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.

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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

A charming second chance romance. Great escape read.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love the writing. I got a little lost with the large early character introduction.
I love this trope- 2nd chance -not quite romance. The actor/Hollywood theme isn't my favorite. Maybe too close to where I live? I'm glad that I found this author. I listened to the audio, so this might be better reading with my eyes. Andi Arndt was so good. She had a tremendous amount of dialogue.
I heard about this on Facebook & TikTok. I will definitely give this author another try.

Cute, fun read of a second chance love story with a big nostalgia factor. GotV definitely reminds me of my favorite teen dramas and I can definitely imagine the craziness it would spark in the fans for a reunion of one of those.
Nice cast of characters and I really liked the scene within a scene aspect with the filming of the reunion show spelled out.
Not a huge fan of the social / blog posts interspersed but that is just a personal preference.
Overall I very much enjoyed this one and would definitely read others by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

The Reunion was a delightful second-chance love story about a popular teen television show that is having a reunion years later, where old feelings between the stars ignite. Was I the only one who pictured the show as similar to Dawson' Creek? I loved this, and tore through it. Recommend for anyone who likes rom coms, television behind the scenes books, and day in the life of a hollywood star stories!

Liv grew up on Girl on the Verge, both quite literally and figuratively. She starred as said Girl. With that came a lot of publicity and being in the public eye. Being the child of a star, she knew very well the consequences of that fame as her father died in a car accident while being chased by the paparazzi. She has since decided to never speak about her father publicly as she feels that anything she says will be twisted for the media's sole purpose of achieving whatever they want to achieve. Now, years after all of that passed, the show is having a reunion. A reunion that means that she will be reconnecting with all the stars of the show including Ransom, her former best friend, her love interest on the show and her crush in real life. While due to a series of inconveniences and misunderstandings, they never actually ended up together while they originally filmed the show, they were both in love with each other. It was not until the reunion that they were both put in situations where they had to confront demons from their pasts and work towards what they actually wanted. It was an interesting take on the toxicity of fame to an extent and a lot of double standards. It was an enjoyable read.

The story was good. However I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the main characters that made my heart really get attached to the characters. I just wish there had been more character development and chemistry building.

This book was fantastic. Amazing. Perfection. A must read by this author. I enjoyed every page.

The book follows Liv, who starred in a popular show, Girl on the Verge, as the main character,, Honor. She acted opposite Ransom Joel, who played Duke, her love interest. As the show filmed, she developed a crush on him but thought he didn't feel the same way. The show ended 10 years earlier and since then, she has had no contact with Ransom per his request all those years ago. Fast forward to today, where they are filming a reunion episode. She hasn't seen him since the finale - though she has followed his career since then. What was seeing him going to be like? Filming with him again? You have to read to find out. A great novel about love and celebrity and finding yourself, all taking place in the beautiful setting of Los Angeles.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Reunion is soapy, romantic, and completely cinematic. There were times I forgot I was reading and instead thought I was watching my favorite teen CW drama!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Reunion is a cute novel following two costars on the twenty year anniversary of their show’s premiere. I loved the premise and I’m so glad I got to read this.

The chemistry between them is amazing. I loved their interactions and the interactions with the side characters.

Honestly this book made me think of Boy/Girl Meets World. It was super fun with cute romance and more serious topics.

Thank you again to the publisher for the copy. I recommend this book for fans of “second” chance romances and friends to lovers.

thanks so much to netgalley and atria for the e-arc!!!

if you know me, you know that early 2000s teen television is the core of who i am. so when i heard that this was about two cast members from one of these shows falling in love at their 20 year reunion…. i was so in.

there’s a lot i enjoyed about this book - the scenes that were scenes from the show (they’re filming a reunion special), the inserts of articles and interviews, and the just the fact that i will always adore a second-chance romance ESPECIALLY set in the glitzy world of hollywood.

however!!! the main relationship between liv and ransom is supposed to be a best friends to strangers to lovers type of thing. and i just couldn’t understand how they basically went 20 years without speaking and then the insta-love was COMPLETELY INTACT. i was obviously anticipating a spark, but the fact that they were so open about their feelings from literally page one made this feel way too low stakes and also frustrated me because wdym they couldn’t have found any other time to talk about this???

the ending was super satisfying, the side characters were likable, and because it was only from livs pov i felt like i really got to know her. i just needed more of a reason to buy them being in love so quickly - maybe flashbacks? just more of something!

overall, i just needed MORE. more reason to root for everyone, more chemistry, more something. which is a shame because everything we did get was so good!!!!!!

(except the big reveal about one of the other actress’s rubbed me soooo the wrong way and everyone’s reaction was even worse)

also, i kinda wish they didn’t set up a romance for ford because i would soooo read his book what a cutie pie!

anyway 3 stars…. and i think i’m off to watch the oc!!!

This second-chance romance sizzled with heat every time Liv and Ransom came within two feet of each other, but I agree with other reviewers who mentioned there was too much tell and not enough show. I get that this pair had a lot of history together but instead of Liv telling the reader, I would have preferred more flashback scenes or some other exposition that made me feel it more.

I did love Liv’e character and enjoyed seeing all the inner struggle in which she sought to find her own way with her career in a job that can be ruthless with attacks upon everything from her appearance to her love life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE REUNION is a standalone contemporary second-chance romance by Kayla Olson. This story is perfect for readers who enjoy second-chance romances. About a million years ago, Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were on a teen drama, Girl on the Verge. Adolescence makes forming romantic relationships hard enough, but the added pressure of fame made Liv and Ransom’s burgeoning romance implode. Liv’s response was to kind of duck and cover and generally avoid Ransom for the past twenty years. Now there’s a show reunion and possible reboot. When these two people meet again, after so many years and such a complicated history, the sexual tension, and feelings of being haunted by their past promise a tantalizing present.

For me, so much of this story is about trust and separating what’s real from fantasy. Years ago, when the relationship between Liv and Ransom was a friendship and mild flirtation (with secret longing), the way things ended made Liv question if everything was just all in her head. She thought things might have all been one-sided and she was the fool. Instead of a regular cold case mystery dealing with something like murder or a disappearance, THE REUNION deals with a cold case romance. What really happened years ago that stopped things before they really ever got started? Who was to blame? Can things be put right? I like how Kayla Olson only gives Liv’s perspective. Having only her perspective makes her more sympathetic to the reader and keeps Ransom just as enigmatic to the reader as he can be with Liv. As the story progresses and the chemistry between the two main characters becomes intense and undeniable, you want them to find their way to be happy and be together, but you also see what makes Liv understandably cautious.

THE REUNION is both an epic romance and a wonderfully written character-driven story. I love stories with “making of” or “behind the scenes” elements. Kayla Olson does a phenomenal job of breathing life into these characters. By the end, I was so caught up in the characters that I was teary-eyed near the end. I would love to read stories featuring one or two of the supporting characters in this story. Although Kayla Olson is a new-to-me author, I can’t wait to dive into her next book.

I was so excited for this one, but something just fell flat for me. There was a lack of emotion in there somewhere, and while I enjoyed the characters, I didn't enjoy the romance.

A second-chance love story that was a bit predictable and not that in depth. It was fun and entertaining.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy.

Had an enjoyable time reading this book.

this only futher cements my love for celebrity romance, it is the perfect read for fans of how to fake it in hollywood by ava wilder! super fun I really enjoyed

A sweet, contemporary second chance romance. A former teen actress returns to the set for a reunion special of the popular show she starred in ten years ago. Liv is reunited with her former flame who broke her heart. Some great side characters add richness to the story. Well written and executed, evenly paced and entertaining. The romance is easy to get invested in, low steam but interesting intensity and chemistry.