And... DNF/NR



I feel like I've been DNF'ing all over the place lately but this one, I fear, is going to give me permanent resting bitch-face if I don't skedattle with a quickness.

Why, you ask?

Two words: Annie Cassidy

Annie is a pill. I can abide a grump but a pill is a whole different ball of wax. Were Annie an actual person she would be one of those people that you duck into an alley or bend quickly to tie to your shoes so she doesn't spot you.



Otherwise you're going to be there for awhile . And you can bet she's going to roll out the 'poor me' because ALL THE REASONS card.

I don't want to harsh on her any harder than I already have but she clearly was rubbing me the wrong way from the "meet cute" with actor Drew Danforth where she spills her hot coffee all over him then sits there gawping at him like a starstruck groupie rather than apologizing!!! like a decent person. Instead she runs away then begins to somehow twist everything around in her head that he's to blame presumably because he's a movie star who threw a monkey wrench into her delicate equilibrium.

He's a jerk, he's constantly "berating" her, he's got some sort of clandestine ulterior motive that involves humiliating her and every single word he utters is disingenuous and cause for ire and rudeness.

Were she just a bitch I could accept this behavior but she's supposedly the "good girl" who's friendly to everyone, can always be counted on to do the right thing and gets along with virtually everyone else.



Maybe it gets better. Maybe love turns her into a likable person worthy of Drew's love. Maybe I'm really depriving myself of something here. But I cannot deal with these sorts of contrivances that are meant to give her some sort of hidden depth in the form of vulnerability but read as clichéd and trite.

If I could skip Annie's parts and just read Drew or all the secondary characters this probably would've gone better but the whole thing seems to be from Annie's POV. Which is too bad since I was liking Drew and the rest of them a helluva lot more than Annie. I'd even go so far as to say if Chloe gets her own book I would try that, especially if Nick is the love interest.

However, this one is not recommended but my opinions are my own and YMMV.

An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annie is obsessed with romantic comedies. She grew up watching them with her late mother and many of her childhood memories are tied up in those viewing parties and the tropes. As an adult, she has pinned her hopes and dreams on one day finding her own meet cute and metaphorical Tom Hanks - the perfect rom-com lead, in an ordinary guy. She just cannot settle for less.

Waiting for Tom Hanks is a sweet story and exactly what I expected from a contemporary rom-com novel. I do wish there had been less repetition of movie references and the name Tom Hanks. While these were great jumping off points and provided a good beginning framework, reading them on each page throughout the book felt overdone. My favorite characters were the best friend, Chloe and, Annie's uncle, Don. They made this book for me! I was thrilled when I came to the end of my e-ARC to see that a sequel is forthcoming and will be centered on Chloe.

Overall, this was a sweet, amusing novel.

Annie is a Nora Ephron-obsessed writer who dreams of both writing a rom com and finding a Tom Hanks of her own to love. Those dreams begin to come true when a Hollywood film crew invades her Columbus neighborhood to shoot a new romantic comedy featuring a handsome sitcom star … who Annie believes to be an overgrown manchild who cares more about on-set pranks than acting. But as Annie gets to know the people on set better, her life starts to take on an eerie resemblance to some of her favorite movies. This familiar story feels
fresh and fun in Winfrey’s hands, and absolutely oozes charm.

This whole book was a meet-cute. And who doesn't want their own "Tom Hanks". I always wanted to meet a guy in the library. You know, I'm carrying a bunch of books and turn a corner and bump into a guy and books go all over. We bend down together to pick up the books and bump our heads. Perfect meeting.

I think I am getting a bit tired of romance books so I wasn't so taken with this book. It was good and it did have the hea that I'm always looking for when I read a romance. And it's always a hit-and-miss with the hero. Is he a jerk? And the heroine, is she a wimpy doormat? I think both main characters were middle of the road. The book did have some fun minor characters. A good book but I'll probably not read any more books like this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for a review.

This was a fun idea for a contemporary, but I found the constant and repetitive references to the iconic rom-com movies eventually became really annoying. I also really didn’t like the main character. The side characters and love interest were the best parts of the story. The “twist” at the end of the book was really random as well. I think this story has a lot of potential but it wasn’t 5-star material for me. I’m sure that a rom-com fanatic would love this book. Overall, the book was fun and a lovely love letter to the romantic comedy movie genre. It made me laugh many times.

I adored this book more than I thought was possible. I didn't know it was possible to be this excited for a book and have the hype be legit.

So adorable and fun and cute, just as I expected! I loved the cliches, denials of feelings, meet-cutes, etc. But I really appreciated that it wasn't hot and heavy R-rated sex scenes. I don't need that to feel a connection. Ever.

Drew and Annie were adorable together. I loved that they were friends first, because yeah, it's a favorite trope of mine! And again, very well done here. I loved their connection and ability to talk about everything,

I even loved the side characters...and I usually never care about them in my romances.

This was a light, sweet, and funny read---highly recommended for beach time!

Annie is a 27 year old who lives at home with her uncle. She’s obsessed with romantic comedies and that’s probably why she’s still single. She has huge expectations for the love of her life (when he comes along). She is waiting for her Tom Hanks and it’s hard to find someone to measure up to that level of greatness.

When a filming crew comes to town, Annie gets a job as an assistant to the director. She has a meet-cute with the actor, but for some reason, she can’t see it for what it is. Annie is a bit oblivious sometimes and is still searching for that one guy (even though it’s pretty obvious he’s standing right in front of her all along).

Drew is an actor but he’s much more that that. He’s a great guy and he’s very down to earth. As a reader, I could tell he was falling for Annie. I think everyone except Annie could tell. This book was predictable for me in many ways, but that’s not necessary a bad thing. It was an easy read that I read in one day so it definitely kept my interest.

If you are a fan of rom-com movies, you will probably love this book. I like rom-coms, I do, but for some reason when I read romance I don’t want it to read like a rom-com. I want something a little more… realistic I guess? I liked the characters (especially her best friend Chloe- I’ll be reading her book! And her uncle was amazing), but the heroine irked me at times. And the last 20-30% was a little extra for me.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. The writing was great and I liked the hero and some of the secondary characters loads. If you are in the mood for a sweet and funny rom-com, I would recommend checking this one out!

This book was cute and had a fun storyline. I enjoyed all the rom-com references.

I found it a little lacking in that I did not feel connected to the heroine, other than her love for rom-coms. It was almost like her true personality and self did not come through, so that made it hard to become invested in the story.

That said, I think this book is a fun read and is great for fans of rom coms! It has some laugh out loud moments for sure!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just love a rom-com, so reading this book was really a no brainer.

And when it comes to rom-coms, especially from the 90's, you cannot look past Tom Hanks for the leading man.

Our Annie though, is maybe just a liiiiitttle to obsessed with finding her own Tom Hanks, and couldn't see what was right in front of her. The reader could be screaming right into her ear and she just wouldn't hear it/see it, which frustrated me a bit.

Drew - well, he is just lovely, even when he is frustrating. This is the kind of guy we all need in our lives, me thinks.

This light, fluffy read was just what I needed yesterday.

Super cute story! My favorite part were all the Tom Hanks and Rom Com references. This book had me falling in love with love and the characters! There were so many laugh out loud moments! I look forward to reading more from this Author. I was rooting for the relationship for the whole book. Great story and great ending.

To be honest, the main character, Annie was kind of infuriating. I’ve realized that one of my pet peeves is when a character is really mean to the love interest for no apparent reason. It’s almost as though the author is really pushing for an enemies-to-lovers type tension, but it doesn’t work because there is no real justification for the hate. This is what we get for a good chunk of the book. Annie had no reason to be mean to Drew. She basically hates him, because he is a famous actor. He’s still a person. And considering how they end up working on the same set, she could’ve at least been polite and professional.

Anyways, as soon as the misplaced animosity started to unravel, things got more interesting. Drew was a great character. Super sweet, funny, with just the right amount of arrogance and smirk. I wish there was a little more conflict between Drew and Annie after they started being nice/dating(?), but I got the sense the story is less focused on the romance, but more about Annie’s character development.

Annie lives in this small bubble world where rom-coms are the how-to guide on romance. She expects all the people in her life, including herself, to live out some trope aspect of a rom-com. She learns that life isn’t so simple. I felt the story could have used more depth in regards to Annie reaching her a-ha moment.

Overall, fun light read! I loved the assistant to the director parts. The best character in this book is by far Annie’s best friend, Chloe. And it looks like the author’s next book Not Like the Movies is going to be Chloe’s story and it takes place right after this one. Can’t wait to read it!

Waiting for Tom Hanks is about an aspiring rom com film writer who can’t believe she hasn’t found her Tom Hanks yet. By that she means that cute, sweet, endearing guy that will fall hopelessly in love with her after some funny meet cute and then they would live happily ever after. She is waiting for her life to turn into a Rom Com! So basically...she’s me.
It’s cute, and has a lot of hilarious movie comparisons and sometimes I wondered if she was living in my mind. I mean...does everyone imagine very elaborate rom com scenarios happening to themselves? They do right? Of course they do!!! 😂
I will say that I had VERY high expectations for this book because the title was just SO perfect and the first page was spot on. Because of this it fell just a little short of my intense desires. Although very cute, I never became all that invested in any of the characters. Still, it was a quick and fun easy read that rom com fans around the world will enjoy I think.

I didn’t enjoy the writing personally but I think other people who like romance novels will enjoy this. I loved the idea and it was very cute.

Oh how I love a great romcom. The tropes, the meet cutes, the misunderstanding, all working together to produce a gem of a story. Waiting For Tom Hanks was no exception, showing the ups and downs of Annie Cassidy and her quest to meet her Tom Hanks and live the romantic comedy of her dreams.

Annie is sweet and likable, if not a little naïve at times. Obviously life cannot always be like a romcom, but that doesn’t stop Annie from wanting hers to be. When a big Hollywood movie comes to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio to film, Annie, an aspiring screenwriter, lucks into getting a job as assistant to the director. And when she meets the star of the film, heartthrob Drew Danforth (in a very meet cute way, might I add) there’s definitely chemistry between them, but Annie isn’t so sure it’s the kind she’s looking for. From there, shenanigans ensue, relationships form, and a whole romcom adventure takes place.

I really enjoyed the characters. Drew and Annie were easy to root for and their development was paced quite nicely. I also LOVED the main supporting characters Chloe and Nick and their obvious romantic tension, so I CANNOT WAIT for their companion novel.

The thing I think I loved the most about this novel, however, was the setting. I’ve met Kerry a few times and know that she’s also an Ohio girl and lives in Columbus, so her knowledge of the setting is of course spot on. I lived in Columbus for four years during college and I know everywhere she’s writing about. I’ve explored German Village, I’ve gotten lost in the maze like rooms of The Book Loft, drinking a coffee and hoping I never find my way out. For me, that made this book extra special. (I was PRAYING before I even started reading that there would be at least one scene set in The Book Loft and I was not disappointed one bit!) There is heart and character and love put into every page of this novel, and I adored every bit of it.

Also, I just REALLY REALLY need Chloe and Nick’s book, like ASAP. I want to spend hours in their coffee shop reading and shutting the rest of the world out.

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC!!

THIS WAS SO ADORABLE AND CUTE!!! A literal romantic comedy wrapped up in all the warm fuzzy feelings. This story follows Annie, a writer who is obsessed with rom coms and finding true love, which she finds while working on the set of a romantic comedy with hearthrob Drew. It has all the fun cliches, an awkward hilarious meet-cute, the denying or the feelings, misunderstanding, and a grand gesture that will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

I loved following Annie as she tries to get her life together and figure out where she wants to go. At 26, I related so much to her and her story of self discovery. That being said, I really really wish we had some more romantic moments with Drew and Annie. It’s very PG13, fade to black and I wanted more for the epilogue!! It’s such a slow burn that it takes FOREVER for them to finally get together and when they do, I felt it kind of rushed right into the misunderstanding and we didn’t get to fully enjoy them being together. Don’t get me wrong, we did have some really adorable moments and I really liked them getting to know eachother as friends first, but I expected a bit more steaminess when they finally got together.

I also really loved Drew and how funny he was. I really enjoyed the banter when they first met. I liked how such a GOOD GUY he was. And he said all the perfect things!! I liked how they would talk about romantic comedies and how tv shows and how much movies and television affect both of them. I loved how they were able to connect in that way. Although I do things at times the constant talk of romantic comdies and Tom Hanks was a bit excessive. It felt like it was on literally every page and in the beginning it was fun but towards the middle part, Annie got a tad bit frustrating. But I really appreciated the fun twist at the end!! IT WAS SO SO SO CUTE!!!!! Ahhhh!!

I loved how she had friends and family too! I LOVED the side characters and everything at Nicks. It reminded me a bit of Lukes from Gilmore Girls. So much fun and I would get excited every time Annie would go there. So many hilarious moments in that cafe and I’m dying for Chloe and Nicks story! I SHIP IT SO SO HARD!!! They were already making my heart ache!! I’m ready for that book and I need it ASAP!

Anyways I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something light, sweet, and with a lot of heart! It’s the perfect book to cozy up with and read in between some Tom Hanks movies! Can’t wait to read more from Kerry!

This book had a lot of promise, I just don't think that it quite delivered for me. Overall I enjoyed it, but this isn't one I'm going to be thinking about for a long time. I think that the relationship between Annie and Drew could have been a little more developed. I think all of Annie's relationships could have been a little more fleshed out. It just felt lacking to me. I liked Chloe and Nick, they felt like real characters, not just caricatures. I will definitely read the follow up though.

Winfrey managed to create a rom-com in book form and I LOVE rom-coms. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. Everyone deserves their Tom Hanks!

If you’ve ever loved romantic comedies (no matter how outrageous they can get), and if you have a soft spot for a happily ever after, Waiting for Tom Hanks is bound to be enjoyable. I spent a lot of my formative years heavily entrenched in the genre of romantic comedies (which honestly explains a lot about me as a person), so a lot of this novel really worked for me. There are nods to classic romcom films all over this story, both with the titles specifically mentioned on page and with the details (for character, plot and setting) of the actual story. And it starts off real strong, setting the stage for Annie’s romcom journey well (particularly when it comes to introducing Annie herself, the places she inhabits and the people she regularly interacts with). I did find Annie to be frustrating at times, with her hasty judgments (that recalled Elizabeth Bennet to me, for some reason), but the real downfall of this story was in the latter third of the story when the drama got wild for the romance and the character growth. (Add to that the fact that, though there are mentions of wanting more diversity in romcoms on page, there’s a lack of it in the main story, a fact that truly became clear while I was discussing with my friends Amy, Madalyn and Melanie.) Even with my reservations, Waiting for Tom Hanks was still fun (and definitely had its remarkable romcom moments).

If you are a fan of romantic comedies or obsessed with 90's romantic comedies featuring Tom Hanks, than look no further, Waiting for Tom Hanks is the book that you've been waiting for.

Waiting for Tom Hanks follows the story of Annie and Drew. Annie wants what ever girl wants. She wants the perfect man that she just happens upon and they fall instantly in love. And the rest as they say is history.....Only that perfect guy doesn't exist. This isn't a movie, this is real life. And while Annie dreams of finding a man who is just like Tom Hanks, she needs to keep her eyes open or she might not see that Mr. Perfect is right under her nose....

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the Tom Hanks movie references and the nods to You've Got Mail & Sleepless in Seattle. Both of those movies I've seen over a million times and still find myself swooning over. I adored Annie. I think she was a little clueless when it came to men and that she did have some rather unrealistic expectations, but you've got to give props to the girl for knowing what she wants and not being embarrassed about what she's looking for.  And in Annie's case, I love that her match was the total opposite of her. He was everything that she was looking for, just wrapped in a different package.I have to say,

I enjoyed Annie and Drew together. I love that Drew just got Annie. Drew was the kind of guy that didn't show attraction or affection in the most traditional ways. He's the grown up version of the boy at the playground who can't help but pull a little girls hair. So, when it came to Annie, Drew's flirting skills might not have always hit the mark, but I found it to be funny and when he really did pull out all of the stops, it made those moments that much sweeter.

Waiting for Tom Hanks was a cute and fun read. I loved the idea of the story and was drawn into Annie's story instantly. I enjoyed watching Annie live out her own romantic comedy and couldn't wait to see how it would all unfold. I really enjoyed all the almost moments and the tension between the characters. This story was easy to read and light on the drama. In the end, I was hooked on Annie and couldn't help but root for her to find her happily ever after.

Waiting for Tom Hanks is a terrific debut novel and I'm excited to check out more from this author in the future.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*