Super cute second-chance romance! Prior to getting approved for this ARC, I was already hearing rave reviews about it from my friends. I realize I haven’t read too many celebrity romances yet (at least, not in this style of writing?) but I really enjoyed it and found the characters to be engaging and well-developed! I’d definitely read more by this author.

[3.75 stars]

I'm drawn to Romance novels that are set in or around Hollywood or deal with fame in some way (Red, White and Royal Blue, How to Fake it in Hollywood, The View Was Exhausting) and this debut closed door, second chance romance is a nice addition to that list. Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were co-stars and love interests on an iconic teen drama that’s been off the air for years. While they were filming, they were best friends (despite the media’s speculation that there was more), until they had a dramatic falling out. After years of not speaking, Liv and Ransom (along with the rest of the cast) return to film a one episode reunion special. This is pure fluffy, fun. It’s not going to make my Best Books of the Year list or anything, but it fills a specific and very much necessary role in my reading...the quick, easy brain reset. Olson said in her Acknowledgements that she started writing this in March 2020 because she needed somewhere fun to go in her head to escape the fear and darkness of the early pandemic and I think she succeeded. There are some fun nods to beloved TV series and I loved going behind the scenes of a TV set, media navigation, and the price of fame.

So - first I wanna say thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books Galley for providing me with this arc!
As for the book... it was a super easy cute read, but the characters fell a bit flat for me. I did like the side character stories and how it all felt like a big family, but I didn't feel the intense connection I was expecting to feel between Liv and Ransom.
I did find it easy to read, and the tabloid updates at the beginning of each chapter was super fun! I just wanted a bit more.

I was super excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! If you’re looking for the perfect rom-com to start the summer season with, this is it!

The Reunion by Kayla Olson was such an enjoyable read! I loved everything about Liv and Ransom, I loved the friends to strangers to friends to lovers, it was so fun to watch them reconnect and then fall for each other. It was pulling on all my heart strings watching them become friends again. I wish we saw more of them being friends before jumping right into their romance, I felt like the second they reconnected all Liv was thinking was how much she has always loved him. I loved Kayla's writing and how she wrote her characters. I really enjoyed the articles and fan comments in each chapter, made the book so much better watching these fans love these characters swoon and fangirl over them like I was. I am a huge hater of the miscommunication trope, so I hated when there was a conflict they did not open up and immediately talk about the drama. I hate when adults in these books communicate like children.. I loved just about everything about this book and am already ready to get my hands on a physical copy and reread it! Huge thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the storyline in this second chance romance. It was PG with lots of good drama. Really enjoyed the main characters life

I thought the concept was really cute with the friends to lovers growing up on a sitcom together and second chance romance, but as I got about a quarter way in, I realized the book wasn’t for me. It’s a mix of the writing and tropes that wasn’t really clicking with me unfortunately.

This book may not have been right for me, but it could be great for others and it makes me happy to see it all around in bookstores! I really appreciate the opportunity for receiving an arc.

I really wanted to love this seeing as how I love romances set against Hollywood backdrop, but the pacing was so off. The rekindling of the relationship progressed way too quickly. It needed more tension, more “moments,” more development.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kayla Olson and Atria Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

This a second chance romance that happens after 14 years. Liv and Ransom were on a tv show together and a problem arises that they don't talk for 14 years. So they had a big enough problem that you would have thought that it might take a little while to resolve correct? There is this instant love that both feel for each other when they see each other again that I found kind of odd. Sure you can be attracted to each other but instant love... not so much. They didn't talk for 14 years and instant love...

Other than that I did enjoy them as characters. I enjoyed reading how Liv is adjusting to being back in the limelight and what she really wants out of her life and career. Ransom was a mixture of moments for me some I really enjoyed while others I found him hot and cold giving Liv mixed signals. For me he wasn't an enjoyable character to read about.

All in all this was an ok read I enjoyed parts but the majority of the book I found myself questioning their actions and motives.

This was super cute, fell more into the women's fiction with a romance genre. Great option for those who enjoy a closed door, second chance and celebrity romance.

I really liked this book! I loved that between chapters we got gossip news and tweets! It was definitely a fun way to do the book! Really liked the reboot idea as so many of our favorite shows have started to come back 10/15 years later! Totally relatable to be obsessed with a show and excited for the reboot. As for the characters, it’s got to be so hard to move forward after time has passed from roles that define your career. I definitely felt for them.

I really liked Liv’s POV and how she handled herself within the story. The classic miscommunication trope was handled really well. Especially with the celebrity aspect of news leaking to the public and finding things out in real time while you’re still trying to piece it all together yourself.

Ransom was a sweet guy and I really felt that spark between him and Liv. Being confused about your teenage feelings and in love with someone from a far was a great story to tell. I loved the side characters Bre and Ford! They were such great friends and offered wonderful banter!

Super cute book!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the premise of THE REUNION. With shows being rebooted or reunited in real life, it felt like a timely story to bring together the stars of a popular teen drama for a reunion special. It was so nostalgic, as I could imagine the cast of any of my favourite teenage shows being reunited.
This was an entertaining, second chance Hollywood romance that followed main character Liv, as she reacquaints herself with the cast and being back under the microscope of celebrity gossip and the internet. Among the cast is Ransom, who she has a complicated past with.
I was invested in their chemistry, as I could see that Ransom was into Liv from the very beginning. I was cheering for their relationship. I also liked exploring the different dynamics between all of the cast members and Hollywood. The gossip columns sprinkled throughout were a lot of fun.
Thank you Atria Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable and really enjoyable. As a fan of shows like Dawson's Creek and other 90s dramas, I loved the concept of the TV show reunion and the love story was believable and fun. It was the perfect light, easy read for me after the holidays but didn't feel so light as to be silly either. It would make a perfect summer beach read!

The Reunion is a cute, fun romance set in Hollywood between two child actors all grown up. Fans of romance, celebrity gossip, and your favorite shows from your teens being rebooted will love this one!

Liv and Ransom grew up on the set of Girl on the Verge, a show that ended more than ten years ago. While the press and the public have always wondered if they were together IRL, to Liv's chagrin they were only friends. And they haven't talked since. Now, as adults, the two are able to rekindle their friendship and on-screen chemistry easily, But there are a lot of obstacles to overcome-- costars, the rumor mill, career decisions, etc.

If you liked Birds of California or Funny You Should Ask, you will enjoy this quick romance!

Girl on the Verge ended 14 years ago, and Liv thought her love for Ransom ended then too. It turns out she never got over her unrequited feelings for him, and now that they’re reuniting for a reunion special of their hit TV show, she’ll have to deal. But, maybe the feelings were mutual after all.

This second chance romance is a bit unfocused. The plot is great, and many of the characters were fun to read. There was no character development though; especially the relationship between Liv and Ransom was flat. They barely talked to each other which, surprise, was the reason they had a falling out in the first place. But now, 14 years later, they’re supposedly in love yet they still don’t talk. Bre and Ford were more interesting to read than the main characters. The author made up for the lack of dialogue with distinct wardrobe descriptions though as if cool outfits make up for lack of personality. Also why were names for tech companies fictionalized (Snapaday, Flitterbird, Fanline) but Peloton and FaceTime still exist? The obvious, yet ridiculous names pull readers out of the story. The blogs and blurbs between each chapter were fun though. It may have even been preferable to just get the whole story through outside media like that instead of getting the flat character perspectives.

Thank you to #Netgalley and Atria books for an advanced reader's copy for an honest review.
Liv and Ransom, who previously starred as a couple in a popular teen drama, play each other in this romantic comedy about second chances. For unknown reasons, they moved from being the best of friends to completely cutting off all contact 14 years ago. Hiring them for the reunion episode and possible reboot forces them to face their affections for one other and the events of years past.
I may not be the target audience for this book, I wrote. Though well-written, the article made too many business references in an attempt to sound current. In addition, it includes pages of celebrity gossip and social media posts between each chapter, which boost the ante while also feeling redundant.

I had heard a lot about this book and I'm glad I read it. The premise was really clever, and I enjoyed seeing the characters realize their chemistry. This was a fun read!

DNF @ 15%

I want to like this book, and I think the premise is there, I just don't like the writing style of this book. Written in First-Person Present tense, I really, REALLY hate how the narrator ( Liv) is always internally monologue-ing about the Horrible Event that occurred 20 years ago. I would be fine with the suspense if it was written in any other way, but who, when internally narrating their thoughts and actions think "oh this specific Horrible Event" instead of just actually thinking about the event? I get that it's for the sake of plot development and such, but this kind of writing just bothers me. Also, I don't really like the cattiness that's implied between the two main female actresses, while I do like that Liv has a female bestie, the jealous second lead seems like a cheap trope to throw in.

--
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review

This is easily one of my favorite books of the year already, and I feel fairly confident that it's going to hold that position as the year progresses.

I don't even know where to begin with how much I loved this story. Can I just end the review here and say GO READ IT? No? Alright then.

The plot! I love a Hollywood story--anything surrounding actors, singers, performers of any kind--I'm here for it. This story fed right into that obsession and gave me everything I wanted. Two characters who were secretly in love with each other when they filmed a TV show as teenagers, went their separate ways for YEARS, and reunite for a reunion episode? It was everything.

The characters! All of them were so well developed--the protagonists, the antagonists--everyone. In particular, I want Liv and Bre to be my best friends; their friendship was so well written.

The romance! The chemistry between Liv and Ransom was out of this world. I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling anything, but their relationship development was incredible.

In case I haven't been clear enough, go pick this up immediately! (Even though I reviewed an ARC copy, it is already published. Thank you, reading slump, for that.)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF 55%
i thought i would love this based off the premis and format i would love this one but it just wasn't doing it for me and i didn't care for the characters. it reminded me of the all the main characters i didn't like on tv