If you grew up debating the merits of Dawson vs Pacey, this book is for you. This is a fun visit to the idyllic towns from our favorite teen dramas. Infused with some girl power and perspective, Brynn examines the perfect endings we all wanted and sees what happens if the endings are anything but perfect. A solid, fun summer read.

Kate Robb’s debut novel This Spells Love was one of my favorite books last year, so I was so excited to read this one when I got it. Unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. In this story Brynn and Josh are roommates who end up in a teen drama television show as some of the main characters after Brynn makes a birthday wish. While Brynn is supposed to fall in love with the show’s main character, she starts to develop feelings for Josh instead.
The premise was interesting to me and I loved the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the book of favorite 90s and 00s teen dramas (at the end of the book she even shares them with us). However I feel like the plot took over the book and the relationship between Brynn and Josh got left behind. I didn’t understand why their relationship suddenly became romantic because there were no conversations or events that took place to push it along, and it confused me because they had been roommates before and never developed a relationship beyond casual acquaintances. I also had a hard time connecting to the story because I knew it was just a fake tv show they were on, and as soon as the wish was over those people wouldn’t even exist anymore. It made the stakes extremely low because none of it even mattered and wasn’t real life.
I think there will definitely be people who love this book and enjoy the idea of it, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Who wouldn’t want to wake up and live in their favorite comfort show for a bit?? I found myself connecting with the main character and enjoyed her stumbling through coming to term with fantasy crashing into reality. Very cute story with two main characters you can’t help but root for! I will definitely be going out to buy a hard copy of this once it is released and will be encouraging my friends to do the same!

This book was so much fun!! As a fan of teen dramas myself, I related very much to our main character’s desire to just step into her favorite show. I loved how she evolved throughout the book and how Carson Cove’s layers were revealed. A really enjoyable read!

Let me start off by saying that Kate Robb knows how to make the cutessst romcom! I read “This Spells Love” last month and loved it. In Prime Time Romance, her writing is so fun and unique in a way that it puts a good spin on sitcoms and reality tv. Who doesn’t like rewatching their favorite tv show like it just aired, but this time you were the main character in the show! It’s easy to fall into those moments where you wish life was like the show you’re watching; where you have the perfect job, family, husband, kids, and drama free life. Your Cinderella story and happily ever after! The author did a great job explaining that even though all of those things might be great, it’s the imperfections that makes your story even better! The book payed homage to a lot of shows and characters we grew up watching as teens like Dawson Creek as well. Overall I really enjoyed reading Prime Time Romance and would recommend any Kate Robb book.

So unique and definitely one that you should read if you love sitcoms and tv. There are so many easter eggs and the romance between the two main characters was great

“This Spells Love” was one of my favorite reads from last year and I was really looking forward to Kate Robb’s second book.

The premise was fun and unique, unlike another other books I have read. Who hasn’t rewatched their favorite shows over and over again, but what if you wake up to be the lead the in the show?

I did have a hard time connecting with the characters as the pacing felt quick. The two main characters went from roommates, almost strangers, to in love within a week. The characters could have been fleshed out a bit more.

All in all, a fun read if you are looking for a unique plot line and have some nostalgia for your favorite TV show.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this free ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Kate Robb for gifting me of this ARC that's it's a pleasure to read!
I've read This Spells Love, Robb's last novel (and apparently debut), and loved it, so I was eager to read her latest work, Prime Time Romance. From what I can see thus far, having read both her books, is that Robb seems to have a niche in alternative universe/magical realism/what-if type romantic stories, and I am all here for it! This latest offering I've actually enjoyed so much that I do plan on purchasing the novel once it is released.
Anyway, the book follows Brynn, who is down on her luck dating-wise after having divorced her husband. She lives in their old marital home, and is roommates with a hunky neighbor Josh. Deep in a depression over the loss of the relationship, Brynn takes comfort by watching her favorite show from when she was a teen Carson's Cove, a teen drama where everything always works out in the end all taking place in a picturesque little town, homage to Dawson's Creek. She binge watches the show on Netflix, after yet another failed outing, and this time Josh joins her, having been somewhat involved in her latest mishap.
But this isn't just any other night. This is the eve of her Thirtieth birthday. At just past midnight, a mysterious Uber Eats delivery boy brings in a birthday cake, and she makes a wish. She and Josh find themselves transported into the world of her favorite show, Carson's Cove, where they are to play roles of the characters to give happy endings to them once and for all.
A very interesting premise, if I do say so myself. Carson's Cove is certainly reminiscent of the teen drama series from my own teens (I'm currently 40, so this makes it twenty some odd years ago), and captures that spirit perfectly. Certain characters are pegged to be the ones to cheer for while others are simply an after thought, regardless of how this would look in real-life. I really enjoy how Brynn and Josh get immersed into the world of the drama series, and see all the flaws on how these shows work, along with how perfect is often far from perfect, and nothing is ever truly what it seems, and there are certain consequences to be had. The book was fun to read and easy to immerse myself into, and I enjoyed the quirky, paranormal twist of the plot. There's also a message here about following your own instinct and that happily ever after is not always a straight shot, and many times there are detours where lessons are to be learned. Happily ever after is often sometimes a very different ending compared to what people would initially want.
Brynn and Josh were great here playing two of the pinnacle characters, good girl next door Sloan, and bad boy rogue Fletch. Hiding behind the masks of very different identities, they go off script from the original show, and learn a lot about each other as well as feelings that have always been simmering beneath the surface and now growing. I really loved how Josh actually turns the script on its head and makes Fletch a stand-up guy instead of a burnout, actually bettering Fletch's aunt's bar. Also, I enjoyed how while in Sloan's shoes, Brynn is able to see some of the error in her ways such as how she's treated her so-called arch nemesis Luce, and how maybe Spencer isn't all he's made out to be in Brynn's head.
The book had many overall funny moments (the really awful date with Spencer was laugh-out-loud hilarious), as well as thought provoking, and I enjoyed the ending that was the perfect touch to this story. Looking forward to what Kate Robb has in store next time.

This book was so cute, I truly adored it. There were moments where it got dark and threw me off guard but I appreciated that element. The story felt fresh and new, like it was the first time I’ve read anything like it, that was nice. I fell hard for Josh and his not-so grand gestures because he felt real. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in fictional men but usually they’re so out of reach, Josh felt like a friend, someone I’ve probably crossed paths with and that made him more attractive. I love the reversal of mean girl behavior, finding kinship in someone you thought you didn’t like and the ability to make change, no matter how much time has passed. Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for my ARC.

I read Kate Robb's first book and figured this one would also be quirky and different, and I was right.

Call it magic or something. Brynn and Josh are roommates with opposite schedules and after Brynn's wish on her birthday cake, they somehow wake up in the world of her favorite teen series. Everything is like the series was: the setting, the characters, the drama. Brynn and Josh are standins for main characters in the series, but there are other forces at play, and some of it is not good nor fun. The more time she spends there, the more she realizes the series was not as happy as she thought.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters on account of the premise being so out there. If you loved the series Dawson Creek, then you're going to love this story.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Robb, and The Dial Press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“This Spells Love” was one of my top reads of last year, so I was overjoyed when I was sent the sophomore follow up to Kate Robb’s fantastic debut. “Prime Time Romance” examines one of my favorite concepts: what if you could step into the shoes of the main character of your favorite tv show? Who wouldn’t want to be Elena Gilbert for a day, choosing between two equally swoony brothers (team Damon btw).

But, as we learn with our main characters Brynn and Josh, sometimes it’s best to leave the characters to their own devices in the screen.

The pacing felt a touch quick, with Brynn and Josh going from being near-stranger roommates to in love in a very short amount of time, but this was super fun, and I can’t wait to see what magic Kate Robb comes up with next.

I adored this book! The book was a super cute rom com and while a little predictable, that’s exactly what it was supposed to be! It was absolutely even better than perfect. The book plot is something out of the ordinary…. Magical.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You’ll want this book on the beach - trust me!

Kate Robb's sophomore book is a HIT. I absolutely LOVED the characters and the throw back to a certain show we all used to watch on prime time TV. Don't wait--get this one NOW.

Cute and fluffy, just not for me. I was bothered by inconsistencies in the “rules” in their alternate reality (i.e. inability to curse), the rushed declarations of love, and a too-easy escape hatch. The spicy scenes are incongruous with how YA the tone of the book is otherwise. This might have worked better if geared towards a younger audience.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I saw someone post about this book on Instagram a few weeks ago, comparing it to the 90s classic "Pleasantville" starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Macguire and I have to agree with those sentiments.

I thought this book was very cute and also very clever. I haven't read many romantic comedy books similar to this one. While it wasn't my number one favorite romance book of 2024, I still very much enjoyed it and finished it in under a day. I would consider reading more by Kate Robb in the future.

Read if you like Pleasantville or Back to the Future.

Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Who doesn't want to end up in the fictional town of their favorite show? Only, it's real and the decisions they make there have consequences. What happens when it isn't all it's cracked up to be? Brynn and her roommate, Josh, spend a night watching reruns of her favorite show, "Carson's Cove," after real-life and a divorce have broken her heart. She and Josh then wake up in the very town as well-known characters, in order to give it the ending it deserves. The last season didn't get the closure it should have and it's up to them to tie it neatly together. So, will Brynn stick to the script or follow her heart and what will make HER happy, not just the character she's playing?

This was such a fun concept that I haven't seen done before. I was sucked into, not only the fictional world of Carson's Cove (Dawson's Creek, anyone?), but became invested in the relationship that unfolds between Brynn and Josh. There's the perfect mix of nostalgia and fantasy with a dose of reality.

TV fan or not, you'll want this one on your shelf when it's released on September 3, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy.

I really tried to finish the book, but I just couldn’t. I read more than i half but, unfortunately, i had no interest in finishing it. the idea and story was perfect, i loved it so much, however the plot was not for me. i will try to pick up the book again, later this year, because i really want to give it another chance!

Such a cute storyline and concept. Getting sucked into your favorite teenage tv sitcom? What could be better!

I watch a lot of Chandler Ansley on YouTube and she comes across a lot of romances where the first half of the book is interesting and interesting enough to keep me going but the second half just drags on. I definitely would recommend tandem reading this book with something else to keep you from getting into a slump.

A very sweet quick read. I grew up watching shows like Dawson's Creek so I thought this was a great idea and enjoyed it.