Leah Keegan is used to being alone, especially after taking care of her sick foster mother for the past year. Now there’s nothing keeping her in the sweet town of Willow Cove. It’s time to move on. Again.

Eli Masterson thought he and Victoria were meant to be together until she decided to jet off to Rome for a year. Eli is determined to win her back. Changing Eli’s physical appearance is easy, but to turn Eli into the sophisticated-yet-vulnerable ideal man, his girl pals force him to watch classic rom-coms. Leah ends up being roped into helping with the makeover.

I love the concept of a reverse to 90's romcom where a girl is made over. In this case a man is made over to win back his ex girlfriend. Where this falls apart for me is that he spent so long, so much of the book pining after his ex. It was for too repetitive. Not enough was spent on building Leah and Eli's relationship. They felt rushed. I just needed more from this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book. ❤️

2.5 stars

Eli has just been dumped. His friends have a way to get her back, however. They plan a total makeover, which includes watching a boatload of rom coms. Enter Leah, an outsider trying to heal from her foster mother's passing and earn enough money to finally get out of town. She's got the VCR they need for many of their rom coms, and keeps bumping into the makeover crew all over town because she works practically everywhere. Eventually she joins their little group, and as she gets to know Eli, she falls for him. The feelings are mutual, but of course it's more complicated for Eli because he's trying to win back another woman. Thankfully, there's a happily ever after for the couple, just like in the many rom coms they first watched together!

I really enjoyed reliving the nostalgia of the rom coms that I grew up watching. There were countless cute and funny scenes not only between Leah and Eli, but among the tight-knit friend group as well. Often this book felt exactly like one of the rom coms they were discussing. I really found myself caring about Leah. I loved reading all of the wintery scenes in this small town in January.

This book references the movie "Love Actually" a lot, and that's fitting, because, like that movie, this book is only sweet about half the time. There are some serious themes about (trigger warnings:) cancer. (Two mother figures have/had it.) Mental illness is also discussed. The foster care system factors into the plot quite a bit too. Leah has to deal with her very frustrating foster brother, as well. I thought the author handled all of these situations pretty well.

Unfortunately, the thing I found most difficult about this book was rooting for the potential relationships. Eli seems like a nice guy, but it was not fun reading about how, even though he and Leah were falling for one another, he was STILL vying for his ex for most of the book. I understand that the author wanted to keep up the obstacle between them, but it left Eli looking disloyal and fickle. Gray, one of the friends in the story, was being pined after by another girl in their friend group, but Gray doesn't even notice her as he gets with everyone else in town, and I mean just about everyone! I had a hard time not just hoping the ladies would move on and find better men.

The book started out really strong, but after a while they aren't watching rom coms anymore, much of the fun is replaced with serious themes, and the reader is left wondering why Eli hasn't changed his mind about Leah already. The situations with the friend group were hit or miss for me. Their motives were questionable, especially considering the fact that they wanted to completely change their good friend for a woman that they didn't even really like.

I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions presented are my own.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC of this book for my honest opinion

I am not normally into RomCom books, but I decided for this year I was going to branch out and I am happy that I did. I thought this concept would be so cute to read and it really was. It reminded me of watching a cute winter rom com on Netflix. If you’re interested in dipping your toes into the rom com book world I would recommend this book to you.

I thought the plot was so cute, the whole shy girl, from a small town, has trust issues, works a lot of different jobs to save up money to leave this small town, let me introduce you to Leah. Eli towns hopeless romantic, forced to undergo a makeover to win back the “love of this life, after she told him she wouldn’t marry him”, he loves his small town, he knows everyone and loves his family.

I loved that we got to see Leah and Eli as “real” people. I found it easy to connect with the characters and become invested in their lives. Leah works so hard to save up all the money she can and because she works everywhere she continues to see Eli and his family/friends with every part of Eli makeover.

I know a lot of people said that this book was too predictable and that the characters didn’t have chemistry, but I mean all rom coms are a little predictable and the characters did have chemistry but there wasn’t any hot and steamy moment in this book.

For me this book focused on family, friends, love, and healing from the past. I loved all the funny moments and all the references to some amazing movies, oh and I can not forget Blanche, sooo cute!

This book is cute, funny, likable characters, finding a place where you fit and just leaves you with warm-fuzzies. I can not wait to see what else this author will give us.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a slowburn sweet rom com that will have your heart smiling and mentioning some of my favorite rom combmovies is a big plus! But the store and the writingbwas amazing. I will definitely be buying more from this author.
I just reviewed The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker. #NetGalley
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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The Rom-Com Agenda
by Jayne Denker
Pub Date: 10 Jan 2023

This book had a cute premise, and I loved all the rom-com movie references. I also really liked Leah and was totally rooting for her to get her well-deserved happily ever after. Her romantic partner, Eli, however...sigh, not so much. If his character was supposed to be a teenager, I could give him more leeway for his wishy-washy, angsty "I love Victoria"...blah, blah, blah, demeanor. He really should have seen the light a lot sooner of who his heart belonged to.

3 stars

Really enjoyed reading this book, especially all the 80/90s movie rom-com references tied in perfectly with the plot. I found myself giggling out loud in parts of the book, it was like I was watching a rom-com film. Love all the characters and what they brought to the story, from meddling friends to found family this was a light feel good read.

This book is like a big warm hug. I loved both the main characters and the side characters as well! The rom references were perfect and nothing felt over the top or cheesy! Will highly recommend

3.5

I lived in the North Country for nearly six years and parts referring to the weather, the name of the retail store, the mall in Watertown all brought back those memories. I enjoyed living there.

This book was great the first half. Right up until the two main characters got together. The male mc did get back and forth more than the story let on. One scene it seems like he was over the ex, but the next scene he is still pining for her. After that There were good parts and awkard parts as storylines were being tied up. It didn't flow as well for me. The characters were entertaining and the friends/family you want in your life.

I think I may have enjoyed this more if it was dual POV and not a narrator telling it from both sides. I did get a sense of what the characters were going through and how they felt, but in this instance I think it would have worked better from the characters.

Overall this is a cute rom-com and if you love rom-coms you'll enjoy the references to classic movies.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Thank you st martins press and netgalley for allowing me to read this book. It bothered me how desperate Eli was in the beginning but I understand he was lonely and in lust. I love how brutally honest his friends are I think he needed that dose of reality. I love Leah and Eli’s friendship! I got so invested in this book just waiting to see when things would happen between them. I really want to read Delia and grays story next! I love that Victoria wasn’t a bad person just not the right person for Eli and I’m happy they both found love with other people! This book made me happy and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it! This was beautifully written! I loved all of the side characters and really loved the depth of the main characters!

This book was cute. I liked the storyline and I liked the cast of characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed that the conflict was not a complete third act break up. Those are cliche and one of my least favorite tropes.
I really thought it was cute how they wrung Eli through the wringer giving him his “make over”, even though there were times you kinda just wanted to smack him.
While it really was a cute rom-com, it just didn’t really have anything that made it stand out to me. It was slow for me to kind of get into and I didn’t really feel completely engaged in the story. I think that the story could have been developed more.
It had potential, it just didn’t deliver for me

A bit of a swing and a miss for me, I'm afraid. It reads very Hallmark-movie-of-the-week to me because it was engaging but very surface-level...it's hard to explain. Yes, the premise was cute and the nostalgia trip through Rom-Com Land was decidedly fun, but there's a level of immaturity to the characters and plot progression that prevented me from engaging with the story. The 2 ⭐ rating is entirely for all the B.S. that poor Leah gets subjected to throughout this novel.

Like, seriously...for 75% our MMC, Eli, is hung up on his ex and his obsession with her is very cringy, creating this OW love-triangle with a woman who has already told him 'no' in very clear terms. The fact that he really only realizes that he wants to be with Leah once Victoria tells him she's in a relationship did not sit well with me, especially since when he was asked to explain why he wanted to be with Victoria and could only say that she was 'beautiful'...Come. On. Leah deserves better.

Leah was a semi-strong MFC, but could have also benefit from a bit more fleshing out. A lot of weight was placed on her feelings of neglect and being invisible, but it was underdeveloped and rushed. I don't understand the inclusion of her foster-brother foe, Patrick. Outside of showing briefly that he didn't acknowledge Leah as family, his plot was more or less filler and threw off the pacing/final 25% of the story.

Overall, this was just an ok read for me.

I must admit that I was cautious before starting this one. It has received mixed reviews, and lately, at least in terms of rom-coms, I've had more fails than hits. I did, however, end up liking this one. It goes beyond your average rom-com. I fell in love with the incredible family that I found on the pages. The supporting cast members are the cutest kind of meddlesome.

Though I would have preferred a bit more accelerated character development on the part of the male lead, I enjoyed the gender flip with the man getting the makeover.

The references to the romantic comedies I watched growing up and to Gilmore Girls also gave me a lot of warm nostalgic feelings.

Please go elsewhere if you enjoy spicy. This is squeaky clean.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and read along. I enjoyed the narration. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All of the thoughts above are my own.

Comfort reading. This wasn’t a literary masterpiece, obviously, but it didn’t aim to be. A sweet happily ever after story.

The premise of the book was cute and it definitely has the comedy aspect of a rom-com. The love interest Eli is like a big teddy bear, he’s a hopeless romantic who loves kids and the outdoors. Leah is desperate for family and belonging, but also thinks she will never have it. Most of the book is waiting for the two of them to wake up and realize they should be together - but it is a fun read. It’s also low/no steam.

Eli is willing to change everything about himself to convince Victoria to come back to him. Leah gets tangled up with Eli’s friend group and offers to help him on his journey to being the perfect rom-com boyfriend. The more time they spend together, the more Leah realizes she may be falling for him, although Eli still only has eyes for Victoria.

The Rom-Com Agenda is contemporary fiction. I have a difficult time considering this a romance when the MMC is chasing after another woman for 90% of the book. There is no HEA ending and it can barely be considered HFN. The plot is appealing but the storyline moves very slowly. There are some good banter and comedic moments.

This is the first book that I have read by author Jayne Denker. While it was not my favorite, I would like to look into some of her other work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin)!

The was a light and cute-ish read but fell a bit short in the process. Though the idea of Leah helping Eli get over and move on from his ex seemed promising there were some hiccups and lags that I wasn't able to get past.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion.

DNF'ed for right now, maybe I'll pick it back up later, I'm just not really feeling it. I didn't find the main characters that interesting and Leah definitely deserved so much better.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

Totally new author, but I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet , a little sexy with humor but also some drama in the background. It was exactly this kind of story that is good to read in long winter's evening because it makes You feel warm. Author created great story line, and from the beginning I felt, like she has certain plan for her characters. I only wish it could be a little more steamy, because I love when friends to lovers has sizzling chemistry between main characters, but overall, at the end I liked what this story is delivering.

this was a case of not for me. I really wanted to enjoy this one but didn’t like either MC nor did I see any chemistry between them. I kept wondering where the rom-con agenda was for the love story in the book

Do you love rom coms and have a nostalgia for the great rom com era of the 80s and 90s? Then this book is for you. The references alone will have you reaching for a John Hughes movies!

The story starts with Leah overhearing Eli get dumped by his girlfriend Victoria. He fell hard and fast with Victoria and after 4 months together, was convinced she was “the one”. Even though his friends & family didn't really like her, they come up with a plan to make him over into the perfect boyfriend because his current state (of dress, etiquette, culture) isn't good enough. 

Although the concept was cute - using rom com movies as inspiration to become the perfect boyfriend, it fell a bit short for us. It was probably because of Eli and the whole makeover storyline dragging on for too long. Eli is a likeable character when he wasn’t obsessing over his ex, he’s even charming when he’s with Leah. His obliviousness is clearly a plot point.

Leah and her storyline on the other hand was interesting and heartbreaking. She’s the perfect girl for Eli (he just needs to get his head out of his ass!) and she saw him for the great guy he is and thought the makeover plan was unnecessary. You want her to get the guy.

This book is a light, fun read with humour and a great found family aspect to it.


What we liked:
▪️Friends to lovers & found family tropes
▪️All the rom-com references
▪️Eli's family & friends 
▪️All the funny business names (Thousand Island Dressing & Poppin’ Locks)

What we didn’t like:
▪️Victoria for stringing Eli along
▪️Eli leading Leah on (& being hot/cold with her)