Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital advanced reader copy. Below is my honest review.

Brynn is twenty-nine years old and recently got divorced from her ex, Matt. She's decided to try and get back out there and is dating again even though she would rather be in her apartment in her pajamas watching Carson's Cove on Netflix. Brynn is not a hopeless romantic and thinks public declarations of love are absolutely mortifying, but she loves watching them on TV. Her roommate Josh is her brother's friend who works at a local bar called The Devil's Playground. They aren't really friends, but after a bad night on her 30th birthday, he brings her home and watches Carson's Cove with her. At midnight, an UberEats delivery driver drops off a birthday cake for Brynn from Bake a Wish. Brynn makes a wish to finally get her perfect Happily Ever After.

When she wakes up the next morning, she finds that she and Josh have been transported to the magical TV town of Carson's Cove. Brynn is supposed to be playing Sloan (beloved girl next door) and Josh is playing the part of Fletcher (town bad-boy/black sheep). Sloan is supposed to get her happily ever after with Spencer (hometown heartthrob) because the show ended abruptly on a cliff-hanger leaving most viewers feeling disappointed fifteen years ago.

I really enjoyed the magical element of this story and how the characters were transported into their favorite TV show. The story was funny, but also thought-provoking. This book would be perfect for fans of Dawson's Creek or any other 2000's dramadies.

I absolutely loved this book!! One Tree Hill was my world back in high school so I totally relate to being obsessed with a show and the characters. I found the plot so fun!

Brynn and Josh are everything! I love the slow burn tension! They really became friends and built a solid foundation. The steamy scenes were hot! Kate Robb brought the heat!

Kate Robb is an auto read for me now! I can’t wait to suggest this title to friends. 💓

If the mention of 90’s teen dramas like Dawson’s Creek evokes a wave of nostalgia, then this book might just transport you back to that era.

Having fallen for Kate Robb’s debut novel last year, I eagerly delved into another speculative romance penned by her, and I'm thrilled to report that it lived up to my expectations.

Brynn finds solace in rewatching her beloved teen show, Carson’s Cove, during a rough patch in her life. However, one fateful night, she and her roommate Josh receive a mysterious cupcake that whisks them both into the world of the show. In this surreal landscape, Brynn gets to live out her dreams, aiding her character in Carson’s Cove to win the heart of the boy next door she's long admired. But as she begins to fall for Josh, Brynn starts questioning the perfection of Carson’s Cove and the so-called ideal man, Spencer.

Admittedly, the plot of this book ventures into the realm of the fantastical, with magical elements that may not always align logically. However, if you can suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride, you're in for a treat.

Personally, I found this book immensely enjoyable! It reminded me of the movie Pleasantville crossed with the charm of Gilmore Girls. Kate Robb has a knack for crafting captivating alternate universe romances, and this sophomore effort is no exception. My only gripe is that I wished it were a tad longer. While I often advocate for shorter books, in this case, a few more pages delving into "Sloan's" relationship with Poppy and additional scenes with Josh could have elevated it even further.

Nonetheless, I devoured this story and now find myself eagerly anticipating Robb’s next literary creation. It's safe to say that if you're in the mood for a whimsical, heartwarming read, this book won't disappoint.

This book was so good, I read it in two days. It got a bit confusing in some parts like when she first gets to Carson Cove but otherwise it was a great read. I’m so glad it has a happy ever after ending, honestly my favourite trope!

Read date: March 15, 2024.
Published date: September 3rd, 2024.

Prime Time Romance is an absolutely fantastic romance with a speculative twist! Newly divorced Brynn is divorced and reeling from the indignity of having a roommate to cover half her mortgage. She has conveniently convinced herself that her hot roommate is off limits, which is easy enough since he works as a bartender and they are often ships passing in the night. But when they sit down to watch an episode of Carson’s Cove, her favorite comfort show, a mysterious cake delivery and the resulting wish send them into the world of the show, with the promise that the only thing that can return them to the real world is Brynn falling in love with the title character and getting the happy ending the show never got when it was cut off. The only problem is that the movie perfect Spencer, the MC, is not actually so perfect in person, and Josh, the hot roommate dragged into playing the role of the town’s bad boy, is actually pretty perfect. Sparks fly and magic happens. This was absolutely fantastic, and I loved it as much as I loved This Spells Love, Robb’s debut novel.


Thank you to Netgalley, Dial Press, and Kate Robb for this eARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do you have a favorite show that just provides instant comfort when life has you down? Brynn is approaching her 30th birthday filled with loneliness and just a feeling of meh after her divorce. After a cake mysteriously arrives on her 30th birthday, she and her new roommate Josh wake up in the fictional town of her favorite show, Carson’s Cove. Is life in her this quaint New England town as cozy and wonderful as it is on the small screen? Prime Time Romance is such a cute and fun read! And geriatric millennials out there might just be wishing for an escape to Capeside to see the beloved, familiar faces of Dawson’s Creek ❤️

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram in April!

I FUDGING ADORED THIS BOOK. I need a sequel ASAP Kate! The chemistry between characters, the story, the creativity, all top notch. I even read the acknowledgments, and the surprises (I won’t ruin it) after. If you’ve ever had a teenage tv drama boyfriend or crush , this one’s for you. It brought me back to my MTV The Hills, Laguna Beach, Gossip Girl, OC days. At first I wasn’t sure about the plot. I really didn’t think I’d like the setting of the book, but as I got into it I found it was about more than just that. It was a true HEA. I will read anything this author comes out with next. Even if it’s a calculus text book… I’d read it. I hope this convinces other readers to pick it up in September 2024.

This was such a feel good sweet romance novel. I truly could see this on the big screen as a movie. It's sort of 13 going on 30 meets... I don't even know! But I loved it. Wishing on a cake and waking up in a fictional land, only to find out things weren't as peachy as they seemed in the show itself, was genius. I loved Luce, and Spencer gave me such modern LA Prince Charming vibes in his stupid doofus way where he clearly couldn't tell that his feelings weren't reciprocated. I loved the way the fictional characters behaved like NPCs sometimes in that most things didn't phase them and they kept on going like normal, and I loved the twist at the end where the town got a little bit less drab, and the reason behind that. I loved that Sloans happy ending wasn't what Brynn originally thought, and I loved the surprise villain twist. It left me achy in that feel good way.

This was my first book by Kate Robb. This book had such Dawson Creek vibes! I was a little underwhelmed in Josh and Brynn’s buildup.

On Brynn’s birthday she blows out a candle and is plopped back into her favorite comfort TV show.

But overall the small down feel was fun and it made for a really cute read!! The pacing was good and I felt like this book would make a great show or movie

I thought this was a very good book! It felt very comfortable! I honestly can’t wait to read it again

Oh, I loved this book. It was such a fun read with a refreshing, unique plot. I liked that they weren't just stuck in another universe; there were other elements to the whole situation as well. The characters were likable and had great banter. My attention was held throughout the book.

As a Dawson's Creek fan I found this really fun as well. I also loved all the little features in the back of the book.

Again, it's just a unique, refreshing read I would definitely recommend as something cute and quick!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kate Robb for allowing me early access to this novel.

3 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Prime Time Romance is the first book of Katie Robb’s that I have read. This book had a really interesting plot, and I liked that it was different than what is most commonly on the market right now. I started this book and finished it within a matter of 18 hours.

I liked the female main character. She had a lot of spunk and energy about her that wasn’t like the typical female lead that we see in romance novels. I also enjoyed the male main character and liked that he had depth to his personality and backstory versus just being a pretty face.

One of the biggest things that fell a little flat for me in this book were the Easter eggs that gave nods to the television shows that inspired this book. I hadn’t seen any of the shows that the tidbits were pulled from besides Riverdale. On that note, however, I did find myself seeing the characters in this book as the actors who portray similar ones in Riverdale.

I felt like there was a lot of showing and not a lot of telling in this book. Certain elements and information felt spoon-fed for me instead of readers piecing information together as they go. However, this does enhance an experience where you can kind of turn off the deep-thinking part of your brain and just melt into the story.

My favorite quote from this book was: “All of the things I wanted to say are forgotten as I lock eyes with a man I’d cross a hundred dimensions to find.”

The ending of this book was EVERYTHING. It made up for any of the little things that I may not have agreed with and made me so happy. I loved the author’s note and especially loved the little Bake a Wish recipe at the end. I would LOVE to either see or create a playlist for this book, I feel like it would be full of all of the best 2000s songs!

This was my first book of Katie Robb’s but it definitely won’t be my last. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to experience this book in an advanced format.

My review will be published tomorrow on my Instagram page, @graciesbooknook, and again when the book is published in September. I will tag both author and publisher to ensure it can be found.

“I don't want to wait for our lives to be over.
I want to know right now what will it be.”

If you read the above lyric and immediately felt nostalgic for 90’s teen dramas like Dawson’s Creek, then this might be the book for you.

I fell in love with Kate Robb’s debut last year, so I was excited to dive into another speculative romance by her. I’m happy to say that this book did not disappoint.

Brynn has been going through a rough time. Rewatching her favorite teen show, Carson’s Cove, always makes her feel better. One night while watching an episode, she and her roommate, Josh, get a mysterious cupcake that ends up transporting both of them into the show. While there Brynn gets to live her perfect life in Carson’s Cove helping her character get the love of the boy next door that she spent her teen years pining after. Is Carson’s Cove really as perfect as Brynn as always thought, and is Spencer the perfect man? Brynn starts to question everything as she starts falling for Josh.

I’ll admit that this book is a bit out there in plot, and the magical aspects aren’t really explained in a way that makes sense. If you’re able to ignore that and just have a good time, I think you’ll like this book.

This book is a whimsical journey into some soap opera magic! “Prime Time Romance” by Kate Robb is a love letter to teenage soap operas, a celebration of second chances, and a reminder that sometimes, the small screen holds more magic than reality ever could. Dive into this whimsical world, trust me, you won't regret it.

Meet Brynn. She is newly divorced and sharing an apartment with her roommate. No stranger to heartbreak, she has one solace: Carson’s Cove, her beloved 2000’s teenage soap opera. The show ended abruptly after five seasons, leaving fans hanging on a tantalizing cliffhanger. The two main characters were star-crossed lovers and never had the chance to declare their love for each other.

When a mysterious birthday cake appears on Brynn’s doorstep, she makes an impulsive wish for her own happily-ever-after. But she doesn't wake up in her familiar apartment. Instead, she finds herself in Carson’s Cove, a place where scripted romance reigns supreme. And her roommate is there too, transformed into the show's bad boy.

Robb masterfully weaves the allure of nostalgia into her narrative. As Brynn navigates this parallel universe, she encounters familiar faces and the soap opera tropes come alive! It’s dramatic confrontations, stolen glances, and lingering kisses. The dialogue sparkles with wit, and the chemistry between Brynn and her newfound leading man sizzles.

As Brynn grapples with her new reality, she faces a choice: stick to the script or let real love rewrite her story. The tension between scripted passion and genuine emotion is palpable. Robb deftly explores the blurred lines between fantasy and reality, reminding us that sometimes the heart does know best.

The romance is as steamy as a late-night episode, and yet is grounded in vulnerability. Brynn’s emotional journey is relatable. Her chemistry with her roommate crackles with intensity! The banter is sharp, the longing palpable, and the kisses are enough to make you swoon.

Robb's novel is a delightful escape, perfect for fans of both romance and nostalgic TV. Whether you are like me and secretly binge-watched teen soaps like The O.C., Desgrassi: The Next Generation, etc. or dreamt of your own scripted love affair, this novel will whisk you away on a whimsical adventure.

Robb is a wizard with words. She, again, brought her quirky humour and love for all things romantic to the pages. I adore her writing and L-O-V-E that we have Toronto in common. I really pray Robb continues to spin tales of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dial Press, and Random House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“I don’t want to wait….” any longer to read this! If Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill collided, it would be this book! I devoured this in one sitting. I’d recommend to anyone who loved the 90’s and 2000’s dramas. As perfect as things can seem on TV, sometimes real life can be even better.

Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for an ARC of this book! It was a pleasure to read! Publication date: September 3, 2024.

Kate Robb does it again with this fun, love after heartbreak romance. When Brynn makes a birthday with to get her happily ever after, things don't go exactly as she planned. Waking up in her favorite TV show's town, Brynn has to navigate what she thought was the perfect life. When her new roommate Josh ends up there too, things get complicated. Definitely worth the read if you loved some 90s teen TV.

Wow, Kate Robb does it again! I was such a big fan of This Spells Love and was overjoyed when I got an ARC of her sophomore novel as well!

A birthday wish gone wrong sends down-on-her-luck divorcee Brynn and her roommate Josh into an alternate universe where her favorite tv show, Carson's Cove, is real, and she's the main character Sloan! the only way home is for her to fall in love with the show's main man, Spencer, to give Sloane the happily ever after that got ripped away from her when the show got canceled.

While I don't watch any of the shows Carson Creek was emulating, it didn't lessen my enjoyment of this story. Robb really knows how to write sizzling relationships with chemistry that boils off the page! The zany antics of the townspeople was so delightful, and Spencer was giving some serious Ken energy that was hilarious! I always adore how Robb doesn't make her readers dislike The Other Woman (or in this case, the 'mean girl'), and the female friendship aspect may have been my favorite part of this story. My only complaint is that I have to wait a year for her next book!

4/5 stars! This book was super unique, in a good way! I thought the idea of being transported into your favorite teen drama to finish off the series was such an original idea. We all have a tv show that ended with no true conclusion that we wish would finish with a happy ending but sometimes the happy ending is something unexpected. Every character got a happy ending but not in the way you’d expect. There’s also small town drama like you would expect from any good show. Super engaging and fun read!

Thank You Netgalley for the arc.
Since 2023 I realize one of my fav niche romance tropes is magical realism in romance. So I was really excited to read this book, however this book was just really weird for me to enjoy. The book follows a 30yr old divorced woman and her bartender roommate as they find themselves in the world of Carson’s Cove, a teenage slice of life drama tv show that is reminiscent of Gilmore Girls, The OC and other early 2000s teen dramas. Maybe its the fact that I never watched any of these shows or really find myself wanting to watch this genre of tv shows but I found this book so boring and the main character’s motivation and obsession with this show and characters to be…very weird I just didn’t get it. This book is for those millennials who cant get over all of their favorite media that they consumed when they were teenagers….which I am not.

So overall I just found this book to be very boring

Date of Review: March 14th, 2024
Date of Publication: September 3rd, 2024

This was my first book by Katie Robb, and I have to say that it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed this original and refreshing concept about a girl (Brynn) and a guy (Josh) getting transported into a popular TV show. I also truly loved the fact that the show was based off of a New England capeside town, as I am a Massachusetts girly at heart.

My one downside of this book would have to be the character development for Josh and Brynn. I just feel like their connection was rather expedited, and I would've loved a few more chapters to get to know about them and their budding chemistry more. Beyond that though, Prime Time Romance is a quick and fun-loving read for when you want to transport to a world other than your own!

I definitely will be reading Robb's other book and hope to read anything she publishes in the future :)