From the author who also penned Waiting for Tom Hanks, this sequel focuses on Chloe who loves coffee, her friends, and possibly her boss.
Maybe.
Probably.
With the same vibe as feel good rom-coms, it's a fun with plenty of musical cues as the two main characters figure out their like, lust, and love for each other.
Great bit of escapism in a very chaotic (real) world.

*I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed this much more than Kerry Winfrey's first novel. I thought the character development was better and that the love grew more organically.

The audio format was definitely a great choice for this one, because Reba Burr does a great job with the narration. I liked this one better than Waiting for Tom Hanks for sure, though I do have some ongoing quibbles with the series.

On the plus side, I really like Chloe's narrative voice, and in general I like her as a character much more than I like Annie. Nick seems like a genuinely great guy, though we don't get to know him super well as a person. Still, there's a sort of Lorelai/Luke vibe here that cannot help but make me invest. It's cute, funny, and a quick read.

However, I do still struggle with the amount that this series is obsessed with romantic comedies. I mean, I love rom-coms a fuckton, and I continue to find it over the top. It still feels like it's maybe trying to be a satire but failing, though I think it's supposed to be an homage. If there were a Guinness book world record for using the terms romantic comedy/rom-com, this book would hold it. Personally, I think the constant allusions to how Chloe's life is or is not like a rom-com highlight the artificiality of everything and make the book feel less believable, but mileage will vary on this.

Also, I had mixed feelings on Waiting for Tom Hanks when I read it, but, undoubtedly unintended, this book cemented me as not really liking that one in retrospect. Annie made her big break writing a romantic comedy script about the dynamic between Chloe and Nick, barely even changing their names. When Chloe gives her updates in Not Like the Movies, Chloe TAKES NOTES to use in a new script. She's shocked and offended when Chloe says that's unacceptable and that she wasn't comfortable with the movie. But, in the end, Chloe ends up apologizing! (Annie does too but not even close to enough.) Chloe should not apologize, and it's bullshit that at the end, they call Annie the best rom-com writer of their generation. She's clearly a terrible writer and friend? I really wish this had been handled differently, though Chloe clearly struggles with boundaries in terms of what she'll do for her friends, so I believe it. Annie's a toxic user, though, and you can't change my mind.

This was a step up for me from the first book in the series, and I'll definitely keep reading Winfrey's rom-coms. I just hope outside of this series they'll realize it can still be a rom-com without constantly calling itself a rom-com?

Thank you to Netgalley for approving my arc request!

Uh, so if you didn't read the book before this, you're going to be confused. Why would I read a book without reading the first one? UMM I didn't know they were supposed to be read in order?

I did like how the MC was relatable with issues like nursing homes and alzheimers, I don't usually relate to a character in romance. I do feel the book could've been edited a bit more, however I'll really have to read the first book to get a better grip on the book.

If you’re looking for a feel good rom com, then “Not Like the Movies” is a perfect pick! Though this book takes place after Kerry Winfrey’s debut “Waiting for Tom Hanks”, they do not need to be read in order. Chloe’s best friend Annie wrote a screenplay based on Chloe’s chemistry with her co-worker and boss Nick, who she runs a coffee shop with. Once the buzz gets out about the movie, Chloe and Nick find themselves the interesting speculation of fans and start to wonder about the chemistry themselves. The humor, warmth and love in this book make it the perfect read for some romance, laughs and even some tears. Set in Columbus, Ohio where I went to college, I found myself dreamily walking down memory lane while also being engrossed in this lovely story. The story also touches on Alzheimer’s disease, broken relationships with parents and the hesitancy to trust someone deeply. Definitely check this one out if you’re a contemporary romance fan!

Really enjoyable! I am happy that Chloe and Nick got their own book after being introduced to them in the 1st one.

I read Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey, and fell in love. Not Like the Movies was just as sweet as its predecessor. I adore her writing, and I truly love a good romcom and feel like they're hard to come by, but this one was just perfect. Frazzled, no-time-for-romance main character? Surly boss that is a potential love interest? Yes please!

I really wanted to like this book, but I had to force myself to complete it. None of the characters had much depth. It seemed like an excuse to list random rom-com movies. I don't understand why Nick was into Chloe. Chloe spends the whole book mooning over how compassionate Nick is to her and her needs, then pushes him away for caring too much. It makes no sense.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for gifting me a review copy of Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey. This is the second in the Waiting for Tom Hanks series, and while I haven’t read the first book yet I thought this one worked really well as a stand-alone novel.

Our leading lady, Chloe, doesn’t have time for herself, let alone romance. She’s too busy doing everything for everyone else, along with being the sole caregiver for her father who has early onset Alzheimer’s.

Her best friend is a screenwriter and turns Chloe’s life into a rom-com, shipping her and her surly, bearded boss Nick, who owns the cafe where she works. As the movie buzz increases, both online and off Chloe’s life starts to get more and more complicated. But is Chloe being affected by all the articles about #relationshipgoals or has she always had feelings for Nick?

I loved all the characters in this book and their banter, along with the funny quips and one-liners. Chloe felt real and relatable, and Nick was such a teddybear—being gruff on the outside but loyal and there when you need him. I happily got lost in their little world and it was the perfect distracting read for me right now. I would love to see this made into a movie series!

Definitely grab yourself a copy of this one, and keep your fingers crossed with me for a third book in the series!

Not Like the Movies was so good! I even liked it more then it’s companion, Waiting for Tom Hanks. It was so cute and funny and the writing was so awesome. The characters for me were the best part. I loved Chloe and Nick so much. I couldn’t stand how cute the two of them were! I loved watching them go from friends to something so much more and special.

I highly recommend this one. It was the perfect romcom!

This was a sweet rom-com with some really fun characters. I enjoyed it, and can't wait to read the prior book by this author now!

I absolutely loved this book! The banter storyline was cute and quirky and I loved the characters. I felt like the story moved quickly and kept a easy pace so I didn’t ever get bored. All in all, this is one that won’t easily be forgotten and I look forward to this next book in the series! Thank you netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't a fan of the first book but I am a fan of rom-coms so I wanted to follow these characters with the second book. The premise was still too cutesy for me and felt disingenuous. I am still so annoyed by Annie and found myself frustrated with Chloe now too. I think the author let her flaws go on too long without growth. It was too repetitive to be entertaining in a book. I never felt like I got to know the main male character Nick at all. Again, fun dialogue but the lack of depth or something more makes this book and series a pass for me.

Chloe Sanderson’s best friend just wrote a box office hit movie about Chloe’s romantic love life. The only problem? All that happy-ever-after nonsense in the movie isn’t real at all. Chloe does work in a coffee shop, and she does have a hot boss. But she and said adonis, the gorgeous and brooding Nick Velez, aren’t lovers, or even friends really. Sure, they banter back and forth a bit, but that’s it. Also unlike the movie, Chloe’s father is sick, and he’s not going to get better. Her father’s dementia is getting worse every day, and it’s up to Chloe to take care of him, emotionally and financially.

Chloe considers herself an optimist, but even she has to admit that she’s exhausted. And after she and Nick are trapped together one dark and stormy night, and end up, whoops, making out, well, now she’s confused, too. All she knows is that she is juggling too much already and doesn’t have the time or energy for yet another relationship that requires her to give her all to someone else while getting little back in return. Nick seems like a person who could take care of her for a change, but Chloe has a hard time believing she’ll ever get a happy ending.

MY THOUGHTS
Not Like the Movies is a cute book. There are some laugh out loud moments, which surprised me, but the story also could have been edited down a bit to keep things moving more smoothly and swiftly. Chloe is funny, and I did enjoy her banter with Nick and with her other friends. One thing that bothered me, though, is how emotional she is ALL THE TIME. She’s going through a lot of stress, I get it. But she Ugly Cries like every other day. It bothers me when authors have to rely on a female character’s crises and tears to move the love relationship along. It’s lazy and, frankly, tired. Women are very capable of handling stress without publicly heave-sobbing about it.

Also, Nick says like ten sentences throughout the whole book. Another tired trope: men who can’t express their emotions. Haven’t we moved beyond this? I’m not offended. I’m just bored.

Still, this book was fun and light. It was a quick read, and a good way to forget about life for a few hours. I’d probably read another book by Kerry Winfrey.

**Spoilers**

This is a very cute rom com. I enjoyed the storyline and the banter between characters.

You have Chloe who takes care of everyone. Her best friend, her father, her brother and even her boss. Then you have Nick who is her boss. She can feel a spark but she tries to ignore it till she can't any longer. However when Nick tries to help Chloe she has a hard time letting him and breaks things off. Although all she wants is to be with him. (You will have to read the book to see what happens.)



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Not Like the Movies, the second installment to the Waiting For Tom Hanks series shows you that even though life is hard, you don’t have to face it alone.

Chloe Sanderson, a hardworking optimist works night and day to provide for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer’s while studying for her bachelor’s degree and having a job at Nick’s, the bakery she’s been working at for quite a long time. When her best friend, Annie, writes a rom-com that’s about to be premiered right there in Columbus, it also happens to be inspired by her… and her boss, Nick Velez.

I gave Not Like the Movies four stars, loving every second of reading this. I didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did, but I’m glad I did. I loved the first book: Waiting For Tom Hanks and this was a perfect second book. Chloe had so much going on with her life and it was difficult for her to relax. She stressed herself out and throughout the book I was a little scared for her. I wanted her to feel comfortable and enjoy herself and I truly think Nick brought an easygoing, more relaxed side of hers out. Both Chloe and Nick were adorable to read and their chemistry worked between them flawlessly. They were polar opposites but their puzzle pieces fit perfectly together.

Nick was a type of hero that I never expected to read. While I knew that he was a very prim and proper man who runs a café, he was proper, broody, and in seems to live under a rock when it comes to the outside world. I think that Chloe’s bright optimistic energy really brought out Nick’s happy side even though he never liked to show it around people.

I loved that Chloe started to realize — with help — that it is ok to receive help. She has spent her whole life doing things on her own and it definitely took her a while to realize that there are people there for her. I think that she never truly realized that it was ok to accept help and that she finally discovered the way Nick was being sweet and helping her out that nothing has to be done singlehandedly.

Both of them were a fantastic couple and they fit each other perfectly even if it took Chloe a while to realize. Nick was understanding throughout the whole thing and as Chloe’s character grew, we could see the way Nick’s character grew as well and both their love for each other strengthened as they found each other.

This was a fantastic read and I didn’t realize I needed this cute romantic read until I realized I had finished this great book in a day.

Thank you again to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So delightful! Chloe feels like a person might you know. Her optimism and sense of humor are completely winning. Of course, too much forced optimism isn't exactly good for your mental health and that, along with an inability to let others help her, is Chloe's main antagonist. I was impressed that Winfrey was able to pull off a satisfying HFN even with the scope of things Chloe is facing - a father with Alzheimer's, an absent mother, and a stalled career. The romance is full of banter and sweetness, definitely one to recommend.

This totally lived up to the first in the series! Charmingly realistic characters, and a friends to lovers story line gave me butterflies and kept me laughing.

This was very cute and just a generally sweet read. I enjoyed my time with Nick and Chloe (even though I really just wanted to bash their heads together!). I hadn't read book one, and it definitely didn't hamper my enjoyment of this one at all, it didn't seem like you needed to have read the first in order to know what was going on here.

I feel the overwhelming thing to come out of the book was that we all need a Nick in our life because SWOOOOON. Between him and all the talk of pie, I was practically drooling through half the book!!

A fun, fairly lighthearted read, with lots of pop culture references, just be warned, it will make you want to bake pies until midnight!

I had a hard time getting in to this book.. I liked the characters, but I couldn't figure what she was thinking much of the time. I wondered why she even talked to Mikey Danger. I didn't understand her fight with Annie at all. It seemed odd that she wouldn't act on what she felt for Nick, yet sleep with Mikey.