I enjoyed the pacing and the overall plot/characters, it was a quick easy read for me even if it was a little strange in some parts. The banter was really fun, and i enjoyed the building relationships. I'm not really into love triangles however and found the way that was navigated a little strange. Overall an okay book!

I enjoyed this book and a new author for me and I liked the unique story too on the usual Rom-com story but the pacing of it was just hard to keep up with. But would read more from the author as I know others have raved about her first book.

Brynn is feeling down. It's the night of her 30th birthday. She is fairly newly divorced, has tried dating a few blokes but they're never quite as they appear on the apps and she has been out on a hen party where she was only invited because she can get the group in to the club.
She's back home with sore feet and watching her favourite show from when she was a teenager "Carson's Cove" with her roommate, Josh.
There is a knock on her door and a stranger delivers a birthday cake. Josh lights the candle on the cake and Brynn makes a wish before blowing it out.

The next morning, Brynn wakes up in Carson's Cove - except she's not alone. Somehow, she's bought Josh along too.

This is a nice, easy magical rom-com read. You don't need to concentrate and things work out well in the end.
There is scope for some of the supporting characters to have a bit more depth to them - but that's just a little niggle.

A quick, easy read, I read this in one sitting.
The premise is really interesting, it is fast paced, gripping and it held my attention throughout. I just didn’t have any of those, kicking your feet, squealing, super into it moments at any point in the book. It was just…okay.

I wanted to love this, I really did.... but I just couldn't find really feel the romance! Don’t get me wrong I was rooting for Bryan and Josh - but I think only because I couldn’t stand Spencer’s character - and for no other reason. It felt like the whole story and the plot flowed well and was paced well, except for the romance of the two main characters.

This was a sweet little fantasy romance - about realizing the dreams and ideals you thought you wanted may not be so perfect up close, and that your real happy ending could look totally different than what you fantasized about.

The fantastical elements are a little strained, but as long as you don’t look too closely, you can pretend not to see the set dressing and enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

After wishing on a birthday cake for a happily-ever-after, newly divorced Brynn wakes up the next morning to find that she, and her housemate Josh, have been transported to the world of her favourite teen soap Carson's Creek. She's Sloan, the town's sweetheart returning after years away and he's the bad boy bartender. Their task is to make Brynn's wish come true by giving Sloan the happily ever after with the hometown hero that she didn't get because of the show's cliff hanger ending. But as they try to make it happen, Brynn realises that the world of Carson's Cove isn't quite what she thought it was. I’m going to chalk this one up as a not for me situation - I just found almost all the characters really irritating and wanted to give them a shake. Obviously most of it takes place in the world of a teen TV series, but the whole thing felt quite teen/new adult, and not like the heroine was 30. Might work better for other people than it did for me.

Firstly, a big thank you to Penguin General UK, and Net Galley for the ARC.

This was a 3.5/4⭐️ read for me. This book has a really fun concept (because haven’t we all wished at one point that we could exist in our favourite tv show) with some emotional undertones.

I love the use of multiple perspectives. This was the best way to tell this story because Brynn and Josh both go on personal journeys and it was important that we saw it from their view and not third person or just from one persons perspective. I really liked seeing how they both handled the cards they’d been dealt in this unique situation.

At some point in our lives, we’ve all wished we could just pop into our favourite tv shows or films, especially the small town, cosy vibe ones like Carson’s Cove, because when reality is made so perfect, who wouldn’t want to escape there?? But Brynn soon discovers it isn’t really paradise on Earth.

I did feel quite sad for Brynn. Carson Cove was her comfort blanket post divorce, and she’s had a strong emotional connection it to since being a teen, and as soon as she gets to experience the show, the perfect reality isn’t all it seems, and she fast finds all its imperfections. I like that she righted those wrongs instead of playing into the warped reality.

I like that Carson Cove helped Josh with his grief and pain over feeling like he failed his dad by not successfully running his bar after he passed. Carson Cove gave him the confidence to try again and it was really good to see him go on this personal journey, despite the circumstances.

Overall, yes, this book was a little bit cringey, but I expected that given the premise of entering a tv show. The ending was really sweet, and I’m glad Josh and Brynn found home in one another, especially after going through such a crazy experience together. This was a fun, emotional, romantic, easy read.

It was a fun read, however I did struggle to follow the plot a little. Loved the characters and the concept was great it just didn’t flow well for me.

This fell flat for me, I was a big fan of This Spells love so had good hopes for this.
I wasn't able to feel the connection with the characters and didn't feel any chemistry.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Robb and Penguin House for providing me with a copy to read, all opinions expressed are my own.

If Pleasantville, Friends & Freaky Friday had a romance themed baby this would be it!

A magical birthday cake wish transport Brynn to Josh and romance blossoms

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I really really enjoyed this one. Such a cute premise and I’m loving these new romance books that include a little magical other worldly goodness (the other one I’m thinking of is Love of my Afterlife).

It ramps up the excitement as you’re limited with something true to real life but that little extra pinch of goodness takes this above and beyond.

Get your favourite jammies on, make your fave drink, get cosy and enjoy 👏🏼

Prime Time Romance is a unique story following the blossoming relationship between Brynn and her roomate Josh, who are both transported into Brynn’s favourite TV show, Carson’s Cove.

This is the second book I have read by Kate Robb, although I didn’t love this one as much as her first, I definitely still enjoyed it! I’ve never really read a romance with a storyline like this, it was really easy to follow and a quick read.

I recommend this if you fancy reading something light hearted.

A super cute, funny rom com that I thoroughly enjoyed. The chemistry between the two mc’s was spot on, I loved the sprinkling of spice and the way they fell for one another.

Robb has a fab way of making her books feel magical too, it was super fun, just as good as This Spells Love.

There is just something so comforting about reading a Katie Robb book.
The way she writes and brings a story to life is like putting on your comfiest pj's and sitting in front of the screen watching your favourite romcom.

Magical realism is quickly becoming one of my favourite genres.

Prime Time Romance is for fans of Ashley Poston, it is a feel-good, whimsical romance, perfect for a cosy afternoon read! I love the mix of romance and humour that the author brings to the page and although some parts were predictable, it didn’t take away from the fun time I had reading this book as I just love the authors writing style.

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this one! I didn’t enjoy it as much as the authors first book but will still be checking out anything else she writes!

This was such a different story, with great characters and the connection between them. I loved it!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this read, it’s was a cute funny rom com with a sprinkling of spice. The Chemistry the two MCs had was on point. The other worldly feel most of the book had was really well done and put together perfectly. I loved the relationships between different characters and how switching up the story changed things. Really enjoyable read.

I loved this book! Both the characters were great and I really enjoyed the storyline, it was so fresh and different.

All that Glitters
Prime Time Romance
Kate Robb
Publisher: The Dial Press New York (Penguin, Random House Imprint)
Release date: 3rd Sept 2024

It’s been two years since her split with Matt, but Brynn is finally dating again, even though, as she puts it, the dating pool is ‘pretty shallow’. Take her latest date Ford, for example. Definitely a hard pass.
She may have got the large screen TV when she and her ex divorced, but he got all the friends. Thanks to an expected spilled drink though, she did meet Lainey who added her to a brunch chat group and the women get together weekly to set the world to rights.
The night before her thirtieth birthday, she ends up at a random party hosted by Lainey, though she’d rather be at home watching her favourite show, Carson’s Cove. “Carson’s Cove is comfort food in television form.”
They convince her to get them into ‘The Devil’s Playground’ a hot nightspot where Josh Bishop, her roommate, bar tends. She’s fed up very quickly and when Josh finds out she plans to walk home he leaves work to walk her home.
She introduces him to her show, and as her birthday hits, the door rings and it’s a vaguely familiar guy carrying a cake from “Bake a Wish.”
Like that old flick “Peggy Sue Got Married”, Brynn and Josh awake the next day to find themselves literally stuck in the fictional town of Carson’s Cove, where everything is perfect and the only swear words they can use are “fudge” and “frick”.
Well, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, they’re not in Kansas anymore.
With Josh ‘playing’ Fletch the charming barman, it triggers memories and grief in him for the dad he lost and his dad’s bar he couldn’t keep afloat during the pandemic. And whilst Brynn (Sloan stand-in) is desperate to get Sloan and Spencer the happy ending ‘they deserve’ she finds herself dealing with unresolved feelings of her own.
Amidst all of the ‘OMG I’m in TV world’ style therapy, Brynn faces the challenge of the Ms. Lobsterfest pageant, an extreme makeover courtesy of BFF Poppy, and the sinking realisation that perhaps all is not greener on the other side. The shiny veneer of the Cove has lost its radiance and characters like Poppy in particular, are much different with seen through her thirty years old point of view.
Buffy fans will recognise some cute pop culture references to that show in here, especially in relation to the bar. There’s a guy called Danny Strong having his first pint and a busker named Seth and later his band and lots more beside. However, the hi-light is Brynn’s ‘date’ with Spencer about midway through the book. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but suffice to say I snorted my way through that part.
Robb sprinkles in lots more teen TV references including Poppy’s boyfriend ‘Chad Michaels’; most will get that it’s Chad Michael Murray an old favourite from The O.C. and Hallmark Christmas movies.
As with all well constructed romances, there are choices to be made, revelations, laughter, romantic gestures and poignant scenes.
However, as we read, we get the sense of urgency with Brynn and Josh; will they get home or will they be trapped in Carson’s Cove forever?
Suffice to say, you do get your HEA, but you get emotional growth too. And a nice amount of spice as a bonus.
I adored this book and actually would like to see more of Luce, Sherry and Sheldon in the real world.
A wonderful, funny, and hopeful rom com.

I loved this story! It reminds me of the movie Pleasantville.

Josh and Brynn are roommates but don't know each very well due to their conflicting work schedules but when Brynn ends up at the bar Josh works at one night, he decides to escort her home to keep her safe and together they watch Brynn's favourite comfort show "Carson Cove." Which is kind of like Dawson's Creek from what it sounds like - or really any of those teen dramas set in a fictional town.

At midnight there is a random knock on the door from a guy who looks vaguely familiar to Brynn, delivering a birthday cake to her. They chat for a few minutes about Carson's Cover before he leaves and Brynn makes a wish and blows out her candle. She then wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings which she quickly realises is the house of the main character, Sloan, on Carson's Cove.

Turns out the delivery guy is an extra from the original show and is determined to make sure the characters get the ending they never received (due to the show being cancelled). He tells Brynn and Josh the only way they can get back is if they make sure to give they complete this mission. At first Brynn is on board but she quickly realises that things in the town aren't quite what they seem and the connections between characters are very different to she perceived them on the show.

I really like both Brynn and Josh. They were both really nice, fun characters, each dealing with something traumatic from their past and being in Carson's Cove helps them both realise what they want from their lives - assuming they ever get back to them! Josh is the ultimate book boyfriend as well, even though he doesn't like what Brynn has to do to go along with delivery guy's plan, he supports her and is there for her as best as he can.

I thought it was well written and well thought out. I enjoyed the magical realism that allowed them to travel to the fictional town and interact with the characters and because it's all set 15yrs after the show ended, it doesn't matter what they do, they can't disrupt the original storyline.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I love this new sub-genre of whimsical, genre-bending romances - think Ashley Poston's A Novel Love Story and The Seven Year Slip. Prime Time Romance is a worthy entry to the sub-genre: fun, romantic, and nostalgic in all the right ways.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

✨Magical Realism
📺Reality TV
🏘️Small Town
💓Roommates to Lovers

I enjoyed listening to this book, the unique concept grabbed my attention straight away. Brynn was a well-developed character and I enjoyed seeing her overcome her difficulties. The setting of Carsons Cove instantly reminded me of some of my favourite teen shows; the characters we meet there are cliche and funny. Overall it was fun and easy with a little bit of spice.

⭐⭐⭐⭐