Honestly not my favorite. I really liked the premise, but the second half of the book just lost me. It kind of felt like watching Inception with the mind f that it was.

Brynn's divorced and it's her 30th birthday. She makes a wish and ends up in her favorite tv series, Carson's Cove. She and her roommate, Josh become Sloan and Fletcher. The story was interesting and reminded me of some of the 90's sitcoms that I enjoyed. I did not care for the language in the book.

The funny thing about this book is I started off not liking it, then I liked it, and then the language turned me off and I didn't like it. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I absolutely loved This Spells Love so I was really looking forward to Prime Time Romance. I love the touch of magical realism that the author adds to her stories to expand the plot possibilities. This time Brynn, a recent divorcee, and her roommate Josh are magically transported via a birthday wish to the world of her favorite TV comfort watch, Carson’s Cove (think Dawson’s Creek). Her birthday wish was to finally get her happy ending, so when they magically wake up in Carson’s Cove, she is informed by a mysterious extra from the TV show that she is now her favorite character, Sloan, Josh is the resident town bad-boy Fletcher, and Brynn’s goal is to give Sloan the happy ending she never got on the show - win the town’s pageant Ms. Lobsterfest, and sail off into the literal sunset with her long-time crush Spencer. She finds Carson’s Cove just as she expects it, including her best friend Poppy, frenemy Luce, and all the supporting characters from the show. But the longer she stays, the more she realizes that it wasn’t as perfect as she remembers - but how can they get home if they don’t hold up their end of the bargain? Full of self-realization, personal growth, and figuring out what you really want, Prime Time Romance was just as magical as This Spells Love! The reader watches Brynn evolve from a mopey woman hung up on her failures to someone who makes some tough choices and sacrifices to save someone she cares about and find her own happy ending, as well as see Josh step up to save the thing most important to him. Plus watching Brynn-as-Sloan transcend her character and destiny into someone who does the right thing - call out the bully, ditch the toxicity, and show up for the right people - was satisfying AF. And she does get her happy ending, even if its not the one she originally started out with.

I knew when I read that this book was dedicated to Joshua Jackson that it was going to be a great read. Dawson's Creek was such a fundamental part of my being growing up, and while this book is heavily rooted in that particular series, the idea will still resonate if your teen drama of choice was one set in a slightly different small town with a slightly different line up and arrangement of these characters. We all know by now that all these shows are fundamentally the same dealing with the universal ideas of growing up believing you know everything and knowing you know nothing, but still thinking you will figure it all out one day. And, of course, that the boy next will is now and will always be the one you were meant to be with. Lol.

Prime Time Romance is based on the same concept as the movie Pleasantville, except, rather than being transported into a television series loosely based on Happy Days, the show is loosely based on Dawson's Creek. There are some other extremely thinly veiled references to other late 90s/early 00s teen dramas as well. Brynn is going through a tough time. She is recently divorced, living with a roommate, and feeding her depression by bingeing her favorite show on repeat. Then, one day, she wakes up to find herself in the fictional town of Carson's Cove, the setting of said show. Also transported, was her roommate, Josh. Together they learn that in order to return home, Brynn has to pretend to be her favorite character from the series and get her the happily ever after she never got in the series.

This book is completely charming and it was so much fun to relive my obsession with the TV shows from my youth. I highly recommend this one. It's nostalgic fun, low angst (funny given Dawson's Creek is ALL angst), and everything you hope it will be based on the book's description. Thank you to Kate Robb, Random House, and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

ok honestly y’all, these magical realism books have been EATING recently.

the synopsis is on the second slide, but basically this book is a romcom where the main characters get stuck in their fav 90s show, Carson’s Cove,…Dawson’s Creek anyone? i never really watched Dawson’s creek so in my head the plot was basically teen beach movie mixed with boy meets world except Topanga and Shawn end up together.

ANYWAYS. This book was a RIDE. it had the perfect balance of the 90s tv show nostalgia mixed with everything we love now as romance readers. The fmc Brynn was so relatable. She’s recently divorced and life isn’t going as planned - so she rewatches her comfort tv show bc she knows the plot and change is scary and is just wishing for her happily ever after. 100% can relate to that. her character arc was also really well done.

even if Josh is a J name and the bad boy next door, I actually loved him. The definition of tough guy exterior but also sooo down bad. although I really enjoyed this book, I did wish there was a smidgeee more romance between Josh and Brynn.

Kate Robb might be my new go to for magical realism romance books bc I LOVED her first book, This Spells Love. For my girlies that liked the Love of my Afterlife, y’all deff have to pick up her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Robb for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ever wondered what would happen if Kirk from Gilmore Girls went rogue and controlled Stars Hollow with a stand in Luke and Lorelei? Well look no further, this is the book for you.

Albeit a little dark, I enjoyed the story of Brynn and Josh following in love despite the insanity of their reality.

I enjoyed reading Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

(3.5 rounded up)

Thank you to Dial for sending an early digital copy my way! 📚

Read if you 🩷:
• 🎂 Birthday Wishes
• 📺 Marathoning Your Favorite Shows
• 🔑 “And they were roommates…”
• 🍓 Strawberry Wine

🌊 Newly divorced Brynn wakes up on her thirtieth birthday not in her apartment, but in "Carson’s Cove," her favorite 2000s teen soap, alongside her roommate, Josh. To everyone else, they’re not Brynn and Josh—they’re Sloan, the show’s sweetheart, and Fletch, the town’s bad boy. To get back home, they have to make sure Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, finally get their happy ending. But as Brynn and Josh navigate the drama of "Carson’s Cove," real feelings start to surface, threatening to rewrite the story entirely.

This was a quick read for me, and the fast pace was perfect for getting me back into the reading mood after taking a small break over the long weekend. The low-stakes conflict and high chemistry between Brynn and Josh had me feeling cozy yet eager to keep reading—I finished the book in one afternoon!

I do wish it had slowed down a bit, however. I blinked and was halfway through and it felt like hardly anything had happened. I wish the author had focused more on the main character’s inner conflicts than the town’s predictable hijinks.

There are also a lot of easter eggs for those who spent the early 2000s watching countless episodes of "Dawson’s Creek," "90210," and "Gilmore Girls”.🍁

If you enjoy books like "A Novel Love Story" and "This Spells Love," you’ll definitely enjoy "Prime Time Romance"! 🛋️

Prime Time Romance has a little magical realism, a lot of 90s/2000s tv nostalgia, & sparks flying between two roommates (that barely know each other) who have to work together to get themselves back home.

⭐️ rating: 4.25/5
🌶️ rating: open door, two scenes

💭 overall thoughts:
Brynn & Josh are roommates, but are like two ships passing in the night - they barely know one another. That is until a birthday wish sends them into Brynn’s favorite comfort tv show, one that ended without feeling complete.

They become two of the show’s characters, and have to work together to find a way back home.
Is the life Brynn dreamed about in Carson’s Cove what she imagined, or has what she wants changed?

Brynn & Josh are both working through their own struggles that are holding them back - Brynn with her unexpected divorce and Josh feeling like he’s failed his late father.

As they’re forced into a strange situation, they (and the town) help each other figure it all out, while sparks are flying.

I loved the references to teen dramas of the 90s/2000s, and traveling into one of these shows had Brynn seeing them in a whole new light.

As a Joshua Jackson fan I LOVED his references as well 🙃 especially to lesser known work (Fringe 😍).

I loved seeing characters in their 30s who still haven’t figured everything out - this was a lot more relatable for me and how my own life path has played out.
I too often read about characters in their early 20s with their careers completely set, and getting married, which is not at all where I was at at that age.

read if you love:
🏠 roommates to lovers
💫 magical realism
📺 stepping into a 90s nostalgia teen drama
❤️‍🩹 divorced fmc
🥃 bartender mmc
❌ no 3rd act breakup
🐢 slow burn
🔗 forced proximity
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov

Thank you to Dial Press (Random House) & NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb was a fun and delightful story.
I loved this book and the storyline. I thought it was unique and it was great to watch Brynn and Josh interact with each other.
I’m in love with this book!!!! Everything about magical realism in romance is just so much fun for me, and this one was no exception.
I completely lost myself in this book and could not put it down. The pacing was excellent and made for such an easy, relaxing read. I adored Kate Robb's writing style and can't wait to read whatever she writes next.
If you are looking for a lighter rom-com with a touch of magic realism, Prime Time Romance is a perfect read!

The cover in this one really piqued my interest!!

I thought I’d be able to get over the “abstract” premise of this book. But unfortunately, I couldn’t suspend my belief enough to enjoy it fully. I was also never a One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek girl and I think if I was, I would have LOVED this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had SO much fun with Prime Time Romance! Having loved Kate Robb's other book, This Spells Love, I was so excited for another cozy, magical love story, and this one delivered.
This book follows Brynn and Josh, two roommates who, through the act of one magical birthday wish, are thrust into the world of Brynn's favorite comfort show- Carson's Cove. With a perfect touch of magical realism, Brynn and Josh must work together to give the show and the characters the ending they never got. However, as Brynn gets closer to her favorite cast members, she realizes that the perfection and predictability she once craved may not be what she needs any longer.

And I mean, it's hard to not lust after your hot bartender roommate when he is written like Josh because oh my GODS I really loved his character. He was soft and gentle yet determined and full of angst. The way that he and Brynn complemented each other was really beautiful, and I just had such a great time watching their love story unfold.

I was also so in love with the side characters! Luce and Sherry were amazing and I would take books just about them thank yew.

Overall, this is the perfect book cozy love story, and if you are a fan of Ashley Poston, I think this is the book for you!

PRIME TIME ROMANCE was like a trip to an old fashioned candy store. It was quaint and sweet and nostalgic; and that worked for me. Whimsy and magical realism are a preferred form of escape for me and this is the second time Kate Robb’s writing has made me smile.

Brynn is a big time fan of 90s teen drama Carson’s Cove where every episode ends tied up in a pretty bow. She finds solace in the old episodes after the heartbreak of an unexpected divorce. Her roommate, Josh the bartender, is essentially a stranger until they find themselves magically transported to the set of Carson’s Cove come to life.

There’s a lot going on in this book including our main characters taking on the fictional personas of TV roles. The story is told via dual points of view and it takes a bit of focus to figure out which character arc you’re following. There are plenty of allusions to favorite teen dramas of yore and, if those are your jam, you’ll devour this book. This is a lighthearted trip down a fictional memory lane and it was pure fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

📺 Book Review 📺

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb
📺
Just like her first book, this book is delightful, charming, quirky, and whimsical. This is peak magical realism. It was light, cozy, and fun. Brynn and Josh get trapped in what’s basically Dawson’s Creek, and if you ever watched any nostalgic 2000s teen tv shows, you will love this book. It had a hint of the paranormal, ridiculous sit-com shenanigans, and a delicious, tension-filled slow burn romance. Brynn and Josh have excellent chemistry, and the build up to them getting together was perfect. This book is ideal for fall. Light a candle, grab a cozy blanket, and settle in to enjoy a sweet and delightful read.
📺
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
📺
Read if you like:
▫️magical realism
▫️Dawson’s Creek
▫️roommates to lovers
▫️slow burn
▫️dual POV
📺
Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, NetGalley, and Kate Robb for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.75/5 stars
1.5/5 spice

Tropes:
Second chance romance
2000's TV nostalgia
Grumpy/sunshine
Forced proximity
Dual POV

This was an ok read for me... honestly, I was tempted to rate it lower, but overall, I did enjoy some of it. I think if you were a big fan of teen drama shows in the 2000s, then you'd enjoy this book more. I fall in the minority. I never watched shows like Dawson's Creek, and I think my frustrations with shows like that were rampant while reading this book, preventing me from fully enjoying it.

I think since this wasn't really my jam, I'll leave my review at that. There's a specific audience for this book, but it's not me. The writing and spice are good. I really enjoyed the author's other book, so this plot was just not my vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

This was a really sweet book and an easy read. This is the first book I've read from this author although I have This Spells Love on my shelf right now and I have yet to read it. Brynn and Josh are roommates who found themselves in right smack into a cancelled TV show together where they have a chance to change the ending of. The story was whimsical, funny, and relatable being someone who love shows like Dawson's Creek and other 2000s shows. I enjoyed the romance aspect that it did not go on the same route as some romance books normally take. The story is unique and fun. Who wouldnt take a chance to change an ending of a beloved show only to have a letdown of an ending. Although the characters are relatable, I did not feel as much chemistry on the MCs as much as I would like to so it made the story drag on for me. I still enjoyed it nonetheless and would recommend it to someone who is looking got a fresh romance story!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for this honest review!

The book introduces us to Brynn, recently divorced and having a bartender as a roommate, Josh, whom she barely knows. In her life, there is one constant and that is her favorite show Carson’s Cove, where she finds the comfort of knowing exactly what happens.
On her birthday a stranger arrives at her doorstep to bring a cake and after making her birthday wish, her life makes an unexpected turn when she wakes up in the fictional town of Carson’s Cove with Josh.
This was a cozy, light funny read, it was fast paced, a little too predictable but overall a nice read.

Kate Robb is two for two on absolute smashes. As someone who has spent untold hours watching the teen dramas that inspired this story, this was exactly up my alley, and I absolutely loved it. Finding the references and Easter eggs was only part of the fun, though, as I absolutely loved Brynn and Josh (the chemistry!). It was such a great story as they fell for each other through their journey to getting home. Kate Robb is amazing at injecting humor into her stories, and this one was honestly just so much fun to read.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★
Available now!

This was overall a sweet and charming story. It gave all the Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek vibes. I enjoyed the main characters Brynn and Josh and their connections to each other. I loved that Brynn worked to make change in the town they were sent to. I loved that she knew what some of the characters were doing was wrong and she did what she could to fix it. I enjoyed Josh’s story and him working to revamp the bar in town and dreaming of buying back his dad’s bar once they get back to the normal world.

The thing that didn’t work for me was the time travel/going into another world. The way it happened, why it happened, and the end goal just didn’t make sense to me. It was strange what was requested of the characters to be able to go back, they were very specific but they didn’t do those things and still got to go back in the end. This is entirely a personal opinion though. I am more of a logical thinker and tend to only read realistic fiction so this was a step out of my comfort zone.

Brynn has been obsessed with the show Carson’s Cove since she was a teen. It’s her comfort show - the one she rewatches when life feels hard, because everything seems perfect in it. Brynn’s life, on the other hand, is far from perfect. She’s recently divorced, had to move in with a roommate named Josh, and her “friends” forgot about her birthday. When a birthday cake shows up at midnight, Josh makes her have a bite and make a wish. When they wake up the next morning, they are in Carson’s Cove, and Brynn is the main character who has to find her happy ever after ending to get back to real life.

This is a cute small town romcom, full of 90’s/early 00’s nostalgia. It’s super easy to get lost in the story and I enjoyed that there was a mysterious component. Josh’s character was really enjoyable, but I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with Brynn’s character because she’s very opposite of me. I did want a bit more romance between Brynn and Josh. Brynn was busy trying to make the love story from Carson’s Cove happen, which didn’t really involve Josh. I did love that Brynn seemed to grow as a character and gain the confidence needed to go after what she actually wanted towards the end of the book. Overall, this was a fun and whimsical read, and I loved the writing style.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!