time reviewing this book, because there was about 20% of it that I really loved and I felt was very well done. The other 80% was just...OK? I guess? As Seen on TV is a story about love as seen in Hallmark movies. Adina is an NYC girl through and through, and aspires to be a lifestyle journalist. She makes a pitch to an editor in hopes of landing a full-time position with the publication. Her idea? Go to a small town where a big developer is swooping in to develop some local real estate. Once there, she will interview all of the quirky and loveable residents, who will of course be battling the big bad meanie developer to save their quirky and loveable town. What she really finds is that the developer is doing great things for the town and the residents are supportive of the new construction (because life is not a Hallmark movie).

And Adi herself is...annoying? Immature? Apt to lean a bit too heavily into Gilmore Girls references? Yes to all of the above. Her character comes off as shallow and a bit ditzy. Hot guy Finn was a much better character; I felt he had more depth and was a lot more likeable than Adi. I kind of wish this had been a dual POV so that we could have gotten more of the difficult relationship between Finn and his father, because I found that storyline much more interesting that the one we got.

I've seen a lot of good reviews for this book, and I'm sure it will appeal to a lot of people, but unfortunately I am not among their number.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the blurb, I thought this looked like a really cute read. I love Hallmark movies, small town vibes, and Gilmore Girls, so it seemed like a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

Adina Geller is an aspiring journalist who has sworn off dating in New York City and is in love with with the idea of living in a small town. She's painted a picture in her head, based off of her guilty-pleasure, made-for-TV Hallmark movies, filled with quirky but welcoming townies, fun small town traditions, and hot and eligible bachelors who are looking for the real thing, not a fling.

She lands an opportunity to both kickstart her career and live out her small-town dreams. Her task: to write a story about the major real estate magnate that's targeted a little town named Pleasant Hollow for development. Except the story she's already written in her head doesn't exactly align with reality once she gets there. Pleasant Hollow is nothing like the small towns in the movies, and the story she pitched is quickly falling apart.

And to complicate things further, Adi keeps running into a cute guy named Finn who is very distracting, not at all what she's looking for - and he happens to work for the real estate magnate she's writing about.

What I liked:

This was an easy read: cute and fluffy, and I loved the Gilmore Girls and Hallmark references. I also liked Finn and the endearingly normal if somewhat unfriendly townies Adina meets.

What I didn't like:

As a former journalist, I couldn't get past Adina's naivete and complete lack of ethics while working on her story. I think I would've enjoyed this more if I didn't have a background in news.

I won't go into details to avoid spoilers, but there are several moments where Adina hits a roadblock and does the opposite of what a journalist should do in that situation. She comes across as a fresh-faced student who's just learning the ropes, not a professional, so her constantly referring to herself as a "journalist" was just kind of cringey to me.

She was very attached to her preconceived notions, when it came to both Pleasant Hollow and Finn, and it made it hard to connect with her.

Bottom line:

If you happen to have a news background - I'd probably skip this one.

If you're looking for a cute, easy read to bring with you on vacation or enjoy in bed on a rainy day, I'd say give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an advanced copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Forever for the gifted ebook of As Seen on TV! All opinions in this review are my own.

It's hard for me write this review because I feel like I read two different books. I loved the first half which was true to the premise and included tons of pop culture references! However, I was a little concerned after passing the 50% mark because it seemed like the whole story had been told.

I did not like the second half and the sole reason is the love interest. When a fight broke out between him and Adina, he would mimic her words and was incredibly immature. When they did finally get back together, it was after doing the bare minimum and he never showed that anything would be different. I wanted more for Adi!

In an ode to all the messiness of real-life love stories, this book subverts all the tropes of small-town romance and delivers a heartfelt, steamy happily ever after.

I adored this book! Better than any Hallmark movie and totally swoon worthy. Adi is from NYC and hustling to get by and trying to become a full time journalist. Bring in a small town story, sort of, a sweet handsome man and a lot of fun along the way. 2022 needed this romance! I loved it so much.

I loved the premise and I really liked this book at the beginning. I felt the middle dragged as Adi tried to make the town into what she wanted it to be and not what it actually was. For a love letter to Hallmark movies, I had trouble with Adi’s age. She was far younger (25), and definitely less mature, than I expected based on the premise and most Hallmark heroines (the actresses are all in their late 30/40s, so I view them as age appropriate in the films). Worth a read to track all the references and NY landmarks.

Twenty-five-year-old Adina Geller lives in Manhattan with her mother. They have a wonderful relationship but it’s time for Adina to move her aspiring career as a journalist forward. As a fan of Hallmark movies, she is inspired by a story she learns about on Million Dollar Listings. An online editor is pitched and is interested so she heads to Pleasant Hollow, two hours north of the city to write her story, which could be her big break. Knowing that a New York City developer is building affordably priced luxury apartments, she is set to pit the big, bad developer, who also has plans to add shops to the project, against the local townspeople who surely must hate the idea of an outsider building in their sweet, quaint town. And she has visions of meeting an attractive, sensitive local man who will sweep her off her feet. Well Adina, you’ve been watching too many cozy TV movies.

As Seen on TV is a cute book. Author Meredith Schorr has created an appealing, albeit naïve main character in Adina. Her love interest Finn is sufficiently complex to creative some conflict. And her mother and best friend couldn’t be nicer. Also, it was great to see a main character with a Jewish identity that is presented in a genuine, realistic manner. And this book is chock full of sweetness and humor. I enjoyed taking a break from heavier books. I think this book would have the greatest appeal to someone who is in Adina’s stage of life and career. I'd love to see a follow-up book about Adina’s mother’s quest for love and happiness.

I really liked As Seen on TV. It has a fun premise, and I enjoyed the twist on a small-town romance.

Adina Gellar is a freelance journalist in New York City who teaches spin classes and works as a barista to pay the bills. She’s also obsessed with Hallmark movies. Frustrated with dating in Manhattan, she dreams of having her own small-town romance in a town just like the ones in the movies. She pitches a story to a magazine editor: she’ll go to a small town where a developer is planning to put up a fancy condo building, and get the locals’ perspective. The story could lead to a full-time position at the magazine, which she desperately needs.

The town of Pleasant Hollow is nothing like what she was expecting. It’s actually a miserable place. But she does find a hot guy, Finn Adams, who works for the real estate company building the condo development. She finds he’s not what he seems— and he’s nothing like the evil real estate developers portrayed in her favorite TV movies.

This is a cute rom-com with some steam. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh spin on Hallmark movie tropes or if you’re looking for a book with Gilmore Girls vibes.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Adi is looking to write a great story to land her dream job so when she learns about a big time developer building in a small town in upstate New York it seems like the perfect Hallmark story. But what she finds isn't anything like a Hallmark movie and when she submits her first draft, she's told to find the real story. Her best friend hopes she'll also find love in a small town, after all it happens in the movies. Her chemistry with the small town hottie isn't there but it is with Finn who's the "enemy," since he's the boss for the big development and he happens to be a big city guy which she's never had luck with. He's not a relationship kind of guy so it's a short term fling. The attraction is strong and they try to overcome the obstacles in their path while she's trying to find the right angle for the story. What she ends up with is more of a twist on the original idea but will the right people read it and will it be enough to get the guy and the job? I received an ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This book is the story of Adi, a New York City native, who loves movies, tv shows, and books that take place in small towns. She learns of a small town a couple hours out of the city that is being developed by a big-city real estate magnate. She decides to go to the town and write a scathing expose about how the town does not want the development as it will ruin their way of life. When she arrive she learns the reality of the town is not what she thought and begins a fling with Finn, who works for the developer, which turns into more.

FINALLY a pair navigating a new relationship that can effectively communicate with each other. Both are up front and direct about their wants and needs. When Adi’s friend Kate learns something bad about Finn, Adi confronts him directly. There is still a third act breakup, but it isn’t due to a misunderstanding or lack of communication. Along those lines the grand gesture(s) in this book are actually cute and nothing that would make a sane person die of embarrassment.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a charming read. Lots of Hallmark movie references which was unfortunate because I’ve never seen a Hallmark movie! I like how the small town doesn’t fit into the FMC’s pre-conceived narrative. I also like the romance, it feels natural and the characters have lots of chemistry. The book shows the darker side of addiction through the MMC’s father, I don’t often see difficult situations like this in romances. I recommend this one, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the gifted copy!

This absolutely breaks my heart to say this, but I did not finish reading As Seen on TV. Maybe I never should have requested it as I actually really am not a fan of Gilmore girls and kind of knew that this would not be my vibe but because of the Jewish representation I wanted to give it a shot. I found the main character to be very unlikable and the story was very cheesy, and not in a cute way but in a cringe way. I am still soooo thankful to have received a paperback ARC and will come back to this at a later date to give it another shot, but I'm not sure this book is for me.

This is a cute and cozy romance, similar to cozy Hallmark romances on television. It’s not super cheesy, but it’s still perfect. Also I think there is a lot of banter in this book, and because it’s in a book, it feels slower than it does in a movie. It knows exactly how to tug on your heartstrings. Four stars.

I was very lucky to get an ARC of Meredith Schorr's romance novel "As Seen on TV". Thank you, NetGalley!

The story of Adina Gellar, a twenty-something journalist in NYC living with her mom, is inspired by Gilmore Girls and a twist on the Hallmark and romance trope of a city girl falling in love in a small town, in ways that made me think back to Emily Henry's new novel "Book Lovers," which I adored.

I loved Adina's relationship with her mother, her best friend Kate, and her pursuit of a story in Pleasant Hollow. The love story with Finn was so sweet, and I'm really impressed with what the author did reflecting on how to communicate with someone who you are dating. While the Gilmore Girls's "Year in the Life" let us down when it comes to Rory's career and character development I was so happy that Adina stays committed to herself and to building a career that is meaningful and economically sustaining. I do think the writing could have been more "Show Don't Tell" and a bit tighter without repetition, but since it's a debut novel I'm curious to see how the author will develop with her next book. She clearly has a sense of place and knows how to write a romantic story about modern dating.

This gave me all the Hallmark and Gilmore Girls feels that I could want in a story! As Seen on TV showed how love can be messy and beautiful all at once.


Thank you #Netgalley for an early read of #AsSeenOnTV

I first read this perfect summer read back in December, and finished again yesterday afternoon.

Let me just say again - As Seen on TV is the perfect summer read! Meredith Schorr has an incredible way of telling a story which makes you feel like you are right there with Adina Gellar on her journey to see if real life can actually play out like all the Hallmark Movies she loves watching with her mom.

When Adina (an aspiring writer) finally gets her chance at a full time writing gig - she hops on the first train to a quaint upstate NY town to chase a story and see if her dreams will come true. Will she find that hot local resident and fall in love? Can she save the town from the “big bad” developer? Or are all her Hallmark Movie theories going to be thrown up in the air only to come crashing down with the realization that real life isn’t quite like the movies - at all?!?

When Adina arrives, she quickly meets Finn at the B&B she is staying at. What follows throughout the story is a developing flirtation, relationship, and some fun romping in the sheets scenes. Finn isn’t just a pretty boy - he is a character written with some depth to him and has a backstory which will see him grow as a person during the story. Readers will find themselves rooting for the Adi and Finn HEA as they are adorable together.

I have now read every one of Schorr’s novels - my hope is; readers who are new to her go find her earlier novels. Her books are all great, fun, laugh out loud, and romantic - just what you need to get you through the summer!

An absolute 5+ star review!

My thanks to the publisher (Forever), Author, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is total Hallmark Movie fan fic! In the first part of the book, the main character was a little overwhelming with her love of Hallmark movies/tropes and this is coming from someone who has seen every Hallmark movie ever, ha! But then the story started to develop and I actually found her really endearing and her amplified love of Hallmark movies really moved the plot forward for an enjoyable ending. I liked her story ARC and character development. I thought this was a really cute read and I enjoyed the references to specific Hallmark movies sprinkled throughout. If you aren't the biggest Hallmark movie fan, you might want to skip this but if you like cute romances with some steam mixed in, I'd recommend this.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

I loved everything about this book! The characters were fantastic. The references of Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, and New York living had me sucked in from the very beginning. I was 100% rooting for the main characters' love story. If you are looking for a fun summer read, I highly recommend this book!

This was a really cute read! I love a small town romance and I loved that this was about someone seeking out that charm and discovering it’s not as idyllic as the movies make it out to be. Funny and heart-warming, definitely recommend.

Adina Gellar, an up and coming journalist, has given up on the dating scene in New York City. If Hallmark has taught her anything, it’s that she’ll find the man of her dreams in a small town filled with quirky townspeople and harvest festivals. When a big city real estate tycoon targets the small town of Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi jumps at the opportunity to write the story that will guarantee her spot at a popular online magazine. And what better place to find the man of your dreams? Adi quickly discovers Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant” after all. When Adi falls for the enemy, is it possible that Hallmark got it all wrong?

Are you a big Gilmore Girls or Hallmark fan? If you are, then add this one to your TBR! Unfortunately, this just wasn’t the book for me. I couldn’t relate to Adi and she really got on my nerves a lot. I felt like she was trying too hard to force Pleasant Hollow to be something it wasn’t. The romance was very hot and cold, then hot again. But I did love Finn’s grand gesture at end. So sweet! On the bright side, the writing was fun and the story moved at a decent pace. Lots of pop culture references! Thank you to the author and publisher for my e-ARC!