The plot of this book intrigued me and I was excited to dive right in and see how the author tackled it!

Olivia wins a dinner date with the guy she shared a dance with in 4th grade, and now mega movie star, Ryan. Sounds great, right? Nope. Ryan recently found himself in hot water with some bad press and Olivia thinks he is a typical Hollywood jerk because of it. After some unfortunate events, they find themselves handcuffed together for the next 5 days.

Let’s tackle the important questions first….we’ll important if you think like me.

How will they use the bathroom?
How will they shower?
How will they get dressed?
How will they sleep?

Not to fear…all of these questions are answered and the author did a very good job on illustrating very plausible solutions to these problems,

Now that we have addressed that, let’s get to the romance.

I think this book had promise but it just didn’t quite get there for me. I did not feel the chemistry between the main characters. I would have loved to learn a little bit more about Ryan’s childhood and why he felt so alone and how Olivia’s dance with him truly impacted his life (enough to talk about it on a regular basis). It’s implied that the theatre director, Lydia, is a very important person to Ryan, but the book doesn’t give us much context on that either. I think understanding both Olivia and Ryan more as individuals would have given them more depth which would have assisted in setting up the love story.

There are a few subplots in the story that were all over the place. Specifically Olivia’s career path. She was very wishy washy.

This book just wasn’t for me, but if you are looking for a light and quick romcom, this could be for you!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book and the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Ryan is a big-shot moviestar that has returned to his small town for a fundraiser. When he is auctioned off for a dinner he gets handcuffed to his date Olivia, the girl he still remembers from highschool. After the key gets lots the two have to spend the next days handcuffey to one another.
The story is completely over-the-top (not to say completely unbelievable) but if you don't mind that it is still very entertaining.

Olivia Bloom just won the jackpot: a dinner date with her former childhood crush and now Hollywood hunk Ryan Jones. The only problem? She hates him. And those handcuffs that were supposed to be “just for show” aren’t coming off.

After discovering her fiancé’s affair, Olivia retreats to her small hometown and swears off anything to do with love. Unfortunately, her well-meaning friends have just the plan to pull Olivia out of her funk – they’ll pool their money at a silent auction and win the big prize: a one-on-one date with Olivia’s celebrity crush, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Jones.

Charming leading man Ryan Jones credits his love of acting to his childhood community theater teacher. When he hears that the theater might close, he volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, where he’ll be handcuffed to the winner. The last person he expects to win the bid is the one girl he never forgot.

The date goes poorly – ever since a terrible video of Ryan went viral, Olivia can’t see him as anything other than an egotistical jerk.

Things go from bad to worse when they learn the key is missing – and they’ll be locked together for the next five days.

And worse than that – Olivia’s starting to catch feelings for the man she’s shackled to. Will being stuck together become the spark that reignites old feelings, or will it only drive them apart forever?
-
Another fake dating romance
i'm in

I have received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

This was amazing!
I love when this scenario happens in movies or books and as soon as i saw the cover i was immediately intrigued.
The forced proximity and enemies to lovers just goes perfect together.
I loved this author as well and i wanna read more of their work.
5/5

🤣Hilarious car metaphor in the first page!!! “A Miata with its top down”

Ok, the concept is fun and unique…handcuffed together for a few days. But I’m wondering who did the proofreading for this book. The inconsistencies were very distracting for me. Olivia and her friends dress up for a themed party, and initially she’s described as wearing a ”cop” costume. The next two times it’s talked about, she has a “robber” costume on. Then at the end of the night, she’s wearing a “cop” costume again. Really, it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it really was distracting for me. One of the supporting characters, Lydia, was referred to as “Linda.” Also, the main character’s last name was misspelled on one page.

Yes, the love story is rocky and sweet, as it should be, but this was just ok for me. Like I said, a unique premise, but the execution was not amazing. I hate leaving less-than-glowing reviews, but I also can’t say this was a great read. Would it have been better without the errors? Of course, but I still am not sure I would have really loved it.

Ryan Jones has a bad reputation in Hollywood after he went off on a director and it was captured on someone's phone. Of course, it spread like wildfire. Now he's gone back to his hometown to lick his wounds. It's not like he really enjoys the limelight anyway. Plus, he's going to help raise money for his local theater run by his first acting coach. He doesn't expect to be put up for auction, nor to be won by Olivia Bloom with whom he had his first dance (one he still apparently talks about.)

Olivia isn't expecting to win the dinner. She used to have the mother of all crushes on Ryan but that love died when she saw the infamous video. She also didn't expect to spend the dinner handcuffed to Ryan. She definitely didn't expect for the key to be lost and the replacement won't be back for almost a week. Suddenly, she's spending 24/7 with the man she now despises, taking turns covering ears while the other person uses the restroom, and trying to get dressed with one hand not available.
This was an okay story but I got a little tired of the back and forth. For supposedly mature people these two sure argued like children. Also, Olivia never just asked Ryan what had happened with the video. I also wasn't sure how the two of them were going to have an HEA as their relationship didn't seem to have a lot of the depth you'd need for longevity.

Three stars
This book came out September 26, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Sterling & Stone and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thanks to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for an advanced reader copy of “Hooked on Hollywood” by Mia Summers.

“Hooked on Hollywood” is a fake dating celebrity rom-com about a young woman, Olivia” and her used-to-be-favorite-Hollywood actor (and 4th grade sock hop partner) Ryan. Days before Ryan comes back to their sleepy town to provide entertainment as a means to help raise money for his childhood theater, a video of him yelling at his director goes viral. Olivia decides he is not the person she thought or remembered from all those years ago. At the benefit auction, things happen and she is forced to spend five days with the Hollywood heart throb, who she remains physically attracted to-and that may also be true for him.

This book was an easy read and perfect for fans of traditional fake dating tropes with young characters (the main character is 24). For me, the characters were too young and not particularly deep. At my age, I just prefer older characters and more complex storylines.

But I think if a reader is looking for a breezy romcom to read on a plane or pass the time, this would do the trick.

I so loved this book focusing on Olivia and Ryan. The premise is so adorable. The kid you danced with at the sock hop in fourth grade is now a famous actor. You consider him to be your favorite actor until you see a clip of him losing it on a director. Now he is coming home to take part in a fund raiser for the local community theater. A dinner date with Ryan will be auctioned at the fundraiser. Olivia's friends decide to purchase the date with Ryan for Olivia, since they know how much she adores him and Olivia has had a pretty rough go of things lately. Her fiancé cheated on her and stole her business idea. The friends secure the dinner date for Olivia and the theater director decides to keep everything in theme. She handcuffs Olivia and Ryan for theirs dinner date in keeping with the cops and robbers theme of the evening. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Well, what follows is a lovely story. I love the idea of Ryan and Olivia remembering their sock hop dance I thought that was an excellent plot device. It evoked memories of past events and the people who made those nights magical. I so loved how Olivia had a team of people looking out for her. She had people who cared about her. Her mom was a gem. Her friends were true blue. And Ryan saw Olivia's worth. He touted her strengths , her creativity, and told her why she would succeed. It made me smile to read the passages where Olivia was treated like someone who mattered.
This book made an impression. I loved the tone of the book. You suspend believe in some parts, but that is the beauty of books. I want the shower and all the other stuff to work. Maybe we all should try love ribbons. Probably not, but I do recommend this book. It's fun. It's cute. It's good.

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Hooked on Hollywood by Mia Summers is a great book if you’re looking for a fun romcom that’s more sweet than spicy.

Heartthrob actor Ryan, in the middle of a PR nightmare, returns to his hometown for a charitable event and is auctioned off to raise funds for the local theatre and is bought, unbeknownst to her, by Olivia, who he last saw at an elementary school dance. Olivia’s friends, trying to cheer her up, pool their money to buy her a date with her longtime crush , Ryan- not knowing she’s disgusted by the actions that caused him his PR trouble and wants nothing to do with him.

Add a pair of handcuffs during the cops and robbers event and the drama ensues. Can romance ensue? You betcha.

This was a fun read and Ms. Summers did the characters justice.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

★ ★ ★ ★ //5
Hooked On Hollywood
by Mia Summers

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you love :

*Forced Proximity
*Fake Relationships
*Small Town
*Slow Burn
*Hollywood/Celebrity Crush
*Dual POV

Then this book will be for you!

I have never read any books by Mia Summers and I fell in love with this one! I absolutely loved this read. I couldn’t set it down. Sometimes I am in the mood for a slow burn and this one did not disappoint at all. I enjoyed the DUAL POV while following Ryan and Olivia through this story and watch their relationship develop through out. This book had some twists and turns and made it that much more fun. I read this from start to finish in one sitting. Such a fresh romcom that I will absolutely be recommending to all of my romcom readers in my life.

i love a good fake dating enenmies to lovers book and even better when its a celebrity i love good no spice sweet rom coms and this one didnt disappoint

After a cheating fiancée and a backstabbing best friend Olivia moves back home to Ocean Springs. All while rich and famous Ryan Jones comes back home to Ocean Springs.
This book is geared more towards fans of tropes consisting of fake dating, celebrity crush, enemies to lovers, and small town romance.
The story fell a little bit flat for me. It’s a very unlikely plot. Many times I kept thinking to myself yea, that would never fool anyone.
But on the other hand it was a quick read and there was zero spice. So if down to earth romance books are your favorites this book is for you.

This is a sweet, albeit predictable, love story between Olivia and Ryan - two people who met in their hometown of Ocean Springs in 4th grade at a sock hop. Ryan is now a famous movie star in Los Angeles, while Olivia just moved back home to Ocean Springs after a rough breakup.

When Ryan comes to town for a charity auction, Olivia's friends go behind her back and place a high bid for Olivia to win a private dinner with Ryan - and there's a catch. The two have to be handcuffed to each other. The situation becomes a bit of a disaster when the key is lost, and they face the thought of being cuffed together for five days. Can the forced proximity bring these two former crushes together despite the vastly different lives they lead?

As I said, this is a predictable read, and nothing about this story was vastly different from any other sweet romance novel. I typically like to read books that just make sense, and a few things either didn't make sense or just nagged at me. (1) It's just implausible that a famous Hollywood guy would continue mentioning this girl he danced with in FOURTH GRADE for years afterward - and heck, I didn't have any dances in fourth grade. (2) The way Olivia continually brought up how "rich" Ryan was - I am shocked he didn't lose his mind over that. (3) I just didn't feel the chemistry between these two at all. They seemed so awkward with one another, and even by the end, I wasn't really buying it.

Despite that, this was an easy, heartwarming romance. I wouldn't put it on my list of top romance novels, as I prefer those with a bit of "steam" in their scenes, a bit more realism. But this is a good pick if you're looking for something sweet to finish in two days!

Thank you, NetGalley, Mia Summers, and Sterling & Stone, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Hooked on Hollywood" is a book that took me on an unexpected journey through the small town of romance and comedy. The story begins with an intriguing twist—an auction that lands Olivia in a hilarious situation where she finds herself handcuffed to none other than the Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Jones. The catch? They're stuck together with no key in sight, and Ryan's friend is conveniently out of the country for the next five days.

Narrated in a dual perspective with a first-person point of view, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the minds of Olivia and Ryan. It's important to note that this isn't your typical steamy romance; instead, it's a light-hearted and entertaining tale.

While I found the characters a bit lacking in depth and the emotional development of Olivia and Ryan's relationship somewhat wanting, there was still something undeniably enjoyable about the book. Olivia and Ryan, with their occasional childishness, managed to charm me, especially in the many scenes they shared. The story seemed to hit its stride around the halfway mark, drawing me in even more.

"Hooked on Hollywood" is the ideal choice for those seeking a quick and pleasurable read. It definitely delivers on its promise of being a light and fun romantic comedy. Olivia's relatable post-breakup antics and the unexpectedly complex character of Ryan added layers to the narrative. What stood out for me were the side characters; they played pivotal roles and breathed life into the story, which is quite a rare find. On a lighter note, there were moments when the accuracy of handcuff-related descriptions left me wondering if I'd missed something about how handcuffs work.

If you're in the mood for an entertaining rom-com with a fresh twist, "Hooked on Hollywood" should be on your reading list. Despite its minor imperfections, it offers an enjoyable reading experience that left me looking forward to more from this author. I'd personally rate it a solid 3.5/5 stars, with the potential to climb higher with a few tweaks

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5898155331

I loved the flow of this book and found the premise to be adorable! A famous actor returning to his hometown and falling back in love with his elementary school sweetheart! Swoon! The characters were lovable and sweet. Ryan's need for privacy creates more tension to the situation. Lydia misguided attempt at matchmaking creating a scenario that keeps the two together is such a cute and brilliant way to trap the two main characters into forming a relationship. The struggles I faced with the novel was towards the beginning there's a few discrepancies that pulled me out of the book: mainly that in some scenes Olivia is described as being dressed as a robber and some as the cop. This made me have to re-read to make sure I didn't misread in the first place and pulled me out of the story slightly. At one or two points the author also indicates Olivia speaking but it's actually another character as Olivia refers to herself as I as the narrator. The ending felt rushed for how much was built up, but I understand that their story continues in future books.

Olivia Bloom retreats to her small hometown after finding her fiancé cheating on her and swears off love and romance forever. Her friends try to cheer her up by bidding on a date with handsome Hollywood star Ryan Jones, who is auctioning off a date as part of a fundraiser to keep the local community theater open.

Of course, the two have history, and they end up being handcuffed together when the key gets lost. This was a fun easy read, and I enjoyed the banter and evolving relationship between Olivia and Ryan. The handcuff thing is a new one for me. I love the forced proximity trope in general, but I hadn't seen this one before. Very entertaining!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This book definitely delivered on its premise! It was the perfect light, fun, rom-com read. I thought the premise of this book was a fairly unique twist on some pretty common tropes.

As for Olivia, I thought the author did a good job portraying someone who recently had a bad breakup and all her behavior came off as believable. She wasn't necessarily my favorite FMC of all time, but she had her moments. I really loved Ryan though! He had a lot more depth than I expected based on the description, so I was pleasantly surprised by him!

I really loved the side characters in the book, which isn't something that usually sticks out to me. I feel like side characters typically fall flat but these ones added so much to the story - it truly wouldn't have happened without them!

My own real issue with the book was there were some points where they were describing the handcuffs doing things I don't feel like handcuffs actually do but maybe I'm not as knowledgeable about handcuffs as I think I am!

This is my first book by this author but I would definitely read more in the future!

Cute story with an interesting concept of being stuck together. Overall I enjoyed the book and the characters!

Hooked on Hollywood is a lighthearted, charming and swoon worthy romantic comedy that follows the story of Olivia Bloom and her former childhood crush, the movie star Ryan Jones, as they find themselves unexpectedly handcuffed together.
The story is a very slow burn romance set in a small town and I’ve loved the banter between the two main characters as they are forced to spend time together.
I’ve found this book very entertaining and easy to read, just what I needed to get my mind off of work. I only wish the book had more steamy moments and that more space was given to the side characters.

I recommend this book to every reader that is looking for an upbeat and light rom-com with banter and tension. I look forward to reading more books by Mia Summers, but especially to learn more about Brooklyn’s love story and also read more about Lucas!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mia Summers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Olivia and Ryan find themselves in my worst nightmare – handcuffed to someone (even if he is your crush) for a really long time. Despite handcuffs, and, yes, these are a regular pair, having a universal key, no one can get them unlocked for five days. This forced proximity presents challenges and, of course, the opportunity to fall in love. This was cute but predictable. As another reviewer stated, there is nothing new in this story; nothing more creative than the other ones. It kept me entertained but I wanted a little more.