This was a cute and quirky read with a touch of magical realism that added a fun sparkle to the story. It had all the makings of a cozy romantic escape—TV studio setting, a reformed (maybe?) bad boy, and just enough magic to bend the rules of reality without needing a wand or a Hogwarts letter.

The romance was swoony in a familiar kind of way—he’s the bad boy who’s maybe not so bad after all, and she’s the one who challenges him to grow. I always fall for this trope, and this book leaned into it in a charming, low-stakes way. What really gave it heart, though, was how both characters made conscious choices to be better people—not just for each other, but in general. I love when growth is part of the love story.

That said, some parts felt a little too predictable or surface-level, and while the magical realism was fun, it didn’t always feel fully fleshed out. I wanted a little more depth—more world-building, more emotional payoff. It had moments that tugged at the heart, but they didn’t always land as strongly as they could have.

Still, if you're in the mood for something light with a sprinkle of magic and a sweet redemption arc, this might be your next cozy read.

Primetime Romance has a fun premise and charming characters, but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. The behind-the-scenes look at television added a fresh twist, and the chemistry between the leads was enjoyable, though at times a bit predictable. Some parts felt drawn out, and the pacing lagged in the middle. Still, it’s a light, feel-good read with sweet moments—perfect if you’re in the mood for something easy and romantic, just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

This was really cute! I absolutely loved that 2000s tv vibe throughout the whole book. It really felt like we were in Stars Hollow or Dawson Creek and that was so nostalgic. I would have liked if there was more building in the romance as I felt like we didn’t have enough time of them actually connecting. It felt like they went from roommates to romantic love interests really quickly. But overall I enjoyed this one and will definitely continue reading this author!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for the eARC; the review is my own.*

After DNFing this book a while ago, I decided to give it another chance. For the most part, I enjoyed the cute, funny rom-com with a roommates-to-lovers romance and a dash of magical realism. It's always fun to imagine a little bit of magic sprinkled into the real world. However, I don't feel like that portion of the story was very well explained. The how and why were kind of waved away with a "part of the something bigger" explanation by a character who didn't seem to know the answers himself. And, okay, I can accept non-answers like that . . . for a time. But I like to have things make sense by the end, and that aspect of the story was never explained. Since I don't see a sequel following this book, I suppose I'll never get those answers.

Aside from that, the book was fun to read. I wasn't looking for a big twist or unpredictable ending (why do we read/watch rom-coms if not for the happy ending we know we'll get?), and I got exactly what I wanted. Brynn (30) had to discard the rose-colored glasses she'd worn for the Carson's Cove of her teenage years and figure out her own life following a divorce. I'm happy the book included Josh's perspective, as well, so we could see what was going on in his head. He was caring and kind, exactly the person Brynn needed after her husband left her. I have to believe that they would have ended up together at some point anyway, but the wish and their magical insertion into Carson's Cove acted as a needed catalyst to get things going.

I liked that their experience in Carson's Cove forced both Brynn and Josh to re-evaluate some of the things that were important to them and consider what they were willing to risk for the futures they hoped to have. They'd been allowing themselves to kind of float along, just existing. It's funny how being shoved into a fictional TV show helped them to start living.

Language: Yes, including f words
Violence: No
Physical Intimacy: Kissing, a couple of descriptive open-door sex scenes
LGBT: No

There is not enough Joshua Jackson fanfic in the world and honestly that’s a travesty. Kate is doing a public service and the lords work. This isn’t direct Dawson’s creek AU. This is the accumulation of so many sitcoms and that glowing everything will work out alright feelings. I loved the way Kate was able to pay homage to that nostalgic glow while digging into the parts that sometimes carelessly get glossed over.

I’ve realized that magical realism in a contemporary romance setting just doesn’t fully work for me because I find it too hard to suspend disbelief, but I was intrigued by the premise of this one. I love 2000s teen tv dramas and fandom, so the nostalgia of it all made me want to check this one out. This one was sweet and lighthearted, but I ultimately didn’t connect much with the characters.

Brynn and Josh are roommates in their early 30s both navigating setbacks in their lives when they find themselves stuck in an alternate reality set within Brynn’s favorite canceled teen tv series as two of the main characters.

I truly had no idea how this would end, so that definitely kept me reading until the end. I started to connect more with the MCs in the last 30-35%, but the pace started to feel super fast, and they were all of a sudden fully in love. Their connection throughout the book was definitely believable, but the ending wrapped up a little too fast for me.

Overall, I enjoyed the nostalgic elements, but placing 30 year olds onto teenaged tv characters sometimes made it feel like the actual characters were immature and regressing into stereotypical teenage behavior, and sometimes this made the writing feel a bit cheesy. I appreciated Brynn’s personal journey and how Josh felt normal and not too over the top as an MMC, but ultimately I wanted more depth and insight into the characters.

If you enjoy magical realism, 2000s tv nostalgia, and a quick, light romance, you may like this one!

3.5 stars

Did you enjoy the movie "Pleasantville"? Want to relive the magic with a romantic twist? Here's your chance!

I found Kate Robb's story really entertaining! Brynn and Josh are friends who find themselves inside Brynn's favorite comfort watch after she makes a wish on her birthday. Imagine being swept into the fictional world of "One Tree Hill", "Gilmore Girls", or "Dawson's Creek"! It was neat to see how Josh and Brynn navigated the supposedly perfect world of the show. Brynn is supposed to fall for Spencer, the show's heartthrob, but she's starting to feel things for Josh. What to do, especially if their only ticket home relies on following the rules?!?

This was really inventive. I wasn't always super enamored with our MCs, but I really wanted to know how things would turn out, and I was pleased with the way they grew.

I'd like to thank Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really, really wanted to love this one but I just could not get into it at all. The story felt a little boring from the get go, and I found myself not wanting to come back to it often. I’m sad because I thought the premise was genius and I was so excited about reading it.

3.5⭐️ for PRIME TIME ROMANCE! It’s giving me Dawson’s Creek meets One Tree Hill, as early 2000’s teen drama characters of the fictional tv show, Carson’s Cove, are thrown into an alternate reality where Brynn and Josh return to the set of the show.

In order to return to their old lives, Josh and Brynn must sort out their feelings and give the show the ending it deserved!

WHAT TO EXPECT
-small town
-90s and early 2000s nostalgia
-Dawson’s Creek nostalgia

*many thanks to Dell Romance, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I loved this book! Genuinely, I have such a respect for books that are unique and the concept is interesting and new. So 5/5 for me for sure!

I loved prime time romance by Katie Robb. The story hooked me from the very beginning. Brynn and Josh were so perfect together, and I loved following their story. I also really enjoyed the nostalgic vibe of the tv shows from when I was in high school.

I don’t even know what to review. I finished, but was left confused about what I finished. It wasn’t bad, but just left not memorable.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I usually like enemies to lovers, but this book felt like a forced relationship, and I didn't care for the characters.

This was a cute romcom with a really interesting premise, but at times I felt like the romance wasn’t really there. I did have a fun time reading and the nostalgia of it all was great! Worth the read for a fun cozy time

Recently divorce, Brynn is forced to take on a roommate to pay her mortgage. Josh is a bartender with opposite schedule to Brynn. When a birthday cake is delivered to Brynn, she makes a wish and she finds herself in the setting of her favorite TV series. Josh also finds himself there. In order to return home, Brynn must take on the town's sweetheart character and give her the ending she deserves. Brynn quickly realizes that that ending is not what she wants.
Opinion
I devoured this book. The plot was a bit unusual and threw me for a loop for a bit. Once I got into it though, I was flying through the pages. It definitely had me thinking about what I wanted as a teenager and how my life is different now that I've been an adult FOREVER.
I really think those looking for a fun, not so serious read will love this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Kate Robb has written a fun, relatable novel in Prime Time Romance. The story is well written and the plot is a twist on an old classic.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is a rough book. It's tagged and titled "romance," yet there is practically no romance. This is very misleading, and the plot is garbage. I had high hopes for this book and was let down.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, more than the execution. If you watched the teen shows of late 1990 early 2000 it gave you all those vibes. I just didn't love how our two characters interacted with each other. I didn't love how long it took our main character to wise up. The writing is well done.

3.75 stars

I adored This Spells Love by Kate Robb, and couldn't wait to read her follow-up novel. Although it didn't quite live up to her debut, I still really enjoyed Prime Time Romance!

We all have a TV show that we keep going back to for laughs and good feels (for me it's Friends!), and I loved how this was incorporated into the novel. Brynn and her roommate Josh enter into the fictional town that her favorite show is based on, and the curtain is lifted for Brynn as she meets the characters she spent many hours with on the screen, yet the reality is not all it's cracked up to be. Although Brynn thinks she wants a picture-perfect romance, she learns that there is some appeal to the messiness of real life and true love.

This was a cute, endearing novel and I had fun with it. Some of the TV show characters were a bit grating, but they all had their place in the storyline. This was a solid rom-com!

3.5 stars

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is a magical realism rom-com that takes the adage "be careful what you wish for" to a new level.

Brynn is turning the big 3-0 and on the night before her birthday she is rewatching her favorite teenage TV show, Carson's Cove, with her ridiculously attractive roommate Josh. When a cake is delivered at midnight, Brynn makes a wish to have her very own happily ever after situation and isn't sure what to think when she wakes up the next morning in Carson's Cove, only to discover that she accidentally brought Josh with her.

As we follow Brynn and Josh in Carson's Cove, we have to figure out who was the blond that delivered the birthday cake at midnight and how did he get Brynn and Josh there?

This is my first book by Kate Robb and I enjoyed the magical realism aspect to this rom-com. I enjoyed that the characters were adult and not teens and that they were "normal" adults. I thought that the premise was cute and recommend this book to anyone who loves rom-com movies and getting lost in a favorite comfort show.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.