Fun premise with "Pleasantville" vibes, but you definitely have to suspend disbelief. Trust me when I tell you that you cannot ask yourself why or how any of this is happening, or you are going to yank yourself right out of enjoying the story. Brynn and her roommate Josh literally get transported into the fictional TV world of Carson's Cove, Brynn's favorite (and long-since canceled) teenage drama. What lesson is Brynn supposed to be learning here? Will she find her way back home, and will she even want to? Will she find love with Spencer from Carson's Cove, or is Josh in her future? And who is Sheldon and why (and HOW) can he control their reality? Look at that, I didn't listen to my own advice not to ask questions. This was a fun read with a happily-ever-after, and I did like Brynn and Josh together. I couldn't help thinking, though, that this would be a great premise for a horror or supernatural novel. Sometimes it felt like the author wanted to make it scarier than it was, but held herself back because it's a rom-com.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: 🩷Romance
Recommend:✅

“Prime Time Romance” as a pretty ridiculous magical realism plot but damnit, I still liked it and found it adorable.

Brynn is a young divorcee who finds comfort watching her favorite old show, “Carson’s Cove” but she’s always been depressed that the main couple Sloane and Spencer never got together before with show was canceled. After making a wish the night of her birthday, she finds herself in Carson’s Cove with her roommate, Josh.

Josh and Brynn have to work together to give Spencer and Sloane their happily ever after so they can get home. Of course, everything is complicated and Josh and Brynn find themselves falling for each other.

If this book sounds silly, it is. But Josh and Brynn are so cute and it’s a quick read. A totally palate cleanser if you need one!

You’ll love this book if you love:
✅Any random old TV Show
✅Magical Realism
✅Friends to Lovers

So so so cute!! I love the Stars Hollow vibes that it gives and being back in your favorite show! The plot is adorable! Definitely a must grab book!

I love these types of magical books. Kate Robb has such a wonderful way of combining magical and romance that create such a moving story. Brynn and Josh were such amazing characters. I loved the Teen Beach Movie feel yet had originality in its own way. 10/10 recommend.

This was a delightful read. Inspired by all the soapy teen shows of the 2000s we all loved, Prime Time Romance is a dive into magical realism with a dash of roommates, second chances, and what it means to grow up. Brynn is divorced, depressed, and wishing her life was as simple as her favorite show. Her roommate Josh is dealing with his own problems, mourning his dad and dissatisfied with his life. With a maguffin that’s never fully explained and a cast of characters that are as archetypical as you’d expect, Prime Time Romance is the kind of read that should feel cliche but never does. The two main characters feel like fully realized people with chemistry that flies off the page. I was rooting for the two of them and rooting even more for Brynn to change up the (fictional) world around her.

I wish we could’ve spent more time with side characters like Spencer and Luce and the maguffin moves just past my suspension of belief but overall, Prime Time Romance was such a fun read I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended for anyone who grew up loving 2000s melodrama in teen shows and is now, all grown up.

I don't know this author, but I can tell we were raised by the same teenage classics. Dawson's Creek, Buffy, Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, The OC, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars, it's alll there. I've seen plenty of early 2000s movies with this type of premise (think: 13 Going on 30, Pleasantville, 17 Again, Freaky Friday), but I've never read one before. You might call it magical realism in contemporary romance? It was fun, but also a little stressful. The character who got them into this situation was veryyy creepy and no amount of Tim Horton's could make up for it. Josh was way more understanding than I could ever be and he really supported Brynn while she worked through things. They had great chemistry and I enjoyed seeing Brynn's personal growth in these extraordinary circumstances. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and Dial Press Trade Paperback providing this book, with my honest review below.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb was an adorable call back to the teen soaps of the early 2000’s. Kate Robb went into some detail at the end of the shows she called back to including heavier influence from Dawson’s Creek as Carson’s Cove, and I could really see it. Brynn and Josh are our main characters, with Brynn obsessed with the show Carson’s Cove as a place that always seemed to wrap up the plot happily with each show, proving a safe escape from her lonely life. Going through a recent divorce and finding herself without a true best friend or strong friend group she just wants a happy ending. Enter Josh, her roommate and a bartender with some dreams he has previously been burnt on.

I love the transport of Brynn and Josh to Carson’s Cove to fulfill Brynn’s wish, but for the show. Much like those very melodramatic teen soaps upon rewatch now, there are a lot of discoveries of just what a happy ending is as you age and get a little maturity to understand who is a true villain and how life really works. Brynn has so much character development throughout the book and Josh was a pleasure to read about and discover as the novel went on.

This is perfect to hit the right nostalgic tones but also a cute romance on its own.

This was a really sweet novel with a fun premise. The nod to Dawson's Creek was really nostalgic for me but I think the book is perfect for anyone who had a favorite comfort show growing up.

This is the book of my teenage dreams. This is if Teen Beach Movie was for adults, the nostalgia hit so hard! I loved all the nods to teen dramas: The bronze, the pageant and even Poppy!
I really enjoyed This Spells Love so as soon as I saw that Kate Robb had a new book coming out soon, I had to drop everything to read it.
Things I loved:
-Dual POVS (In my personal opinion its the best ever)
-Small coastal town! Yes please.
- Magical Realism- duh
- Josh. Obviously
Something about Brynn and Josh's story just hit a bit different for me, I read a lot of magical realism and this one felt different- I always love when the characters realize their perfect world isn't so perfect! Josh and Brynn also felt really natural and their story unfolded throughout the book at a great pace! If you are looking for something fun and full of silly little easter eggs- Prime Time Romance will scratch that itch!

Absolutely devoured this book!! such a fun 2000's rom-com read. Loved the small town and TV show aspect. It reminded me of One Tree Hill with the magic of 13 going on 30.

this story is unique, and I would be more interested if I actually felt connected to ANY of these characters. but I don't. the small romantic moments were written in a way that was told, not shown. I was reading it, but it felt flat and there wasn't any emotion behind the words. The story was also just going so slowly like scenes took forever to progress and get to the point. I just didn't feel connected at the end of the day.

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!

This book was great. It was totally Dawson’s Creek/90210 meets Pleasantville in the most funny and entertaining way. I laughed a lot and found myself feeling nostalgic for those great high school dramas.

It’s giving rom com, if you love forced proximity, tv shows and dual pov this one’s for you! It def has 🌶️which is not my thing.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This is the first book I've read by Kate Robb, and I honestly can't wait to read This Spells Love. Kate's writing is gripping and kept me on my toes. I couldn't stop reading. To be honest, Prime Time Romance was pretty short, so I devoured it rather quickly.

I love that Kate mentions Toronto. Being from here myself made it special and really cool. I ended up getting all the references, which I genuinely appreciated. I love the 2000s vibes I got from this book it is very nostalgic of Dawson's Creek. Readers will find themselves relating to the characters and enjoying every second of the story. It is a straight nod to the teenage shows of my youth. Which is so fun.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I read Kate Robb's debut book, This Spells Love, in one binge-sitting, and thoroughly enjoyed it - from the pacing to the characters and love interest. She has a way of adding just one element of magical realism to a contemporary romance without getting bogged down in the details and ins-and-outs. Prime Time Romance is another romance in a similar vein: it tells the story of a woman learning to trust in relationships and stability again, after a divorce seemingly out of nowhere, and her reliance on her favorite sitcom to add predictability and comfort to her life.

I totally get that. And I also think this book would be a perfect romance book for anyone out there who has recently gone through a breakup and has a deep understanding of that need for predictability. Carson's Cove reminds me of Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls, while having a great time of delving into the non-primary characters of a cast, like our archnemesis Luce, and our BFF Poppy, and asking, "What if these characters were real, living lives outside of the screen?" How would characters feel about that comfort and guaranteed happy endings if they weren't the main character, but rather the ones guaranteed to be screwed over time and time again? Robb has done a great job of fleshing these aspects out thoughtfully.

Where the book falls short is our two main characters. Neither feel like they have much personality in dialogue or in writing, outside of what is told to us as their "background" story. We know Brynn is learning to trust again. We know Josh has misgivings about his ability to run a business and carry out his father's legacy. But none of that is truly reflected in their character voices. I don't necessarily root for Brynn and Josh to get together, but rather just feel annoyed at Brynn for her rose-colored lenses when entering Carson's Cove and spending so long trying to get with Spencer -- and also, understand that this makes sense for character development. I guess all of that would be fixed with simply shortening our first half of the plot a bit, which felt slow to me, in the lead-up to our main plot changes. It felt like it took so long to even get to "entering Carson's Cove" that I had to put the book down and pick it back up several times to get to what is already written on the blurb on the back! Also, this is may be just a personal take, but I found Poppy's takedown to be fascinating - I wish I got more of her, and saw more of her "ending", just for pure satisfaction.

Overall, I thought this was a worthy romance read that has a new twist that feels refreshing and exciting to read. I wish there had been more time or chemistry-build up between our two main leads, but ultimately, felt like this book had a beautiful arc, from introducing and giving us a vibe for Carson's Cove and why it was important to Brynn's life, and then giving us an ending that felt natural and honest.

Kate Robb never misses! I absolutely loved this book. Brynn and Josh (Sloane and Fletcher) are the kind of characters that you can’t help loving and rooting for after you read the first page.

I love their friendship and Josh’s willingness to help Brynn in both the real world and the alternative universe, Carson’s Cove, that they find themselves in.

The TV show alternate universe is such a fun premise! The longer Brynn and Josh are in Carson’s Cove, the more they learn about supporting characters like Luce and Sherry. I enjoyed that these two characters are got more than what they were originally written out to be!

Robb has a talent for writing these beautiful and fun alternate universes and I knew this from reading “This Spells Love”. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

5.0/5.0
- Magical Romance
- Friends to Lovers
- Small Town
- Good Spice
- Great Supporting Characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book. Prime Time Romance will be available to purchase on September 3, 2024, and is available for preorder NOW!

***Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley, and author Kate Robb for the ARC!***

***Sorry, but some light spoilers below***

My Grade: B ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great read from Kate Robb! I admit that I have never watched an episode of Dawson's Creek or Gilmore Girls, but I have definitely seen enough of Buffy, Riverdale, and 90210 to know that I was going to be absolutely pulled into this magical story with huge stars in my eyes! Plus, Pleasantville is one of my all time favorite moves, so there's that. I loved reading Brynn and Josh navigating into Carson's Cove and its residents, and I am excited to read more of what Kate Robb delivers!

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5.
For me, what makes this book not a 5 star read is the sex scenes. I really did not like them at all. I thought they were incredibly boring, not creative, and completely rote. I much rather would have liked a ton more of that delicious slow burn and kissing, and instead just had the actual sex scenes go fade to black.

The Good Stuff:
-The 90's TV show nostalgia was on point!
-Brynn and Josh's chemistry was wonderful! I love a good friends to lovers trope. Even though they were not completely "friends", they were friendly, it counts.
-A great dual POV.
-The supporting cast was awesomely delicious! I loved Poppy and all of her red-headedness shenanigans!
-I love stories with unexplained magical occurrences. I know that others want a full explanation of why things happened, (like Lost critics who wanted answers), but I feel that sometimes It's not needed. It's fun to just go with the flow and I thought that Sheldon was a perfect deliverer of the perfect wish.
-The authors notes after the book were terrific! I loved the Easter eggs, boyfriends, and the cake recipe! Thank you so much for this!

The Meh Stuff:
-Chapter 35. I needed a boom and I got a fizzle! I wanted to see them run into each other's arms and kiss each other fiercely! Disappointed.
-The sex scenes. (see above)

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for the ARC e-book.

If you were a fan of 90's rom-com series, this book is for you. Think Dawson's Creek meets The OC. Brynn is trying to rediscover herself post-divorce and after a night out with friends is brought home by her roommate, Josh. After a knock on the door indicates a late-night cake delivery she makes her wish, "find my happily ever after". Things don't go as planned as both Brynn and Josh wake up in Carson's Cove, the setting to Brynn's favorite rom-com. As they navigate the 'perfect' life as the town's sweetheart and bad boy, things get complicated.

Not all endings have to be perfect and what we once thought was the definition of perfect may change the older we get. As someone who loved Pacey Witter in Dawson's Creek, I was hooked. Katie Robb's "This Spells Love" was the reason I wanted to check this one out.

Coming September 2024

Brynn, a soon to be 30-year-old, is still getting her dating life back together after her sudden divorce. She, like a lot of women, are tired of the muddy dating pool. The one constant companion and life comfort is the TV show Carson’s Cove. The show has helped her through many of life’s difficulties. The night before her 30th birthday Brynn ends up at home watching her beloved Carson’s Cove with her roommate Josh when at midnight there is a knock at the door. Someone delivers a cake with one candle, Josh lights it and has Brynn make a wish. The next moment both wake up in Carson’s Cove as characters on the show. Brynn can finally get closure on a show that was cancelled without an ending. Through it all Brynn and Josh start to find out what it is they really want and to push aside those negative thought.

If you enjoyed watching Pleasantville, Dawsons Creek, Buffy, and Riverdale this book is for you. At the end of the book the author provides “easter eggs” on their inspiration for various parts of the book. For my kdrama fans, though not the exact same situation, I thought of W and Extraordinary You.

I wasn’t sure what Brynn did for a living until the end, I quickly skimmed multiple chapters to see if I missed it. If I did, it didn’t leave an impression on me, which is not meant to disrespect the author, it just didn’t stick with me as being important.

The only real question I had was, what happened to their lives in their own timeline. Did no one miss them or check on them?
This is an amusing and lightly spicy romance with an entertaining storyline. I enjoyed the book, it was a pleasure to read and would recommend it to my fellow bibliophiles.

Loved it, getting sucked into a tv show definitely turned out better than I thought it would. I’m glad they got the happy ending that seemed like it would never come. I also love the cover, it drew me in from the start.