I enjoyed reading this for the 2000s TV nostalgia, but the romance in this was really lacking. It had a lot of potential, but then fizzled out in the second half. If you are someone who loved shows like Dawson's Creek and you need an easy read, it's worth a read for the nostalgia alone.

I really enjoyed this book by the author! I loved the unique story of the two main characters being transported to the female main character’s favorite show and the plot that the author set up for it! I loved that it took a slightly different direction within the context of the show’s setting in that the main characters within the show don’t get together but allowed for the main male and female characters to get together. Overall this was a very cute read and one I enjoyed!

Thanks @thedialpress @netgalley and @kate_robb_writes for the chance to read and review an early copy of Prime Time Romance, the forthcoming romance by Kate Robb comes out on September 3, 2024.

Newly divorced Brynn's life is not at all how she pictured it. On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, she's roommates with Josh, a cute, but mysterious bartender and spends a lot of quality time watching her favorite comfort show, Carson's Cove. So when a birthday cake shows up at her apartment, she makes a wish to finally have her happily-ever-after. But when she (and Josh!) wake up in Carson's Cove, they're not Josh and Brynn--they are Sloane, the town sweetheart, and Fletch, the town's bad boy. Will Brynn find her HEA or write her own story?

This book was SO MUCH FUN. I highly recommend pre-ordering it.

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: speculative, friends-to-lovers, love triangle

This brought me back to 2000s teen dramas and I was here for every second of it! This was a cute fun story that was a quick read!

Add it to your TBR now because we all need a book we know we can pick up when we just need a quick fix.

Quick. Easy. Light. If that's what you're looking for, this is your read.

I think we've all wanted to be transported into our favorite TV show at some point in time. Not The Walking Dead ... I'm talking One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls. But what would happen if we were ever given the chance?

That's what our main squeeze has to sort through. What happens when you are transported into your favorite show and now YOU are the main character? Do you really want to be friends with the head cheerleader? Do you really want to end up with the cute boy next door that was your blond heartthrob as a teenager?

This was just what I needed for a quick pickup. What I wish it had? A little more substance. A little more tension. Our main squeeze is a divorcee. With a hot bartender roommate. I don't think we needed the TV transportation, but if we're going to do that let's dive into the existential crisis a bit more. If we're going to threaten a dark side in the show then let's really go there. In a town where everything always works out and the main character never has much of a back bone, the tension was a little lacking. But that's OK... sometimes that's what you need. So if you're in that boat where you need all the good stuff without any of the bad drama or angst -- check this one out!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a love letter to 2000s teen dramas, and I'm here for it! And with a lil magic twist? So fun!! This story has a ton of nostalgia, so if that's your thing, you're going to love it.

Not only do they enter Carson's Cove, they become Sloan and Fletch?! That part was wild to me, and maybe the only thing I wished had changed!

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

Prime Time Romance is a wholly original (difficult thing to do in the romance genre) multiple dimensions love story that is born from a passion for the small town teen dramas that were on TV during the 1990s and 2000s. My teen drama of choice was Gilmore Girls, and everytime Robb mentions to town's gazebo in Carson's Cove, I got a flashback to Stars Hollow, and it gave me this deep comfort. Is the romance in Prime Time Romance a 5 star romance, not necessarily. But was Prime Time Romance unique, entertaining, quirky, and kept me on the edge of my seat, yes. So that's a success in my book. I didn't know immediately how the plot was going the unfold and I loved the character growth both Brynn and Josh go through.

I'd give Prime Time Romance 4 out of 5 stars.

Brynn is newly divorced and struggling to find her place in the world. After making a wish on a mysterious birthday cake, Brynn and her roommate Josh are transported to one of Brynn's favorite places, the fictional world of Carson's Cove. And even more mysteriously, Brynn isn't Brynn and Josh isn't Josh. Brynn is Sloan, the golden girl of the town and Josh is Fletch, the notorious recluse and bad-boy of Carson's Cove. In order to get back home, they have to finish the storyline as intended. But they experience a few bumps along the way...

I was a little uncertain going into this book - I loved the premise but I just wasn't sure what I would get. Let me tell you, I ended up LOVING IT. I was completely invested from the 1st page. Brynn is a great MC, with a strong personality and so many likeable qualities.. I also loved Josh from his introduction, he walks Brynn home so she doesn't end up on the train alone, he watches her favorite show with her. Josh is a sweet guy, you can just tell.

Carson's Cove is a charming, romantic town full of all the things we love about TV shows. I thought the town was a completely wonderful place for the story to take place. The story is a great reminder that things aren't always as they seem.

The slow build between Brynn and Josh is what really drove the story forward, despite the "roadblock" that is Brynn's need to drive her relationship with Spencer forward. I like Brynn and Josh's banter, their ability to find safety in each other and they each grow exponentially throughout the story.

Plus - who doesn't love a fictional & real happy ending!

Thank you Random House & NetGalley for the ARC, can't wait for everyone to read this one!

I couldn't get into this one. I feel like I can tell what the third-act conflict will be, and it's not something I look forward to. DNF around 30%.

There’s something special about those small town TV dramas! For this one think- Dawson’s Creek meets One Tree Hill meets the OC, then sprinkle a healthy dose of Pleasantville and you’ve got Prime Time Romance.

I absolutely loved it and although there were hints of so many of my old time favorites, it was awesome and completely its own.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARc! Now excuse me as I go binge watch Dawson’s Creek!!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Prime Time Romance" gives me "13 going on 30" vibes and I'm obsessed 🩷

I had such a fun time reading this! 🥰

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC 🥹

Loved this book! I was so happy when I got to read it early through NetGalley and even more excited when reading it made me feel like I hopped right into an early 2000s teen drama!

Such a great concept for all of us 30 something’s that grew up on those shows and now love to read! I also really enjoyed the content at the end of the book telling you the teen drama Easter Eggs thrown in, real drama boyfriends from popular shows, and even a few recipes!

Highly recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

When die-hard fan, Brynn makes a wish on her birthday, she doesn’t expect to be transported into her favorite show of all time, Carson’s Cove with her hot room mate Josh as the main characters. When she’s told she needs to give Sloan the happily ever after she deserves to get back home, she tries her best to make that happen. But what does happily ever after actually mean for Sloan?

Who wouldn’t want to be transported to their favorite TV show ?? This was so fun!! It was giving The Truman Show, mixed with The Seven Year Slip and then a little bit of Teen Beach Movie. I loved the exploration of the different characters & how everyone was so distinguishable. It was definitely a bit of a slow burn romance for me, which I’m not mad at. Some of the choices Brynn made at the end didn’t make much sense to me, if only she did something different it could’ve been wrapped up faster in my opinion. Overall, a really fun quick, summery romance! 💕

“Prime Time Romance” by Kate Robb is a charming dive into the world of 2000s teen dramas, with a magical twist that’s both whimsical and nostalgic. The story follows Brynn, a new divorcee who finds herself transported into the idealized world of her favorite teen soap after making a birthday wish.

Robb’s narrative is a delightful blend of romance and fantasy, offering a second chance at love in the most unexpected of ways. The book’s unique premise is a love letter to fans of the genre, and while it may not reinvent the wheel, it provides a comforting escape with just the right amount of steam and humor.

The characters are relatable and their journey through this alternate reality is filled with moments that are both heartwarming and thought-provoking. “Prime Time Romance” is a light-hearted read that will appeal to those looking for a bit of nostalgia and a reminder that sometimes, life can surprise you in the best possible ways

As usual, this author just gets it when it comes to romance. It's never too corny, just the right amount of thought provoking and swoony.

This novel captures the whirlwind of emotions and complexities that come with a behind-the-scenes look at a television show, all wrapped up in a charming romantic narrative. The story focuses on the lives of the protagonists who, despite their different backgrounds in the showbiz ladder, find themselves drawn to each other in a compelling mix of attraction and professional rivalry. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable and their romance develops in a way that feels both organic and invigorating. I appreciated the way Robb balanced romantic development with career ambitions, reflecting a realistic portrayal of personal and professional challenges.

I Unfortunately didn't love as much as I thought! I felt like the premise of the story was amazing and something That I hadn't seen before but there were elements of the story that felt like they were just dragging on. I think at some points it was hard to seperate what was going on in Carsons Cove vs what was happening in Josh and Brynne's actual life.

This was such a sweet read, with a really creative premise! PRIME TIME ROMANCE follows Brynn, who's healing from her recent divorce, and makes a wish on her 30th birthday to get her own happily-ever-after. With a little bit of birthday magic, she and her roommate Josh wake up the next morning in Carson Cove, the idyllic small town from Brynn's ultimate comfort show, a hit 2000s teen drama. Except they aren't Brynn and Josh anymore—they're Sloan, the town's sweetheart, and Fletch, its resident bad boy. To return home, they have to make Brynn's wish come true, which means Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, must finally end up together. But Carson Cove might not be as picture-perfect as it seems...and in an unexpected plot twist, sparks begin to fly between Brynn and Josh instead. Will true love lead them to flip the script?

This book was so much fun to read, and I absolutely loved the unique plot! Like Brynn, I've always loved 2000s teen dramas like Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and The O.C., so I appreciated that PRIME TIME ROMANCE paid homage to those types of shows throughout. You'll want to keep reading for some bonus material, where Robb talks a little more about her personal connections to the teen drama genre and how she incorporated some great Easter eggs into the story. The setting of Carson's Cove was so well-developed, and while Robb does take inspiration from shows she loves, this cozy small town definitely stands on its own, too. I thought Brynn and Josh's individual journeys were handled really well, but I did want a little bit more from the romance between them. They had good chemistry and were sweet together, but I felt like their love story could have used a little more development overall. Otherwise, I liked this one a lot, and would be interested in seeing what Kate Robb writes next! Thank you to Random House/Dial Press for the ARC.

4 stars !!

From the start i knew i was gonna eat this up and indeed i did. I've never read anything quite like this, i thought the plot was very original and liked the characters's vulnerability. I loved both their characters development throughout the book and i really related to both of them for many reasons.

I just felt like the romance was lacking a bit..? i thought it was kinda random how they just started liking each other but nothing really led up to it? idk was kinda random. And the spice scenes were a bit basic idk 😭 i felt like maybe i missed a chapter but i enjoyed the book regardless and so glad they both got their happy ending <<3

After loving This Spells Love, I was extremely excited to be offered Kate's follow up!

At the beginning of the story, we meet Brynn who is at a crossroads in her life. After a break up, she's trying to find connections and a plan for how to move forward. Enter her roommate Josh. They're starting to get to know each other and then she receives an unexpected birthday cake and a magically fulfilled wish. They're transported to Carson's Cove, the setting of her comfort show. It seems like she will get what she wants, but is it really what she wants anymore?

Things I loved:
* Kate writes MMCs I go mushy for. I really enjoyed Josh and his own journey in this story.

* As a fan of 90s/00s WB/CW shows, the premise of this book was my jam. Easter eggs were sprinkled throughout that were great callbacks to that era of TV. It would be helpful for readers to have some working knowledge of the shows, but Kate included information at the end to explain things readers might have missed.

Things I felt a little unresolved with:
* The antagonist was a little much for me. Hello boat scene.

* We didn't really get an explanation as to how he was involved in the magic.

I really enjoyed this book overall and I'll continue reading Kate's work in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for an eARC of this book for an honest review.