This one definitely took me a little while to get into but once I did I flew through it! The dialogue was hilarious, and the friendships between Kara's friends and family were great. I loved this one and laughed so hard at some parts I think I have abs now.

I love the aspect of this romance novel that has author and bookstagrammer Kate using her attraction to her college boyfriend, Ryan, in order to amp up the romance and tension of her in progress romance novel! This hit some favorite tropes perfectly, putting Kara and Ryan into close proximity, wedding stress and bliss, and second chance love.

In wondrous stong defense of romance novels - a book within a book - deeply drawn lovable characters - and a good dog! This book has it all. Do read it!

Thanks NetGalley for an advanced readers' copy! I loved it!

Kara Sullivan is a successful writer of romance novels and an avid bookstagrammer. (I LOVED the latter part!) She is on deadline for her latest book and is scrambling to complete a draft. Her best friend is getting married, and she's in the wedding party. Lo and behold, the college boyfriend, Ryan, who broke Kara's heart ten years ago is on the groom's side! Ryan ends up needing a place to stay, and Kara offers her couch. Having him nearby is inspiring her writing, so it's all good, till it gets too friends and a big, giant complication splits them apart.

I'm a sucker for books where the characters call each other by nicknames. For me, that adds a more realistic touch. So, I fell for Ryan the first time he called her Sullivan. Also, he loves his dog. Dogs are always a plus. I really wasn't sure how the giant complication was going to be resolved, but I was satisfied with it. This was a fun read and I recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review!

My Thoughts
If you have been a regular follower of my blog you should already be aware that I love books about books, bookstores, libraries, authors… you name it, as long as it is book related. This book has “Bookish” in the title and it about an author and Bookstagrammer! There was no way I could pass this one up! Here are my pros and cons for Talk Bookish To Me:

Pros

1. The female protag is an author and an Bookstagrammer!! YEAH! I just recently started my own Bookstagram so I was totally relating to her crazy need to share books she loved.
2. The lead male protag has no clue what a Bookstagrammer is and he tried to describe it as “a secret librarian photographer”. I laughed out loud… although, he wasn’t really wrong. HAHA!
3. I thought the characters were relatable and realistic.
4. I enjoyed the snark and tension and obvious strong emotions between Kara and Ryan.
5. Since Kara is a romance novelist, she discusses a lot of the tropes used in romance novels and she indicated that the enemy to lover trope was one of her favorites. That is also one of my preferred tropes and this book is a great example of it.
6. I was pretty much hooked from the first chapter and raced through the rest of the book in record time.
7. This book has some depth to it as well – family issues, unfortunate miscommunications and assumptions, unfortunate timing. It isn’t all snark and swoon!
8. Speaking of swoon… I thought this book was pretty tame with regard to the love scenes. I’m not really into the super steamy stuff, so I appreciate that this book included that part of the story without describing every single thing in graphic detail.
9. I enjoyed the sections from Kara’s historical romance novel (the book she was writing in the story) that were interspersed throughout the book. I’m also glad a conclusion to her book was included because I was getting interested in that story line as well!
10. The ending is perfect.

Cons

1. As with all romance novels, there must be a conflict near the end that the couple needs to work through and resolve before they can get to happily ever after. I didn’t like the conflict in this one because it didn’t feel realistic to me. All I will say is that Ryan did something bone-headed stupid and it did not feel like something he would have done (based on how he was written in the rest of the story). I wish the “conflict” had been something else entirely, because the situation used in the book felt unlikely and contrived.

Summary
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the romance, the book-related content, the situations, the traveling… all of it. It is fast-paced, contemporary, angsty, funny, and genuine. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a solid contemporary romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin/Graydon House for providing an ebook, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This contemporary romance read completely mesmerized me and had my heart. Wholeheartedly. Here, Kara Sullivan is a popular romance author and bookstagrammer. She's dealing with her best friend's upcoming wedding stress, her latest book deadline, and writer's block. Then, her first love and ex-boyfriend Ryan shows up for the wedding to her surprise and he sparks some sort of writing inspiration in her that gets her book on track. So, we get some good forced proximity and second chance romance tropes here that I became utterly obsessed with and couldn't put this book down. Can she embrace Ryan, her unlikely and handsome muse, to get everything done and find her own happily ever after too? I'm always down for a fun bookish romance, and this totally fulfilled that niche for me, and that GAH, so freaking cute. Ryan and Kara have such a sharp, fun, and engaging banter, and it leads to such a cute romance read. I just couldn't, nor did I want to, put it down before I finished this read. It's so sweeping and cute. Then, even when the biggest freaking bombshell dropped, my heart ached and I just wanted a HEA for our hero because I had fallen for this book and Kara+Ryan have such a connection and that spark. It's so heartfelt, vulnerable, and emotional yet so sweeping and squeal-worthy. Author Kate Bromley didn't just write one book that I need but two because I also need Kate's full manuscript in real life. Then, that epilogue is absolutely precious to boot. It's so fun, full of compelling language, and an enjoyable romance read for all us bookish girls.

I really enjoyed this book. It was much deeper than I thought. I couldn’t put it down. And it had Italy in the book! Really enjoyed this!!!

I thought this was s really fun book. There were some good twists and turns. The inclusion of the novel she was writing was unique. I’d love to read a novel about Liam next!

A romance made in NYC with one of the hottest scenes a book lover could imagine ... well, if you're into romance novels and stuff like that. College lovers reunite at a mutual friend's wedding. They are thrown together and find the flame is still burning but is the timing right? Can they get over the past and get on with the future? Truly a fun read!

This rom-com centers around miss-timed opportunities and regret, but do not worry! A satisfying ending comes for the characters, like a proper rom-com. There are some parts that will definitely be hang ups for some readers (infidelity). I think it was great overall. I wish Kara (the main character) had been written to show a little more responsibility for her part, especially for repeatedly interrupting Ryan. I also didn't find the characters as odd or goofy as Bromley repeatedly told us. I thought it was an enjoyable read overall. I felt like adding a new love interest at 65% threw me off balance a bit. It almost seemed like a setup for a sequel/spin-off.
I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

I'm a fan of enemies to lovers, but this one didn't quite work for me. It might have been the pacing, and I never really connected with Kara as a character.

The perfect romance book doesn’t exis-

It does now! I mean it’s legit a romance book about a romance book that’s about a romance book...🧐 Okay how about this, there’s a lot of romance! Kara is the embodiment of the cute and quirky bookworm we all aspire to be and Ryan complements it all perfectly. It made me laugh, cry, gasp and throttle my kindle and it was adorable.

10/10 recommend adding it to your 2020 anticipated releases list!

So much fun! Bromley writes about what she clearly knows best-being a romance writer-and her passion for the topic shines through the pages of this book. All of the characters are enjoyable, the settings are perfect, the plot moves along well but doesn't throw any crazy curve-balls at you. This is the perfect read for someone look to escape for a few hours.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I happily present what I imagine every romance enthusiast's favorite Summer 2021 book will be: Talk Bookish to Me.

College girl meets college boy, and they fall in love... but it ends. Terribly. Ten years later, brought together by the wedding of their best friends, Kara and Ryan wonder how they'll manage to spend a week without killing one another. Surprisingly, Ryan's presence seems to be just the trick that Kara needs to rid herself of the writer's block that's been impeding her from writing her latest historical romance and jetting off to a long-awaited Italian vacation. As relationships are tested and secrets unfurl, Kara struggles to manage a happily ever after for her heroine, much less one for herself.

I found the premise of this book charming, but a bit rushed into. That being said, once the reader gets to know Ryan, it's little wonder that his presence alone gets Kara's writing juices flowing. A lovely mix of Bingley and Darcy, Ryan is the kind of leading man anyone would want to read about.

I loved that in writing this book, Bromley addresses more than just the romance in Kara's life. Talk Bookish to Me is a tale that speaks to any aspiring romantic attempting to live out her own happily ever after while also dealing with the reality of having friends, family, a career, and a past that isn't all hearts and flowers.

Overall, I found Kara and Ryan to be perfectly imperfect, and I wouldn't have them any other way. Many thanks to NetGalley and to Harlequin for providing me with the opportunity to meet this lovely couple in exchange for an honest review.

This romance novel is real life and exactly what I’ve been searching for.

“Ten years later, …everything felt so raw because deep down, I still thought about you all the time…bits of you and me are layered inside each one of my stories.”

Thank you, Kate Bromley, for writing this. I’m opening my own drafted novel and writing again because of you and your wisdom –

“You never have to forget him, you just have to release the pieces that hurt. Love is the part of him you get to keep.”

An excerpt from my review on Goodreads (spoilers removed). Thank you to the publisher for providing this copy to me via NetGalley.


This book was the definition of a rom-com: romantic, funny, with a lot of banter. I really loved the characters, especially Kara. Kara is relatable as a bookstagrammer and romance novel writer (although I am neither of those).

I do wish more time was spent in Italy, it seemed like such a dream to be there (and especially with the Under the Tuscan Sun shout out early on, I was expecting even more lush descriptions of Kara's time in Italy).

Anyway, a fun read with a lot of heart to it. A bookish rom-com through and through.

A perfectly lovely romance novel, but I had some trouble connecting. I didn't find it to truly be an enemies-to-lovers story because Kara and Ryan never actually hated each other. They re-connect and almost immediately are friendly again, which made it harder to believe there were obstacles between them. Still, after being stuck in my house all year, it was great to read about "real" life in New York City and even spend some time in Rome.

This book felt like a nice, cozy hug in a bleak year. I laughed out loud in several places and stayed up way too late (3am as a new parent, what was I thinking?) just to find out what happened to the main characters. It’s a funny, literary romp for book nerds and I recommend it for any fans of romance who need a nice escape with a side of strong feelings.

I’m addicted loyal fan of enemies to lovers theme: add more smart banters, explosively high, pant melting chemistry and likable MCs: I’m sold! I can read millions of books with this definition!

I can honestly admit that I was hooked from the first ten pages of the story: pre-wedding party, mariachi orchestra, introduction of romance writer, quirky, partly introvert, bookstagrammer, smart, sweet heroine Kara Sullivan and her straightforward, entertaining bestie who is marrying with her love of her life.

A few pages later, our hero Ryan Thompson appears out of nowhere as groom’s childhood friend , who also broke Kara’s heart ten years ago and he still blames her for their breakup.

I’m so intrigued!!!!!! I got five starred reading vibes after seeing the creative, humorous banters and unresolved passion between the couple!

Another best thing is their encounter magically cured Kara’s writer’s block: she starts to work on her very streamy historical romance. So we’re lucky enough to read two books at the same time with blasting, mind blowing chemistry! Yes!!!!!!!Another five starred reading sign!

But when I read the reason why our couple breakup and learn more about their tragic family issues, I realize this book is not regular soft, sweet, swoon kind of romcom! We get the true angst alarm from the beginning!

As we reach at the middle, we find out a big secret of the hero! After reading that secret, I want to hire Jack Bauer, Jack Ryan, Jack Reacher and Jackson Teller to torture that guy! He groveled a lot to get the girl back but he truly pissed the hell of me!

Just for the reason and way too much angsty parts ( more misunderstandings, more heartbreaking and groveling chapters) I cut some points.

I’m still giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4! Because I loved heroine and I enjoyed historical romance fiction parts and Kara’s inner journey, healing and rediscovery her true self in Italy.

And I truly loved author’s incredibly entertaining sense of humor! I laughed out so many times when I gave breaks from cursing at Ryan. (I wish douche Ryan crawled and moved on his knees from the states to Italy and begged for Kara’s forgiveness. That’s my Christmas wish list!)

Anyways I’m so happy to read this book which put this lovely and brilliant author on my radar! I cannot wait to read her next works!

Special thanks to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This would be 5 stars but I got hung up on a very important decision that was made in the book and just could not get over it!

Now how to describe what on earth I mean without giving anything away? Hmmm. Let me just say that cheating is a topic that I take very seriously and it is one of those things that I REALLY draw the line at. I understand that real people are flawed and make bad decisions, but the way that it was handled in the book just did not appease me enough to allow it to slide by. But PLEASE read it and draw your own conclusion!

The book was great, and I think that I am just swayed by personal bias because I have seen many a movie and read many a book where similar things happened and were also resolved. :)

The main and side characters are witty and appealing, and many of them are also flawed which really gives this book an authentic feel that I did thoroughly appreciate. Real people have real problems, and sometimes it's great to read a book have a flawed and genuine experience!

My only gripe is that I loved Ryan and Kara together...until I didn't. Now give this a read and let me know what YOU think!