Would you wish to become a part of your comfort TV series?
In Brynn's case, she unknowingly makes a wish on her 30th birthday to become the main character in her life-long comfort show. She wakes up in her favorite character's bed and has to live her favorite character's life. Her roommate, Josh, also wakes up in the local bartender's bed with a run-down bar to fix. Will they finish their characters' stories or will they start their own?
This is a perfect book for lovers of:
A Novel Love Story
Funny Story
Gilmore Girls
Riverdale
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
and so many more comfort shows!
I loved the set up of this book, and I loved seeing all of the flaws of our favorite shows showed through the eyes of a real woman and fixing the toxicity of these characters. However, in doing so, the author did point out all of the negative parts of television and created a negative atmosphere. The pacing of the book also took me a while to get the hang of because the main conflict was very much back-and-forth.
Such a fun read and great for anyone wanting to escape!

Full of 90's and 200's teen drama references and vibes, along with a healthy dose of "and they were roommates"

Brynn is newly divorced and turning 30. She has been unlucky in love, and her life is a huge mess. She lost all her close friends in the divorce and the ones she has now are not exactly ones you can confide in or depend on. What she does have is her favourite teen drama from her teen years, Carson's Cove, even if it ended on a cliffhanger and got cancelled before the love interests got together.. After a failed night out for her birthday, her roommate Josh helps her home and watches an episode of Carson's Cove with her. At midnight an unexpected birthday cake is delivered and she makes a wish to have her dream life and love.

Both her and Josh wake up as characters on Carson's Cove, and the only way to get home is live as their characters, the girl next door, and town sweetheart Sloan, and the town bad body Fletch, and get Sloan and Spencer the ending they were supposed to have. As time goes on Brynn and Josh realize maybe the expected ending is not wha should have happened, and maybe there are feelings between they never explored. Will they stick to the script and let this play out the way the show is supposed to, or will they find a connection between them they can't ignore.

This was honestly the definition of a fun, goofy, silly time and I could not be happier to have read it. The book was definitely a step up from the authors debut, her writing and characterization got stronger. This spoke to me teen heart with all the teen drama vibes and really made me nostalgic for all the shows of my youth. The chemistry between the characters although believable could have been stronger, there was a lot of self growth with the characters individually but the growth together was a little thin. Overall it was just a good time, the sprinkle of magical realism really hit, and I can't wait for future books by the author.

I truthfully feel bad only giving this 3⭐️ as the infinite number of pop culture references made me giddy, and I really loved the idea of this one, but the story line and majority of the plot development lacked so hard for me, and I’m sorry for that!!!

Brynn’s life is a disaster thanks to her recent breakup and all she wants is her comfort show, Carson’s Cove. That is, until one bar night, her roommate Josh and herself get transported into the show to fix the ending, based on one of the actor’s disgruntled feelings over how it abruptly ended (and thanks to an Uber Eats birthday cake delivery and forcing Brynn to make a wish).

Truthfully I started losing interest in this at 25% and struggled until it picked back up around 73% (and 🌶️ at 75%!). The premise of getting stuck in a tv show to give characters their happy ever after could have been good but I found that it focused too hard on Brynn (aka Sloan) ending up with Spencer and forging friendships that weren’t meant to be. Thankfully she has her realization and gets to return home, in addition to getting her romance with Josh, but the meat of the story was messy for me.

Having said that, I need to emphasize that people do get their happy endings in this one… it just takes a bit to get there. If you’ve ever watched teen dramas, those parts will resonate with you in this book along with all of the references to them!

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have some history with teen dramas. One Tree Hill is one of my favorite shows of all time (I quite literally squealed when I saw One Tree Hill is coming out with a spin-off), Gossip Girl was an obsession, I watched Degrassi every week, and my friends and I pretended we were the characters from Pretty Little Liars for like two years. I haven’t seen Dawson’s Creek, which the TV show in Prime Time Romance is heavily inspired by, but I understand how a TV show can impact someone. 

My history with dramas is one of the reasons Prime Time Romance initially stood out to me. I thought the concept was unique and interested in seeing where Robb would take it. 

In the beginning, I really enjoyed myself! During the introductions of the two characters, I found both to be relatable in their own ways. I could see where romance could be in the cards for them--their chemistry was so strong! I thought this was going to be a major win of a book for me. Sadly, things took a slight turn.

To me, the pacing was the biggest issue. All of the information about the TV show bogged down the storyline. I took a break from reading this at around the 45% mark, and I almost called it quits then. It was hard to feel anything for the characters when the story was so focused on building the background for Carson’s Cove. Every time I had to read more about the show, I felt more disconnected from the two main characters. It also caused the side characters to be very one-dimensional (which I understand was the point, but it took away any of the tension). 

“You can’t start the next episode of your life if you keep rewatching the old one.”

A few weeks later, I decided to continue. I am glad I didn't give up on the book because I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would. The story improved for me, and I ended up giving it three stars. I still have issues with the story, but as the characters started to grow beyond the TV show, it became a little more interesting. Josh was by far my favorite character in the book. I related to his fear of failure, and the connection to his real life and TV show life was well done.

I am glad I decided to read this one. While it wasn't a total win, I thought the premise was fun. I also thought the takeaway in the end was worth it, and I can see how other people will adore this one.

I never ever thought I'd be one to enjoy magic realism books (fantasy isn't normally my jam), but I am proven wrong every time I pick one up, and Prime Time Romance is no different! I lovedddd Kate Robb's debut, This Spells Love so I JUMPED at the chance to read an ARC of her sophomore book.

A young divorcee, Brynn, is still sifting through the heartbreak of her marriage and part of her coping process is re-watching her favorite show from her childhood, Carson's Cove (picture Dawson's Creek). When she spends the night of her 30th birthday watching an episode with her platonic roommate, Josh, an unexpected delivery shows up at her door - a birthday cake with a single candle - waiting for her to make a wish. Brynn takes the opportunity to wish for no more plot twists, for a life that she was supposed to have and is shocked when her and Josh wake up as characters from Carson's Cove and are expected to play their role in order to be sent back home.

I happened to read A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston right before this one and it's veryyyy similar (so if you're a fan of one, you'll likely be a fan of the other) and I love this idea of being sucked into your favorite fictional town and seeing it outside of the rose-colored glasses the MC once viewed it in. In this story, I enjoyed Brynn's journey though portraying the show's main character, Sloan, and I thought her connection with Josh was so so cute.

Kate is working her way into auto-read territory and I'm so excited to see more from her in the future!

I was very excited to read this book. Kate Robb’s first book was a favorite of mine last year. (If you haven’t read it go. It’s magical and funny and fantastic). Unfortunately this one did not give me the same feels.
It might just not be for me (or for me right now). The premise - newly divorced Brynn wants a happily ever after, but life didn’t turn out that way. She now lives with a roommate, Josh to afford her mortgage and is coming up on her birthday. A mysterious birthday cake shows up, and she wishes for her happily ever after. She ends up waking up in her favorite teenage TV show and craziness and ensues from there. Fantastic premise But the execution was a bit dull. Didn’t feel the romance/chemistry from the main characters. Was hoping for a bit more.

3.5 ⭐️. If you love 90-00s teen dramas this is for you. Perfect for a cute and fast read to forget about anything.

Did i like everything about this book? No. But did I still have a great time? Absolutely yes. If you like 90s teen TV nostalgia, you'll love this. Josh was adorable, I wanted more more more of him!

If Kate Robb writes it- I’m reading it, buying it, screaming from the rooftops about it (hehe IYKYK).
I was unfortunately interrupted by the need to sleep otherwise I would have finished this book in one sitting. It’s Dawson’s Creek, it’s Gilmore Girls (yea, team Logan, too Kate) it’s every series we grew up with and the nostalgia played my heart like a fiddle. You know how ONCE UPON A TIME (the show) combined allll the fairytale stories, I give you Primetime Romance.
Read it. Go do karaoke. Come back and read it again..

Note: Team Josh forever.

I def liked this spells love more but Kate Robb books are a BUNCH of fun!!! You can tell that she has a true understanding for all things pop culture and knows how to weave that understanding into a pretty fun romance.

I wish there was more depth in the story and that we got to know how the magic worked a little more. But other than that this was a good time and I’m excited to see what Kate does next!

Straight out of the angsty teen drama tv series universe, Prime Time Romance had it all - teen heartthrobs, the bad boy, frenemies, and small town busy bodies! On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Brynn isn’t who she thinks she should be - married, picket white fence, kids, and undeniably happy. Instead she’s a divorcee, living with her bartender roommate(Josh), and rewatching her favorite teen tv series for the sixth time. She wakes up the next morning unable to use swear words and finds both her and Josh have been transported to Carson’s Cove, the locale of the teen drama series. Can she win over the hearts of the town and her teenage heartthrob crush to break the spell? Or will she and Josh be stuck there forever?

I adored Josh and Brynn’s witty banter as their connection grew from roommates to lovers, and Robb’s writing of their characters made them feel very true to real life!

Read this one if you’re looking for a swoony love story that feels like it’s straight from a teenage tv series! You’ll find friends to lovers, found family, small town vibes, and lots of comedic relief!

What a great concept for a book! Brynn ready to love again after heartbreak and trying to find her place in the world. She didn’t just lose her ex, she lost her friends. She’s currently living with Josh to help pay her mortgage. On the eve of her bday she makes a wish and becomes part of her favorite tv show. I just never really felt the romance between the two.

I really wanted to love this but it’s a DNF at 50%.

I think the concept, which is what initially drew me to the story, would have been better accomplished as an actual tv show instead of it as a written book if that makes sense. Like these scenes depicted I would rather watch than read.

A romance novel that finds the love interests dropped in to a world of a teenage hit show. The love interests are unable to leave the town of the show until they give the main characters the HEA they deserve. Josh and Brynn didn't have enough swoon worthy, deep moments to have this love match believable. I truly wished to enjoy this book more.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback

“Prime Time Romance” by Kate Robb is the perfect lighthearted nostalgic romance with a dash of magic that will make you laugh, yell in frustration and maybe even shed a tear or two.

Brynn and her roommate Josh have great chemistry together and you really root for a happy ending for them!

If you like TV shows like Dawson’s Creek and Gilmore Girls you’ll free right at home In Carson’s Cove.

I found the magical twist of this book to be very fun and refreshingly unique in a very popular genre.

This book was absolutely adorable and such a quick read. As a teen TV show girlie then (and still now) I loved all the nostalgia throughout the story. I’m such a sucker for 90’s and 2000’s vibes this book definitely hit those marks for me. This book is perfect for someone looking for a quick, sweet read with a lot of banter.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A little heavy on the Pleasantville vibes for me. Wasn’t feeling the chemistry, but there were some cute moments and it was a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes you just need a book that's easy reading- and this book is exactly that. I read it in one day because I did not want to put it down.

Brynn is turning 30 tomorrow and she feels like a shell of her former self as she is a divorcee in her 20s. However, on the eve of her birthday, she is dragged to a club with a group of women she doesn't know, and one "friend" that she occassionally gets brunch with- oh and the reason they're going to the bar is not to celebrate Brynn's birthday, but to celebrate one of the women's engagement. Brynn then realizes her phone and wallet have been stolen so she asks her roommate, who bartends at the club, to loan her $5 so she can get home. Josh (the roommate) takes her home and they watch an episode of Brynn's favorite comfort show and at 12:01 AM they receive a knock on the door from the "Uber Eats" deliveryman who brought Brynn a cake. When Josh encourages Brynn to make a wish, she wishes for a life like the one in her favorite tv where everything works out in the end. Nothing bad can happen from that, right? WRONG. The next morning Brynn and Josh find themselves LITERALLY IN THE TV SHOW. and cannot go home until they give the main characters the ending they "deserve." However, Brynn starts to fall more for the bartender than the golden boy she's "meant to end up with," according to the plan. Will they be able to escape Carson's Cove? Will Brynn choose Spencer or Josh? Was everything on the show actually that simple in the first place?

As mentioned earlier, this was a really easy read which I appreciated quite a bit. Those who like spice in books will find two scenes that are a few pages long that I had to skip over because I am not a fan of the spice, haha. Also, I know she isn't real, but I wish Luce could also escape Carson's Cove.

I loved her first book but sadly this was a miss for me. It breaks my heart that it was. I never felt the connection between the two main characters. They were roommates and they never were attracted to each other? Okay I kind of get it but then they end it up in the town confused and all of sudden they have feelings for each other. So weird. I ended up skipping so much of the book because I did want to know what happened at the end. How they were getting back? I was curious but still never made complete sense. Felt like book didn’t flow as though there missing thoughts

As Brynn approaches her 30th birthday, she finds herself divorced and living with a roommate to help pay the bills. She turns to binging her favorite teenage drama series, Carson's Cove, as a means of comfort. On the eve of her birthday, a delivery driver shows up with a birthday cake and asks her to make a wish. Her wish for a happy-ever-after takes a surprise turn when she wakes up the next morning in Carson's Cove... and with her roommate Josh also there. Can Brynn and Josh fin a happy ever after for the characters of Carson's Cove and for themselves?

This book was a bit of a disappointment for me. I was a fan of Dawson's Creek (which was clearly the inspiration for Carson's Cove), so I know the genre, tropes, and stereotypical characters well. But this version fell flat for me. And neither Brynn or Josh was developed enough for me to have any kind of vested interest in their outcome. I found myself just reading to get it over with, and that's never fun.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall: 2.5/5 rounded up
Spice: 1/3