This whole series is so cute. It's nothing ground breaking but the characters are well thought out and the story line is engaging.

This was a super fun continuation of Winfrey’s TOM HANKS book! It was delightful to see what happens with all of the side characters!

After LOVING the first book in this series, and falling in love with this cast of characters, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this next installment and let me just say…it was AMAZING!

Chloe and Nick are the perfect enemies-to-lovers couple and have more than a few struggles to go through, both together and apart, that make their story so touching. I had been rooting for them since the first book in t series and loved reading their journey. It was sweet, heartwarming, raw, and real. Loved these two!

If you’re looking for great weekend read to enjoy poolside this summer, this is a book for you! And be sure to pick up the first in the series, Waiting For Tom Hanks. Also, a fab read!

Not Like the Movies was fun and heart-warming romcom that revolved around Annie’s best friend Chloe and her romcom movie like love story. It was about letting people in your life and problems, it’s okay to accept help than carrying the burden alone, trusting your loved one to care for you as much as you care for them, family, friendship, and love.

Writing was uplifting, engaging and filled with entertainment, emotions and many cute and lovely moments. It was first person narrative from Chloe’s perspective. I enjoyed reading her monologue that gave more depth to her character. This should be read in order. You will enjoy this more after reading first book. Setting was the same as Waiting For Tom Hanks but this time it was set in springtime. Plot was interesting with secretly in love broody hero and clueless heroine trope.

It started after a year of end of the first book, Waiting For Tom Hanks. While Annie’s life has moved on, Annie was living her dream, her movie was releasing in a month and she was also getting married a week after her movie release, Chloe felt she was stuck in time and place. She was still working at Nick’s coffee shop, taking care of her father alone, and trying to study for her business degree in free time. And now that she knew Annie’s movie was based on her and Nick’s story, all the movie buzz and internet listicles has planted a seed of romance. She started looking at Nick in different eye and noticed how sexy and attractive he is. All her controlled and hidden emotions and feelings about her responsible life and Nick was going haywire. She didn’t believe in romcoms and surely not in happily-ever-after. It was interesting to read when she will realise she loved Nick, how much her story was like Annie’ romcom movies, and happily-ever-after is possible in real life as well if she let it happen.

It was great to read old characters– Annie, Drew, Nick and Chloe, Chloe’s father, Annie’s uncle Don and his friends, Nick’s Coffee shop customers along with new characters- Chloe’s twin brother- Milo, Milo’s boyfriend-Fred, Chloe’s second best friend-Tracey, and Mikey Danger. They all were interesting to read.

Chloe was her usual self lively, cheering and always making fun. We know about her from first book but in this there was more to her character. I loved the way author showed her hidden feelings and emotions, burden of responsibilities she carried all her life and how it was taking toll on her because of her ‘do-it-yourself-don’t-depend-on-others-so they-cannot-disappoint-you’ nature. I really felt for her on reading how she had to grew up early when her mom left her family, how she had to take care of her father suffering from Alzheimer when Milo moved to different city, never looking back on how she was handling everything alone, and all her earnings went into taking care of her father. She was amazing daughter and I admired her for all she was doing but I also wanted to shake her many times when she pushed all who cared for her away when all they did was offer help and trying to support and lessen her burden. What she felt about Annie’s movie and her habit of taking notes of Chloe’s life was genuine and I could understand it but the way she reacted was extreme. Her reaction to Nick’s idea and their relationship was unreasonable. I get it, her past experience made her believe she had to do it alone but pushing away chance of happiness, a chance of someone else taking care of her and supporting her responsibility was stupid. I loved how Annie made her see what she was thinking was wrong and she should let people in her life, take risk and chance to happiness.

I loved Annie and Chloe’s friendship and they both loved each other even after their big fight. It was lovely to see Annie taking Chloe’s place when it came to making her see her mistake and encouraging her to go for big gesture.

Nick was gloomy, serious, and brooding handsome hero. I agreed to Chloe, he had air of mysteriousness that made him even more interesting. In this book we know about him more- his friends and his family, what he did when he wasn’t the boss of the café, and how he lived. I loved reading about him and his feelings for Chloe. This guy was really patient. He loved Chloe ever since she started working at his café and kept loving and helping her all these times. Everyone could see what he felt except Chloe and I can’t believe what he must be feeling knowing that as well. And I agreed with him when he finally let Chloe know what he felt about her how her action and reaction to his offer was hurting his feelings.

What I loved most was music references. While Annie had lots of movie references in first book, Chloe had 80s sitcom and music references. Not to worry you also get romcom movie references as Chloe watched all romcoms along with Annie. I also enjoyed reading Chloe’s pies, her passion for baking and all her new idea for Nick’s shop, and description of her carriage house, Chloe’s dream of her own bakery and its name was great.

Romance was cute. Sexual tension between Nick and Chloe was electric, their banter was entertaining to read. I enjoyed so many cute and sexy moments between them- their kiss in thunderstorm, night they had to spent in one hotel room, sex scene, fight and big gesture it was all like Annie’s romcom movies.

Turns were predictable but I loved all scenes before and after climax. Annie’s wedding was cherry on the top. I loved Chloe for making things right and accepting her real life version of romcom movies. Her big gesture speech was beautiful and was so happy to read her happily-ever-after end and epilogue.

Why 4.5 stars- While I loved Chloe as much as I loved Annie, as I said earlier, I didn’t like her many poor reactions in this book. It’s really minor thing compared to everything else I enjoyed in this companion novel.

Overall, Not Like the Movies was lovely and heart-warming romcom with lovely characters and all the cheesy romcom movie like scenes and yet very original and refreshing. I highly recommend this book to romcom lover.

This was a great follow up to Waiting For Tom Hanks! Chloe and Nick's romance was well thought out, with lots of nuance, and was completely believable. A great addition to the rom-com genre!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen

Chloe has a lot on her plate. Her father is suffering from Alzheimer’s and Chloe helps him everywhere she can. She is also trying to finish her online degree. And did I mention she also has to plan her friend’s wedding. She barely has enough time to take a deep breath. So there is no way that she can even think about any type of romance. Even though she thinks her boss, Nick, is cute and would be a good catch. Nick is an introvert but he loosens up when Chloe is around. The bickering and banter between them is very funny. He is also a hard worker, dependable and someone you can count on. That is exactly what Chloe needs, because she feels like she has to do it all herself. Can they make the other one see how special they are and decide to take a chance on love?

The setting had a small time feeling to it and the coffee shop had some quirky characters. I felt like I would like to go and hang out there for a while.

Chloe does not believe in love, relationships and Happily-Ever- After. So Nick has some work ahead of him if he is going to change her mind. I thought Nick was a great character and I liked him. I had mixed feelings about Chloe. I felt bad for her having to take care of her dad, that would be tough on anyone. But she can be indecisive and stubborn and that drove me nuts at times. I wanted to shake her and tell her to give Nick a chance.

All in all, I liked the book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well crafted women’s fiction. And if you like Rom-Com, give this book a try.

Just as delightful as the first book - Chloe can be a bit much (heroines that think they have to do it all and won't ask for help get to be annoying at times) but you still root for her the whole time. And it's fun to see Annie get her HEA.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO NOT LIKE THE MOVIES BY KERRY WINFREY?
Not Like The Movies by Kerry Winfrey is a sequel to Waiting For Tom Hanks. This novel is about Annie’s best friend Chloe, whom Annie essentially based her movie script on. As I had previously listened to Waiting For Tom Hanks and enjoyed it, I thought I would also enjoy this book via audio. Thankfully there was a copy available at my library. I was excited to dive right in, because I just need a good bit of contemporary romance every now and again.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Not Like The Movies is a story that truly does show how real life love can be so different from rom com movies. Chloe works at a coffee shop which thankfully has flexible hours. You see, she needs the flexible hours to help take care of her father who has Alzheimers. Chloe doesn’t really have much of a dating life. Sure, she hooks up every now and again, but no real relationships. Her life is too complicated for that. Also? She kind of has a crush on her boss, Nick. As Annie’s movie is set to premiere, different websites come up with articles speculating about Chloe and Nick. Including a listicle about why Nick is the perfect man. He really is always there for Chloe when she needs him. She’s starting to think of him in a new relationship light. However, again, as the title says, it’s not quite like the movies would have it.

WHAT DID I THINK OF NOT LIKE THE MOVIES?
I really am a sucker for these kinds of books. Kerry Winfrey’s sequel is quite charming. And well, somewhat realistic too – minus the whole movie thing. I felt like the relationship between Chloe and Nick progressed realistically – despite the ups and downs. Chloe was someone I could feel a lot of empathy for – particularly in the situation of being the sole caregiver for her father. Granted, Chloe does have a brother, but he isn’t very helpful. This book had the HEA I was looking for, however, and did end up making me very happy in the end – showing there is someone out there for everyone.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook is narrated by Reba Buhr and is 8 hours and 36 minutes long. It goes by pretty quick and is easy to listen to. Buhr sounds kind of like a friend recounting her story. I felt pulled in by her narration and completely interested in the plot and the relationships. I’d say this audiobook was just as good to listen to as Waiting For Tom Hanks.

Chloe's BFF wrote a movie script about her falling in love with her boss, but it's not true! Or so Chloe insists. Chloe always has to do everything herself, leading to becoming overwhelmed, so much so that she almost passes on new professional opportunities and the possibility of a relationship with her (sexy) boss.

I enjoyed this story. A cute romance, but I wish I remembered more about the first book in the series. Winfrey does clue you in to those moments from the first book, but I feel like I might've gotten more out of the story if I remembered more details. Overall, I appreciated the message of allowing for people to help you and to trust those you love.

I tried very hard to get into this series.
Sadly it’s just not for me. I found myself bored too often.

I thought that if I tried to the audiobook maybe I would like it. But it didn’t help.

I found the characters highly annoying. I can usually try and get past it depending on the story line. But I honestly didn’t like any of the characters.

First of all, Kerry Winfrey is so talented at creating a rom-com world that actually seems like it might happen in real life. I loved the first book in this series (Waiting for Tom Hanks) and I found it to be so charming and cheesy but in the best way. This book was still super enjoyable but I found myself not loving the characters as much until the end (because of course I fell in love with them as a couple and wanted them together!). The main characters felt a little bit cynical at times and it was frustrating that they both kind of gave up on the other fairly quickly. Overall, I had a lot of fun and am not disappointed that I continued with the series.

Thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this sweet romcom. Chloe was a very relatable character- hardworking and smart. Nick was a mystery at first but definitely a great guy once the narrative unfolded.

I didn't read the first book in the series, so I feel like I maybe missed out on some of the storyline, but nothing essential. This book did a good job of explaining what had happened in the first book, without being tedious.

Although the romance was at the center of the story, I also enjoyed Chloe's relationships with her twin brother and her best friend.

I loved this book maybe even more than the first! It’s so fun to see what these characters have been up to since the first book and fo watch them resist the magic of love blooming around them. I loved the tension and conflict and was so happy to see how everything was resolved by the end. I’m here for the big epic movie moments and Winfrey has absolutely sealed herself as a must read romance author for me!

Am I missing something? This book has so many great reviews, did I pick up the wrong thing by accident? I just found this whole book…irritating. It didn’t annoy me per se as it was fairly inoffensive. But, everything about it just irked me.

The heroine. She was juvenile. She was supposed to be 30, but that could have easily translated to a book about a teenager and it would have fit. In fact, I may have liked it more, it would have explained the immaturity.

The romance. Under developed and unconvincing. I barely knew the hero, didn’t really understand his devotion to the heroine and basically didn’t care if they got together or not.

The tongue in cheek rom com movie thing. Over done and obvious, the whole thing was a cliché of clichés. Perhaps that was purposeful but I found it too much and…irritating.

I sound like a grumpy old man and I felt like one when I was reading this book. I’m trying to think of a positive thing to say about this book, but I am honestly struggling. The writing was solid and I can almost see why other people like this book, but for me. No, no, no. And, I think I will leave it at that, as my mother says, if you can’t say something nice…

4.25 Stars / 2.5 Steam Fans

Chloe and Nick work together in a cute, sweet, and quirky coffee shop, and had their secret attraction written into a movie by Chloe's best friend. On the movie premiere's cusp, Chloe and Nick attend a coffee convention where they end up sharing a hotel room. Not Like the Movies was a fun, relatable, sweet, and entertaining romantic comedy with a lot of heart.

Video review available in Week 43: Oct 18 – Oct 24 weekly book reviews and the Week of Netgalley Vlog, Episode 6 (coming soon).

For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Not Like the Movies is just as adorable as its cover!

This romantic comedy is a great follow-up to Kerry’s Waiting for Tom Hanks. I really enjoyed being back in Columbus with some of my favorites from book one. This series is definitely interconnected, so I’ll caution that if you don’t read the first book, reading this one will be spoilery and you’d miss out on some character development.

The premise is so fun with the main characters’ lives being the rough basis for a rom com flick despite them not actually having a real life HEA…yet!

Not Like the Movies is cute, quirky, and full of good humor, though it also casts light on some less carefree topics. One element that I appreciated was the representation of Alzheimer’s/caring for someone with a progressive disease.

The dynamic between Chloe and Nick gives me a lot of Lorelai and Luke (Gilmore Girls) vibes. Chloe has a sunshine personality while Nick is a classic grump with a heart of gold. The romance is slow to burn with a lot of angsty push and pull.

Overall, I really enjoyed Not Like the Movies and recommend it to fans of romantic comedies!

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.

I loved Winfrey's first novel, WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, which was just the perfect romantic comedy. I really enjoyed this one, too but not quite as much as the former book. I didn't find the connection between the hero and the heroine quite as magnetic, but the storyline was still fun, and the writing was engaging. Thank you Netgalley for the free review copy!

DNF at 35%

Ms. Winfrey is obviously a talented author. I enjoyed the first book in the series. There is nothing wrong with her writing or the way she plots a story. There was nothing structurally wrong with the book. Long story short, I did not like the heroine Chloe. I didn't like her at all. She had a good guy right in front of her face and the way she treated him... I just couldn't anymore.

I also had problems with all the things that Chloe was dealing with in the story. Many of the things mirrored things I deal with in my real life, making the read more of a reflection of my own personal insights, burdens, mistakes, flaws, etc. Instead of enjoying the book, I kept internalizing all the parallels Chloe and I had and it was making me more angry than making me happy. And books should make you happy, not cause you turmoil.

This story wasn't for me. I will just have to hope Chloe and Nick got together and catch the next book.

Ugh this book is a huge yes for me! I was such a fan of the first and this one got me in my feels again. I love Kerry’s writing and how she makes me feel super giddy when reading her books.

I loved the chemistry between Nick and Annie. I also loved seeing them continue their personal and relationship growth from the first book. This is a great romcom that I would recommend to others for a feel good.

I liked this book much better than the overly cheesy Waiting for Tom Hanks. Chloe was a much more likable character, although still frustrating. I also still felt like the book was a little too YA like for an adult romance. However, it was cute and Nick made for a very lovable character. I recommend it if you’re looking for a feel good romance.