
Member Reviews

This is a fun story with a fun premise. A regency romance author gets dumped, has writers block, travels to England to write a book and break her block. During her journey to break this block, she meets someone to help her find her way.
This is not my normal genre, current day is not usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one. I love all the family history that was put into this story. I loved the relationship building that took place, between all the family members. I loved the location and the way Frankie help brings things back to life.

Such a cute story, really enjoyed this read. Will be on the look out for more from this author as really enjoy the writing style from this author.

firstly we need to put it out their that the sister Eleanor needs her own book. she was a beautiful witty soul who deserves her own tale.
What a fun and cute read! I was a little concerned at first because I am not really a regency romance reader and I thought I would be confused with some of the regency language but Kim did a great job adding it in to her scenes that I found it so enjoyable and definitely easy to follow ….. also, if she is interested in writing that regency romance that Georgina was writing, I'd totally be into that!
this book was such a lush book. it was one of those that makes you feel like and ditty as you rea through it and has you smiling those big grins more than once.
Frankie was so much more than you first think and than she is given credit for. she was afraid of most things. but far and out the biggest fear was letting someone in. she never felt quite up to par and definitely not up to what her family wanted her to be. but this was just stalling her in being all she could be. and stopping her from seeing her worth in both herself and in love.
as soon as i read Grahams name in the blurb i was giggling to myself and he was everything i hoped he would be. he was innocent but a grump and straight yet fun. he was just the perfect person for Frankie. they both held back for their own reasons and the added mysterious family curse added yet more to this restrain on love.
this book couldnt have been better in my eyes and if this is how regency is written id gladly read more. at its core this book seemed to just have this light that shone through it and onto you as you read through it. that element of color and smiles from all the pages and characters.
and of course the romance part was gorgeous. and i was not going to accept anything less than a happy ending for these two.

What a fun and cute read! I was a little concerned at first because I am not really a regency romance reader and I thought I would be confused with some of the regency language but Kim did a great job adding it in to her scenes that I found it so enjoyable and definitely easy to follow ….. also, if she is interested in writing that regency romance that Georgina was writing, I'd totally be into that!
Graham was so adorably oblivious that I couldn't help laughing every time his sister tried to scheme and he just didn't get it. When he did get it, he was so mad and totally missed the clues that were right in front of him. I couldn't help but love this character. His love of his family history, despite the curse, was so palpable in his story telling. He loved the love of the generations before him all while thinking he would never have that same love.
Georgina/Frankie was also a fun character to read. She seemed surface level at first but once you realized the mask she was wearing, her character was much deeper than first look. Even though she was successful, she seemed to carry this guilt of being successful because she thought her family wanted her to settle in a life she found unfulfilling. She seemed to never let anyone know the real Frankie until Graham and Eleanor (I'll give Ashley some credit too). It was nice to see her subtle changed throughout the story. Frankie and Graham doing everything in their power to not give into their mutual attraction for fear of the love they didn't think they deserved was beautiful. I was happy to see their HEA.
Quick shout out to my girl Eleanor, who may deserve her own story because what a wonderfully strong young woman. I enjoyed every scene with her.

Very cute story! Frankie was a great heroine, and watching her process of writing her novel was a lot of fun. Graham was a perfect brooding hero. The POV switches from Frankie in first person and Graham in third person was a bit jarring, and kept pulling me out; I would have preferred it to be more consistent. Otherwise, fun closed-door romance

This was cute. It took a minute to get into but overall it was cute. I liked the idea of having to figure out the balance of honoring where you come from with how to adapt for the future.
I plan to share this title on my Instagram on April 22nd at www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞: Book 1}
👗 Release Date: April 22, 2025 👗
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I really struggled to fully immerse myself in this story, and it took me a bit to figure out why, but once I did, it made so much sense. It’s because this book wasn’t written in the normal tone of the romcoms I’m used to reading; it was written in the tone of an author who is used to writing historical fiction. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it certainly hindered me from being able to fully enjoy the story for what it was meant to be.
Sadly, that wasn’t the only off putting thing about the writing in this book. It switched between first person and third person for the main characters’ povs, which I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind was that the third person was written in present tense and, honestly, it was weird; it really threw me off while I was reading. I much prefer when the third person is written in past tense and the first person in present, not both in present tense.
The plot of this book didn’t pull me in like I’d hoped, and I’m mostly blaming it on the writing, but it could also be that I just simply wasn’t a big fan of the plot in general. The FMC did not make a good first impression on me, leaving the rest of the story to try to make up for it. It failed. While I did enjoy the snippets of the story the FMC was writing, that was about the extent of the enjoyment I derived from this book. Some of the side characters were somewhat entertaining, but not enough to make me truly enjoy the story.
All that to say, while I may have failed to like this book, you may end up loving it! So don’t take my word for it, and go try it for yourself before you create an opinion of this romcom.
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I received a complimentary arc from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions listed are purely my own.

Georgina is in Scotland to try and finish her book. Graham owns the pace she is staying and is reluctant to have her stay - will she convince him otherwise. Some great characters and funny moments.

The Meet-Cute Manuscript is the first rom-com by author Kim Duffy, and I saw some of her previous historical fiction books were highly rated by reviewers I follow, so I decided to give this book a try.
Summary: Frankie is a famous author living under a pen name in New York City, and has a past life in Ohio that most people don't know about. After enduring a public break-up, she escapes to an English manor house (like a British AirBnB) to write her next book. The owner of the house, Graham, is a grumpy English lord who is an engineer with very little social skills. His younger sister, Eleanor, becomes fast friends with Frankie and they work together to help him become more socially and romantically aware. He soon becomes interested in Frankie, but will his lack of social skills and her hidden past be obstacles too great to overcome?
Impressions: The book had a fun, lighthearted start and reminded me of Austenland or The Holiday. I was intrigued by the book summary, and enjoyed the English setting. My favorite parts of the book were the exploration of the historical artifacts around the manor house.
Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations for writing quality. The plot meandered and flow was choppy. The author switched from 1st person POV for Frankie to 3rd person POV for Graham and some narration. Those transitions took me out of the story and created lots of "telling instead of showing" situations. It was also obvious to me the author was American and not British. I read a lot of books written by British authors and the speech patterns didn't match what I would expect for authentically British characters.
The book was quirky and had elements of a 2000s rom-com, but it also tried to take on a very heavy backstory for Frankie and another side character without fully developing it. It felt like there was tension between wanting to be a light hearted rom-com and wanting to be a heavy contemporary novel. I most often read a mix of women's fiction and romance, but this one felt poorly executed.
Content Warnings: No language, kisses only, a couple sensitive issues mentioned about a side character's backstory.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in way influenced by the author or publisher.

This is an interesting, fun, entertaining read. Graham and Frankie are interesting, relatable, complex, wounded, strong, intriguing, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to get into and read. I love the nod to Regency England and Historical Romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The crumbling castle in the English countryside is the perfect setting for Georgina Justice to find inspiration for her latest historical romance. Along the way, she even ends up living through some of her typical tropes - and the grumpy viscount? He might just inspire the happily ever after she’s been searching for!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! It’s a charming romance about an author who, after being dumped, escapes to a lavish English estate retreat run by a Viscount and his sister.(really just the sister🤣) The wit throughout is fantastic! The quirky activities, like trebuchet games and dressing up in vintage attire, add a delightful twist. Both characters share a passion for history, which deepens their connection.
The heroine, hailing from humble beginnings, finds herself and her stories in a vibrant way—especially with the delightful ink and quill writing scenes. (trying to get her Regency groove) The Viscount is irresistibly dreamy, and the mystery of her hidden identity only intensifies their chemistry.
This story beautifully blends modern romance with a historical vibe, creating a captivating love story. The characters challenge and complement each other’s views on love and life, making their bond all the more compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to explore more of Kim Duffy’s books in the future!
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley.

⭐️3.5
I enjoyed this! The premise was cute with a famous romance author with humble beginnings from America and a somewhat curmudgeonly viscount with a crumbling estate. Frankie and Graham’s relationship started off rocky but quickly turned into something much more.
While this was a cute read, I had trouble connecting with the characters at times and sometimes felt the dialogue and romance seemed a bit stilted and/or awkward. Maybe it was just me though? It just didn’t give 5 star feels for me and that’s ok! I liked how it mixed romance, a bit of history, family relationships, and humor so well. Also, I loved that her big “secret” didn’t turn into a big deal between her and Graham and they talked through things like actual adults.
I love this authors historicals so I was excited to read her first romcom and am looking forward to reading more!
A few things I loved♥️
-The title!😍 (Seriously, the cutest title ever!)
-She’s from Adams County, OH! 😂(was so surprised and thought it was hilarious because I have family from there and it’s the most podunk little place ever)
-A grumpy viscount.( but of course…it’s just the way they come)
-His maple syrup eyes🫠
-Family history
-“method writing”( ok, the conservatory scene?🔥)
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“She laughs and it sounds like spring.”
“He looks interested now, though I can see the skepticism beneath his charming (charming? I mean bland!) smile.”
“I want you to fill every corner of this silent place with your chatter and laughter. I want to argue with you about what shoes to wear and eat breakfast with you in the parlor and write really bad love notes to you. I want to explore every inch of my home and grounds with you and then I want to explore every inch of your heart. Because it fascinates me, Frankie.”
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Meet-Cute Manuscript. All opinions are my own

This was such a cute and fun rom com! I loved the setting, story and characters. Frankie Brown, a.k.a. Georgina Justice is the perfectly, imperfect regency romance heroine and when she's dumped and her publisher sends her to England her story gets even more intriguing. In England, she meets 17 year old Eleanor, the young mistress of the manor house renting out a room while her brother, the Viscount is away. When Graham enters the scene, sparks fly and the story gets even better to the reader.
I really liked the setting from NYC to escape to England. That alone makes this a fun rom com. Eleanor is the perfect foil to her serious brother and a great ally to the heroine Frankie. Frankie is real - struggling any woman in real life from a break-up though hers is tabloid news. Frankie's backstory is relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to grow from the expectations one might have from their childhood upbringing to become something more. The manor house is idyllic and tragic at the same time. I'd love to transport myself to this place to see an English house/castle as described in the book. I really liked how the author herself is a Regency Romance author and writes a modern rom com about a Regency Romance author.
The author does a great job with Frankie's emotions post break-up to a new romance. I loved scenes where Frankie gets to play dress-up in vintage clothing. Revealing Graham's family history is also interesting and how all of that is built into the story. Dialogue between the three main characters - Frankie, Graham and Eleanor is well done - it's both comedic and emotional at times because of the backstories of each character.
I recommend this book for adult readers. There is a loss of a child mentioned in the book which may trigger some readers along with the losses of parents and a friend in tragedy. The losses add to the emotion behind the story and enhances the backstory of the characters. The book has some passionate kissing and several emotional scenes. There are also some tragic family stories that might be a bit much for younger readers. Overall this book has a lot packed into it's pages and balances tragedy, romance and humor all in this book.
I enjoyed the book and couldn't put this one down. I'm glad I took a chance on a new to me author with this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have been a fan of Kim Duffy's historical romances (written as Kimberly Duffy) in the past- her book The Weight of Air is in fact an all-time favorite of mine- so I was very excited to see that she had written a contemporary... and it absolutely did not disappoint! First of all, with a title like this, a good meet-cute was an absolute must, and this one certainly delivered that. I loved it. Georgina (real name Frankie) is a regency romance author who needs to get away from the public eye after a public breakup with her ex-fiancé. She finds herself taking a trip to a Georgian manor in England, owned by Eleanor and her brooding brother (and real-life viscount) Graham. I won't tell you exactly how these two met for this first time... but it was definitely cute! The stories that made me fall in love with reading as a child (one of which-Mandy by Julie Andrews- is actually mentioned in the book), are those stories that had these homes that are full of history and secrets and maybe even some ghosts and I loved seeing those elements in this story with all the stories of Graham's family and property. There was a lot to love in this story, and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Delightful! I loved every minute of it! Engaging story, wonderful characters, I could not put it down! (In fact I read into the wee hours of the morning to finish it.)
In The Meet-Cute Manuscript, we meet best selling Regency author Georgina Justice (aka Frankie Brown) who has reinvented herself after her difficult upbringing, and is now engaged to one of the most eligible trust fund bachelors in the country, until she isn't. Her very public break up leaves her unable to write her signature romances, so her agent and best friend Ashley sends her to live in a Georgian Manor home in England for a few months to get past her writers block. Ashley makes the reservation under Frankie's real name for some anonymity. Young 17 year old Eleanor Phips-Harington has booked her reservation without telling her older brother Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury.
The weaving of the story Frankie is writing with the story she is living was so much fun. Her heart loved all the history of the manor home, the family going back generations, the trunks of old clothes, the formal paintings on the walls, and even the ghost stories Graham told her to try to get her to leave. "He'd thought to scare her away with the family ghost, but it seems as though she's the one with the power to terrify him." Frankie loves the manor home with it's special rooms including the ballroom and the conservatory, and especially how Graham and Eleanor's history went so far back, when she didn't have anything like that with her family.
I highly recommend this captivating story set in England, the sweet and swoony clean romance, with the fun that comes along with grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract tropes.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I was a bit hesitant about the incorporation of regency England but it worked out.
I was hooked from the moment the story started because of her previous relationship and how it ended, however I have to say I wasn’t 100% in love with Graham, not my kind of hero for the most of the story.
What I did like is the HEA and how it all worked out for everyone!
Special thanks to Kim Duffy and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Meet-Cute Manuscript is a general adult fiction from beloved CF author Kimberley Duffy. This book follows the life of famous Regency author Georgina Justice (real name Frankie Brown). Through a crazy highly public situation, she dumps her bigger-than-life fiancé after catching him cheating in a social media video--but it creates a...well melt-down. So her agent sends her overseas to England for a chance to regroup and be able to write her next book. Turns out it's not quite a B&B as it isn't maintained yet. It's rather falling apart--but it's a gorgeous mansion in the style and era of Frankie's books. She decides she HAS to stay despite the resistance from the owner...
I loved the interactions between the characters. And I felt like the plot was pretty well done. One of my favorite scenes was when Frankie chastises Graham for not "understanding women". LOL. So so true.
I think Eleanor is my favorite character for the book. She had so much hidden inside and struggled to be seen as an adult and capable of making good decisions by her big brother. Her story was still sad once revealed.
I also enjoyed the story inside the story as Frankie tried to write her new book.
4 stars for this fun story
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

A cute blend of contemporary romance and regency England!
I enjoyed the premise and writing that brings the overall story to life - Frankie, a regency romance author leaves her life in NYC behind in exchange for a castle in England for two months to try and get over her broken heart and subsequent writers block. While there, she doesn’t just fall for the serious viscount but also his whimsical and driven sister, the idillic small town, and the version of herself she becomes while there.
There were times the story was a bit too over the top for my own taste, like when instead of just admiring she likes Graham she instead asks that he kisses her to help with ‘her work’ which is basically the start of their romantic relationship. I also found it a bit hard to track whose perspective we were reading given we jumped between Frankie’s and Graham’s without any introduction.
Thank you to Kimberly Duffy and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a beautiful love story! I loved the chemistry between our MC and Graham . It had modern elements of romance as well as historical/vintage vibe and that made for the most beautiful love story. I feel these two characters needed each others perspective and outlook on love/life to help balance each other out I highly enjoyed it. Will definitely be checking out Kim Duffy books in the future.