Typecast

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the very beginning, and really fell in love with the characters and story.
This book didn’t leave me bored for a minute, I was immediately glued and hooked to my Kindle.
A quick, easy and cute read. One that I enjoyed very much.
This is my first novel by Andrea J. Stein and I hope to read more of her work in the future.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Girl Friday Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I really enjoyed this book - I appreciated the thorough and more realistic lifestyle that the main character, Callie, has, and i think this helped the novel be more interesting and relatable for readers like me (minus the part about having a movie written about you!)

Some parts in the flashbacks were more confusing, but I really liked the inclusion of this as it provided much more insight into Callie and Ethan’s past. I enjoyed Stein’s writing style and the overall plot and development of Callie’s relationships with Nina and Ben throughout the novel.

Loved this book! I loved the journey the main character went on and really appreciated that it ended the way that it did. Very recommended..

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Girl Friday Productions and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Easy, quick, cute read. Read it all in one sitting.

I received this ARC courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher.
Callie and Ethan dated in college, now 10 years later he’s written a movie about their relationship. Callie struggles with if she’s actually moved on or if she’s stuck in the past.
I found myself to be more interested in the flashbacks of Callie and Ethan’s relationship as it developed. To be honest I would love to watch the movie Ethan is making!

Overall a cute, easy, enjoyable read!

An enjoyable, breezy read! Callie is happy in her career as a preschool teacher and feels content overall with her life. That is, until news reaches her that her ex-boyfriend (Ethan) has written a screenplay about their breakup and that screenplay is about to be a major motion picture. Callie starts thinking about the past and wonders whether she has truly moved on in the decade since the breakup.

The novel alternates from the present (“after” in third person) to the past (“before” in Callie’s POV). I found the “after” sections to be more compelling but also appreciated getting some backstory and insight into Callie’s relationship with Ethan. Callie was very likable and I was satisfied with how her story evolved and concluded. 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A very fresh and cute read, i loved that it was a very realistic read and with good representations, the romance is great and so is the 2 protagonists Callie and Ethan. I also loved the 2 time lines (before and after).
I recommend it!
Thanks Netgalley

Typecast has a light, breezy feel to the writing style, while providing an undercurrent of thought-provoking content. It’s the kind of read that sneaks up and might have you asking “what if” about some of your own life decisions.

Callie is a character that many readers will relate to. She’s a thirty-something woman caught between moving on to a future different than she’d planned, and holding on to a past she’s not sure she’s ready to let go of.

The timeline alternates between Callie’s college years, the “Before,” and her current situation, the “After.” Both are handled well, with a clear difference in Callie’s maturity.

I loved the resolution, which felt genuine.

First off i would like to that NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for providing me with this ARC. If i could describe this book in one word it would be - relatable. I felt like the main character, Callie, could be me because of her relationships (unfortunate for me lol) and just being herself. She is very conflicted about her feelings when she finds out her ex-boyfriend is making a movie about the break up. But this makes her question if she wants to face her past or make the mistake of messing up the future. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing because it made all of Callie’s relationships, whether they were with Ethan, Nina or Ben, more realistic. Also the back and forth of the novel’s POV made the novel more insightful.

TYPECAST is a sweet, endearing read about a girl who is wondering if her college love should be back in her life. I’m sure we have all wondered if we made the right decision back in the day, and this book explores those feelings so well.
Our heroine Callie is 31 and unattached. Her family and friends are encouraging her to get out in the world and explore new relationships, however, Callie is reluctant to let go of the feelings she has for her college love, Ethan. It is noted early in the book that she broke up with him abruptly, and the author kept me interested by not explaining Callie’s reasons for doing so. The book switches points of view from “before”, which is told in first person perspective during Callie and Ethan’s college years, then “after”, which takes place many years after graduation and is told in third person perspective. I enjoyed reading Callie’s inner thoughts, which adds depth to the “after” narrative. I was unsure as to root for Callie and Ethan to get back together, or to hope that she hits it off with Ben, an architect that she meets later in the book.
All the characters feel real: Callie’s Type-A pregnant sister, her overbearing mother, and Callie’s many girlfriends. The dialogue between Callie and her girlfriends are spot-on – the gossip, encouragement, and bonding are all written well and made me smile.
Callie is a preschool teacher, who shows her nurturing side and makes her more appealing to the reader. She has a wonderful relationship with her young niece throughout the book, and some of the things that came out of her 4-year-old mouth were hilarious!
As the story progresses, the reader can see how Callie is maturing from the “before” days when she was joined at the hip with Ethan. The plot progresses with a will-she-or-won’t-she story arc about plans to meet up with her ex, which should hold the reader’s interest and keep those pages turning quickly. As I eagerly tore through the book, I had no idea who Callie would choose to be with, nor was I sure who would be the best match for her – old, sweet memories with Ethan or the chance to make new ones with Ben. This, to me, is the appeal of TYPECAST. The author did her best to encourage the reader to make their own opinion about the men in Callie’s life, while looking forward to see what choice she made.
TYPECAST is an excellent first novel! I could totally see this in movie form now that I am writing this review. It would surely be a standout rom-com that everyone would love.

3.5/5 Stars.

Everyone around Callie has an opinion about how she lives her life. She is a preschool teacher who still lives, rent free, in the house where she grew up. Now her Type A pregnant sister and her entire family is moving in while their home is renovated. On top of that, Callie’s ex college flame is a screenwriter who has written a movie that seems to be about their breakup after she dumped him ten years ago. Callie knows she will have to face him before she can move on with her life instead of coasting along as she has been.

Ugh, family! I related to Callie’s reaction to the well-meaning concern of her family and friends. Also, to her choice to end her relationship with Ethan so many years before. I enjoyed seeing her finally grow and face her demons. And I loved where she ended up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Typecast is definitely about taking chances and living your life. It is a light read and well written. I love that it was relatable and showed being in your 30's in not a curse and that all stages of life you have to learn something new. It is a coming of age book for sure.

The world is so full of angst right now. Every time you look at the computer or on your phone, there is more bad news. Hence, it is sometimes wonderful to be able to escape into a kinder and gentler place; reading “Typecast” by debut author, Andrew Stein, was like that for me.

Callie, like many of us, wonders if she has lost her one true love. In college, Callie fell in love with Ethan and after graduation, they had planned to spend their lives together until Callie breaks up with Ethan via a phone call. Flash forward a decade and Callie discovers Ethan has written a script that is about to become a major motion picture. The storyline hits a little too close to home and Callie starts to question the choices she has made. Those choices include moving into her childhood home (while her parents retire to Florida) and working at a pre-school in suburban New Jersey versus trying to make it in New York City. But just as Callie thinks about contacting Ethan, someone new comes into her life and teaches her that there is plenty of potential when one looks ahead to her future.

The story is told through Callie’s perspective but the flashbacks to her college days are told via first person while her current life is told in third. Not only is Callie a likable and endearing character, but the author does an awesome job developing the supporting cast, including Callie’s bossy older sister, Nina, precocious niece, Zoe, and best friend/work colleague, Tess. I thought the male characters, including brother-in-law, Michael, and new love interest, Ben, could have been a bit more colorful, but clearly this is a novel where the women are in charge. Because most of my thirties involved me staying stagnant, I could relate to Callie’s inertia, though the reasons for it (and her break-up with Ethan) might have been developed more deeply. Yet, as a light-hearted story of a young woman finding her way, the narrative works. While this is an easy read, Callie does not always take the predictable path. Moreover, though dates are not referred to, because of some of the novel’s references (Michael uses a Blackberry), I sense the present portion of the story takes place either in the late aughts or early twenty-tens (and before our country went to hell in a hand basket).

If you are looking for a new author and great story, I highly recommend “Typecast.”

Thanks go to Andrea Stein, Girl Friday Productions and Netgalley for the opportunity to give “Typecast” an early read.

Loved this book! This was a fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I finished the book in two days I enjoyed it that much. Can't wait to read more by this author!

Typecast centres thirty-one-year-old Callie Dressler who is finally comfortable in her own skin. Callie loves her job as a preschool teacher and is settled back into her vacant childhood home to save money. But her well ordered life is upended when her pregnant sister Nina and her family move in whilst their house is being remodelled. As if adjusting to the new living situation isn’t enough, Callie’s college boyfriend – who she dumped ten years earlier for reasons only known to her – has a film coming out based on their real life breakup. Callie starts to think about the past and if she has truly moved on. When a complication in her sisters pregnancy brings Callie in close contact with Nina’s funny architect, Callie realises she had better confront her past – or risk missing out on her future.

I adored this book! It is a well written contemporary story that follows the highs and lows of Callie’s life, relationships, friendships, and family. Naturally, Callie looks back and wonders what her life would be like had she made different choices. The chapters alternate between present and past which keeps the story well-paced and gripping.

The book was easy to read despite that it focuses on some difficult realities, I loved that it was genuine and realistic. Callie was a fantastically written character who I grew to love as each chapter went on. I also really enjoyed that this book wasn’t predictable or typical In any way.

I highly recommend! A wonderful debut - thank you so much for giving me a chance to read it on netgalley.

Overall, this was a light, easy read. I think I just wanted more from it. I did enjoy how realistic Callie was! She is easy to relate to!

The synopsis caught my eye as I love when film is used in novels and it seemed a fascinating premise… your boyfriend writes a film about your breakup? Yikes!

This novel did not disappoint! Callie was a lovely yet realistic character, and I loved that throughout the novel you were both unravelling what happened all those years ago as well as working out what would happen. I was on the edge of my seat for the last third of the novel. I also loved how it wasn’t focused solely on romantic relationships (although there was some GORGEOUS FLIRTING), but really dealt with Callie’s identity and her relationship with her sister. As one of 3 sisters, I loved seeing the realistic love/hate portrayal. I definitely recommend this book, and I’m secretly hoping for a film adaptation…

My only note would be that the first/third person switches for present and past were a little disjointing, but I also see that it was used as a memory/storytelling technique.

Thanks Andrea for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is a good book. The main character is Callie. This book goes back and forth in a timeframe of ten years. It tells about her ex boyfriend from college to present day of her being a school teacher and how she can’t get over how she broke up with her ex boyfriend. It tells how she is trying to go on with her life and something is holding her back, but eventually she meets a guy who she falls in love with.

Ten years ago now preschool teacher, Callie, broke up with her college boyfriend , Ethan. She has just found out that Ethan has a film coming out, and the screenplay is based on their real-life breakup.

While the movie consumes her thoughts, Callie is also having her well-ordered life will upended when her type A, pregnant sister, Nina; adorable four-year-old niece; and workaholic brother-in-law move in while their house is being renovated. How can she say no when as Nina pointed out, it’s still their parents’ house, even if their mom and dad have relocated. Callie also has to wonder if she is truly over Ethan.

This was a cute read. It flashed back and forth between the past and present. It was a cute book. A definite fun summer read.

I really enjoyed this book. I have already recommended it to my book group, and we will read it as soon as it is publicly available.

Typecast has it all: engaging characters, a compelling story, smart writing. I was hooked immediately and kept coming back for more. For book group purposes, it touches on some great subjects that will make for interesting discussion. There is the family dynamic, with a little sibling rivalry and "why are you still single" thrown in; there is the relationship angle, including the road not taken. And who doesn’t have someone in their life that they wonder about, “what would have happened if…?”

This is an awesome debut novel; can’t wait to see what comes next!

Callie has a nice, quiet life in her hometown in New Jersey. She is living in her parents’ old house, she has great friends, and loves her job. She’s been wanting to start dating, but just can’t seem to let go of her past. When she finds out that her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, has written a movie about her, it brings up all kinds of feelings. Was she right to break up with him ten years ago? Should she have moved to California with him after all? Should she get back together with him? She is confused why he would write a movie about her after all this time. Her friends and family and wary for her and think she should let it go, but she just wants answers.

This book was really cute and surprisingly deep. I didn’t expect that back story at all for Callie, but I really loved it. There were times when I didn’t like Nina, but overall the characters were pretty likable. I absolutely loved Ben. He was such a sweetheart all the way through. I really didn’t like Ethan, even in the “before” chapters. I thought he was super controlling. I loved how dedicated Callie was to her job. She seems like such a great teacher. Her relationship with her niece, Zoe, was really sweet. I thought the book was well written and loved how it all came together in the end.

I received an advanced reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and Girl Friday in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Andrea Stein's debut novel, Typecast. Even though the protagonist is a woman in her early thirties, in many ways, this is a coming-of-age novel. As the story progresses, we learn how and why events from the past stunted Callie. She's chosen a career that she loves, but in all other aspects of her life, Callie lives in a delayed adolescence.

She wasn't always the most likable character. Her journey was messy, and her fears and immaturity caused her to make some pretty big mistakes, but the more we learn about her past, the more I could empathize and root for her to find herself—and not continue to "play the role" others have cast for her.

And I think that's the book's biggest strength. All the characters are pretty flawed people—Callie's sister, mother, the ex—but they feel very believable and very human.

The author deftly handles the threads of Callie's past and present and her connections with friends and family to weave a rich story. I cared about the characters and was very satisfied with how everything came together in the end.

Well, look at me, actually reading a Netgalley book before the Publication date. I was so excited to read this one, that I put it almost at the top of my TBR. And I will tell you; I was NOT wrong. This book was so much fun. I felt an instant connection with Callie. Maybe because she was a teacher, but also because she was just so kind! I felt like this book could end in a hundred different ways, and I was very happy with the way it did.

Pros
Main character: Callie is going right to the top of my favorite main characters this year after finishing this book. She feels super real to me. She's loving, kind and caring, but has bad character traits as well. She does tend to let people walk all over her and doesn't always speak her mind. I loved that she's a teacher, I felt an instant connection because of that. There were real teacher things in this book, like staff meetings, hard times with certain children and/or parents and doing actual work in your weekends.
Timeline: The timeline in this book was fun! I loved the switches between past and present. It really changes up the story, keeps it paced and makes me wonder what happened. This timeline made it feel like the book also had a bit of mystery.
Humor: Oh yes! The humor, banter, sarcasm and flirting in this book was so amazing. It was a light breeze of fresh air and I needed it so much! Really fun and definitely my kind of humor.
Character development: Callie really takes the time to reflect on her choices. She has feelings of doubt, of guilt and she wonders about what could have been in life. In this book she really finds her voice and the last 10% of the book were SO good. It definitely was what I had hoped for and what I wanted for Callie.


Cons
No!

Overall
One of my favorite women's fiction books this year. Not like I read them every day, but I have read a few and this one is at the top of my list. I'm curious what Stein does next and will definitely keep following her. Amazing writing, great characters and fun plot!

This was a cute read. It was light and easy to read. The alternating time line aspect was not particularly my favorite. However, Callie is a highly relatable character.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was absolutely amazing. While it did hit a bit close to home for me in some areas, I am still glad that I read it. In some ways reading a book that hits a bit closer than you would like it to is better because it allows you to look at your life in a different way.

Callie, our main character, is at a bit of a crossroads. One that she has been at for a while now. She is still questioning decisions she made after graduating from college while living in her parents house since they moved to Florida. As her family moves back in for many different reasons and she reads an article in her alumni magazine about her ex-boyfriend, she begins to question everything. We follow her as she re-evaluates her decisions and how she got to where she is and what she really wants out of her life.

I would recommend this book for anyone in their 30s who feels a bit stuck.

Thank you to Andrea J. Stein, the author, for reaching out to me to review this masterpiece.

How would you feel if your ex wrote a movie about your break-up? A movie that's about to released across the nation with coverage in every single magazine and newspaper that you pick up? Well....exactly

It's been ten years since Callie broke up with Ethan, her college sweetheart. For four years they were inseparable and, just before they were planning to move across the country together to California, Callie ended it over the phone. Callie had good reasons, but wasn't able to be honest with Ethan and the guilt has been gnawing away at her ever since. The last ten years of her life have been spent in a kind of limbo. Professionally successful as a teacher, Callie is back living in her parents house (a bone of contention with her sister Nina) and has not been able to engage fully in another relationship since Ethan. And then this movie comes along and starts to stir things up....Callie is in danger of sabotaging her future happiness unless she's able to somehow close the book on this chapter of her life

The story of Callie and Ethan is told through dual timelines with chapters based in the present and flashing back to their college years. I particularly liked seeing Callie in all of her life role; as teacher, sister, aunt and friend. It was lovely to see how well she related to her young class at school and also her niece. She's a born teacher! Life is full of "what ifs" and seeing how this impacted on Callie and her romantic life was an interesting and different take on a book that was, in part, about relationships and romance, but mainly around Callie's relationship with herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC.

Callie was supposed to move across the country with her boyfriend, Ethan, after college, once she’d spent the summer with her parents, but instead she shocks him by breaking up with him and never seeing him again. Fast forward 10 years, Callie is still living in her parents house (minus the parents, who have moved to Florida), working as a teacher and has just discovered her ex boyfriend has made a feature movie….starring their breakup. 

Her sister keeps telling her she’s stuck in a rut, not growing up, and now it’s time for Callie to figure out whether she’s still stuck on Ethan.  

I really enjoyed this one! A relaxing and fun read with plenty of drama and a build up to finding out what really happened between Callie and Ethan.  Each and every character was so well written in Typecast. They all had such distinct personalities and their own difficulties navigating their way through life. 

I loved watching Callie piece together her doubts about whether she’d made the right decisions in life, and the exploration of how those decisions can haunt us, and affect life in the present, if we let them.

This was such an interesting and unique premise in what could have been a run of the mill romance book.  I’d highly recommend picking this one up if you get the chance!

Callie is a 31 year old single woman, working as a pre school teacher in New Jersey. She is confronted by her past when her college boyfriend writes a movie that is eerily similar to their relationship.

I enjoyed the past and present timeline of this story. The “before” chapters really helped the reader understand the college relationship between Callie and Ethan, and I really enjoyed seeing them as a couple, despite knowing they no longer were together. I was pleasantly surprised that this is a book of growth for Callie, and not about trying to get her old boyfriend back. Callie grew throughout the story, and the reader gained insight into her relationships with family and friends through the “after” chapters.

This is a quick read and good for those who like books with strong female characters, character growth and development, and a little bit of family/romantic drama.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for my eARC.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Really worth a read. Excellent book.

The author reached out to me and sent me a copy of her new book! After reading the synopsis I couldn’t say no! Typecast is a novel about Callie who is in her thirties and working as a teacher when she finds out that her ex boyfriend from college wrote a movie about their breakup! Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s a women’s fiction coming of age story told in dual timelines. I liked watching Callie find herself and let the struggles of her past go. Not my usual genre I go for but this was enjoyable.

Typecast was an excellent debut novel by a fellow bookstagrammer! I always enjoy a story with dual timelines and I liked that it switched back and forth between the past and present. Callie was an incredibly relatable character and I enjoyed going on the journey with her to figure out what she wanted out of life. I truly enjoyed the ending and how things came together the way they were supposed to.

How would you feel if your ex wrote a film about your relationship?

I was hooked by the premise of this book, and my questions about both the past and how things would turn out definitely kept me going. Pacing slowed down for me quite a bit in the middle, but I couldn’t stop reading once I hit the last quarter.

Chapters alternate (somewhat) between “Before” and “After”. The writing was compelling and I enjoyed the character development and seeing family relationships shift. Loved the messages about the paths life takes us on and how we can think about the choices we’ve made.

Personally, I feel like the original title “Rerouting” would have better fit for this book and its reoccurring themes. I get that the author probably wanted to draw more attention to the idea of a movie being made by an ex, and hooking potential readers that way.

Overall, a solid 4 star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Girl Friday Productions for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis I thought I would dive in and devour it in one go but unfortunately it didn’t go as well as I thought it would.
It was a good debut for the author, her writing style is really light & enjoyable.
Rating 3.45 stars

I loved this one! Thank you to Netgalley and Andrea Stein for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Typecast!
It's the story of Callie, a preschool teacher, who's past love life/breakup life is about to hit the big screen.
I really like Callie as the main character and her voice throughout the story. She feels real. Her job as a preschool teacher is very well written. Her relationships with family and love interests are relatable. I love that she is an over 30 character and I also loved all the book references! Without spoiling, the ending is perfect, definitely the direction I hoped it was going.
I definitely recommend this one for readers of domestic fiction and romance when it's released in September!

Before/After time line
CoHo vibes
Epic Twist

We open with college sweetheart Callie and Ethan as they are embarking on life after school. Unexpectedly the Sumer break leads to the end of the relationship and we follow Callie on her journey 10 year later when old feelings are brought back up. Andrea Stein does a great Job allowing her characters to process on the page. I did get some CoHo vibes and the twist was unexpected. Callie finds her HEA in the most unexpected place after dealing with her innermost feelings about the past.

𝔸ℝℂ 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨
ℙ𝕌𝔹 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝟡/𝟙𝟛/𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟚
𝙏𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩
by Andrea J. Stein

Trigger Warning 🚨🚨
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Miscarriage and cheating on a partner


I really enjoyed this dual-timeline plot of Callie coming to terms with the break up of her college love and the new movie he has written about their relationship. I found the snippets of their relationship to be relatable and helped to understand everything that led to the break up. I really connected with and identified with Callie. I think it can be so easy to lose ourselves in a relationship and not even know it happened. The book really surprised me with just how close it was to "regular life" and situations that we would/could encounter but yet I was so drawn into Callie's life. From her family life, to her job, friends, dating, and dealing with her own guilt and self discovery. It was relatable but easy to escape into the book. The plot and the characters felt unique, but felt so familiar, which I loved. I found that I couldnt put it down and was so excited to pick it back up!

Love, love, LOVE this book!  I was hooked within the first few pages.  The characters and the writing is so relatable and honest.  I felt like I KNEW these people.  Loved the exploration of family dynamics and the theme of making peace with yourself and your past.  A wonderful journey from start to finish!  Can't wait to read more from this author!

Read if you:
--Still think about your first love
--Have a complicated relationship with your sister
--Like hunky architects and witty banter
--Have ever felt a bit stuck in life and unsure how to get out of your comfort zone
--Have had an ex write a screenplay about your breakup
--Have a brother-in-law who's a total tool

At the beginning of the book, I was very invested in finding out what happened with Ethan and Callie. But as the book went on and the red flags about Ethan kept popping up, I became more invested in the Callie of the present and her budding attraction to Architect Ben. I think Stein did a good job of taking the reader along this journey with Callie as she discovered that the past she can't get over is holding her back from being truly happy in the present. I loved the ending too.

Thank you to Net Galley, Girl Friday Books, and Andrea J Stein for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if your ex-boyfriend wrote a movie about your breakup? That is what Callie Dressler has to figure out in Andrea J. Stein's Typecast. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book through Andrea and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Callie seems to have finally figured out the rhythm of her life. Is it ideal that she lives in her parents' empty house (while they live their retirement out in Florida)? No. But she loves her job and is generally happy with her life. That is, until her Type-A pregnant sister Nina and Nina's husband and four year old daughter move into the house with Callie while theirs is being remodeled. To make matters worse, her college boyfriend Ethan's feature film debut is coming...and the movie seems to be about their tumultuous breakup the summer after college ten years prior. Now Callie has to revisit her previous relationship with Ethan and work through any lingering feelings while trying to figure out what she wants out of life (and dating) in the present.

The premise of this story completely hooked me the second I read it. I mean, could you imagine your dirty laundry being aired out on the big screen like that? I would die.

The more I read of the story, the more I could relate to Callie. At one point, I messaged Andrea and (jokingly) asked if she had been stalking me and if Callie was actually based on me (she's definitely not, but the similarities made me chuckle). While she can be incredibly frustrating at times, I felt like that added to the relatability factor.

Callie's sister Nina is marketed as Type-A and I don't know if I've ever met a more Type-A character in my life. It's easy to feel the tension between Callie and Nina because they have such different temperaments and, at times, I really disliked Nina. But as with all good characters, Nina is fully fleshed out and isn't defined by her need to control every situation.

Throughout the story, it is made clear that Callie never told anyone (including Ethan) why she broke up with him, which of course caused me to create theories in my mind. As time went on, I felt I had a very solid theory of how the story would end, but I was pleasantly surprised when it is finally revealed. I love a good surprise!

The story is told from the POV of Callie and jumps from the past to the present, which worked really well with progressing the story forward. However, the chapters that take place in the past are written in the first person and the chapters that take place in the present are written in the third person. I thought maybe there would be some deeper meaning for this choice, but nothing stands out to me after having completed the book. That's not to say that there isn't some deeper meaning, but I personally did not feel that it was necessary to switch between the two (and it's entirely possible there is a deeper meaning that I just did not pick up on).

All of the relationships in this story were believable and felt very grounded in reality. Each character (including side and supporting characters) felt fleshed out and like a person I could just meet off the street. The story flowed smoothly (though there's some slow burn and I didn't know I hated slow burn until this moment because I am the most impatient human in the world) and the ending was incredibly satisfying.

Typecast is available for preorder now and hits shelves September 13, 2022.

Wowowow I put off reading this because the cover was kind of meh but omg I did not expect this story. Callie’s been living in her parents home rent free for 7 years and she’s happy, she thinks. When her pregnant sister and her family moves in while their house is being remodeled and she finds out that her ex boyfriend wrote a movie based on their relationship Callie is forced to reconcile with the fact that being content and being happy May not be quite the same thing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

I loved this book for many reasons, but especially how it depicts the characters as human; flaws and all. Some of the flashbacks were a bit jarring but overall a good story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

3.5 rounded up
I loved the dual timeline.
I was drawn in and couldn’t stop reading even when I got frustrated with the characters.
Those Sleepless in Seattle references-loved it!

Spoilers ahead…
At the beginning I thought this was going to be a second chance story, but as the “Before” timeline progressed I started really hoping she wouldn’t get back with Ethan.
It wasn’t so much a love story, but a story of someone making the right decision, carrying out the decision in a way that wasn’t great, and therefor feeling guilty about all of it for years-both the decision and the method. And the ending? Perfect. .

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 |
𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗿!

Callie thought she'd put her past where it belonged - behind her. But when her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, brings their break up to the big screen, she can no longer deny that their history has been looming over her all along.

I was approached by @ajstein to read an advanced copy of her debut novel “Typecast” and I'm so glad I did! I absolutely love to champion a new author and this book was just a delight to read!

Told in a dual timeline, I thought it was really interesting how the past chapters were written in the first person and the “now” in third person. It felt like Callie's character struggled to identify with herself in the present. She was more of a closed book, her life stagnant since the break-up ten years ago.

She lives rent-free in the house she grew up in with her parents, wears the same clothes she wore 10 years ago, eats like a college student and finds any little excuse to not see a date again. And quite frankly, her family and friends have had enough of it. They don't know why she broke up with Ethan but it's clear to them that Callie is still hung up on him, despite her protestations.

Soon, Callie is thinking that maybe she needs to go back in order to move forward..

Reminiscent of a Paige Toon/ Heidi Swain romance, it was beautifully written and I loved the story, the characters and the love interests.

It was well paced, left me wanting to read more and I binged this in two sittings!

If you love a light romance read then you'll want to give this one a try! Typecast will be released on the 13th September!

TW: miscarriage

Quick, fun read! I felt that the author gave a lot of insight into Callie and Ethan’s relationship. Also liked the satisfying conclusion.

This was a good story that seemed like it was going to be about second-chance love, but was really about finding yourself and coming to terms with your past and present - who you are and what you actually want.
Overall, an enjoyable and fast read.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are any own.

Normally, I am not a fan of cheesy romance but surprisingly, I enjoyed reading this book a lot!

Callie Dressler is a thirty one year old pre school teacher. When her ex-boyfriend Ethan from college is making a movie based on Callie's relationship with Ethan, Callie is suddenly facing her own issues as to why she cannot move forward.

The story divides between the present when Callie is living with her pregnant sister Nina and Michael and Zoe and how Nina parrots Callie that she needs to grow up and make her own decision and the past, when Callie was dating Ethan in college. The story starts getting interesting towards the middle, when Ethan gives her a choice of moving to the west with him, after graduating from college, which might be the reason as to why their relationship suddenly ended. And there are some funny parts in the book as well as real life situation, Callie's relationship with her sister and of couse with her overprotective mother and I actually liked the ending. Each character has a unique personality and I really like all the characters in the story, which actually made me enjoy the book more.

So if you are looking for a fun read romance, Typecast is highly recommended--worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

What would you do if your ex boyfriend from college wrote a movie about your relationship? No thank you sir. I would die. But that’s the basic premise here, so I knew I had to read this and find out how Callie would handle things because I know I would not handle it well myself. This flips back and forth between the present day and back when Callie and Ethan dated all through college and you slowly find out what went wrong in their relationship. I really had no idea how this would end and that’s always a fun bonus in a non mystery/thriller read. As much as Callie’s old relationship is a catalyst for things that happen in the book it’s about way more than an old romance. There’s some family drama and interesting dynamics between her and her sister Nina. It was truly about Callie herself and her path to letting go of the past and finally being able to move on with her life. It gave me Camille Pagan vibes at times so if you like her books definitely give this a try!

3.5 ⭐️’s rounded up!
I thought this debut novel was really well done. In this novel our main character Callie is a preschool teacher who discovers years after their break up her ex, Ethan, has written a movie based on their lives together. I related a lot to Callie’s job as a preschool teacher and I’m really happy to have had that to be a part of the storyline. Typecast is a story about self discovery and I enjoyed seeing Callie grow throughout this book as well.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Type Cast by Andrea J. Stein is a good book, and I enjoyed it so much that I read it in one day. However, this is a case of don’t judge the book by the cover. I was expecting a rom-com, but I would describe it as more of a coming-of-age story. I am sure readers will remember their “first” love and also their first “romance,” but our heroine Cassie is 32 years old and can’t seem to move past her college boyfriend, Ethan, that she ditched. Sometimes when someone loves you too much, it becomes obsessive, controlling, and oppressive. Ethan, who has been inseparable from Cassie for over four years of college, won’t give Cassie a moment alone. For any woman who has had a boyfriend like this, it’s hard to describe how suffocating this kind of “love” can become. So, when Cassie goes home for the summer after graduating while Ethan heads to California, she breaks it off once she gets a rare moment of freedom. Everyone needs a chance to spread their wings and discover their true self. Fast forward over a decade later, and Cassie is still single, a school teacher, living in her parents’ home, looking for love online (unsuccessfully), and second-guessing her life choices when her college boyfriend successfully writes a movie about their romance. A series of events leads Cassie to consider a choice between Ethan and a new romance, Ben. What will she do? This story is more nuanced than my review. It’s terrific. Ignore the cover; read the book. #comingofage #life #love #regrets #lifechoices #family #future @netgalley @books.turning.brains_ajstein #girlfridaybooks #TypeCast
💋
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Girl Friday Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: September 2022.

#bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader

Thrilling read! I was able to connect with all of the characters and throughly enjoyed the story the author painted.

Short Review: A sweet romance with memorable characters.

Long Review: I came upon this book because I follow the author on Instagram. She is one of the nicest people and I am excited for the chance to do an early review her book.

I'm giving this one a slow burn warning because it takes awhile to unravel. Despite the slowness, the characters are endearing and the before and after flashbacks keep the plot flowing along nicely. If you like character building stories with lots of family dynamics thrown in this one is for you.

Callie broke up with her longtime college boyfriend, Ethan, the summer after he graduated, He was waiting for her to join him in California to live their best lives and she was no longer feeling it. Ten years later, Callie is rattled by the news that Ethan has made a potentially blockbuster film based on their past relationship and breakup. She begins wondering if she did the right thing and where she would be now if she had moved to California with Ethan instead of moving into her parents' home and teaching at the local preschool.

Told in flashbacks of the "Before" when Callie and Ethan's relationship began to the "After" as Callie tries to sort her feelings, this book had a slow start for me. Almost immediately there was the big "why" of the sudden breakup, and it was enough to keep me reading even though I thought Callie was a little bit of a sad panda was getting ready to turn into the neighborhood spinster cat lady. As we got more into the background of the relationship, signs and symptoms of trouble in paradise began to appear. I liked that Ethan wasn't the "bad guy" and that Callie had a good reason to breakup with him, but at the same time wasn't perfect either. This was a good women's fiction novel that explores what happens when a relationship that seemed so right suddenly wasn't and the longer it lasted the harder it was to pull the plug.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⋆ ⭒
First of all, we would just like to thank Andrea Stein for her generosity in offering us to read her book. We cannot imagine the chops it takes to write a novel and then put it out into the world, so thank you for letting us have this privilege.

Often when the term “coming-of-age tale” is thrown around, one’s mind goes to a character’s youthful upbringing, but this book offers the same story arc, but in a different, and more relatable, way. As someone who has now ventured into their mid-thirties, I am pleasantly comfortable in my own skin, something that was granted to me by the grace of aging. I know myself, my desires, my priorities, and my value, and it’s a good feeling. This book really captured the shift into that stage really well.

Split between three timelines, ‘Before’, ‘After’, and ‘Now’, even though the center of story revolves around Callie, the perspective shifted from first-person in ‘before’ to third-person in ‘after’ which I felt really spoke the disassociation Callie was feeling towards her sense of self. It can be hard to wrestle between who you were before and the person you are now, and through the one simple act of changing the style of narration, it captured this struggle perfectly.

This is a love story - about showing love to yourself and your family, and in turn, knowing who is worthy of your love.

~ 👩🏻‍🦰

A highly enjoyable book about a college romance than ended in a bad note. Callie finds out her college sweetheart wrote a screenplay with a plot that highly resembles their breakup. This is the background plot that is present throughout the book. Callie is currently living in her parents house while her parents live in Florida. Her sister’s family moves in for a few months while their house is being renovated. What could go wrong with that????

I loved all the mini plots in this book. It is told in third person and mainly in the present with flashbacks to Callie’s time in college. The title had multiple meanings. I loved this book.

Callie Dressler is a 31 year old preschool teacher who thought she put her past behind her. When she discovers that her ex-boyfriend from college is making a screenplay based on their relationship and break up, it brings up history that Callie is forced to revisit.

After reading the premise of this book, I was really intrigued! I did find the first half of the book to be slower for me as it took me longer than expected to get into it. However, I'm glad I didn't give up because the second half really held my attention and I loved it. This book is written with alternating timelines, one in the past during college (first person) and the other in the present (third person). While I was interested in learning about what happened in the past, I found myself much more invested in the "now" timeline.

I liked the main character, Callie, and felt that she was relatable in how she was feeling stuck and trying to figure things out (also, we share the same birthday!). I liked following along as she navigated various challenges in her life and her relationships while revisiting the past. The characters felt well developed and realistic with their flaws. I enjoyed how things ended for Callie, but did not expect a few things along the way (i'll include content warnings below, in case you want to check them out). I would have loved a little more romance in this one though!

Overall, I liked this one even though I personally found the first half to be a little slower. If you are looking for a women's fiction read with a little romance, a little family drama that also touches on finding yourself, learning to be okay with past choices and moving forward, check out Typecast (out September 13, 2022)!

Thank you to NetGalley, Girl Friday Books and Andrea J Stein for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars.





Content/Trigger Warnings:
miscarriage, cheating

This sweet contemporary romance captures the way it feels when life takes an unexpected turn and you find yourself somewhere totally different to where you thought you’d be.

It’s a story of self-discovery, healing, forgiveness and the support networks that see us through hard times. It’s also the story of Callie, whose ex-boyfriend is releasing a movie based on their failed relationship.

I love Callie’s grim determination in the face of all life throws at her, and the fact that, as she is forced to confront the implications of the movie, she grows into a much kinder and more conscientious person than she was in the years she so often looks back on. She makes a lot of mistakes, but despite it all is a great example of building yourself back up from your lowest point, making brave decisions and learning to be happy in your own space, in your own time.

The side characters are a great mix of loving, infuriating and overbearing, the friendships are brilliant and the romance plot is adorable. All in all, this is a great, quick read for fans of realistic redemption arcs and relatable, vulnerable romance.

4 1/2 stars

This book grabbed my attention and I read it whenever I could until I finished it.

Personally, I loved the premise - - your ex writes a movie that appears to be somewhat based on your break up. That movie is being released with major star power so people will go to it and your story will be seen. I know it would throw me for a loop if this happened to me. And it definitely threw Callie off when it happened to her.

Callie thought she was doing okay until she heard the news that her college boyfriend, Ethan had written a screenplay. When she realized it seemed to mirror their breakup, she wasn't sure what to think. It made her second guess her decision made all those years ago.

The book doesn't just deal with this though. It's truly only a piece of what Callie is dealing with. She has family issues involving her parents and sister and her family. She also can't seem to make a relationship work and all of her dates seem to be boring. She still lives in the family home and hasn't really made it hers at all. It's as if she's in a holding pattern. It doesn't help that her sister criticizes her for still living in the family home and questions her job choice. Then there's the pressure from her sister and friends about dating. Everyone has an opinion, but Callie needs to ignore everyone else and decide what's important to her.

The process Callie goes through to "find herself" takes a bit but it's worth it. She's simply a person who carries guilt that paralyzes her. It makes it difficult to move forward. She has many things she needs to figure out before she can truly decide what she wants. After everything is said and done, Callie will eventually figure out where her place is in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Type Cast surprised me in so many ways. What I thought was going to be a cute RomCom, and that was definitely an element, but it was also a story of finding oneself. Callie Dressler left college with a boyfriend and plans to move across the country to start her life. By the end of that summer, she was once again single and living in the house where she grew up. Fast forward many years and Callie finds herself struggling to figure out if she is really where she is meant to be in her life. She is still living in the same house, but now her very pregnant sister and her family are living with her once again. In addition to living in a now very crowded house, she also discovers that her ex boyfriend has written a screenplay about the road trip he took with friends right after their breakup.

The best part about this book was our lovely main character, Callie. She was both interesting and relatable. While my own circumstances are very different, I was able to relate to the time she spent thinking about how her past decisions have affected the decisions she made going forward in her life. That relatability created an immediate connection for me because I could easily put myself in her place.

The more I learned about her, the more I understood her decisions and appreciated her emotional state. The parts of her personality that started off as a bit annoying became traits that added to her strengths. These aspects of her personality felt relevant to my own life and my own experiences as a millennial woman of a similar age. Watching her growth reminded me of my own journey and how much I have grown since leaving college.

This book quickly became less of what I wanted, and more of what I needed. It was a reminder to make amends with the past when needed, and to let go when it’s not. Callie’s inner dialog and the way that it was written added to the personal aspects of the story because I could always tell how everything that was said to her was actually affecting her, instead of having to guess. This was especially evident in the fact that there were so many elements of her life that I was able to peek at. Her story includes her family, friends, job and relationships in a brilliantly balanced story. Every aspect of her life got the attention it deserved.


The only part of the story that I struggled with was her flashbacks. Some of them felt irrelevant to the story and the tone shift was jarring at times. This lack of fluidity in the past was made even more jarring because the rest of the work flowed so wonderfully. I found that I was more likely to take breaks from reading during the flashbacks.

Make sure to check trigger warnings, as this book does deal with some heavy topics.

Thank you to Netgalley and Girl Friday Productions for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book because the plot made me think along the lines of Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman which I enjoyed. But I found the whole movie plot device to be almost unnecessary to the story? Really liked the main character of Callie, such a real/great character and the family dynamics were just so realistic. Enjoyed the book but it wasn't quite the story I expected.

✨Book Review✨

Thanks to @books.turning.brains_ajstein , @netgalley and @girlfridayproductions for the eARC!

Imagine breaking up with your college boyfriend right after graduation, whom you’ve dated for the past four years. Then, fast forward 10 years and you find out that he’s written a screenplay about your break-up…that was optioned…and is now a highly anticipated new release with a young heartthrob cast as your ex. 😳

This is 32-year-old’s Callie’s reality in this book. Unmarried, living in her childhood home and teaching preschool, Callie thought her life was just fine. But, is it? Did she make a mistake breaking up with Ethan all those years ago? Has it prevented her from moving on?

I loved this book!! I loved Callie. I loved her quirky outfits, her friends, and how she handled everything life threw at her in this novel. This was such a comfort read involving Callie finding herself and I loved how it ended! Be sure and pick this one up and go follow my bookstagrammer friend, the author; she’s awesome!

Typecast releases tomorrow! 👏🙌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
(Rounded up to 5 for Goodreads)

Callie dated Ethan all through college and before she was supposed to move across the country with him post-college, she broke up with him. Fast forward 10 years later, she finds out that he wrote a movie about the breakup and about to be released. Callie starts to wonder if she’s moved on from Ethan while also getting interested in someone new.

This was a cute novel about making choices and wondering if the right choices are the ones made right after college or when you’ve grown up more. I’m glad we got the ending we got and thought the book wrapped up nicely.

Thanks to NetGalley and Girl Friday Books for this eARC. Typecast comes out Sept 13, 2022.

I went into this thinking it was going to be your typical cute romance, which I always love. Instead, Typecast really is all about Callie’s self-discovery and growth, with just a hint of romance. It was a slow build from start to end and I truly enjoyed it. The book is told in alternating timelines, before and after the breakup, and I appreciated how I came to understand Callie bit by bit. The ending had me grinning, I was so happy with the direction the author went in. The author, by the way, is a fellow bookstagrammer – I will not tag her since I don’t tag authors in reviews, but you should check her page out @ 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔.𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈.𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔_𝒂𝒋𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏 . And if you’re looking for a easy to read, feel good book pick this one up.

A+ For Typecast! What a novel! I could not put it down and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. How would you handle your ex taking the reign's? I know I wouldn't have handled it anything like the plot of this book. The characters were very detailed and I loved that it felt like I knew them. That always helps move the story forward and not letting it stall. Storyline was very well written and I am looking forward to what comes next from this wonderful author.

I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the duel timelines, but I found the alternation between first and third person narration distracting. I understand the intention behind it - it clearly defines the before and after, but it was so different it took me about until about 20% in before I became used to it. I really enjoyed Callie as a character and thought all the characters were developed and written very well. As an older sister I often found myself agreeing with Callie’s older sister Nina and recognized a lot of what Nina was saying and her behavior (both good and bad!) in myself. I’d recommend this book to anyone - including my own little sister.

Typecast is a fun read about Callie whose college boyfriend Ethan writes a screenplay 10 years after their breakup. This causes Callie to look back at her college life and love and wonder if she made the right choices. The additional characters of her sister, niece, brother in law and parents add a layer of interest and opinions. The story jumps back and forth from BEFORE which is written in first person and AFTER which is written in third person. I'm not clear about the why's of this but I didn't find it distracting. I could see where the story was headed but I enjoyed the trip with Callie.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Typecast in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really easy book to read and fly through. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters between the past and present. I wasn’t sure exactly where both of her journeys would take her. There was a lot of character growth and a big emphasis on family. Along with a little romance. I would recommend for those that enjoy women’s fiction!

🥰really liked
🤟womens fiction, dual timeline, teaching
📚Camille Pagan, Nora Goes Off Script

In her debut novel, Typecast, author Andrea J. Stein transports the reader to Brook Hill, New Jersey, to follow the journey of self-discovery for thirty-one year old preschool teacher Callie Dressler.

For the past seven years, Callie Dressler has been living in her parent's house, and going about her life as a preschool teacher. Her life is upended when her older pregnant sister Nina, husband Michael, and four year old daughter Zoe move in with her temporarily while their house undergoes renovations. And if that isn't enough to send her in a tizzy, she finds out in her college alumni newsletter that her ex-college boyfriend Ethan Rendel, a Hollywood screenwriter, has written a screenplay for a feature film called Rerouting that is based on their breakup ten years ago. Faced with upheaval on the homefront, and wondering about her past and choices made, Callie embarks on a journey of self-discovery, and learns to put the past behind her in order to move forward with her life.

In Typecast, author Andrea J. Stein easily captivates her readers' attention with this wonderful story that engages the reader to follow along as Callie's journey of self-reflection about her past: the choices made and roads not taken, leads her down the path of self-discovery, and a coming to terms with the past, and coming full circle.

Callie's story is told alternating with the past (college years) and present in a seamless and flowing storyline, and with engaging characters who draw you into their lives with a strong emotional pull, along with their complexities, flaws and secrets.

Throughout the story, Callie is challenged with family issues in the present, while revisiting her past college relationship with Ethan, and the choices that she made ten years ago, and how in the present she discovers that her life has been in a rut, and that it's time to put the past where it belongs, and move forward with her life. I couldn't help but feel an emotional tug as Callie's past unfolds, you just can't help but feel Callie's angst, and have compassion for her, it will definitely pull at your heartstrings. I love how the alternating past / present storyline goes hand-in-hand, it kept the story moving along with surprising twists and turns that will leave you with a smile on your face.

The reader will be kept engaged as this wonderful story unfolds. With a cast of interesting characters, Typecast is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, relationships, and second chances in life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/09/typecast-by-andrea-j-stein-book-review.html

college sweethearts Callie and Ethan thought they had their whole lives figured out, planning a move to San Francisco together after graduation; that is, until Callie spends the summer in her hometown and abruptly breaks up with Ethan before their move.

fast forward a decade, with Callie working as a preschool teacher and living solo in her childhood home. her life is about as normal as any single girl in her 30’s, until a college friend calls her with a maaajor plot twist: Callie’s ex-boyfriend is writing a screenplay based on their very own breakup.

seeing Ethan’s face and name everywhere, not to mention their personal love story & its demise, has Callie reflecting on her past relationship. is this Ethan’s way of seeking her out once more? is their lack of closure what’s kept her from moving on the last ten years? in the midst of unraveling her romantic history, Callie also juggles family drama, difficult students, and the struggle of online dating, forcing her to take a step back and decide what’s most important to her and her future.

this was such a cute read for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction mixed with a little romance and college nostalgia. i know it’s not *technically* fall yet, but it’s definitely a good fall read, as it provided a lot of seasonal imagery & included scenes with all of the fall favorites 🍏☕️🎃🍺

this was what I would consider a “cozy” read; while it had its conflicts throughout the story, the general plot was feel-good and relatable without being too cheesy or unrealistic. i genuinely looked forward to snuggling up on the couch and reading this every night.

thank you to @netgalley, @girlfridayproductions & @books.turning.brains_ajstein for a great advancer’s readers copy! this book is out as of yesterday! 🎉

Mhm i don’t know where to begin honestly! But I will say I’m so so happy that I was able to get this as an a arc through netgalley🥺🤍 I honestly can’t stand Michael…… he literally irks me hahaha! I love how Callie is so amazing with her niece🥺 like you can tell she will be an amazing mom one day🥰 huh I actually like Ben and I didn’t think I would of😅oh yea and let’s not forget how cute Zoe is🥺 but can we jus admire how Callie’s sister Nina is lowkey trying to set her up with Ben because she keeps on telling her to go and he’s always there. Also I can definitely relate to Callie(on the whole treating her like a baby part😒🥲)okay so I already ship Callie and Ben because of their little coffee date they had before he had to meet with a client🥺🥰🤍 OKAY so No Offense I hate Callie in the Before part….. BECAUSE how can u just cheat on Ethan with someone named Tom😒 like sis u have a literal actual bf who loves you😤(I’m srry that’s the Only thing that ticked me off lol) Absolutely hate cheating lolll! Awww I Iove Ethan sm🥺 I feel so bad on what happened to him🥲 because he didn’t deserve it but I’m just glad he was able to move on and be happy with his life🥰 also really happy they both can get the closer they needed after seeing each other🤍 I’m sure Ethan was a phenomenal guy before and after🤍🤍🤍

Cute and easy read. Loved the alternating time frames of past and present in the chapters. Loved the older characters represented. overall great read.

Many thanks to Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this romance/family debut novel. It's written in dual timelines, before and after, that work to create a delightful need to know feeling the lurks beneath the events going on currently. The characters are well-written and completely relatable and it's always fun to read a book set in a familiar area. I finished this wonderful story on a beautiful afternoon in my favorite reading spot and it was the perfect way to escape a crazy work week. Add this to your TBR list and Andrea I'm already looking forward to your next book!

TITLE: TYPECAST
AUTHOR: Andrea J Stein
PUB DATE: 09.13.2022 Now Available

Charming
Insightful
Oh so funny!

Callie is a thirty one year old preschool teacher who moves back to her now vacant childhood home trying to move on from her ex Ethan, but it’s just so hard when your breakup is being shown in the big screen. This debut by Stein is such a joy to read and find myself grinning with the occasional belly laugh. I also love the wonderful characters that surround Callie - from her sister Nina, her niece Zoe, and BFF Tess, they are all so relatable. I find that Stein writes complex family dynamics and a young woman faced with the difficulties of adulting so perfectly.

This is such a light hearted and the perfect escape for read for me.

In her debut novel, Andrea Stein brings a contemporary fiction novel that checks all the boxes for a great read. With a premise and characters that you can relate to, this book will have you invested not only wanting to turn the pages but inspire your anticipation for what's to come.

Callie, is someone that I instantly connected with. She is finally coming to a place in her life where she's got it. Making the decision to live in her childhood home takes all the burden off her financially and she is living the life, enjoying her job and just trying to move forward. Then life throws a curve ball. Her sister with family needs a place to stay during their remodel which makes things a little complicated but she is determined to make it work.

When things couldn't get any more complicated, Callie gets news that her ex boyfriend is coming out with a movie about their breakup. Thinking this chapter of her life was behind her, it brings up unresolved emotions that she thought was long past gone. With advice from her sister and friends, Callie begins to wander whether they are right about her and her unresolved feelings with Ethan and how that has affected a progression in that part of her life. Only one problem. A chance encounter with Nina's architect makes Callie see what she could be missing. The problem is, whether her past looming over her head, will she be stuck in her past or take a leap to open her heart to the future.

This book could've gone differently but it had all the charm and brought moments that give you thought provoking reflection that connect you with the characters. The dual storyline allows your curiosity to build and want to invest in their journey. Not just about Callie and her romantic life but her family as well. Getting to know the progression of Callie and Ethan really put things into perspective and brought some unexpected revelations that make those pages turn quick. Most importantly, her own journey was satisfying and rewarding.

The familial aspect of the book embraces the importance of forgiveness and acceptance. There was some unresolved emotions that affected the sisters that was brought to light in a heart pulled moment with resolution that bonded and strengthened their relationship. The insight and love from their parents that balanced everything out was such a wonderful element in the book.

Overall, I loved the book. It all came together well with a wonderful resolution. I can't wait to see what's to come. I'm really excited to read what she has coming next. Make sure you add this one to your reading list.