This book was an easy read. I feel in love with the characters quickly and embrace the storyline. Josh and Brynn build that sweet, easy, nice relationship after knowing each other as only acquaintances/roomies for a while, but that is what it made it easy and sweet because there was trust, the trust of living together even if they never really socialized a lot before the series of event happened.
I had a tiny squeak scape me when the gave the GOT references, that was the crazy fan in me.
Being fair, this felt like reading an adult version of Debby Ryan "16 Wishes" movie, and I really liked it, if you liked this movie, you'll like the book, I am not saying that, science is. I also liked the movie when it came out so that makes it proof.
This is a romcom that I can probably read and reread because it has all the little details of a romcom, plus the most corny and cliche actions that makes me excited but not overdoing them. It just felt like they were trying to do an specific ending for Sheldon but Sheldon lowkey was pushing them together is the greatest romcom, falling into your arms way. Most important though, those cliche and corny moments weren't overdone to make it annoying.
Is important to mention that there are never enough forehead kisses. That is a micro trope that is right on the top of my list along side taking care of her when she's sick (vice versa )
I can't finish this review without saying that Spences is an asshole without meaning to be, he's just stupid but is fine, cause she was always meant to be with Josh.
Josh is the papi of the papis, sweetest man, gentleman and funny with some sarcasm.
And the cake recipe at the end made the whole book come full circle in my opinion.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book before the publishing date. It is an honor.

A very cute story! Readers will escape into another world (impossible yet familiar) and enjoy spotting trademark elements of the teen soap opera. A tad predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. 3 stars.

This book was such a fun read! Prime Time Romance is an engaging romp through the world of 1990s and 2000s young adult television programing and the idealistic communities we saw in shows such as Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, and One Tree Hill.

On the eve of her 30th birthday, fresh from a divorce and living with a roommate, Brynn wishes for a happily ever after in the vein of her favorite television show, Carson's Cove. From there, she and her roommate, Josh, are transported to Carson's Cove as two of the main characters of the show, including the town sweetheart, Sloan, and the resident bad boy, Fletcher. From there, they have to figure out the character's happily ever afters and how to get home.

This book was really engaging and whimsical - I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours. I enjoyed the premise immensely, and laughed at all of the obvious references to some of my favorite television shows of the 90s and 2000s. This book became highly introspective halfway through as Brynn and Josh discover more about Carson's Cove and the people who reside there and provides an interesting and thoughtful commentary about the fictitious and seemingly perfect communities many of us grew up with while watching television.

Brynn and Josh were highly charming and likeable as characters. I felt for them as I read their backstories and how they got to where they are. Their pasts definitely define some of their current quirks and personality traits. It was so refreshing to see them as the flawed humans they are from early in the book rather than painting either character as perfect like some books attempt. I enjoyed the dual POV of the book and it provided a lot of detail and inner thoughts from both characters in a way that single POV would not have been able to accomplish. I think this was doubly important as Brynn and Josh become the two characters from Carson's Cove - it was really integral to see and hear their individual experiences in addition to their shared experience.

If you enjoy books with spice, this book had some spice (maybe 1.5 chili peppers worth) and two intimate scenes that were detailed, but not graphic. The build up to the moments was really well done and I enjoyed seeing the relationship play out throughout the book.

I definitely recommend this book for a fun and nostalgic read!

Actual Rating: 3.5 Rounded Up

I read Kate Robb’s first book as well and I can safely say that I enjoyed this one way more. I think what helped this story over This Spells Love is that it is actually Josh and Brynn falling in love and not the MFC and an alternative universe version of the MMC. The concept is very fanfiction, which is frankly a good thing from my POV, it’s what drew me to Robb’s first book and I requested an ARC of this one. The concept of being sucked into a version of your favorite TV show to fix the cliff hanger ending is fun and silly and exactly what I look for in lighthearted and quick romance reads.

What I enjoyed most of this book was Josh as a character learning to accept his mistakes and grow as a person. The dual POV really help to grow the characters and flush them out much more then was achieved in This Spells Love. I didn’t enjoy some of the dialogue choices (however I did unexpectedly really like the replacement of curse words with PG alternatives) and how rushed the ending felt. I had the same complaint with This Spells Love too.

Overall, I would definitely recommend if your looking for a silly goofy time, and I look forward to seeing what Robb does next!

DNF @ 55%

I tried so hard because I actually really like Katie Robb’s writing, but there was something about the plot and tropes that just weren’t working for me.

I loved the Pleasantville nod and was curious to see where it went, but the main character’s obsessed with being the ‘good girl’ was killing me (even though she was playing a character).

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for honest review.

Not your average romcom but it was amazing I loved it. It kinda gives me Teen Beach vibes in the best way. Josh and Brynn have my heart 💕💕

3..5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 📖 The last 25% of this book saved it for me.

I found the majority of this book pretty cringy honestly. I know Brynn experienced major heartbreak and devastation, but I found the premise of pining for this fictional world/show/teenage love kind of gross as a woman in her 30s. I understand what she was pining for was the happy ending and a place where everything works out the way it’s supposed to, but the romance side of that was weird.

Let’s get to the positive, Josh was 10/10 all the way through this book. I loved him and the way he supported Brynn even when he didn’t agree (same here, bud). I enjoyed watching their romance take shape and grow.

The last 25% where Brynn had a wake-up call about what she really wanted out of life was a breath of fresh air.

Ultimately, I really did enjoy this book and it is a quick read. I would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Kate Robb for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Brynn Smothers, a freshly divorced and financially strapped woman, finds solace in the quaint town of Carson's Cove, aka her own personal favorite 2000s teen soap sanctuary. But when her beloved show leaves her hanging with an unresolved cliffhanger, Brynn's frustration hits an all-time high. With the delivery of an unexpected birthday cake and a wish for a happily ever after on the eve of her 30th birthday, Brynn wakes up in an alternate reality where she becomes Sloane, the girl next door, living in the very universe of her favorite series. But there's a catch—her roommate Josh stars as Fletch, the town's enigmatic bad boy. As Brynn begins to navigate this channel, sparks fly, chemistry sizzles, and she's left questioning whether her newfound happiness is just a fleeting fantasy or something more, taking Main Character Energy to a whole new level 📺

There are a couple of things that stand out in Kate Robb’s writing: her characters only move forward, she creates bonds between women, and she is incredibly adept at blending fantasy with reality ✨ Prime Time Romance was uniquely familiar (ik - a total oxymoron, but hear me out). The same way that Robb can map out Capeside, MA, my Prime Time Romance took place in Stars Hollow, CT 🍂 That’s where Kate Robb struck gold: she took a vast concept outside of books with its own formula and weaved it into her own idea. Every reader has the opportunity to shift the landscape into their own 2000s teen-angst comfort show. With a gazebo, a local [bar] owned by the grumpy [aunt] of the local bad boy, and even a literal tOWN TROUBADOUR, it wasn’t hard to imagine the Gilmore Girls theme song playing softly in the background. More so, Brynn and Josh were able to illuminate plot armor, overused tropes, and outdated storylines. So, pick your poison (Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Buffy, Gossip Girl, etc.) and find closure in how the story ended 📖

Kate Robb - your only flaw is that you are a Logan girlie 💔

Prime Time Romance is a fun read! Fans of 2000s TV shows will really love. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Random House and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book is expected to come out on September 3, 2024.

Wow! What a fun, nostalgic and unique book. A must read for fans of magical realism and all the team Pacey girls out there. Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy.

4.5⭐️

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "Prime Time Romance" by Kate Robb and would highly recommend it to fans of Ashley Poston. The mix of magical realism, contemporary themes, and romance made for a fun and engaging read. The characters were well-developed and relatable, particularly Josh who was incredibly sweet and supportive. Brynn's character, although making questionable choices at times, added depth to the story.

The concept of being transported into a favorite TV show to give the love interests a happy ending was unique and captivating. The dynamic between Brynn and Josh as they navigate this new world together being roommates that are practically strangers made this fun watching them grow and work thru this together.

While I wished the story was a bit longer to allow for more scenes and build-up, and found the pace to be a bit too fast it did keep me engaged throughout. Kate Robb's writing style is engaging and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

Prime Time Romance is the second book by Kate Robb, and the second I’ve read. This book brought back a lot of 90’s tv drama nostalgia and I had a lot of fun reading it! It was a cute romance if you’re looking for something to cleanse your palette!

Prime Time Romance’s teaser really grabbed me as I just love the shows of the late 90s/00s that gripped me as a teenager and the story promised to revisit a fictional town just like one I watched regularly (and even rewatched as a adult!) My overall thoughts on this book were it was good, and I would rate 3 stars. It held my attention but I wasn’t stuck turning page after page. The characters were a little flat, and I felt the relationship was a bit rushed and I couldn’t follow along as easily as I had hoped. It may be the way it was done, the traveling to this fictional town and not having a way out. Thanks NetGalley for providing me an ARC in advance for my personal opinions in my review!

This book was really cute! I loved that they were in a Gilmore Girls-like beach town! I thought the story was sweet for Brynn and Josh and I liked that this book was different than a typical romcom. I thought it felt a little bit rushed at times but overall, I had fun reading it!

Prime Time Romance is typically not the kind of book that I would usually read, but I was pleasantly surprised and was so thankful that I was approved to read this story! Kate Robb did an excellent job of weaving outlandish and romance, leaving behind a beautiful romcom that had me laughing and kicking my feet simultaneously. It gives off Schmigadoon vibes if you know what I'm saying. I could see this being a new adaptation on the horizon!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I won't even lie, this is not the kind of story that I would typically choose to read, but for whatever reason, the description intrigued me and I decided to give it a shot.

Brynn, the FMC, was a relatable character, and almost logical to a fault. I say this because despite how ridiculous the whole "Carson's Cove" fiasco seems, she is determined to let logic and reason drive her actions and decisions, as opposed to her heart and her own needs.

Josh, the MMC, was incredibly lovable. From the start, it's pretty obvious that he's got a soft spot for Brynn and wants what's best for her. His priority isn't just getting back home, it's also keeping Brynn safe.

I'm not going to spoil the premise of the story here, but let's just say that it's one big adventure. It takes a while (longer than I'd prefer) for Brynn to recognize what's been right in front of her for so long, a.k.a. Josh, and even once she acknowledges and gives into her feelings for him, she still lets logic drive her decisions.

I did like the inclusion of the proverbial "villain" of the story, although his redemption arc left something to be desired. It added a certain dimension to the story that would've otherwise been a rom-com-esque plot.

4.3 ⭐️

After reading This Spells Love, I automatically added Prime Time Romance to by TBR. Romance with a hint of the magical is absolutely one of my favorite types of books to read, and Kate Robb does not disappoint! Prime Time Romance is funny, sweet, and adorably nostalgic. The writing was captivating, and I could not put it down! I loved everything about this book, and I can't wait to see what Kate Robb comes up with next.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy cute, steamy romance, early 2000's teen soaps, and a touch of magic.

This book fulfilled all of my high school 90's/2000's nostalgia. It gives vibes from Dawsons Creek and all my favorite cheesy sitcoms. The romance between Brynn and Josh was the perfect speed and left me satisfied at the end. It might have been nice to get an update on Luce and Spencer in real life. Overall, I'd give this book 3.5-4 stars and recommend to anyone who loves a good rom-com.

I have not reviewed this book socially yet, but I just finished and absolutely loved it! I was A big fan of the authors first book, and this follow up did not disappoint! I loved The plot and the ending was perfect and sweet. Would definitely recommend to a friend.

This was such a cute and sweet read, loved the setting and how the story developed. Easy quick read, super exited to see what else this author has up her sleeve