*3.5
This book was cute, as I expected. The premises were so good (reverse age gap, Hollywood romance, etc.) and I was satisfied by their execution.
Maybe I was expecting a little more. The banters sound a little flat, the switch between the 1st and 3rd person not very well delivered, but the romance was the cutest.
The story made me laugh and it was really a cuddle. Like a comforter.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the arc!

First of all this books cover is so cute! It is definitely one of my favorites. The romance was so angsty and cute and there was great character development!

While the premise was cute, the book was a DNF for me. However, before putting it down, I read about 15% and figured I'd share my thoughts. I enjoyed the movie setting and the tropes included in the book. I struggled with the minimal world-building compared to the amount of dialogue. The book was very dialogue-heavy, at least in the first few chapters, which made it difficult to connect with the characters. I'm sure others will feel differently, though! Maybe I'll pick it up again someday, but it was a DNF for now.

3.5 stars

This book was a strong concept, and I really appreciated the reverse age gap and all that went into the characters stories. I feel like the pacing of this story made it not as enjoyable as it could have - the first 30% of the book was interesting, and then the last 50% of the book felt like it dragged. I found it much harder to be interested in the romance, even though this is when the romance picks up steam.

I also really struggled when the writing switched from 3rd person to 1st person, which only happened a few times, almost as if by accident. Even when that was not occurring, I found it hard to decipher who was speaking in the story and often had to reread former passages to try and gain clarity. Sometimes that helped, sometimes I still felt like I was unsure as to who was speaking. The lack of clarity in the dialogue did pull me out of the story.

It was an interesting, reverse age gap, romance, just not exactly as captivating as I hoped it would be.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy and chance to review it.

This was kind of a lackluster book for me, I'd give it maybe a 2.5
It was a little sweet, not very sexy, the banter wasn't there, very focused on film industry plot, which wasn't the strongest either.

They kept saying they both messed up, but I don't really see it. Anna was just focused on her work, i don't think her issues would've caused problems if they waited until after movie finished, unlike John's. She just seemed more focused on work than getting payback or standing up for herself, more like keep her head down and get through work. I don't think that's a bad thing. She's clearly competent and well liked at her job too, despite her insecurities she didn't care to fix things. I just think these are decisions many women make in male dominated fields. The way it was written implied she made those decisions because she was weak, but some slight changes and it could've been an "idgaf I only care about my work" vibe similar to John.

John was at fault for not coming clean once he realised. If he was younger I would say thinking he could fix it and get away with it would've made more sense, but idk I think at 27yo, you should know better. He was kinda really judgey too.

Not a slow burn, but a more chill book over all. Nothing is fast paced or rushed. Not super focused on sex and romance. Probably about as good as the vampire movie they're making, straight to dvd for a rainy day where you can't find much to watch. Nothing amazing, but some solid cute bits included.

Thanks netgalley for the eARC.

I rarely rate ARCs lower than four or three stars but damn, I could have sworn this gave my the biggest reading block. It felt like a never-ending hurdle. I picked this up because mam the cover were cool; about making a film and being a director?-count me in, I love all those since I am also one. One thing about this that infuriates me, the world-building was ok at the first few premise and chapters, but it felt a whole lot like a new book jump that i was rattled a bit. The connection wasn't there, no chemistry just boom, "i place u here, u here and another u here," it's like making the character a doll to place all over the chapters. I hated how a beotch he was to her at that first party, but it was fair game when she was a beotch to him when it all came crashing down. Dude, the cliche ex-husband sweeping it off their feet, him keeping secrets from her, all was set to stone to happen, that when it unraveled i was just angry. It wasn't worth the time.

I really enjoyed this book, it had such a realistic feel to it, like neither character was perfect but because of that it made it perfect. It was fun getting to go into the film world and in the end it was a beautiful love story.

I unfortunately ending up DNFing at 16%, so please take my review with a grain of salt. I did feel I read enough to share my opinion, but as I didn't finish it, it seemed unfair not to have that disclaimer.

For me, the writing was very tell-y with not enough show-y. (E.g. every non-dialogue sentence felt like 'He did this and then this. She did that. He did this. She went there.') The Hollywood and filmmaking conversations were also inserted a bit clumsily and felt awkward to read. It should've been interesting, but instead it felt like the author was just trying to show how integrated the characters were in that world and how little we as the audience knew. Lastly, and probably most importantly given it's a romance, I just didn't believe in the chemistry between the characters.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! This book was adorable! I love workplace romances and this just hit ! So fantastically written !! I would completely recommend this book! So glad I got the change to read it

As an avid reader of romantic comedies, I was pleasantly surprised by Evie Browning's "Reel Love". This workplace romance set in Hollywood offers a refreshing take on the age-gap trope, featuring an older woman as the lead.
The story follows the budding relationship between a seasoned film producer and a young, aspiring screenwriter. Browning's writing shines in her character development, crafting multi-dimensional protagonists that evolve throughout the narrative.
What sets "Reel Love" apart is its realistic portrayal of the entertainment industry, serving as an engaging backdrop for the romantic plot. The slow-burn romance keeps readers invested, with witty dialogue and palpable chemistry between the leads.
While the third-person narrative and occasional POV shifts may not appeal to all readers, they didn't detract from my enjoyment. The author's ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments makes for a fun, fast-paced read.
Overall, "Reel Love" is a delightful addition to the romantic comedy genre. Its unique premise, strong character arcs, and entertaining Hollywood setting make it a standout in the field. I highly recommend it to fans of workplace romances and those looking for a fresh spin on age-gap relationships.

3 stars

Super sweet age gap romance.
I wish the heroine had most spine and that the hero was less hesitant, but overall, it was a very sweet book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Boring plot, third act breakup, asshole ex, and unecessary drama. That's what the plot comes down to. There was no character development, no chemistry, nothing to interest me. The insta-love is overrated and wasn't done well here. The ex was a dick for the sake of being dick I guess. I didn't enjoy the book.

This book is an age gap romance that takes place on a movie set. Anna is in a bad spot in her directing career, and John is trying to pitch his screenplay. They end up on a movie set and have to work together to bring the vision to life. They're both very passionate about their jobs. The characters are lovable and the story is cute. It was fun and interesting!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I loved the cover and the premise definitely had potential but it just fell flat and was honestly just boring to me. I found myself just skimming through towards the end.

This story centers around director Anna and assistant director John. They are both on the downward slope of their careers-broke with few connections left. They get thrown together by Anna’s ex husband to save a vampire movie in Italy. This book was really boring. It had little to no plot. The characters didn’t spark any interest or chemistry. Honestly they just seemed like very whiny people that were very talented but had burned too many bridges. You learn very little about the movie they are making or the film process itself.

"Reel Love" had potential, but ultimately, it fell flat for me. The premise—a romance set behind the scenes of Hollywood with an older woman and a younger man—initially drew me in, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

Let’s start with the characters. Anna, a film director whose career is on the rocks, could have been an empowering lead, but she often came across as insecure and passive, which was frustrating. Her interactions with John, a screenplay writer hoping for his big break, were sometimes cute, but they lacked the emotional depth I hoped for. The chemistry between them never really clicked, and the tension felt forced. John was meant to be charming, but I found him hypocritical and lacking empathy, which made their relationship hard to root for.

The pacing didn’t help, either. The story dragged in the beginning, and I wasn’t fully invested in their romance by the time things picked up. The last fight was meant to add drama, but it felt contrived and unnecessary. It seemed like it was thrown in to cause a temporary breakup, which felt lazy. I also didn’t feel much growth from Anna throughout the book, and John’s quick judgments and lack of trust were irritating.

On a positive note, I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, especially the parts where Anna directed a film. These moments showed her in her element—confidence and professionalism, which was a stark contrast to how she was in her personal life. Her friendships were also bright, adding some much-needed warmth to the story.

Unfortunately, the romance didn’t deliver for me. I skimmed through scenes, waiting for something to grab my attention, but it never happened. While the book had some sweet moments, it was mostly just “meh” and left me wanting more from both the characters and the story.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute and quick read. Sadly I didn't really feel the chemistry. It also felt a bit rushed but overall it was cute!

This is a cute and easy read, I somehow enjoyed it even though the storyline was a tad predictable.
The writing wasn’t the best and I’m not the biggest fan of 3rd person pov.

This one was fast & easy but nothing remarkable happened. Nothing made me fall in love with the story. But it had a lot of potential. If you’re looking for a mindless easy read, this one might be worth it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable romance, earning a solid three stars. The love story between the main characters was charming—light, fluffy, and a breeze to read. It had that feel-good factor, making it perfect for a cozy afternoon. The side characters brought humor and heart, serving as supportive 'sidekicks' to the leads, which added depth to the overall dynamic. While the book didn't push any boundaries or offer anything particularly groundbreaking, it didn’t need to. Sometimes, all you're looking for in a romance is a sweet, effortless escape, and this story delivered exactly that.