Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The synopsis of this book sounded cute - two former teen stars, Liv and Ransom reconnect for their hit tv show reunion and come face to face with their feelings.

This was a pretty average read for me. I felt like I was told more about the character’s relationship than I was actually shown, even though Liv and Ransom knew each other for over 10 years the chemistry between them was lacking.

I also thought the blog posts and comments between chapters were overused and way too long. Unfortunately, it made the story feel more like an extended celebrity news article rather than a romance.

It was interesting reading this second-chance romance novel when I was just thinking about and rewatching Friends, an actual old show with a reunion special. Oh, the nostalgia... There were times when I really felt like I was on set with the characters in the book!

I adored the cast. The romance was fine, sometimes I was skeptical and sometimes I was onboard. Liv had such a great team and support system ("everyone needs a Bre in their corner", hell yes). However, I also felt like there were some loose ends and would have loved to hear more from everyone else. Like, what happened to Ford?

One of my favorite aspects here is getting a glimpse into the inner workings of Hollywood and what goes on behind the scenes. The author also delves into issues such as fans being unable to separate actors from the parts they play on screen, how women tend to be villainized more than their male counterparts, cyberbullying by the media and the "secret sides to success":

There were some parts in the early chapters that felt over-descriptive (a play-by-play of Liv's every move isn't really necessary), but either it got better or I stopped noticing. The gossip articles sprinkled in between chapters was a fun and insightful touch.

Overall, it was a sweet read brimming with nostalgia and romance.

While I originally felt that the premise was too similar to Birds of California, as I got further in, I was glad to see that the story was not as alike as I thought! I loved the supporting characters and our leads were utter perfection. Oh my gosh, is there anything hotter than a man that cares about animals?? Anyways, the childhood-friends-to-lovers status between Ransom and Liv was excruciatingly beautiful, both amazing in their own right yet always concerned about the other’s well-being. I am not usually into fade-to-black scenes, but in this case, it rather felt like it was a tribute to Liv’s desire to keep some things for just herself. Absolutely recommend!

I could not stop reading this romance! I loved it from the opening note, which addressed my (and many other people’s) legit concern regarding Joey’s choice of Pacey/Dawson in the series finale, set 5 years in the future from where the last storyline concluded. Most of y'all are younger than I am, and that episode (if you watched it) was nowhere near as MONUMENTAL for you as it was for me. I will hold back my opinions on the episode itself, but I know how greedily I (and my friends) watched it… LIVE, because there was not other option at the time!!
I absolutely loved the unabashed Dawson/JVB love on Don't Trust the B* in Apartment 23. And his role on How I Met Your Mother… ok I have to stop now that I’ve dated myself on multiple shows and shown my true allegiance
Anyway, pretending I didn’t just word vomit all of that, I read about ⅓ on my flight last night and finished it today. I kept imagining the cast of Dawson's Creek while reading The Reunion. But I bet people from other time-frames can experience this story with their own teenage stars of choice in place of the former TV stars that the book follows. I can’t wait to read more from the author because this was a JOY to spend my Saturday reading.
I think other romance fans who have followed a TV show and wondered what happened with the characters after the show wrapped, both in real life and on screen, will also enjoy this one!
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This one comes out on January 17th - let me know if you check it out!!

Super cute! I really loved all the characters, the plot and the romance. This was a super satisfying, if not somewhat predictable, read. Always a fan of a well-written rom-com and that's exactly what this was.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book so perfectly evokes the nostalgia of your favorite teen shows that you'll find yourself forgetting that you weren't actually a fan of Girl on the Verge yourself. I was rooting for these characters to be able to find themselves outside of who they were as teenagers. Anyone who has ever been made to feel like people around them don't want them to grown and change will relate, even if it's just family or old friends making you feel boxed it and not millions of fans of a former tv show.

The Reunion is about teen stars who reconnect after their show is rebooted. They didn't get the chance to date when they were younger. Two things I really love: celebrity romance and second chance romance so I wasn't disappointed. Their relationship was fun to watch and the flirting was cute!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

(2.75 stars)

I was drawn to this book from the synopsis. Who doesn't love a second chance romance between two best friend actors? It felt like the perfect opportunity for angst, connections, and Hollywood drama. However, my expectations of what the book could have been were different than the actually product.

What I liked:
- Kayla Olson is an amazing technical writer. She displays great execution of the fictional romance writing format and voice. I was immediately hooked in from just the Prologue!
- Olson had some amazing quotable lines. I also think Liv's voice is super clear throughout the whole story
- I absolutely loved the connection that Liv and Ransom had. Actually, the relationships between all of the characters in this story were extremely diverse and fun to read about.
- I really enjoyed that the secondary characters were given their own events to happen in the course of this timeline. It made them feel more fleshed out and not just plot devices.

Things I didn't like:
- The amount of time/years it took for Liv and Ransom to speak again makes me angry and doubt their feelings. It makes me think their attraction for each other in present day is based mostly on nostalgia and not actual deep feelings.
- While the writing itself is technical perfection (I love the style, the voice, the formatting, etc), the content is lacking and (at times) a bit boring. This story would have been aided well with a B plot. It was incredibly repetitive in the first 31%, and during that time I was still waiting to be hooked (back) in. I think I was only invested in the the last 10% of the book.
- Anther thing that bothered me was that I was constantly told over and over and over and over again how close Liv and Ransom used to be. I never got to actually SEE a scene of them in their teens being best friends. If this book was told from dual timelines of past and present day, I think my enjoyment would have been completely different. Or at least given a couple of scenes from the past.

Overall, the idea for the plot was amazing and exciting but the execution was a tad disappointing.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars for this childhood best friends, second chance, forced proximity (sort of?) celebrity romance.

"The Reunion" by Kayla Olson sees main characters Liv and Ransom thrust back into each other's orbit 20 years after the success of the hit TV show they were on when they were much younger. Liv confessed her feelings for Ransom years ago but was essentially rejected by him. Though they remained friends after the show ended, their interactions dwindled over time. Now, a reboot of their show has been greenlit, which means they will be on-screen and in each other's arms again. This time around, it seems like Ransom reciprocates the feelings that have never evaded Liv all these years. Can they get their second chance?

This book is good, but not spectacular. The description sounded sooo good that the fact that it wasn't better is a bit of a disappointment. I liked the celebrity elements, which are well-written. Some of the characters do feel pointless and overly soap opera-y. Luckily, Olson does a good job laying out the years-long relationship (fervent in the past and nonexistent in the present) between Liv and Ransom. Their past is presented in a way that makes readers root for them to get together in the present. I really believed they were the best of friends who fell out when Liv caught deeper feelings for him. Their second chance in the present could have been a lot deeper, though. It feels convenient with no real stakes or big emotional investment.

Despite that Liv and Ransom are supposed to be 20 years older than they were when their show initially aired, they don't feel as old as they're supposed to be. I honestly forgot they were in their 30s because they are written with quite a lot of immaturity. This book is basically a YA book with 30-year-old protagonists. The third-act conflict isn't super believable. If readers are supposed to believe that Liv and Ransom were the best friends with a profound friendship, two people who knew each other inside and out, then the conflict is a moot point because Liv would never believe Ransom would betray her.

"The Reunion" is a quick read, and some will be dazzled by the glitz and glamor of the celebrity life and reboot chatter, but there were one too many issues for me to recommend this one fully. I'll still check out this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kayla Olson, and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Liv co-starred in a teen show for six years with her secret love and former best friend, Ransom Joel. Twenty years after the show first aired, the reunion episode/ special is in the works and it’s the first time in 14 years she’s seen him.

I loved this story. I thought the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was real and palpable: the furtive glances, the flirting…. It was all so cute. I loved the secondary relationships of Ford (another co-star) and Bre, Liv’s BFF/ assistant. I wish we would have gotten more snippets of them and the other side characters like Millie and Sasha-Kate. And I really wished for more spice from Ransom and Liv.

But if you’re in the mood for a nostalgic teen show story with a second chance romance, read this one. Super cute.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC. The Reunion comes out Jan 17, 23.

Liv starred in a popular teen television show for six years growin gup. It is now 20 years since the show first aired and the network is gathering together the original cast for a reunion episode. Her costar, and former best friend, Ransom Joel, and her haven't seen each other since the show ended. The past 14 years, Liv has layed low, leaving acting behind for awhile then coming back to do more meaty indie films. Ransom has gone the other direction as an action-adventure superstar. Liv and Ransom had been close, speculating rumors of off-screen romance, until Ransom suggested they take some time apart so their future significant others wouldn't question their friendship. Liv, who was secretly in love with Ransom, was incredibly hurt by the betrayal of her best friend. The minute they reconnect for the reunion, sparks fly. Is Liv imagining Ransom's feelings toward her again, like she fears she did all those years ago? And what comes next after this reunion?
I adored this story. Liv is the sweet, girl next door. She was raised in Hollywood, but is as down to earth as can be. After losing her father, thanks in part to the paparzzi, she has always wanted to be more lowkey and private in her personal life. The book is filled with fun side characters, like Sasha-Kate, Liv's 'sister' from the show who has made their relationship incredibly compeitive, Millie, the third sister who has transitioned into a pop superstar, and Ford, funny and witty friend and costar. Honestly, I think we could have used some beefing up on the rest of show's characters and their roles. We get hints and snippets of the other relationships, but my biggest complaint is that those weren't given more room to grow and a lot of Liv's concerns and worries about the show and Ransom got a little repetitive.
In this day and age of popular tv show reboots and movie remakes, it was easy to slip into the concept of this story and want to root for a favorite tv couple to become the real thing.

This was so cute!

If you like celebrity romances, pining, friends to more and the second chance book trope then this is for you!

This book is filled with friendships, insight into Hollywood, interviews, articles and a closed door romance.

I do wish there was a bit more about Liv and Ransom’s romance but other than that it delivered exactly what it promised.

Thank you so much Atria books and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5⭐️

What a great read! I was happy to read an ARC of this AND make it my book of the month pick for January

The Reunion is a super sweet Friends to Lovers/Second Chance Romance about Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel, two actors who once played in a popular teen drama called Girl On The Verge. They were best of friends and attached at the hip during their adolescence growing up on the show together until they had a falling out. After the death of her father and Ransom's betrayal, Liv retreats from acting for a time before taking on a select few Indie roles she feels drawn to. Now twenty years after the show's premier the cast has been signed on for a special reunion episode. Liv and Ransom have not spoken in years, but their chemistry has not dissipated one bit. They must endure interference from rivalries and tabloid drama making Liv question whether revisiting the past is what she really needs.

I really enjoyed this sweet closed door romance. I'm a big fan of both second chance and friends to lovers tropes so this one was a total win for me. While I typically prefer a bit more spice, I can certainly appreciate this for the sweet romance it is and the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was definitely there. The side characters were wonderfully written and I would absolutely love to read a second book about Bre and Ford. I also loved the additional tabloid article inserts between chapters and thought they were a fun way to mix things up. This celebrity focused story had me reminiscing about some of my favorite shows from my youth like Dawson's Creek, The OC and One Tree Hill. If you love celebrity gossip and seeing your favorite stars fall in love then you'll love this book!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was everything to me!! Maybe it's just because I'm a major pop culture nerd who grew up in the time of Disney icons, but this felt like if my favorite stars reunited 15 years later and ended up together.

I really enjoyed Liv's perspective, especially since first person narratives aren't always my favorite. I felt her hurt and knowing what the bitter side of fame did to wreck her life, and the hard decisions she had to make for a better future. There was a line about making a decision for the next few months that would have an impact on the following years that really stuck with me, because our choices always have consequences, where we know them or not.

I also enjoyed Ransom and was glad that he made the choices he did regarding his own career, because otherwise I don't think I would've been able to see a HEA for these two.

I very much recommend this to anyone who loves second chance romances, or celebrity romances, or both!

Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Reunion by Kayla Olson 🎬

Liv was the star of a teen drama and spent her entire childhood on screen trying to be as picture perfect as her character in real life. After the death of her father and betrayal of her on-screen love interest and off-screen best friend Ransom, Liv wanted nothing more than to live a normal life aside from a few indie films. Twenty years after the show’s premiere the cast is invited back for a reunion special and Liv couldn’t be happier to be back on set. Ransom and her fall into their old rhythms, rediscovering what drew them together before.

I loved the premise of this book, celebrity plus second chance romance is such a perfect combo. However I think I hyped up this book a little much in my head and it didn’t live up to what I was hoping it would be. I really liked Liv, she knows what she wants and doesn’t let the pressure of Hollywood influence how she prefers to live her life. The book was solely from her perspective which worked, however I feel like I learned next to nothing about Ransom which resulted in me not enjoying the romance between them as much.

With Liv’s unresolved feelings for Ransom, I was hoping we would get some more insight to them in the past and their friendship but that didn’t really happen. I would have loved to have seen just a few flashback moments between them to be more convinced of their chemistry. I expected a bit more of angsty-ness (if that’s a word) between them since they haven’t talked to each other for 14 years, but it felt very insta-love. I’m also someone who loves dialogue in a romance, I want to hear the characters talking through things instead of being told about it. There were a lot of moments where Liv and Ransom were together but it was just mentioned in passing instead of showing it. I needed those moments to be convinced of the romance and chemistry between them rather than be told about them in a few sentences.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. The celebrity gossip was fun, I liked the "articles" between chapters, and I loved Liv’s character. What didn’t work for me was the telling instead of the showing when it came to the romance.

single POV
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️

Is it possible to have already read the best release of 2023 barely three weeks into the year? If so, Kayla Olson’s newest novel, The Reunion, might be the one!

Liv Latimer grew up starring in the hit television series Girl on the Verge, but so much has changed in the past twenty years since the show’s premiere. Liv has dealt with grief, rediscovering her passion, and having to part ways with her former best friend and costar, Ransom Joel. Fourteen years after the series finale and deciding to take a step back from their close friendship, the show is planning a big reunion special and a potential reboot, which means going all the way back to the beginning. Liv is having the time of her life seeing old collaborators and reconnecting with Ransom, but old spats and crushes keep bubbling back up from the surface! Is going back to basics the best decision for her, or is it time to walk away for good and pursue new connections?

This book is IMPOSSIBLE to put down, and it’s clear how well the new Celebrity Romance trope shines! This is the novel for anyone who watched all of the teen dramas in the mid 2000s and was living their best life when Netflix decided to reboot everything under the sun. The main shift in Liv and Ransom’s attraction for one another was sudden at first, but since the reader is rooting for them from page one, it’s extremely forgivable.

My personal favorite segments were the tabloids in between the chapters! They were a fun reminder of how their relationships and work drama was perceived by their fans.

This is a romance I’ll be recommending all year long! Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was great. It had a great story to it. The romance aspect of it was definitely lacking a little. I don’t have an issue with insta love but I thought they should have had the characters work up to being in love instead of it being just instant.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Our main characters in this book are Liv and Ransom. They were co-stars/best friends whilst filming their tv show, but something happened that caused them to cut ties when their show, Girl on the Verge ended. Fast forward 14 years to when they are invited back to film a 20 year reunion episode and they soon realize that their feelings for each other never left.

Ya’ll, two of my favourite tropes are childhood friends to lovers/ second chance and this book delivered! This book gave me an insight as to potentially what our favourite actors/actresses feel when they are brought back to film a reunion/reboot (Yano, since there are a lot of those happening recently) and I loved it!

I could feel the connection that Liv and Ransom had together, but I also loved that with the magazine articles, we got to learn more about some of the side characters in a unique way. I also enjoyed that this book wasn’t jam packed with drama. It had some where it was needed but it wasn’t over the top.

My only two things I wish this book had was Ransoms POV (I’m nosy, okaaaayyy?!) and some spice.

Is anyone else hoping we get a follow up book featuring our other favourites, Ford and Bre?! 👀

Former teen TV co-stars Liv and Ransom had a falling out 14 years ago, the friendship and bond they had built dissolved. When their once hit show is being casted for a reunion, Liv and Ransom reconnect. Could they just pick up where they left off after so many years of having not talked? Or, is there more in store for them?

I enjoyed Olson’s writing, the ins and outs of TV shooting, and the fun tabloid articles, comments, and even the dialogue between Liv and Ransom in-character. I love celebrity romances! But, I think I’m more a fan of celebrity hero x girl next door. That preference aside, THE REUNION had potential. The chemistry was definitely there between Liv and Ransom, but the slow burn didn’t exactly build it as well as it could. Nonetheless, perfect for fans of Erin Hahn’s BUILT TO LAST.