This book is a quick, entertaining, and enjoyable read!

I love the cast of small town characters! The MC Noah is a delightful mess, who really grows and develops rather quickly throughout the course of the book(which spans about a month). The troupe of thespians is a colorful group of lovely people who all love and support Noah, even through his bad times. They even help him fine tune his craft. Also, his zany artist mother is an absolute delight!

The only thing I didn't like was the character Chase, Noah's agent/boyfriend. Since the book is written in Noah's voice, the beginning of the story made their relationship seem idealistic. There was no hint of issues, because he viewed it through rose-colored glasses. For me, the story would have been better if Noah and Luke weren't falling in love while Noah was already in a seemingly great relationship. I would have preferred the story with either Chase being only an agent or for the story to have had some subtle hints at the relationship not being what Noah thought.

This was an adorable quick read! I’m not a huge theater person but was so sucked in. As someone from Southern Illinois myself, the small town setting was so real I could picture every bit of it. When a Broadway playwright suffering from a huge professional setback finds himself back into his hometown, he finds himself working with the community of people he grew up with for a small town production of his play. At first old prejudices and snobby NY prejudices make Noah rather unlikeable but following his journey of reevaluating his friends, nemesis and family was so fun and heartwarming. And Luke! Luke is the devastatingly handsome former high school football player that was not what he seemed. Their relationship was so sweet. I needed more!! All in all super sweet and lovely love story.

4 stars.

This was a fun small town, Broadway themed romance. It’s very cheesy but has a lot of heart and great characters. Noah starts off the book kind of unlikeable. He’s very self centered and very condescending towards his small hometown and the people in it (though not entirely for no reason). However, I thought his character had a lot of growth and he really changed a lot for the better. The musical plot line was fun and also really helped push Noah to grow as a person.
The ending of this book was almost over the top ridiculous and hard to believe, even for fiction, but it led to a really like conclusion for the main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!

I LOVE a theater romance novel, and I was so excited to be among the first to read playwright and Broadway lyricist Chad Beguelin's new book! After his latest Broadway musical proves a total flop, protagonist Noah Adams heads back to his hometown of Plainview, Illinois following a family emergency...and the town's community theater company is eager to have him direct the first local production. Conveniently, Noah's extremely hot high school nemesis Luke just happens to be the set designer...

This was cute! I loved all the theater references and how Beguelin immerses the reader in the theater world. But the plotting was extremely predictable, even for a rom com; the twists didn't feel all that twist-y and this wrapped up with a particularly neat little bow at the end. I enjoyed Noah's character, though he was slightly obnoxious. And I grew a little restless towards the end because it was really easy to see where it was going. But always a treat to read romance novels set in the theater world, and Beguelin has made this accessible to hard-core theater nerds and neophytes alike.

This book is a theater lover’s dream. As someone who grew up feeling like I didn’t belong in the small sporty town that I grew up in, I ate this book right up. The characters and the plot were masterfully laid out. I laughed, I “aww”d and I found myself overwhelmed with happiness and smiling on many occasions.

Noah’s character showed so much growth and development over the course of the book, and I loved watching the way that all the side characters interacted with him and reminded him how special he was. While I was unsure about the romance in the book at first, it quickly won me over with its charm and chemistry.

My favorite part of the story was Noah’s mom and his banter with her. I also loved his best friends, Kiara and Melissa and his banter with them. The funny little quips and musical theater jokes made this one such a good time.

I think anyone who appreciates musical theater/Broadway/community theater is going to adore this book, and it’s definitely accessible to many audiences!!

I loved all the theater references and scenes! This was a fun book to get lost in. I think the author did a good job developing the main characters and the drama between them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

while I will admit the former theater kid in me did absolutely get suckered into feeling misty at the big small town performance climax the rest of this book was meh at best. it's short and moves quickly which is usually a plus but here it ended up making everything about the plot and character development feel far too rushed and unearned.

the characters all also felt a bit artificial - if this were a movie or a stage play I think what the actors would bring to it would make the characters feel alive and whole but just on the page everyone felt quippy and underdeveloped to me.

This felt like the queer small town hallmark love story my inner theatre nerd has been looking for all my life. Read in one sitting.

I was really unsure if I was going to like this in first part if book. I had a hard time understanding how Noah's parents could be so nice to Luke when he bullied Noah. It felt like some gaslighting was going on. That being said once everything was explained I really enjoyed this. It left me laughing and smiling which is not super common! I did wish he would have broken up with his boyfriend earlier in book because I can't handle main characters cheating but I feel like that was resolved well also. I would definitely read more about this author. A solid 4.5 stars for me. I do generally prefer open door smut but this was very sweet and I did love Noah and Luke together!

Okay, maybe it’s the theatre nerd in me, but I unapologetically love this book.

This is a funny, heartwarming rom-com about a playwright who goes home to be with family due to a family emergency after his new Broadway musical fails after one performance. After growing up in a small town where he was bullied for being gay, he learns that everything he remembers may not be exactly as he thought it was. I laughed, I cried, I threw a few things and I kicked my feet in glee.

Was this book a little predictable? Sure, but despite its predictability the characters themselves made this book worth reading. Even though, Noah had his moments of being pretentious and an asshole, he was always able to reflect and I was still able to root for him. Noah’s friends, mother and most importantly Luke made this book for me. I absolutely love Luke.

If this ever gets turned into a movie, I will be there on opening night, and I will absolutely be buying a physical copy for future reading

A playwright from small-town Illinois writes a book about a playwright from small-town Illinois.

Overall, I found Showmance to be a sweet, fun read. I like how no character in this novel is perfect; they all have their own flaws. However, I don't like how many of the characters felt hollow. They behaved strangely at times, acting like a caricature rather than how I'd expect a real person to act.

Noah is a diva and spirals a lot, but it works well. Luke is an adorable himbo, and the romance between him and Noah is super cute. The pacing of the story is pretty swift--in a good way--which makes this novel a quick read. I was never a theater kid, so the theater elements don't really wow me. But I'm sure that theater lovers will be much more invested in it.

So, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a easy, light-hearted queer romcom, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone with a love for theater.

Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for an ARC of Showmance!

This book is an absurdly sweet small-town romance. I went in with medium expectations, because I’m not overly familiar with theatre and thought that may detract from my enjoyment. Boy, was I ever wrong. I enjoyed every page of this quick, fun read. I imagine if you’re into theatre, this book would be an even bigger treat.

Noah is, at first, hard to like. He’s pretentious and kind of mean, but that gets explained and resolved throughout the story. There were moments I felt his dialogue was a little too punchy, but there were other moments that I laughed out loud, so I can accept the ratio.

The other characters and the setting were sweet and will be familiar to anyone that comes from a small town. The pacing of the story was quick, but felt largely connected.

My only complaint is Chase. He was a sweet, solid character and so good to Noah, until 50% of the way through the book he undergoes a complete character change. It was a bit jarring and I really, really didn’t like the direction his character went. I knew he and Noah would break up, but I really thought (and hoped) it would be due to Noah realizing he didn’t agree with Chase’s business practices, or just realizing that they aren’t as aligned as he thought. I really hate how Chase became just another dirt bag cheater. The author created a great character and I wish he had gotten a better story.

In summary, justice for Chase! But otherwise, this is a perfectly excellent little rom com and a great way to cap off Pride Month. Great job to the author, and I look forward to seeing more from them!

Amazon wouldn't let me post this yet, since the book isn't out at this time. Grr.

I had not heard about Showmance before seeing this available as an e-ARC. I saw the author and knew instantly that I wanted to read it. Mr. Beguelin is the writer of "The Prom" which is one of my favorite movies, well, ever. I had an idea of what I was in for with this book. Wow, was I not prepared.

Noah is a Broadway writer. That's all he's ever wanted to be. Growing up in the midwest (something to which I can related), he never fit in. He made his dream come true, getting his musical (never a play!) on stage on Broadway. And, it bombed.

He thought he had the perfect life - perfect British boyfriend, a musical opening, family (back home!) who love him. And then things happen in rapid succession - the musical opens and closes on the same night, his dad has a heart attack, and Noah ends up in the hospital. As soon as he recovers, he flies home to be with the parents who don't understand him but love him anyway. And who should be working on their farm, but Luke, the guy who may or may not have tortured him growing up.

Noah is convinced (and by that I mean, not given a choice in the matter!) to let the local community playhouse perform his musical. The same one that bombed, that he's so bitter about. But they have some changes they'd like to make. What could that possibly mean? And why is Luke being so nice?

It's a gay romcom, so you know there's going to be a happy ending. It's well-written, with snarky commentary on every page. I loved about 98% of it.

Now, the part I didn't love was the apologies. There are so many of them. Somebody will say or do something silly and then start apologizing. The first 30 times, ok, whatever, but eventually, it's like "ok, we get it". That's the only negative thing I can think of about this book, which I truly adore.

3.5 stars! SHOWMANCE was such a sweet, fun read. I am a huge musical theater fan, so I really loved the role that played in the plot (and getting to spot all of the different references throughout)! It was so heartwarming to watch Noah rediscover his passion for theater again, and I thought that aspect of the story was so well-done. I also enjoyed the small-town setting, the quirky cast of characters, and the different relationship dynamics Chad Beguelin portrays, whether it's Noah's connection with his best friend Kiara, his bond with his parents, or his growing romance with Luke (love an enemies-to-lovers story!). I felt so invested in each relationship, and thought Beguelin did a great job of balancing the lighthearted moments with the more emotional ones. I'd recommend SHOWMANCE for anyone in need of a quick, entertaining read, and of course, fans of romcoms, theater, or (if you're like me) both! Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the ARC.

Showmance was a fun and breezy read that made me laugh but also made me think. I really loved the character development and appreciated that the main character was flexible and admitted to flaws. I loved it!

I read this book in a day and loved it. In honor of Tony's season, I couldn't pass up a novel centered around Broadway with lyrics to some of my favorite shows (musicals ! :) ) sprinkled in. This book read a little fast, I would have loved to see the relationships between Noah and Luke and Noah and his father be fleshed out a little more. The town gave me Schitt's Creek vibes with a quirky and lovable cast of characters, all who helped add dimension to the story. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, fade-to-black romcom with golden retriever/black cat energy.

Noah Adams writes his first show that makes it to Broadway, but it flops on opening night... The same night he gets a call about a family emergency that takes him back to his hometown in rural Illinois. Forced to leave NYC with his boyfriend, who is also his agent, he spends time in the town where he never felt comfortable as a gay boy, but he begins to understand aspects of small town life that may be worth sticking around for.

Being a gay kid, from rural Illinois myself, I just can't say enough good things about this book. I saw myself and so many of my experiences reflected in this adorable book, and maybe even reflected on some of my own blindspots when it comes to how I speak about my hometown. I was literally laughing out loud in the first half, and crying multiple times in the second half. The character relationships were so good, and the flaws of the main character allowed for such beautiful growth. As a lover of theater, I loved all the references as well.

This is one of those books that makes me realize I don't hate romance novels, I just need to read romance novels about experiences that I relate to! It was a short, quick, fun, and adorable debut novel, from the Tony Award winning writer Chad Beguelin

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the E-arc of this novel! I thought that this book was very cute. It was a cute, enjoyable read, but I think there were one issues with it. I think this book sort of had an identity crisis… it wanted to do so many things that it ended up wrapping everything up super quickly. This is a 230 page book, which is on the smaller side for novels, especially for adult fiction novels. If it wanted to do everything that it did in a better way, it would need to be a longer book. Everything happened super quickly, which led it to be just a fast, fun, read. I want more substance from this book, I wish it could have gone into its themes in a deeper way. If all this book wanted to accomplish was being a fast, fun, read, it certainly did that! If it wanted to be something more, it needs to flesh it out themes and make the book longer. Overall, not bad, but it could be better.

“Showmance” presents an enchanting narrative that seamlessly intertwines wit and love, making it an unforgettable journey for readers. This book stands out due to its clever dialogue and humorous situations, which create an engaging and light-hearted atmosphere. The author deftly employs a writing, style that balances comedic elements with heartfelt moments.

The story centers around two main characters, Noah and Luke. Noah with his sharp wit and charming demeanor, often finds himself in amusing predicaments that elicit genuine laughter. On the other hand, Luke, with his steady and endearing nature, provides a perfect counterbalance, grounding the humor with moments of sincerity and warmth. Their dynamic relationship is the source of much of the book’s humor and the heart of its romantic elements.

The author’s style is a critical aspect of what makes this book a standout read. Through a masterful blend, of quick-witted repartee, and endearing, character development, the narrative flows, effortlessly, ensuring that readers remain captivated from start to finish. The humor is never forced; it arises naturally from the situations and the characters’ interactions, making it feel authentic and relatable.

The supporting characters in the novel are meticulously crafted to add depth and humor to the narrative. Their distinct personalities and interactions enhance the main plot and provide a richer, more immersive reading experience. These characters’ quirks and emotional contributions, ensure that the story remains vibrant and engaging from start to finish.

The book’s charm lies in its ability to blend humor and romance seamlessly. It’s a testament to the author’s skill in creating a story, that is engaging without relying on explicit content. Focusing on emotional and romantic development keeps readers invested in Noah and Luke’s journey. The combination of, witty dialogue, emotional depth, and relatable characters makes this book stand out as a memorable and enjoyable experience.

(3.5 stars!)

What a fun, quick musical read that had sweet and LOL moments to keep you going!

Noah Adams is a down-on-his-luck Broadway playwright who returns to his small town in Rural Illinois to put on a local version of his failed Broadway musical with the help of a cast of characters, including his former high school nemesis.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected. I found Noah to be relatable and hilarious. We can get so jaded, so seeing his growth and having character ground him a bit was nice to see. The relationship between him, his mom, his dad, and Luke were stole the show. I loved his interaction and banter with each of these characters. Him and his mom had me CACKLING! It was easily the heart of the story. I also appreciated the small town aspect of the book and each and every character we meet from his past. We really get a feel of the town, where Noah comes from, and why he would want to return, even unwillingly at times. Also Luke is a sweetheart, start to finish! He's earnest, relatable, and just sweetie. Protect him at all costs.

Why wasn't this a 5 star? I struggled with the character, Chase. I wish he was just Noah's agent or his best friend instead of his boyfriend. His presence especially for almost half of the read took me out of falling in love with the Noah/Luke combination.

Read For:
- Musical Aspects
- Queer Romance
- Playwright/Farmhard
- Complicated Family Relations
- Sassy side characters
- Small Town Shenanigans
- Fade to Black