I really enjoyed this book! I will be honest I just glanced at the description before I started reading it. I was NOT prepared for the time travel aspect of this story. While like most romances you get a feel for what is going to happen. However, there are a few parts that did catch me off guard. I do loved how much to author paid homage to some TV shows from my teen years. It's Dawson's creek, meets Pleasantville, with a sprinkle of Gilmore girls. I honestly haven't read one like this. For that I commend the author.

Content Wise: If you are in a school district that is a little more laid back you might be able to get away with this one. However, there are a few scenes that are pretty "descriptive" between the two main characters. As an adult reading- heck yes!

♾️⭐️

Since I read This Spells Love last year, I've been totally hooked on Kate Robb's writing.

Started reading this book earlier today and couldn't put it down.

The story had me smiling so many times and warmed my heart too. Brynn and Josh totally have my heart.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me this ARC.

(The review has been posted on Goodreads, the link is available below, and I'll be posting a more detailed review on my Instagram @carolineskindle a week before the release. I'll post it to Amazon on the release day.)

In this book, a wish on a birthday cake for a happily ever after transports a divorcee and her roommate to Carson’s Cove, a 2000s teen drama reminiscent of Dawson’s Creek, the OC, and One Tree Hill.

Brynn, the novel’s heroine, has found comfort in rewatching her favorite show, and now, stuck in the small town setting of Carson’s Cove, has the chance to fix the final episode. But her roommate, Josh, is also there, taking on the show’s role of the bad boy. Brynn needs to get together with the town’s golden boy, but cannot ignore her growing feelings towards Josh. The show’s plot needs her to go a different direction.

If you watched a lot of WB or CW as a teen, or if you have a soft spot for teen dramas, this book is fun. The beginning felt a little slow, but it was an okay journey overall. It did a nice job of pointing out how silly teen dramas can be in a way that fans of these shows would find amusing. Also, the book is dedicated to Joshua Jackson and whoever knit his sweater so readers (LOL) really know what they’re getting into before even starting.

This book was so cute! It reminded me of Gilmore Girls / One Tree Hill / that vibe and era of tv shows, super nostalgic. I thought it was a little slow in the middle but it did end up making sense for the story. I thought it was a unique idea and executed pretty well!

This was a fun read. It's not going to solve world hunger or inspire one to change their life, but it might remind you to be kinder to other people. The premise (being stuck in a teen drama world like I'm guessing One Tree Hill) was super creative, as was the story. Of course you can guess the ending, but the way it gets there was never predictable and went to so many surprise places. I kept thinking "oh, in the next scene...." and being wrong. So yay for changing some of the tropes of rom com books. Plus the heroine had more EQ than most books like this. I appreciated she quickly learned from her mistakes and tried to find solutions.

A solid read for when you just wanna have fun. It took me forever to read though- I downloaded it from NetGalley before a trip abroad and although I read the first couple chapters at the airport, it disappeared when I got to my destination! Too bad, it would have been a good vacation book but it was a nice soft book to land with while I got back to real life. Hmmm, reading a book about not being in real life while adjusting to real life. Hmmm.

I enjoyed the first part of the book before they were trapped in a sitcom but it was a little too silly for me. This book felt like a little bit of a fever dream. I would have loved to see more chemistry between the two MCs! I think the cover and title of this book are super cute and I wish I was into it more!

In my latest selection from NetGalley, I extend my gratitude to both the platform and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy of this forthcoming title, slated for release in September 2024. It is my sincere hope that my feedback regarding certain inconsistencies and errors will be considered and addressed prior to publication. Please see below for my detailed rating and commentary.

In her latest novel, Kate Robb ventures into the imaginative with a narrative twist that sends its main characters into a setting on the silver screen as the once youthful leading lady and a quintessential bad boy—fifteen years into their future to offer a finale that promises to captivate. Regrettably, the intended audience is as sparse as it is unexpected, limited to the very individual responsible for their temporal displacement, alongside a backdrop overly cluttered with distracting references to DC, and a surplus of teenage drama tropes.
Set against the charming tableau of a small East Coast town, replete with its distinctive idiosyncrasies, the novel’s environment is vividly painted, successfully immersing readers in its quaint streets and local color.
While the dialogue rings true to life, the sporadic profanity, inconsistent with the established tone of the narrative, suggests a lapse in editorial consistency that detracts from the otherwise immersive experience.
Moreover, the insertion of tepidly executed romantic scenes seems an unnecessary deviation from the established norms of prime-time melodrama, where a slow burn and suggestive fade to black might better serve the genre’s traditional expectations.
As an editor and author who experiences literature through audiobooks due to visual impairment, certain narrative discrepancies particularly stand out:
• The logistical oversight where the main character, Brynn checks her phone—a device previously lost—adds a jarring note of inconsistency.
• A typographical error referring to the "Marching Brand" rather than "Band" disrupts immersion.
• It's clear that "through" was the intended word in the sentence "A top 40 track booms though a speaker system so loud...," raising questions about the oversight of the editors and proofreaders. I only hope this review is in time to pull the manuscript and correct.
• The believability of a rescue scene amidst a stormy sea stretches credulity, even allowing for dramatic license.
• Additionally, the inclusion of a blind date at the start that fails to propel the narrative forward could have been restructured for greater efficiency and impact.
• Lastly, I recommend that the author relocate the author notes to her website, enticing fans to visit and potentially sign up for her newsletter.

Despite these critiques, several elements do maintain engagement:
• The dialogue, outside of its occasional harshness, captures the essence of the characters compellingly.
• The secondary characters are robust and intriguing enough to perhaps warrant their own spin-offs, but unfortunately they come from the land of the silver screen where their lives do fade to black.
• The central plot surrounding Josh is particularly well-crafted, though his earlier involvement might have enriched the story further.
• The portrayal of Brynn’s quest for a fairy-tale ending offers a universally relatable thread.
• The slow-burning romance, while appealing, might have either adhered more closely to genre conventions with a fade to black or embraced a bolder approach.

In conclusion, Robb’s novel presents a mix of small-town romance and comedic elements with a unique twist that, despite its flaws, might prove a delightful read for those seeking a light, escapist narrative in the vein of a romantic comedy. The epilogue aspect adds a pleasing touch, providing a glimpse into the characters’ futures, which is always a gratifying closure for fans of the teenage melodramas.

I'll assign it a 4 out of 5, noting the absence of half-point increments.

Decent book but definitely not what I thought it was going to be. Gave 90s Dawsons creek and other show vibes and just kinda fell flat for me. As a 30 something year old my self the plot just kinda felt juvenile.

This was just not the book for me. I think I was too young for this to really sink in. I didn’t watch those shows like Dawson creek which this is basically based on. It felt juvenile at the same time. Like she so badly wanted to be in this show felt immature. Knowing right off that bat that there was no way she was going to end up with the guy from the tv show made the book feel predictable. There should have been more tension and the idea of a real love triangle.

Is the idealized romance we see on screen truly superior to real-life love? In this whimsical second-chance romantic comedy, a recently divorced woman finds herself transported into the enchanting world of her favorite 2000s teen soap opera.

While the concept behind this story is intriguingly original, it failed to engage me fully due to a lack of connection with the characters. The romantic interactions were described rather than shown, resulting in moments that felt flat and lacked genuine emotion. Furthermore, the pacing was sluggish, with scenes often lingering too long without advancing the plot effectively.

Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to finish this book.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group - Random House for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this title.

I didn’t love this one, unfortunately. It was a little cheesy and kind of hard to follow. I originally liked how the characters jumped into the new world no questions asked, but the. I had a lot of questions. Are these characters real people? Why should I care if they get hurt?

I genuinely enjoyed this book! Such a fun premise, I loved the nods to Dawson’s Creek and Gilmore Girls, and maybe a little Archie Comics too. I rooted for the main characters and loved the ending!

This was a fun nostalgic 2000s flashback. Very Dawson's Creek setting. I liked the characters and the story flowed well and was the right amount of cheesy.

This book was amazing! I loved the characters and the plot was very well written. The writer is very talented and the story was very interesting.

I was a little hesitant going in to reading this that it would be super cheesy in a bad way but I genuinely loved it. It was a super quick and easy read that I finished in one sitting. It was just the right about of cheesy and nostalgia and I really loved both of the characters. It was such a fun take on a Pleasantville type story. Brynn and Josh were both great, I really liked them together and that they both experienced growth throughout the story. I would definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a fun, light read.

Oh the nostalgia of this book! All the Easter eggs and callbacks to Dawson’s Creek, 90210 and more - chef’s kiss. Is it a little cheesy, sure but in the best way. Like This Spells Love, there’s definitely some magical realism here but while there’s no quirky aunt, there are adults that actually….communicate! Whenever there was a chance that Brynn and Josh might not understand one another, they keep talking and clear up any miscommunication.

I was drawn to this title and cover. And this 90s kid appreciated the nod to Dawsons Creek. However, in practice I really struggled to fully believe or connect with the storyline, and ended up not finishing the story. Thank you for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was skeptical about the premise, but I received an ARC for Robb’s last book as well. This turned out better than I thought! It’s not without its flaws, but it’s a cute story all the same.

Brynn is turning 30 and still heartbroken from her divorce. Her roomie, Josh, works as a bartender, but really longs to repurchase his father’s old bar again. Josh encourages Brynn to make a wish on her bday over a piece of enchanted cake, and they are both sucked into her favorite teen drama series, which is part Dawson’s Creek, part One Tree Hill. There’s a lot of nostalgia to the idea of getting transported into one’s favorite teen drama. But I’d be so upset if Dillon, TX from Friday Night Lights was anything like Carson’s Cove. Brynn and Josh both have roles to play, but things don’t go according to plan, and while Brynn is meant to fall for the boy next door, she ends up falling for Josh.

The growing relationship between the two leads is really sweet, and you root for them so hard. Especially since the boy next door is anything but the dreamboat teenage Brynn expected. The tv show best friend is also a snake and the consummate mean girl. The only issue is the magic behind what gets them there and back. There’s not a clear explanation for how it all works. But it’s all good fun otherwise. With a little steam to go along with it.

Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC!

What a strange ride to be on... and I really enjoyed every second of it! I was expecting a typical roommate love story where the chemistry is undeniable and the proximity makes things steamy for the majority of the plot... but boy was I wrong! This was a fever dream of grand proportions and if you just buckle up and go for the ride, you'll come out smiling, I promise!

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!*

I really wanted to like this book, but I unfortunately have to DNF 30% in.

It just didn’t captivate me and I don’t love the “stuck in a sitcom” trope.

Thank you for the chance to read, I’m sure there will be LOTS of people who love this book!