This book delivers a light, age-gap workplace romance with plenty of humor. While the premise is fun, the story didn’t quite hit all the marks for me, but it’s still an enjoyable read for rom-com fans.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot made you feel involved in the directing industry as Browning included a mass of details about the work life. The two main characters John and Anna were the perfect characters and the cover portrayed them so fully. I love it!

John and Anna meet at the bar one day but expect to never see each other again. However they are both thrown back together due to being the director and co director of a vampire movie.

John the MMC has written a screenplay however it isn’t going anywhere. Therefore he works at the bar. I loved seeing his character evolve through the book.

Anna is stuck in the shadow of her ex husband. This makes her career much harder.

Definitely recommend this book it was a really fun read but also had some very meaningful parts.

I chose to read Reel Love because of the captivating cover design by Leni Kauffman and then I fell in love with the premise. I’m a sucker for books that challenge the status quo and place strong women in male-dominated roles. Add in some slow-burn tension and a captivating unique plot and I’m SOLD!!

3.5 ⭐'s with Lots to Love:
Age Gap (she’s older 👏🏻)
Female Movie Director (in a male-dominated world) 🎥
He falls first 💙
Enemies to Lovers ⚔️
Slow burn with plenty of steam once ya wait for it 🧯
Compelling dialogue and verbal sparring 💬
Well-developed side characters 👯

“When did I stop taking chances?” “I don’t know, friend, but it’s not too late. It’s never too late. Besides, we need some good stories for when we end up in an old folks’ home together, eating mushy peas and racing in our wheelchairs down the hallway.” 🤣 <b><< Perfect BFF real-talk </b>

This was my first Evie Browning book and I loved learning more about her in her bio:
Evie Browning writes romantic comedies when she's not working for a living, parenting her two children or taking her dog for a walk. So, not as often as she would like. Her MMCs look like they could kill you, but are cinnamon rolls. Her FMCs look like they are cinnamon rolls, but could kill you.

The only reason it’s not 5 stars for me is that it was a little slow building to 35% and once the forced proximity kicked in then the book hit its stride. Also, this eARC copy had some pretty obvious errors that should be caught in editing, so hopefully, that’s all smoothed out in the final version.
THANK YOU to Evie Browning, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed reading this in the hectic days that is college. It was a lovely escape being in Anna and John’s world for a bit and getting to see their romance blossom. I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a quick, fun, lighthearted romance book.

This was a cute tale of will they won’t they. Although there’s an age gap Anna is only 10 years older that John and they are both over the age of 27 so it’s not a big deal in real life but the setting of Hollywood would make it so.

Some of the arguments felt a bit forced to fit the storyline, as did the coming to realise they were arguing over nothing. Needed more omph to get me to believe that arc at the end.

Otherwise it was really sweet romance on and off a movie set. More about the movie business could have been included. The ex-husband drama was engaging but since a lot of it happened off the pages it was a little hard to follow, some cuts to Tom might have worked better.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC!

Reel Love by Evie Browning is quick and quirky read that is a standalone book where a film director and bartender are tasked to save a movie.

I really enjoyed this read, it was simple and fun. But I felt like most things were predictable. There are positive developments in society indicated in this book which madee love it more!

Really cute palette cleansing book! It was a little tough to get into for me personally but once I did I really enjoyed it! I also really enjoyed the reverse age gap of her being older because it’s one that isn’t done a lot and when it is, it sometimes isn’t done well but it was here!

Reel Love is an age-gap workplace romance story. Anna is a down-on-her-luck director, and John is a screenwriter at the beginning of his career. They meet by chance at a bar and are drawn to each other. What Anna doesn’t know is that John knows exactly who she is and loves her work. Throughout the story, we watch Anna struggle with her career comeback and navigate the film industry. She is also tasked with placing her professional feelings above her romantic ones once she finds out she and John will be working on a movie together (closely!). I really enjoyed reading Anna’s story and struggles as one of the few female directors in LA; it was easy to empathize with some of the things she had to deal with as an underrepresented class in Hollywood.

Anna (37) and John’s (27) age gap was discussed quite a few times, but I didn't quite understand the scandal. They had no real generational issues or difficulty understanding each other that could be attributed to age. At a certain point, it was a bit hard to connect with Anna; she was quite closed off outwardly, and as the reader, I wish I had the chance to hear more of her inner dialogue and emotions. It was difficult at times to feel connected to the story, since periodically the plot moved forward with not much insight into Anna's emotional state.

*Spoiler Alert*

John was not my favorite MMC, especially towards the end, where he was the cause of a large misunderstanding. Instead of bearing the full weight of responsibility, he tried to blame Anna and almost villainize her. The third-act makeup wasn’t as satisfying because it felt like Anna was not getting what she deserved.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of this book. I think the slow-paced, low-stakes nature makes it a good palate-cleansing book!

I really enjoyed this age gap book, especially since the FMC was older and that's not super common in age gap stories anymore. I would have liked a little more story of them working together, since it was mentioned they work great together. The this was a cute story, and very well written!

I enjoyed the meet-cute that Anna and John had over a declined credit card. They had great banter throughout the book and I also enjoyed the random meetings the beginning. Then they started working together and that's when things started to speed up. It was a fun quick read, but didn't really delve into the characters too much.

The bartender telling you the card got declined usually doesn't start a sparkling romance. This time, it was the moment Anna and John met and their chemistry was palpable. She is a movie director and he acts on the side, while trying to sell a movie script. The witty banter between them is definitely a highlight and made me smile throughout the book.
Add to the mix an evil ex husband and a Hollywood vibe and you get a light contemporary romance. While the plot may not break any new ground, it’s exactly what you'd expect.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The formatting of the ARC almost made my eyes hurt, but I thought this was a great romance. I loved the age gap and dialogue really shined through.

This is a quirky cute read. Is a quick palette cleanser with good banter. The format was a little difficult to maneuver.

This book was hit/miss for me. There were parts I enjoyed but then others I couldn’t get over. The writing style didn’t really mesh with me, but the author did write realistic and fun dialogue.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were lovely and I loved their storylines. The book was well-written and interesting. I really enjoy this author’s writing and I loved this book!

"Reel Love" by Evie Browning is a lighthearted romantic comedy that follows Anna, a struggling 37-year-old film director, and John, a 27-year-old aspiring screenwriter and part-time bartender. The story brings together classic rom-com tropes like age-gap romance, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers, all set against the backdrop of a chaotic movie production.

What makes this book fun is its blend of witty dialogue and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the film industry, giving it a bit of extra flair. Anna and John have an undeniable chemistry that makes their interactions, both romantic and professional, engaging. The slow-burn romance builds naturally, and watching their relationship evolve through workplace drama is entertaining.

However, while *Reel Love* has its charming moments, the plot does feel a bit predictable, leaning on familiar tropes without offering much surprise. Fans of rom-coms will likely enjoy the ride, but seasoned readers might crave more depth and unpredictability in the storyline. Despite this, it’s a sweet and easy read, perfect for anyone looking for a fun, low-stakes romance with a satisfying happily ever after.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Reel Love: A Sweet and Sassy Rom-Com
Evie Browning's Reel Love is a charming romantic comedy that offers a fresh take on the film industry. The story follows Anna, a film director, and John, a struggling screenwriter, as they navigate the ups and downs of their careers and personal lives.

What I Loved:

Authentic Characters: Anna and John are relatable and well-drawn, with their contrasting personalities leading to both amusing and heartwarming interactions.
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: Browning provides an engaging look into the film industry, revealing both the challenges and rewards of working in Hollywood.
Slow-Burn Romance: The gradual development of Anna and John’s relationship allows their feelings to grow organically, offering a refreshing alternative to the typical insta-love trope.
Witty Dialogue: The dialogue sparkles with sharp wit and clever banter, making every exchange enjoyable.
What Could Have Been Better:

Predictable Plot: While the characters and their chemistry are captivating, the overall storyline may feel a bit familiar to seasoned romance readers.
Overall, Reel Love is an enjoyable and delightful read. If you’re seeking a lighthearted romance infused with a touch of Hollywood glamour, this book is a cute read.

This just didn’t work out for me. The writing was messy and it felt like a slog to read. The main characters had no spark and it felt like they were just going through the motions. Lots of cliches, too many. Everythung just felt off. Good in concept.

John is 27, an aspiring screenwriter but currently works in a bar in between jobs acting or being an assistant director.

Anna is 37 and an out of work director. She had one good movie 15yrs ago and while she's worked on other projects since, they haven't garnered the same buzz as her first film.

Her ex-husband Tom is out for revenge but never really explains why. Only that he tried to help her and she refused, so he has to tear her career apart by any means necessary.

The two meet one afternoon in a bar and make out in an alley before parting ways under not so great terms. Then they're thrust together in Rome to complete a B movie about vampires. While working together they get closer and realise they had misunderstood one another after their initial kiss.
Of course they have a major miscommunication when they get back to LA and instead of listening to John explain things, Anna hurls insults at him before storming out.

This book was ok, a really quick read with some light spice but it didn't feel like the characters had much depth to them and there really wasn't any period of growth. It seems like they both had issues with their parents that could have been woven into the story a bit more than it was.

I didn't find either character relatable but I liked getting to read about the side of Hollywood that is never told. All the people who work in the industry who make almost no money and do it purely for the love of what they do.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the copy of this book!

I thought the story had great pacing, and I loved the way that the two main characters met. While some elements in the story about the film industry felt dramatic, other parts felt quite real (as someone who lives in LA and has friends in the industry). I did NOT like the MMC's third act tension, and I felt that could've been resolved way earlier.

The story had good spice for the pacing, and it felt believable.

Overall, I would recommend this book!