Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb 🎂
Overall Rating 4.5/5 ⭐
Release Date: Sept 3 2024
This review will be published on Goodreads and Instagram March 27th 2024

This book was amazing, hands down my favourite romance read so far for 2024. It had just the right amounts of silliness, and quirkiness and I absolutely loved the characters. It had some really funny moments as you read about all the antics of the characters, but also some really lovely deep moments as it explores some difficult topics.

It was not really what I was expecting it to be, but it was way better! The readability is super high for this one - I finished it within a few days.

Totally recommend this one as a quick, fun read.

what would you do if one day you wake up in your favorite fictional world and you’re one of the main characters but everything isn’t as it seems?

this book has such an interesting concept, and i really enjoyed it. it was such an entertaining read because of how unusual the plot was. our two main characters, brynn and josh, were very relatable in their own way in navigating the twists and turns of adulthood.

i will say going into this, i thought the romance was going to be the main plot (especially since the word romance is in the title lol 😭) but i feel like the story was more focused on other aspects such as character development and the overall underlying message. i didn’t have any issues with that, however i do know that can be an issue for some. the romance to me was more of a subplot, and the buildup was lacking. the main characters had so much potential but they kind of just got together. 😐

overall, this was a very fun, quick, feel good book that was very nostalgic to read with hints back to early 2000s romcoms. 🎞️💞💐

(Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.)

I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book. It reminded me a little of the movie Pleasantville, but there was a slightly sinister undertone that I thought worked well for most of the book. Robb did a great job gradually peeling back the "perfect" exterior of the town, and I liked the way Brynn and Josh's experiences in Carson's Cove organically tied into their real-world lives. What kept this from being a five-star book for me was the last 25%. The pacing suddenly went really weird for me, with a couple of very spicy open-door scenes that did not fit with the first 75% of the novel. I LOVE a good spicy scene, but in a town where the characters can't even swear, it felt like the author was losing narrative consistency to have a super-spicy scene without somehow connecting it to the broader story. (Maybe they were breaking the threads of the trap? They were creating a new path? Neither of those connects to the premise of their predicament, though.) The resolution of the novel was also a little lacking for me. I was fully invested in the problem, and then it's just... resolved! It made me wish Robb had maybe had a little more time to workshop the ending, play with the idea of "everything always works out" like she seemed to be doing when Brynn and Josh were in Carson's Cove.

"Prime Time Romance" by Kate Robb whisks readers into an exhilarating narrative with very "Teen Beach Movie vibes. Brynn, our protagonist, and her roommate find themselves trapped in the ideal world of a 2000s teen soap opera. Their ticket back to reality? Helping the characters secure their happy endings.
Robb fills the story with nostalgic references to old TV shows, adding depth and familiarity to the narrative. From start to finish, "Prime Time Romance" promises an entertaining escape. Robb's storytelling keeps readers engaged as Brynn navigates the challenges of her fictional adventure. This book is a must-read for fans of classic television seeking a captivating story. The author delivers a fresh and irresistible tale that captures the essence of nostalgia with finesse.

After finishing Kate Robb's debut novel, I was immediately hooked and knew her work would become a new addiction. I craved a second book even before I closed the first one. I was ecstatic when I read on Ms. Robb's Instagram that a second book was already in the works. From that moment on, I started eagerly anticipating its release and stalking Netgalley's romance section. Finally, my persistence paid off, and Netgalley granted me access to the ARC of her upcoming book.

Prime Time Romance" is a romantic story that follows the lives of Brynn and Josh. Similar to "This Spells Love," the story involves a redo, but instead of entering a parallel universe, the characters enter Brynn's favorite TV show to change the ending. After a long season, the characters come to understand that things are not always perfect and that imperfections can be good.

I have to say, I am absolutely fascinated by Kate Robb's writing. She has managed to find my kryptonite with her second-chance Christmas Carol-style plots. I am a complete sucker for this kind of storyline, and Ms. Robb executes them perfectly.
The writing itself is fantastic - easily some of the best I've seen in a romance novel in recent times. The dual point of view is also excellently done, allowing us to see what's going on between both main characters and sympathize with their journey while also enjoying the cute moments of how they fell in love. The characters' development is superb, and I love how we get to learn about their journey alongside them.

The last thing I want to add is: Kate Robb, if you are reading this "F" the "sophomore curse," you did an excellent job, and I hope you have the junior book because we are waiting for it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5

Brynn has never been able to fully get over the ending to her favorite high school show “Carson’s cove”. It ended with zero notice and did not receive the ending it deserved. Brynn makes a wish on her birthday and she ends up in Carson’s cove with her roommate Josh.

At first I couldn’t truly get into this book due to lack of dynamic between characters. However, the more the storyline built, I was pleasantly surprised. Brynn slowly finds out that maybe the ending the show deserved wasn’t truly what she wanted after all.

This was everything I wanted it to be and more! I will be re-entering my Dawson’s Creek era immediately.

If you loved the whimsical magic of Teen Beach Movie, the low stakes angst of 2000s teen dramas, and dreamed of waking up in Stars Hollow one day, you too will be obsessed with this book.

Things I especially loved:
- dual POV (both Brynn and Josh were so lovable and sweet)
- scrumptious descriptions of the town and its residents (the nostalgia is real)
- the perfect dose of magical realism
- swoon worthy moments between Brynn and Josh
- low angst

My only real complaint was that I wish it was longer! I think it would be nice if we spent more time with Brynn and Josh getting to understand each other better. (Or maybe that's on me for refusing to put it down and reading too fast... oopsie!)

I feel the magical "change my life" trope is becoming very popular. This is the third book I have read recently with this storyline and I haven't liked it any time. I thought the tv show element would be a nice change of pace, but I feel it gave it a weird vibe. This trope is just clearly not for me.

3 stars ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི
⟶ idk how to feel tbh

💐”you can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep rewatching the old one” 💐

this book was very 50/50 for me.. the beginning was SOOO good and interesting, but the rest was lowkey a drag 🙁 this could’ve definitely been shorter, even though it’s not really that long to begin with 😭

💌 plot - brynn’s life is a mess. her “friends” her birthday and she’s recently divorced. she thinks her life is a disaster and just wants a break for once. she seeks comfort in her favourite teen drama, carson’s cove, where everything is perfect. so when she turns thirty and her roommate josh, asks her to make a wish for her birthday, she blows the candles and wishes:

“I want to finally get the perfect happily ever after”

the next morning, she wakes up. but she’s not in her own bed. she’s in sloan’s bed - the main character from carson’s cove 😟 plot twisttt. and she has to play that character and finish the season, where she realises that perhaps their life is not so perfect after all (which is so sad bc if I went to my comfort fictional world and it turned out to be pathetic and miserable, i’d probably cry 😪)

🎀romance - um??!? the thing is the romance had so much potential there just wasn’t enough of it 😭😭 I wanted sparks, tension, and chemistry but I just got friends who think the other is kinda hot!??! so sad 🙁 but the plot made up for it bc it was interesting so it made me hate this less since usually for me no romance = 2 star read max.

🧸 conclusion - sorry this is a short review, but i’m ending it here bc I don’t really have much to say HAHAH this was a fun, unique concept so if you’re looking for something quick and lighthearted (not revolutionary), maybe check this out..? 💗

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a nice change of pace with a cute story. This is a good pick for you if you want a story with a small fictional town vibe. I look forward to the next book that she writes.

I enjoyed every second of reading this book. Not only was it a cute story, the subtle nods to several popular tv shows from my youth, are it fun to reminisce. The characters are extremely likable and the store moved quickly. Each characters own personal growth, along with their growth together, lead to a beautiful message about love, growing up, and what it means to find a HEA. Was honestly sad when the story was over. A great read!!!

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley, publisher and author for an honest review!

I l9ved this book. That nostalgic 90s teen sitcom feels. Like an episode of Dawson's creek. Lol. I do enjoy a duel POV because I love hear what each is thinking and feeling... this was well worth the read. I enjoyed the characters so much.

Brynn is not having the happy ending she wishes life had, like her favorite 90s show, Carson’s Cove, usually has. In her birthday she receives a mysterious birthday cake and the next morning her and Josh wake up in the world of Carson’s Cove.
This is a fun romance with a twist of magic. It’s cute and very reminiscent of 90s teen drama shows. I really enjoyed reading this book!

"Prime Time Romance" presented a cute romcom of a birthday wish turned upside down. However, Brynn's expectations of perfection may not have been what she fully anticipated.

Although the story's concept was refreshing, it lacked depth in character development. Nevertheless, I believe the plot has great potential.

Overall, if you are looking for an entertaining and breezy read, then "Prime Time Romance" could be a worthwhile selection. Thank you NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This book wasn’t perfect and at times felt a little on the surface., but it was ultimately a love letter to teen dramas of the late 90s early 2000s and because of that it felt like a giant hug. Primetime Romance is rich with Easter eggs from all of the OG classics (hello Dawson’s Creek), as well as some of the more recent classics, like Riverdale and Vampire Diaries. If Dawson Creek and Pleasantville got together and had a lovely little Canadian baby, this book would be it. It put me in a damn good mood.

Brynn is still trying to pull herself together after her recent divorce, and the fact that she's turning 30 certainly isn't helping her mood. She sits down on the night before her birthday to find comfort in her favorite teen drama, "Carson's Cove." Josh, her roommate, watches a few episodes with her. As they turn off the TV, a delivery arrives - it's a birthday cake for Brynn, and she wishes for a "Carson's Cove" happily ever after of her own. The next morning, Brynn and Josh have found themselves magically transported to Carson's Cove, and forced to become characters in the show, to give the show the happy ending that viewers like Brynn always wished for.

How can Brynn and Josh get back to the "real world," and will the characters find closure? Find out in this fun mash-up of almost every teen saga from 90210 to Dawson's Creek to Gilmore Girls and beyond!

Thanks to Net Galley and Dial Press for the Advance Reader Copy of this book, which will be published September 3, 2024.

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley, publisher and author for an honest review!

Oh my gosh! I could not stop reading this story. I was hooked from page one til the end. Small town, stuck in magic, romance looms about and drama happens? All these themes pop up in this story which I adored!

The story does shift from Brynn and Josh point of view.

The author did it again! She made a magical story which had me wanting to know what was going to happen. I have read her previous book which was magical too!

There are easter eggs in this book from 90s/2000s era. I immediately knew what they were and was so excited to see these in this story. I am not giving it away. I will admit I squealed quite a few times. Loved it!

I really was invested in the main characters: Brynn and Josh and how they were going to interact with each other and the magic. Of course there is drama! There always is dram but does the drama win?

It was a heart felt story with finding what is real and knowing yourself. I think both Brynn and Josh realized on the things that mattered to them and what they really felt inside. I loved this. I loved how characters realize things just like us humans do in the real world.

There is a bit of spice which I think it was fit well with the story. I really thought it was the right touch to the story.

I am definitely picking up a physical book when this comes out later in 2024!

Who doesn't love a teen drama!! That's what first appealed to me when reading the summary for Prime Time Romance. I really loved Brynn and Josh as a couple, their banter back and forth was really funny and enjoyable. Yeah some parts were a little cheesy, but that was part of the fun. Especially with the teen drama setting. The one thing that bother me was the ending felt a bit rushed/anticlimatic. But overall I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it to my friends when it is released!

This book is basically a warm hug. It feels like turning on Netflix and watching your favorite episode of Gilmore Girls for the hundredth time. The references to the Bronze in Buffy and the Riverdale nods were hilarious. Well paced, charming, and a perfect ending. I adored Brynn and Josh so much. Consider me Kate Robb’s newest fan! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is filled with 90s/00s nostalgia with easter eggs scattered throughout of teen tv dramas of the time period. A unique plot concept where the reader follows Brynn (following a wish for a happily ever after) and her roommate, Josh magically travel to Carson’s Cove, the setting of Brynn’s beloved 00s teenage soap. Brynn and Josh become two of the characters from the show and Brynn learns that while Carson’s Cove appeared to be perfect on tv, that was not the case in actuality. If you like romance, magic and shows like Dawson’s Creek, 90210 and One Tree Hill, this would be a good book for you.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, for inviting me to read an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.