Love, Camera, Action takes place on a production set, following the lead characters as they make their mark in the business. The chemistry and scenes between Jory and Cali is fire, though it includes some hostility and miscommunication. It was a fun book to read.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark

This was unbearable. DNF at 55%

Characters were flat, the storyline was almost non existent. I had no interest in picking this book up at all.

― ´⁠arc review`✧

3.5★ If #womeninmalefield was a book-

The author scored a “Gold” with the debut, it was much more than what i expected when I applied for the ARC.

This book checked all the boxes I want in a romance book.
■⁠ enemies to lovers with spark between them from the first meet
■⁠ hilarious banter
■⁠ a strong willed female lead
■⁠ stoic shy male character who blushes more in just ten chapters than I had in my whole freaking life but secretly had a *dirty* mouth
■⁠ new and vibrant setting, this is my first book with the Film-Set aspect as backdrop and it was so intriguing i want to read more books with Hollywood vibes in future
■⁠ main characters with a lot of baggage & vulnerability who found their “Ones”
■⁠ their love language is making each other fed>>
■⁠ side characters to give more depth to the story
■⁠ some hot graphic sex
■⁠ another couple besides the main characters to root for(Are we getting Paolo & Thalia’s book??)

Well I don't enjoy miscommunication tropes that much but in this book it made their confession more magical and their actions more realistically flawed rather than idealistic. I am not complaining about it at all cuz it left me satisfied in the end.

“Let me be your supplicant, your man behind the great woman, your muse.”
“You’ll be my muse?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll be still while I film you?”
“Absolutely.”
“You’ll lie across a chaise lounge with a rose between your teeth and a delicate flush to your cheeks?”
“I’m exceptional at delicately flushing.”

One thing that didn’t fit with me was how recklessly forgotten Jory’s medical issues were in the end.

Tropes:
☞⁠ ⁠Grumpy x Sunshine
☞⁠ ⁠Workplace romance
☞⁠ ⁠Strong FMC
☞⁠ Film Industry setting
☞⁠ ⁠Colleagues with Benefits
☞⁠ Third Pov
☞⁠ ⁠Sexism/Misogyny/Sexual Harassment in movie industry rep

Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.
#NetGalley #LoveCameraAction

Cali is a television director looking for her break. She is self-educated, from the school of persistence, coming in to “rescue” a production from a #metoo publicity disaster. Already established on set is the Director of Photography, Jory, who is at the top of his game if not a little burnt out and looking for a change of pace. His character seems to have one foot comfortably combatting toxic masculinity and one conflicted foot keeping the ‘old sexist dogs’ at heel for his own advancement. Together, Cali and Jory are creatively dynamite on set but, there is a tension undermining their work together.

Think of this as workplace romance, with rivals to lovers, and social commentary around the edges.

This book feels like a debut. All of the elements are there. The writing is ‘fine’. The story is ‘fine’. The characters are ‘fine’. The author has an intimacy for the production of television, its time pressures, personnel roles and intimacy of space, that is clear. The initial #metoo, sexism in the industry dialogue feels authentic.

But it just doesn’t lift from ‘fine’. I’m not sure if third person omnipotent was the best point of view to use. It kept the story at an impersonal distance from the characters who were on a very personal trust journey.

I felt that the MMC voice, Jory, was stronger and better written. As a reader we were in the weeds being told how everyone was feeling and reacting. Ultimately, I didn’t care about the leading couple and it felt like Ike a lost opportunity.

Love, Camera, Action was a sweet, straightforward read. It was a perfect story for a weekend or during a commute. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next. You can tell all of the elements of a great storyteller are right there but this might not have been the vehicle to show off with.

With thanks to the author, Noël Stark, Netgalley and Alcove Press for an eARC ahead of publication.

3.5-4🌟

#arcreader #netgalley #alcovepress #lovecameraaction #newreleasebook #goingplacesinthepages #haveabookwilltravel

So much to love here… nearly ruined by the fact that Jory is awful to Cali for a lot of this book. I can’t root for a couple where I’d like to dropkick one or both characters into the sun most of the time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one had a heroine with a career I haven't see before in a rom com so I didn't know how that one was going to work. But somehow it worked and added to story. And her career and the heroes career added to the work place drama without being a powers struggle which made the story funny not creepy.

*Love Camera Action* was an absolute treat from start to finish! I was beyond excited to get an advance copy, and it did not disappoint. The author does an incredible job of pulling readers into the world of TV production, offering a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes process of making a show. The details about the crew, the set dynamics, and the chaos of production made it so immersive—I felt like I was right there with the characters.

And let’s not forget the steam! The chemistry between the leads was undeniable, with some seriously spicy moments that added the perfect amount of heat to the story. Their connection was electric, and the romance was just as thrilling as the setting itself.

Overall, *Love Camera Action* was a delightful, engaging read that perfectly combined a fun, fast-paced storyline with some steamy, heartfelt moments. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a unique, behind-the-scenes twist!

Love, Camera, Action is par excellence a friendly read and perfect for overcoming reader block.
This reading offers a respite with a cute romance story, but at one point somewhat stressful due to the lack of communication between the protagonists, the way in which it addresses the topic of how the film industry and the role of women in it seemed interesting to me and addressed appropriately.
This read moves at its own pace, one that is neither too fast nor too slow, but all I can say is that it is a pleasant pace. The fact that the reading is narrated from two points of view allows us to connect with the protagonists more

2.75 rounded up.

I really wanted to like this book. The writing and chapter pacing was odd and felt off somehow. The pacing of the book felt stilted too. We had an omniscient narrator but didn’t really feel the emotions of the characters. I think I personally just perfect first person perspective for romance books so that might just be me.

The concept was a really interesting take but I wish it was just executed differently.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc

3.5 Stars

* Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an uncorrected proof of the eARC - this is my honest review*

Cali is a director looking for her big break. Jory is a DP (Director of Photography) looking to advance. The two clash over the filming of a hot new TV show until it becomes clear that their work, and they themselves, are so much more satisfying when they…collaborate.

This was a fun romance with a lot of behind the scenes of the acting/film/TV world. I’ve never really been apart of that so I enjoyed it, and the narrative was solid. It did feel like a couple of beats were skipped over in the development of Jory and Cali’s relationship though as we seemed to skip from the enemies to lovers section quite quickly (though I wouldn’t really call them enemies to begin with) and more could have been made of the very real possibility that they’d gotten into trouble for hooking up on set. Slightly more refinement on that end would have made the romantic development flow just a little more.

I liked the side characters too, particularly the actors, and felt a little disappointed we didn’t get any resolution to the very odd way we last saw them - I wanted to know what happened next. Perhaps a future book?

Same for the out of left field reveal about Joey’s assistant - a little more show don’t tell could have been included there.

Overall though, I think this was a solid romance especially as a debut. I’d be keen to see more from Noel because there’s definitely room to grow and talent here.

⭐️: 3.5

If you love workplace romances with sizzling chemistry and a behind-the-scenes look at the TV industry, Love, Camera, Action is a solid pick 🎥

The book does a great job of making the TV production setting feel real and immersive. The romance has an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers dynamic, with plenty of banter and slow-burning attraction. Cali is a strong, ambitious protagonist and Jory provides the perfect mix of challenge and chemistry. Their dynamic is fun to watch unfold, and the tension keeps you hooked.

That said, I felt that the resolution came a bit too fast, leaving certain aspects underdeveloped. A little more time spent fleshing out the emotional depth of their relationship could have made it even more satisfying. But if you’re looking for a fun, sexy and fast-paced read with a unique setting, this one’s worth checking out.

🎬Would recommend for fans of workplace romance, TV production drama and the enemies-to-lovers trope 🎬

Could you ever tell a writer was good but you ended up absolutely hating the story? That is how I felt about this book.

I was excited about this book I am obsessed with enemies to lovers and work place romance but no matter how hard I tried I could not get into or seem to enjoy this book.

The characters are impossible to connect to and honestly hard to like at all cali comes off as whiny and Jory comes off as a complete jerk, don’t even get me started on their romance the first time they hooked up Jory was basically taking advantage of her emotional and mental state like what?.

This book was not for me though I would love to see some of Noel’s other work as I can tell she’s a good writer and would love to give her another chance.

Thank you NetGalley and alcove press for the arc

Impressively well written covering a topic that is still sensitive and triggering to a lot of readers. The character arcs are a delight and the mental health depictions are nuanced and well done,

I went in expecting a cute romance, I was not prepared for the depth of writing and insight.

This was a cute debut novel!
I liked the story idea and really enjoyed how it all happened on the movie set, and we got to see a bit of the creative side of filmmaking!
The FMC was strong, independent, and creative, which I always love!
I enjoyed the MCs thoughts and getting to know them.
I liked that neither of them were perfect and had obstacles to overcome, mentally and physically.
I'll definitely recommend this book for workplace romance, "enemies" to lovers vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

I am thankful for NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is based on two movie set members being enemies to lovers. I found it very hard to read with the writing style was kinda confused near the start and then finally understood once the story picked up.

The story was good and I enjoyed when they became lovers.

Did not like this and struggled to get through it based on writing style. Liked the story though so 3 stars for that

I understand the story, but all the smut was JUST A LITTLE TOO much, I had really high expectations but im sorry to say i am kind of dissapointed.

5 stars says "it was amazing!" - well I loved this beginning to end.
Set on a set, there's lots of actual story.
Cali couldn't go to college, needing to care for her volatile mother, and much younger sister. She's learned all that's there to learn about filming and films working her way up. Now she gets the chance to work with someone whose work she admires, but obviously they butt heads.
I marvel at how consent in work, and consent off work is dealt with, and generally the (hopefully) reality of post #MeToo film industry is dealt with.

Cali's younger sister still heavily relies on Cali, as does her mother. It's all taking (for them) and no giving (to Cali).
Meanwhile Director Jory has lost his mother to hereditary bowelcancer and he's putting off getting the next tests done.
These storylines feel very natural, although I felt less for Jory's worry (like, do the tests, and you might be on time with whatever needs to be done in case anything needs doing)

The spice is good, I could've read more of that, too ;-)

I understand this is a debut novel, so here's to hoping there'll be more by her hand!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Noel Stark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this book, Cali Daniels gets her big break - a chance to direct a fan favorite show where the main characters finally get down and dirty. And let me tell you, Cali is fantastic at her job! She can read the actors very well and gives direction based on what they need, not necessarily what makes sense to her. Not only that, but the cast and crew love her because of her energy and kindness.

But, Cali does have one major obstacle in her new job, well-known DP Jory Blair, who doesn't seem to really be enjoying his job anymore and is just a world-class grump. Once Cali and Jory realize that the tension between them is sexual and not animosity (or maybe it's both at first), they decide to ease the tension and start doing the deed. This leads to amazing work product, but the showrunner (a sexist pig) gives all the credit to Jory, claiming he wants to help him progress in his career.

Cali had a pretty rough childhood, with her mom and sister struggling with mental health issues and jumping from guy to guy. She had to claw and scrape to get where she is today. And, she doesn't believe in love, so this thing with Jory can only be a fling until the season ends.

Jory, on the other hand, had access to a top notch education, as well as the innate advantage of being male. (That is a continuous theme within the book, not necessarily my opinion.) While it may look like Jory has lived a charmed life from the outside, he's also had to deal with loss and constant fear of a genetic predisposition to cancer.

I thought this was an excellent debut novel! It had some depth, spicy scenes, family drama and Cali grew as a person throughout the course of the book. Jory did, too. There were a few times the story seemed to drag a little, but all in all, I'd recommend this book as a quick cozy romance.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love, Camera, Action
Author: Noel Stark

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC! This one was a surprisingly spicy one so do not let the cover fool you! A spicy scene director lands a role on a tv show episode where she ends up needing to work side by side with a grumpy photographer. Jory is a very good photographer, but he’s having a health scare and is not in a very good place emotionally. When he meets Cali, he becomes fascinated by her. She’s caring, creative, and wild in a way he’s not used to. However, their new found friendship gets intercepted by the producer who is intent on forcing Cali out of production and shutting her down. Jory is torn between furthering his career, and this new relationship with Cali he is starting to develop. This book was super fun, and a fast paced easy read. I loved both Cali and Jory. Loved the spice, and it was fun getting to be on set with them. I am looking forward to more books from this author, and as her first one it was great! 🎥🎬🌶️