Tik Tok Boom

Tik Tok Boom is a fun take on the social media meets rom-com genre that has been all over my bookshelves lately, but with the focus on TikTok as opposed to other sites. Andie is working as a family photographer with bigger dreams when she runs into a mystery guy at the park and snaps his picture. After some intervention from her photography students, the picture goes viral, and the hunt is on to find him. This was fun, easy, and quick read that I'd recommend if you like social media rom-coms.

Tik Tok Boom is a very current romance set amidst social media furor, with good mental health representation. I liked that the characters were older than most romance books. Their virality seemed a bit too easy but the consequences of it were nicely stated. I did root for the couple and enjoyed the writing style: an author I would read again.

One thing that I LOVED about TikTok Boom is that the hero and heroine are older. They aren’t college age or late twenties, both are older and have lived a life! Both Milo and Andie are waiting for what’s next!

Andie has her job and some photog side projects. Milo had his work, therapy and teenage daughter. They aren’t sure if there’s more than what already is and yet one encounter changes everything for the both of them.

These characters are you and me. They are regular everyday people who are dealing with the pressures of life. Trying to navigate love, fear and finding their purpose. I related with both Andie and Milo for different reasons and it made this story feel so real.

The way they both heal each other and help the other find their way made this story mesmerizing and one that I won’t forget. I adored Milo’s daughter and how she didn’t let her dad just get by, she helped him to see that he’s more than just her dad and more than his job.

This story was a peek into the lives of two people navigating lust, and romance, and adulting, and parenting and it was so understandable and engaging. The chemistry of the main characters was both delicious and sweet as they balanced their attraction with real-freaking-life crap. I loved it and couldn’t put it down (once my own real-freaking-life crap gave me the time to devour the pages).

WHAT I LOVED MOST:
The gem of a middle-aged romance! It’s rare that I read about characters in my age range and at first I was skeptical. But it was so relatable and enjoyable.

Mental health representation from a personal and parental perspective. Felt very spot on for me.

A peek into cross-generational relationships with social media. The main characters are very much Gen-X navigating Tik Tok alongside a Gen-Z sidekick. Very brave of them!

Delicious angst and slow burn *purrrs*

FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I hit send as I gulp down some more wine. I’m getting dangerously close to hot flash consumption levels, but I’m beyond caring tonight.” (CAN RELATE!)

“I cross my arms for good measure, hoping it will make me look strong. In truth, I’m hugging myself.”

“Instead of going any further with that, I close her door and retreat to my recording booth to catch my breath and mentally bask in the glow that is my daughter’s enthusiasm.”

“Okay, I saw this earlier and wasn’t going to tell you, but the picture and the TikTok videos are everywhere now. Like, I think even on Facebook where old people go.” (OUCH! I FELT THIS ONE!)

Thank you to Netgalley and Christine d’Abo for the e-ARC. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.