I initially didn’t like this book, I wasn’t bothered about the main characters and the concept of having to meet a potential partner through set up ‘meet cutes’ and having to go through each ‘base’ sounded ridiculous.
I did get more invested as the book went on and it ended up being an okay read.

I absolutely love this author and everything she writes. This book....I devoured like all of her others. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This is a gun age gap romance between Kelsey (Hollywood role caster) and Zach her long time friend (an actor on the shelf).

Kelley understands romantic tropes, she creates them for movies so why not one for herself. She decides on a road trip to see if she can find her small town romance. Accompanying her is Zach who has loved Kelsey for sometime, but is hesitant since he is much older. While Kelsey creates her meet cute moments, Zach watches from the sideline, supportive by emotionally torn. What starts as friendship, slowly morphs into romance and hea.

A decent beach read.

4 ⭐️
1 🌶

J.J. Knight's "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a fun road trip into the world of romance, blending heartfelt emotion with relatable fears and some of my personal favorite tropes. As a big fan of the coworkers/friends-to-lovers trope, this book was right up my alley.

The story revolves around Kelsey and her best friend and co-worker, Zachery. After Kelsey seeks her fortune at a fortuneteller, she sets out to orchestrate a meet-cute, like the ones we know from Hallmark movies (saving the christmas farm!)

Her attempts to force a meet-cute leads to a series of hilarious and embarrassing situations that had me giggling throughout. J.J. Knights ability to weave humor and heart into the narrative made this book a joy to read from start to finish and had me finishing it in just a few days.

In conclusion, "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a beautifully and enjoyable book. If anyone is looking for a romantic read that is both heartwarming and heartfelt, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC.

This is a story about an age-gap romance. Kelsey takes a road trip through small towns, hoping for a charming "meet cute" like in Hallmark movies. Zach follows her, driven by his feelings and a need to protect her.

Despite their obvious attraction, they remain friends for most of the story. One thing that bothered me was how small-town people were portrayed as uneducated, which might offend those from such communities. However, it was necessary for the storyline to work out this way. If Kelsey had found a perfect match in a small town, she wouldn't have ended up with Zach, and her big-city dreams would have been unfulfilled.

Overall, it's a delightful journey through different towns, with humorous yet contrived romantic encounters and a touch of spice. I enjoyed it and think it will be popular among readers.

3.25🌟
(I received an e-arc from netgallery and am voluntarily leaving this review)
I found this book to be very 'meh'.
It had some good tropes like road trips and best friends to lovers but i felt like i couldn't completely connect with the characters. They felt very neutral to me. So while the story was good, it just wasn't the best or memorable for me.

'Zachery steps in close. "It's got the good tropes. Friends to lovers. Country to city. Reformed playboy."
I don't need to see the script or read the words to know what will happen. Because the moment is here. Zachery Carter kisses me in a colorful coffee shop in Fort Worth, Texas.
And it's way more than a meet-cute.
It's a genuine happily ever after.'

This was just okay. It's a cute story with a dual POV between Kelsey and Zachary who work together at a casting company. He secretly loves her and encourages her to go after THE ONE. She drives back home in search of love and he, of course, follows her to her small town. He's older, thinks he doesn't deserve her, she's younger and a bit ditzy and can't see he's perfect for her. Nothing new here.

There are a few cute moments, it's an easy read, the movie references are terrific. But it was a bit too obvious and a little contrived that they could not find their way to one another without drastic measures. I would have liked Zachary to be a little more assertive and self assured, and for Kelsey to be less of an immature diva.

However, there is nothing wrong here, I've just seen it before.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the advance copy. This is my honest review.

I loved every page of this book. From the opening act with divas galore, to the taxidermy specials and small town pickle festival. This is a funny and bright book that keeps on moving and creates memorable pictures as it flows. There are tender moments alongside the devilish ones and the honest search for love grabbed me and made me want it too,

I thought the premise of this book was great! The very open door explicit sex scene just didn’t fit with the theme or vibe of the book. It felt out of place for the story line, but I didn’t like the friends to lovers trope idea. Thank you for the privilege to read it.

The perfect amount of everything - friends to lovers, spice, small towns, horrible bosses. It's a little predictable, of course, but totally fun and actually well written. The characters are rounded and the settings are clever, and all in all it's a lovely romance!

In JJ Knight's Not Exactly a Small Town Romance talent scouts Kelsey and Zach are fed up with their boss aka The Demon and Kelsey decides she wants her own happily ever after, so they take off across the country looking for her Mr. Right, when he's there all along.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, but Kelsey was a bit much and dare I say it? A spoiled brat. I thought her best friend, Zach, who was an actor and a talent himself, was obviously in love with her and if she was so astute at finding the perfect person - why not him all along.

Suspending disbelief that she couldn't see what was in front of her eyes, I enjoyed the book, I just wanted to smack her and tell her to stop it - stop looking for more when you already have it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. It was enjoyable, I was just frustrated with the main character. :)

Well that was a bust... I liked the story idea, it was a bit quirky but I just felt my interest waning the more I read it.

It was mostly because of the characters tbh. At one point, I just found Kelsey to be annoying. She was too judgemental which was ironic considering she was ridiculous and came off a little dumb. Or in her own words "a ditzy blonde". She went to a country cafe in small town and ordered a Starbucks order... Didn't even bother to read the menu or ask what they have. She kept saying she was born in Alabama but she was a completely spoiled city brat. She thought herself as self sufficient but was completely dependent on others.

Zach... Well, I didn't understand why that dude wouldn't go after what he wanted when he clearly wasn't happy with how his life was. He certainly had the resources to make it happen so whining about it just felt annoying. He also seemed happy to let Kelsey use him like a lackey. He had zero character when he was with her. For God's sake, he changed his coffee to what she likes because apparently she takes his coffee when she's done with hers. I thought it was cute at first but how entitled could a person (Kelsey) be? He had zero backbone when it came to her.

The nail in the coffin was the fact that both of them had zero chemistry.

Thanks to Montlake for an ARC copy!

Happy Reading.

Sweet, funny and perfect for rom-com readers!
I liked this book a lot - kind of like a Hallmark movie in the good way.

Post on IG the 20 of July (@one_fairy_tale_at_the_time)

Can you orchestra a meet-cute? What if it's staring you in the face and you can't see it. An age-gap romance featuring a Hollywood casting agent who prides herself on her casting or pairs. When she sets out on a road trip to try out every meet-cute in the hopes of finding her own. Too bad Kelsey's older coworker is madly in-love with her but can't admit it to himself or her. Buckle up for a road trip!

4⭐
1🌶️

Kelsey and Zachary are coworkers working at a casting company in LA, and he is very much in love with her.

In an effort to not give into his feelings for her Zach pays a fortune tender to give Kelsey a little push toward dating again and she sets off on a road trip back home. But to no one's surprise he drives out to meet her the first night she's gone to "help" her find THE ONE


I really enjoyed this story! It was a cute easy read with lots of Y2K movie throwbacks. The pacing was good at first, until she propositions Zach. Even with all the backstory of them having feelings for a long time it still seems rushed. I also wasn't thrilled with Zach's lack of assertiveness, he's almost too a sweet and gooey cinnamon roll, but still a very enjoyable read

Tropes: One bed, friends to lovers, reformed playboy, city vs country, age gap

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the change to review this ARC in exchange for a honest review

Let this five-star read take you along on its amazing journey. What an adorable read, this is a must read for any rom-com lover, you will get so many of the cute references and adorable moments. Dillfest was just a beautiful moment for me, that made me smile so big. I could understand where Zachery was coming from, where he was concerned, and that made this story so much for me, he didn’t always go about it the right way, but who does? Kelsey will be someone you will just feel for, she is so determined in herself, and she will hook you and have you praying for everything that she gets her happily ever after. Do not miss this amazing story, JJ Knight writes characters that are fun and flirty, and full of uniqueness that make you smile so big.

The best part of this story is Ace, the beaver, the rest, just “eh”. I could not connect with Kelsey and Zach, found them sad. I did have a couple of chuckles. JJ Knight is one of my favorite authors, this book was not my top read.

Kelsey and Zachary
Friends to lovers romantic comedy.
Zachary is such a good guy. He feels he's not right for her so he watches out for her. Trying to what's best. She is optimistic but burning out. She sets off on a road trip across the country to find her perfect meet cute. It has a lot of fun banter and great side characters. There is the dragon, the grump and Jasper is the best! He totally is on Kelsey's side.
It was a cute story. I read it in a day (well a little into two since I couldn't put it down) and would definitely recommend it.

What a cute, fun read! I loved the characters of Kelsey and Zachary and the rom com slow burn chemistry that unravels between these MCs. I love the road trip forced proximity and age gap attraction combined with living a hallmark movie in romance book.

Perfect light hearted read!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for honest review.

What an entertaining and engaging read!!

Set in the dog-eat-dog world of film casting, Kelsey has lasted as an assistant to Desdemona longer than others. With help from Jasper and Zachery, she has made fantastic on screen matches. But she still hasn't found her own.

I gladly followed along with her, on her cross country trip to find the perfect small town man, who completes the happy ever after that she has been crafting on screen, for herself.

She certainly finds herself in some very entertaining situations, which she shares with Zachery. Unfortunately, he hasn't been truthful about his feelings for Kelsey, to her or himself.
I enjoyed seeing the way she handled herself and the personal growth she gains on the trip.

I loved the HEA and recommend reading this book and others from this talented and creative author. Totally worth your time!!