I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Thank you, Berkley, for the gifted copy of Not Like the Movies {partner}

Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 7.7.2020
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"No one in the history of ever has called me chill. I came out of the womb and the doctor was like, 'Whoa, get this newborn into a baby yoga class; she's stressed."

After reading some heavier books, I was in the mood for a light read, so I picked Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey! It was a perfect choice as it was comforting and predictable - I knew where the story was headed and that I would get my happy ending.

Not Like the Movies is the second book from Winfrey involving the same characters. But, it could also be a standalone as the author helped fill in any gaps for those 🙋🏽‍♀️ who still need to read Waiting for Tom Hanks. After finishing Not Like the Movies, I plan to go back to read Annie and Drew's story.

Chloe was so easily relatable to me ( 👆🏼 the quote is how I feel some days), and I completely understood her anxiety about life. It was fun to see Nick's side of things (although I did want more). I appreciate his honesty and how he stood up for himself when Chloe was apprehensive about her feelings toward him.

🙆🏽‍♀️ Easily relatable MC
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Workplace romance
🥰 Comfortingly predictable
📖 Could be a standalone
🤩 Coffee shop + baked goods

You can find my full review on my blog (link in bio).

I recommend reading Not Like the Movies if you need a little break from heavy books or are just in the mood for a good book that will make you laugh and cry.

I got into Not Like the Movie without knowing it was a part of the series. How foolish of me for not doing my research.
When it comes to romance genre, with every book following different main characters, they can usually all be read as standalones.
This one can also be considered as easy to understand on it’s own, to some point, but since main characters from the first book appear more then few times, and it is constantly mentioned what happened in that story, bringing and creating problems for characters in this, second novel, I would suggest to read the first book first.
I felt like I was missing out and it kind of ruined my reading experience.

The story follows a woman who has hots for her boss. And while I usually like that trope (or the idea of it because I haven’t read many books following it) in this novel Chloe acted too unprofessional to me with her constant comments but then when Nick would try something she would be all like “Oh no, we can’t. Bla bla bla, but you still have cute but and strong muscles and also, you smell like an old hot grampa”. Yes, I know.
I guess this is also age gap romance because Chloe had some comments about Nick being old, but it was never stated how old was he.

I didn’t like all the drama and characters finding excuses not to be with each other just so we can rute for them to finally get together.

Chloe’s relationahip with her bestie was also strange and it didn’t sound too healthy.

I could relate to Chloe who took care of her dementing father and having to deal with her absent brother. Their relationship with their mother was so complicated and I totally understand how it would scar them both.

The writing style was solid and the book reads quikly.

I would recommend Not Like the Movie but I would also advice to start with Waiting on Tom Hanks first.

Apologies for the late response on this title, and apologies for clogging up an inbox on old titles.

While I am aware it's obvious, I have chosen not to read/review this title.

As always, I appreciate access to titles and look forward to the next one...which I have likely already read based on how long ago this title was published.

Thanks, again.

This was such a lovely read! It truly felt like a real rom-com; a genre I feel is applied much too widely and without much thought these days.

Chloe had a great character arc and while I wanted to lovingly shake her at times and yell, "Just accept help from someone!", it was great to see the journey she went on. I love that Annie still played a role in Chloe's life and the book even though she got her HEA in book 1. With the two of them being best friends, it would have been odd if Annie hadn't had a big role in the story.

Was it a perfect book? No. I really wish we had gotten to know Nick better within the story. But I had such an enjoyable time reading it and it was just a nice read. I don't know how to explain it. It was an easy read, and I say that knowing full well that "easy reads" are never easy to write.

If you're looking for a rom-com movie in book form, pick this one up!

After reading WAITING FOR TOM HANKS at the beginning of the year, I was anxious to get to the sequel. I listened to 80% of it on audio and then finished it via my eBook copy. This one continues the story from the first book with an upcoming wedding as well as a movie premiere. I don’t want to spoil the first book for anyone so I’ll just say it focuses mostly on Chloe, Annie’s best friend from the first book. This book is Chloe’s love story and even though it is a bit predictable, the story was fun along the way.

If you are a Rom-Com fan, I recommend both of these books. Perfect summer reading especially for a small-town Midwest girl like me.

This is another book I worked hard to finish and just couldn't make work. I thought the heroine was immature and the hero was completely underdeveloped. I loved the setting and premise but the execution was not for me.

I have pretty high standards for romance books (that are personal to me, not for the population at large), so this one was just okay for me.

I really liked the hero in this book although I wasn't as big a fan of the heroine. All-in-all this was a satisfying RomCom.

Didn't love this one as much as the first book. But I loved nick and I would love more of him love Winfrey's writing and movie references! I look forward to reading more from her

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<p><strong>Rating:</strong>  ✩✩✩<br><strong>Audience:</strong> Adult<br><strong>Length:</strong> 320 pages<br><strong>Author:</strong> Kerry Winfrey<br><strong>Publisher: </strong>Berkley Jove<br><strong>Release Date</strong>: July 7, 2020<br><strong>If you like this try:</strong><em> The Bromance Book Club</em> by Lyssa Kay Adams</p>
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<p><strong>Synopsis</strong>: Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer's, she's pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that's about to premiere in theaters across America...and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe's cute but no-nonsense boss. As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can't see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who's Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn't so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After. </p>
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<p><strong>Things I liked</strong>: Nick! And the addressing of how other's medical needs and their own familial issues can take a toll on someone's mental and physical health.</p>
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<p><strong>Things I disliked</strong>: The main character was so stubborn. Not in the sense of her being troubled or that being a character flaw, but to the extent where it got obnoxious at times. I totally get the feeling of needing to do everything yourself and overwork yourself. I do that all the time. But for goodness sakes, this book took that character flaw and just RAN with it. Chloe's inability to see other people trying to help her and care for her while she extends that care for others just drove me a bit crazy at times. The conclusion to this book also felt a bit rushed to me. I don't know what it is about the romances I've been reading lately but this seems to be a very common theme.</p>
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<p><strong>My Review</strong>: Whereas the plot was semi-enjoyable with the comparison to a rom-com, I found that it fell flat for me. there wasn't anything exceptional about the writing or the characters that made me fall in love with the book. </p>
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Loved the love interest but after reading the author's first book, I think this author just isn't for me. A bit too cheesy for my romance, which is totally personal preference!

Waiting for Tom Hanks surprised me in the best of ways, and was such a delightful read that Kerry Winfrey became and auto-read author for me. Thankfully this one not only lived up to my expectations (and made me already eager to read whatever she writes next), but was even better than I could have hoped. A little spicier than her previous, the chemistry between Chloe and Nick was palpable (something that always makes a romance more fun, IMO). Plus, it was fun to spend more time with these characters and while you can certainly read it without having read Tom Hanks, it's all the more fun to be familiar with the universe Winfrey has created.

This was just okay, nothing special or memorable, lots of romantic cliches, & the narrator wasn't great.

Kerry Winfrey does it again with this wonderful rom-com. I loved the first book in this series, and this sequel did not disappoint. I enjoyed Chloe's arc in this book dealing with the effects of the movie being put out about her life. Sometimes in this book, I want to reach through the page to grab Chloe and shake her into realizing how ridiculous she's being, but this happens in most rom-coms and I can move past her insecurities because the rest of the story is so wonderful. Chloe deals with family and personal issues reminiscent of Abby Jimenez books. Overall, this book was a wonderful continuation of the world from the first book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

This one ended up being a DNF for me. Just couldn’t connect with the characters. I found them to be unlikeable. And the father with Alzheimer’s was hitting a little too close to home in this current season.

I loved this one!! I think I loved it even more than the first book! A cute romcom perfect for any time of the year.

The main character in this series installment is a little more realistic than the lead in Waiting for Tom Hanks. She's sweet and her problems are realistic.

It takes Chloe a long time to figure out her trust issues and how they are related to her childhood abandonment. This is realistic, but becomes repetitive quickly.

Gold star for a happy ending that isn't marriage and babies.

I loved this book almost as much as the first one in this series. I loved the characters and their chemistry that completely sucked me into this book and I didn't want it to end. I'm hoping there will be another book because I don't want the story to end.