A romcom with 2000s tv references and themes? Millennial me loved all the references! Prime Time Romance is a dual POV story following Brynn and Josh through the crazy world they are thrown into. I liked the two of them together and their journey in Carson’s Cove, but it did feel a little rushed, like some backstory or interactions between them before Carson’s Cove was missing. Overall a good and easy read! 3.5 stars

Thanks Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

I love Kate Robb so much! After loving her debut, I was so excited for Prime Time Romance! The way she writes magical realism is spot on. Also the fact this plays on early 2000 dramas - perfection and so nostalgic!

The beginning was super cute and fun and it hooked me right away. It got really repetitive about halfway through and when I hit about 65% I really wanted to start skimming. This reminded me of a mashup of the old movie Pleasantville and Dawsons creek.

I didn’t really connect with the characters but I still think book has some potential.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Prime Time Romance is a cute, fluffy, predictable rom-com and a quick, enjoyable read.

We meet Brynn and Josh at the beginning of the book. The former is an almost-30-year-old divorcee and the latter an unfulfilled bartender still licking his wounds from a past failure. They happen to be roommates (convenient!) but also happen to be practically strangers. When a strange man shows up at their door one night, what happens next is a twist right out of a teen drama.

Literally.

Without spoiling the narrative, Brynn and Josh must work together to escape a fictional town from a 2000s teen drama, starting with making sure the show's heroine, Sloan, gets her happy ending with the love of her life Spencer. What follows is a formulaic "what you want isn't what you need" story with enough humor and tender moments to still be entertaining.

While I was rather enchanted by the story, as a one-time devotee of 90s teen dramas, the actual romance between the characters felt rushed and unrealistic. They went from barely speaking as roommates to the loves of each others' lives in the span of a week. And most of that week, Brynn was trying to get with another guy (as Sloan, but you get it). As Fletcher, the town disappointment and resident bad boy, Josh managed to save the local bar, which was a much more realistic part of the plot than many others.

I know the book was written to be fanciful and a blatant homage to the many teen dramas of the 90s and early 2000s, with those overworked tropes that we hate to love. This definitely was that, but still missed the mark for me in terms of a good romance.

This gave me such nostalgia and reminded me of the shows I watched as a teenager. One thing that stood out was the character development of this book. I adored Josh and Brynn. I loved their dynamic.

Such a fun read! I loved her last novel and this one was a great follow-up. It made me want to rewatch Dawson's Creek, but also made me think deeply about how odd it'd be if that was real life!

Kate Robb is becoming one of my favorites. I came into this afraid I wouldn’t love it as much as her previous book. And I was absolutely happy to be wrong, because I love this book. I loved the magical element to this romance. I was obsessed with the early 2000 teenage soap/drama vibes. It was fun to watch them discover the world and slowly grow closer.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC.

I loved the first book by this author and was excited to get an ARC for her new book. Imagine you wake up inside your favorite TV show and this is what happens to Brynn and her roommate Josh. I loved the nods to old TV shows I grew up on. The chemistry between the two main characters pulled me in. It’s a cute story that I couldn’t put down and wanted more of. I love how this author handles alternate realities and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

“Primetime Romance” by Kate Robb is a rollercoaster of emotions, taking readers on a journey through a small town where nose-bopping seems to be the norm. Initially skeptical, I was tempted to DNF, but perseverance paid off. Robb’s deliberate homage to teen dramas added an endearing layer to the story, making it a cute and enjoyable read. The spice in the romance was a delightful surprise, though I found myself craving more. While the alternate reality time travel aspect could have been fleshed out further, the underlying message about the allure of teen dramas and the need to embrace change resonated deeply. Overall, “Primetime Romance” is a quirky and heartwarming tale that reminds us not to get too comfortable in our nostalgia.

[arc review]
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Prime Time Romance releases September 3, 2024

Just as the clock strikes midnight on Brynn’s 30th birthday and she blows out a candle to make a wish, her and her roommate Josh are transported into the fictional world of her comfort tv show: Carson’s Cove.

The premise was too cheesy for me to take seriously and it wasn’t engaging at all. Brynn and Josh couldn’t even be themselves because they had to assume the identities of the characters inside the tv show. Since the two roommates didn’t have a fully established friendship prior to being transported to Carson’s Cove, their interactions didn’t feel earned.

I liked all the nods to popular 90’s/2000’s shows, but it didn’t quite work for me as a romance book.

What a perfect book to read while rewatching One Tree Hill…. Who doesn’t love forking. Had Michael Murray, insert winking face.
This book was just a lovely read after a few heavier books. It’s the perfect beach read or book to get you over your reading slump. Who doesn’t love a book with such adorable hidden meanings and nostalgia from your favorite classic teenage dramas.

This book was such a unexpected and pleasant surprise! If you enjoyed watching Dawson's Creek (or really any small town teenage drama from the 90's and 2000's) and the movie Pleasantville, then this book is for you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
#PrimeTimeRomance #NetGalley

I went in blind with this one (thanks to forgetting any sort of description after I request a book) and I really enjoyed it.

It reminds me a little of 13 going on 30 by making a wish by rather Brynn wants to live in the town her favorite TV show is (I mean don’t we all? Even if Mystic Falls wouldn’t be the best for me) and when she ends up there, so does her roommate Josh on a technicality. The town of Carsons Cove is one of Dawson’s Creek/ One Tree Hill/ The O.C and Brynn now Sloan has to give the show the happy ending it deserved … except she can’t seem to feel for the shows heartthrob what she’s feeling for Fletch (Josh).

The characters themselves were a little stiff, imo with little chemistry amongst any of them but I liked the idea of the story so much and wanted to keep reading, so I gave it 4 stars.

My teen-soap loving nostalgic heart had the best time reading this book.

Brynn is having a rough go of it in life and spending a lot of time with her comfort show, Carson’s Cove. The night of her 30th birthday finds her unexpectedly watching episodes with her roommate, Josh, and an odd delivery of a birthday cake. A wish for a life where everything ends up ok lands Brynn and Josh smack in the middle of Carson’s Cove to get its lead character, Sloane, the happily ever after with the boy next door, Spencer, that the show never delivered on. Brynn as the new Sloane and Josh as the town screw up find themselves rewriting the happily ever after that was expected in favor of something far more real.

As someone who lived for shows like Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., and One Tree Hill in their prime, loved the movie Pleasantville, and has a deep-rooted nostalgia attachment, this book was an absolute freaking delight. I love a reality slip and to land in a combination of some of the best shows of my teen years? Sign me all the way up.

One of my favorite things about the book was that both Brynn and Josh got absolutely wonderful character development. I don’t know that I can remember another book that has served both the male and female character so well with individual growth arcs separate from their relationship growth. I loved the relationship dynamic between the two of them as well though. It felt genuine in its progression and its depth. It’s hard not to bond with someone when you’re stuck in an alternate reality only the two of you know about, but it still felt like more than that. It felt solid enough to last if and when they got back to their real life.

There was a good message in here about how understandable it is to want a safe, predictable life, but maybe it’s better to leave that to our comfort shows in favor of living fully by taking chances. It was so well done and really struck a chord. The fact that it was delivered in such a fun way in this book was even more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
I absolutely adored this book! It stood out from the typical romantic comedies I usually dive into, thanks to Kate Robb's delightful touch of magic woven throughout the story. While I found it a tad slower paced compared to "This Spells Love," I couldn't help but revel in its charm and wit. Count me in for more of Robb's enchanting tales! The nostalgic vibes of the 90s and 2000s era in the narrative were a delightful trip down memory lane. And oh, the cherry on top was discovering the inspiration behind the characters from iconic prime time shows towards the end - what a fantastic touch! I can't wait to dive into more of Kate Robb's captivating worlds! 📚✨🌟

I received an ARC from the publisher
Wow. I loved this! Two roommates-of-convenience/virtual strangers are thrown into a Dawson's Creek-esque alternate reality and fall in loooove. While I was reading I kept thinking how good it could be as a movie too. The only criticism I have is I would have liked to see more interactions between the two main characters; their love felt somewhat surface-level. And I gotta say, I would be pissed if I sacrificed myself for a dude and he didn't even TRY to save me back. Ignoring that, it was supremely fun. I also love that the author included a glossary of pop-culture references and Easter eggs at the end 😁

just fell through a rabbit hole..!

MY REVIEW:

• THE PLOT:
A newly divorced Brynn is sick of heartbreak. After she thought she had her happy ended, her world shattered. Due to her recent breakup, she is now living with her roommate, Josh, in order for her to cover her mortgage, and start a new life. Carson's Cove, her comfort show, is the only way she can mourn her past relationship. However, the show ended on an unexpected cliffhanger, leading viewers with many questions such as, will the main characters Sloan and Spencer ever end up together?

So, on her thirtieth birthday, a birthday cake mysteriously shows up. Brynn makes a wish, and the next morning she wakes up in Carson's Cove. She isn't alone though, because Josh shows up with her. Although they know each other as Brynn and Josh, they are now known as Sloan, the heart of Carsons Cove, and Fletcher, the towns bad boy. In order to go back to reality, Brynn needs to ensure that Sloan and Spencer gets the ending they deserve. As time goes on, Brynn and Josh realize that Carson's Cove isn't exactly perfect, as seen on television. Especially when Josh and Brynn start to develop feelings for each other. Will they ignore their feelings and create the ending that Sloan deserves, or will they pursue their relationship?

• MY PERSONAL REVIEW:
Prime Time Romance, was a wonderful escape from reality. I heavily enjoyed that there were two worlds to this book, the world of Brynn and Josh, and the world of Carson's Cove. The start of the book had me automatically hooked. Although having an ebook rather than a physical copy, it was still just as magical. I felt like I was reading my first fantasy book. This book reminded me heavily of the Wizard of Oz, mainly because of the trip Brynn and Josh go on, just like Dorothy.

Prime Time Romance had several aspects that were amazing, the Carson's Cove plot allowed for no cussing, so it was a nice break from all the foul language. This book was relatively clean aside from two chapters, (24 and 30), but aside from those chapters, it was a sweet book. The book was paced so wonderfully, but at times I felt like it was moving a bit slow.

• WARNINGS:
cussing (very minor)
sex (chapters 24 and 30)
alcohol use

• TROPES:
roommates
fantasy world
dual pov
i'd do anything for you

a HUGE thank you to Netgalley, and Kate Robb for allowing me to receive a copy of Prime Time Romance in return for an honest review! 🤩

This book was enjoyable! It makes my millennial heart happy. I loved the 2000s rom com energy. I think the love story could use a little more something. But it was cute and I had a good time!

I enjoyed the idea of this book and thought it was great for the most part! Occasionally it dragged just a bit but overall it was a cute and quick read! I can't wait to see what else Kate Robb publishes in the future!

Brynn is turning thirty tomorrow. Freshly divorced and living with a new roommate her only solace is her favorite show from the 2000s Carson's Cove. The show was cancelled on a cliffhanger after 5 seasons but this doesn't stop Brynn from loving it. When a birthday cake mysteriously shows up on her doorstep Brynn makes a wish that pulls her and Josh into Carson's Cove. They must discover how to get home. Brynn's plan is to act out the life of the characters. But is her forever with Spencer the town's golden boy or Josh?

I had a very good time with this book. Having comfort TV shows is extremely relatable and I can see where the dream of falling into one when your life isn't going as expected would be a draw. Brynn and Josh are very cute. This isn't quite a friends to lovers as they don't know each other well. But seeing them develop a friendship that turns into more was great. I have read Kate Robb's other book in this series and hope she does more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.