It follows a pretty familiar rom-com formula—ordinary girl gets thrust into the world of the rich and famous, and sparks fly with the swoon-worthy celebrity. The premise is fun, and while it has some charming moments, it doesn’t stray far from the typical fake-dating trope. Jake Leonard, the Hollywood heartthrob, is mostly likable, though his chemistry with the protagonist feels a bit rushed, especially as they go from strangers to faux couple so quickly. The tension with his ex adds a bit of drama, but it’s all fairly predictable. The pacing is quick, and the humor is light, making it a good choice for readers looking for a feel-good, low-stakes romance.

Delilah agrees take over her grandmother's VIP house cleaning gig after she hurts her ankle. The client turns out to be a big-time Hollywood movie star, Jake. Marveling at the excess in his life, she doesn't begrudge him what his hard-earned money buys, but it's certainly not what she's used to. When Jake's ex shows up, he tells Zoe that Delilah is his girlfriend, and he pays her to keep up the fake dating premise. They eventually fall for one another.

Small town life in mountain town Elk Ridge is balanced with movie industry glamour. The sweet, slow burn has strong chemistry between the love interests, but keeps the intimacy off the page--along with any deep or meaningful character development. A cute, quick, superficial read that doesn't require reading the previous books in the series to enjoy it.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #TheReelDeal from #NetGalley.

Nice Meet Cute with a wonderful story line and great quick read. Loved the characters and premiss of it all!

BOOK 3 in the Big Star, Small Town series was a fun one, it was full of banter and rom-com goodness!

I couldn’t get into this series. I shouldn’t have taken all three before trying the first book. DNF at 34%

This is such a great, feel good, classic romcom. You have all the favorites tropes in one book: one bed, fake dating, forced proximity, celebrity + normie, great banter and chemistry, dual POV, small town setting and more. I seriously spent the entire book grinning from ear to ear and having a “kicking my feet” type of moment.

Mia Summers delivers a delightful gem in The Reel Deal, blending heartfelt romance, humor, and the charm of small-town life. The novel, part of the Big Star, Small Town series, brings us the endearing story of Delilah and Jake. Delilah’s role as a stand-in housekeeper for her grandmother leads her to Jake Leonard, a Hollywood star looking to escape the chaos of his life. Their dynamic sparkles as they navigate a fake-dating arrangement, which gradually turns into something authentic.

The story stands out for its vivid descriptions of Elk Ridge, painting a picturesque backdrop of lakes and quaint town life. Delilah’s artistic passion adds a creative dimension to the narrative, while Jake’s vulnerability makes him more than just a movie star—he’s relatable and warm. Supporting characters, like Delilah's feisty grandmother, Agnes, add humor and depth, making the story all the more engaging.

This closed-door romance strikes a perfect balance, offering swoon-worthy moments without veering into melodrama. The characters’ chemistry feels genuine, and their journey toward self-discovery and love is both inspiring and satisfying. Summers’ writing is charming and atmospheric, pulling readers into the magic of a romance that feels both modern and timeless.

The Reel Deal is a perfect pick for fans of fake-dating tropes, small-town romance, and uplifting stories. Highly recommended for those seeking a cozy and heartfelt escape!

The Reel Deal by Mia Summers is a breezy romantic comedy that pulled me into the world of Hollywood glamour and intrigue.
The story follows Delilah, a relatable protagonist who, while trying to balance the chaos of a film set, finds themselves unexpectedly caught up in love and rivalries.
The book gives us an insider's peek into the movie industry, making it both entertaining and endearing. With well-drawn characters and a fast-paced plot, it's a feel-good read that fans of clean romance and Hollywood drama will especially enjoy.
While The Reel Deal bis witty and engaging, it does have some predictable elements that might feel familiar to seasoned romance readers. The characters, while charming, occasionally lean on stereotypes—the tough but vulnerable lead, the charming love interest, and the requisite industry rivals—leaving little room for surprising character development. Additionally, the plot occasionally prioritizes glamorous settings over deeper, more nuanced moments, which might leave readers wanting more emotional complexity. However, for those seeking a light, fun read, The Reel Deal still delivers an enjoyable ride.

“The Reel Deal” is the third book in the “Big Star, Small Town” series by Mia Summers, but I feel it can be read as a stand alone. Delilah returns to her small town to take care of her injured grandma, who just happens to be the housekeeper for movie star Jake. When Jake’s toxic ex, Zoe, shows up, he pretends that Delilah is his girlfriend in hopes to run the ex off. Instead, they have to play along with their ruse while trying not to fall in love.

This is a clean, closed door romance which can be suitable for older teens in my opinion. I do appreciate a dual POV book! I find it so valuable to see both character’s perspectives to help make me, the reader, fall in love with the characters and they fall in love! One complaint I have is I feel the obvious ending of the MC’s falling in love was too rushed and too clichéd. Also, I know that Jake’s ex girlfriend is a main reason for the fake dating to be necessary, but I sure wish she wasn’t in the story and the author instead chose another way for the characters to connect and fall in love.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟

Thank you Net Galley and Sterling and Stone Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

thanks netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

this book was super cute. it had a few moments, but I think otherwise Mia Summers had a good flow with the story and characters.

A sweet rom com that has a fake dating trope which I love! Celebrity romances aren’t typically what I gravitate towards, but I found the writing to be witty and the banter & chemistry between Delilah & Jake was great! I also enjoyed the writing that depicted the scenes so vividly! I enjoyed this one & Mia Summers was a new to me author!

I am always a fan of Mia Summers books and this was no exception. The fake dating trope is always fun to read, and I love love loved the FMC’s relationship with her grandmother. I’m going to start working on my rule binder. 😂

OMG THIS BOOK!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
a 5 star read for me. i loved the main character and the story is amazing too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

It's was a good book but did lack a little growth of characters. I loved everything. The play was amazing and refreshing.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Delilah and Jake. Delilah has come home to take care of her grandmother who has a broken foot. Jake is an actor, who has a home in Delilah’s hometown. They meet when Delilah goes to Jake’s house to finish her grandmother’s housekeeping job. Jake needs Delilah to be his fake girlfriend. They move in together and start dating. They fall in love.

I rated this 3.5 stars.

In "The Reel Deal" by Mia Summers, I was totally hooked on the Big Star, Small Town series. This book, the third in the series, was a standalone gem that made it easy for me to dive right in. Jake Leonard, the dashing actor, and Delilah Hastings, the talented artist, stole the show in this sweet romcom. When Jake heads back to his mountain retreat to escape yet another breakup from his on again off again ex-girlfriend, he never expects to meet Delilah, the granddaughter of his housekeeper. When Jake's ex suddenly shows up, he pulls a fast one and introduces Delilah as his girlfriend. Jake and Delilah had me laughing and rooting for them to realize their true feelings throughout the story. I couldn't put the book down as I followed their journey from fake to real romance.
Thank you Mia Summers, NetGalley and Sterling and Stone Publishing for the ebook ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Dual POV is my favorite POV when it comes to romance; I just love knowing what both people are thinking and feeling. I will say celebrity romances make me a little nervous some times because I feel that they don’t always make the celebrity likeable and being a celebrity is there only personality trait but Mia Summers did a great job making the characters lovable

I wanted to enjoy this book, but I just couldn't. While the story does flow, and Mia Summers includes some beautiful prose in her descriptions of places and things, I couldn't click with the characters.

The Reel Deal is the best of the trilogy, but still had many of the other issues that previous novels had. I did enjoy Mia Summers' ability to write the scenery beautifully and I could easily picture what she was describing.

However, the characters fell flat and felt a little forced.