3.75 stars ⭐️
Happy publishing day to The Reunion!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC! What a fun, charming romance. I loved the premise here, two co-stars who were on-screen love interests and best friends come together for a reunion show, 14 years later, and old feelings emerge. This was a quick read and even though all of the characters were rich stats they didn’t feel inaccessible. I also loved the use of the articles after each chapter, it went a long way to immerse the reader in the fictional world.

Maybe it was me...but I just could not get into this book. dnf at 20%.

I had just finished reading a book that interrupted the storyline with what was supposed to be a newspaper/magazine/online article. Every other chapter the story would have one of these and it just broke the flow of the book. Because of that I could not get invested in the characters and that was it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
While I am not a huge fan of celebrity romances I did enjoy this one!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Celebrity romances
Childhood friends to lovers
Second chance
Reunion TV show episodes
Super sweet romance
Hollywood drama
Closed door romance
How to Fake it in Hollywood
One Tree Hill or similar shows

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The added gossip articles between the chapters
The side characters- I want more of Bre and Ford

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I’m not a fan of miscommunication
I wanted more romance (i didn’t quite feel their chemistry) and less TV show drama

The blurb on this one absolutely got me hooked. Sadly, the rest of the book did not.

I liked Liv and Ransom a lot together. They were sweet. However, the romance was lacking. There wasn't enough scenes of them together, them talking, and generally connecting. There's a lot of history between them but I wanted to see more present.

Despite this being a romance, I felt like I knew more about their careers and Hollywood stuff more generally. I enjoyed all of this. However, this is a romance and the romance should be front and center.

Also, way too many clothing and food descriptions. It gave 2010s fanfic vibes which is weird in a published novel.

Overall, I just wanted more and found this story didn't live up to it's potential

3 stars

*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC*

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75 ⭐️


This was so much fun! I loved the way this was set up with the little breaks in between each chapter with the blog posts and the plot itself was so absorbing it felt like it took no time to read. The only reason this is below a four star for me is because I wasn’t at all interested in Ransom and I feel like for a romance book I should’ve been more attached to the love interest. 🫣
I loved this writing style and everything else going on so much that Ransoms entire plot line could’ve been deleted and I think I would’ve actually liked it better.
I don’t think there was anything inherently wrong with Ransom but with the fact that this is first person single POV I got so invested with all the other things going on in Liv’s life that by the time Ransom became a bigger deal I was just waiting to figure out how everything else was going to turn out. Overall I still definitely recommend!

Two famous actors reconnect after more than a decade of estrangement when they agree to sign onto a reunion special of the teen soap that launched their careers in this breezy, compelling romance. Olson's adult debut is a page turner of a novel featuring a particularly strong narrative voice when it comes to indie darling and intensely private Liv Lattimer. The scenes in which Liv navigates her Hollywood life (with the help of a team that is particularly well drawn) are some of the novel's strongest. Readers who like to get behind-the-cameras glimpses into show business and into the life of celebrities will eat these scenes up. What works less well, unfortunately, is the romance at the center of this one: the chemistry is not as strong as it should be to make the relationship between Ransom and Liv believable, and while the stakes are set up to be high, they never feel realistic. Part of the problem might be in Ransom's characterization: while Liv is fully-realized, Ransom never gets a chance to develop as a compelling lead in the story, and as a result it's harder to root for him (or even suss out his motivations). This won't be a problem for a lot of readers, though - this is a solid romcom, guaranteed to find a strong following. Part Abby Jimenez, part Elissa Sussman, this Hollywood romcom is guaranteed to satisfy.

This is a beautiful second chance Hollywood romance story. We see the torment that life in the spotlight can have on actors/actresses private lives. Ransom and Liv were once best friends, always friends, never more, despite the hidden feelings, which eventually tore them apart. Skip forward to the here and now when they're filming a reunion episode for the TV show they were on as teens, and all those feelings come rushing back like they never left. Emotions, physical attraction, and life are bound to get in the way, but with so many years of growing up and maturing, can they survive all that life throws at them again?

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh I have to much to say, where to even start? If you got the chance to do it all over again, would you? This is the question swirling around Liv's brain like a broken record as she returns to film a reunion episode with the cast of Girl on The Verge. It's been years since she had to slip into her role as Honor on the show alongside her cast mate and big time crush Ransom. Despite so much time passing since the show wrapped with a major cliffhanger, the moment Liv spots Ransom it's like no time has gone by at all. The two pick up without missing a beat...at least on the surface. Internally, Liv's experiencing all the turmoil. Thankfully, she has an incredible team supporting her between Mars, her very protective agent, Bre- her bestie turned assistance, and Attica who is pushy, but wants make sure Liv is a smashing success.

As filming commences and Liv is drawn back into her role of Honor, she is internally struggle to untangle the past and the present and what's real versus make-believe.

Be prepared to need lots of popcorn and gelato as you read this book. My favorite characters in the entire book is Bre by far and Ford. Plus, alongside many of the fans posting throughout the book on message boards, I totally ship Livvie and Ransom over Honor and Duke. Despite the paparazzi hounding them, actors vying for lead roles, and their careers on the precipice of change, can these two figure out where thy stand?

Things I loved in this book? The kittens, the lovely woman at the diner and her habit of providing them milk-shakes (I'll take cookie and cream to split with Ford), and Liv's love for refreshing sauvignon blanc. More deeply, I liked Liv's desire to memorize moments and her unwillingness to let the outside world steal her private moments. I also appreciated her candor about her conflicting desires as an actress and the blurred lines that occur when you slip into an old familiar mask time and time again.

Let me leave you with two quotes that resonated with me:

"No one else should get a say in who we love, how we love." and most importantly, from this book, a healthy reminder, "don't let fear win".

Celeb stories are a dime a dozen, and while this one wasn't particularly unique or groundbreaking, it was immensely readable. The story was cute, and I liked the writing a lot. The juxtaposition of narrative with tabloid bloggers was a nice touch. I'll definitely be on the lookout for other books by Olson.

Recommended for a quick, lighthearted read.

3.5

Liv is an actress who became famous in a teen drama when she was younger. Twenty years later, she joins the cast once again to film a reunion for the series. She reunites with Ransom who was not only her love interest on the show but her best friend and childhood crush. It seemed like there was something more between them, that is until Ransom breaks things off and they don't speak to each other for fourteen years.

This book went beyond the romance as it took a real look at the life of an actor, the drama on and off the set, and being in the public eye. Liv had some big decisions to make with future projects and the direction she wanted to take her relationship with Ransom. I loved the chemistry between Ransom and Liv even after not talking to each other for all those years apart. They eased right back into their flirty and fun relationship.

I wasn't fully invested in this book unfortunately. I found myself skimming too many times. I also didn't feel connected to Liv. This sometimes happens when I read celebrity romances.

4.5 stars

A hollywood romance/friends to lovers that made for some cozy reading.

I definitely loved the nostalgia of this book. Imagine if your favorite show filmed a reunion special and the main couple actually had the hots for each other in real life? Like I used to fantasize about that alone in my room. This book is exactly that! The relationship between Liv and Ransom gave me all the feels and some of their interactions were so cute!

I also enjoyed the "exclusive" peek behind the scenes of a reunion special. It totally feels like you're getting the vip treatment as the book takes you to cast read-throughs, red carpets, interviews, and most importantly....cat catalogue photo shoots!!! I also liked the gossip blog posts that were inserted every chapter. It made for a fun way to get both sides of the story - the inside scoop from Liv herself and what the fans are theorizing is happening from behind closed doors.

This was my first hollywood romance and I really enjoyed it. There isn't any spiciness - the scenes are closed door/fade to black which I really wish they weren't but I feel like it works in this case.

Former teen stars reunite 20 years later to film the reunion special of their hit TV show? And the chemistry between them is just as strong (if not stronger ) after all that time? Sign me up!! This premise + this book’s absolutely adorable cover had me itching to get my hands on this one ASAP!!

My reading experience with The Reunion was somewhat of a mixed bag. On one hand, I adored these characters!! Liv and Ransom, they were just SO CUTE. I am such a sucker for a good second chance romance/childhood friends to lovers and I just wanted to hug them and keep them safe in their happy little bubble. We also are introduced to some wonderful side characters (hello Bre and Ford!). Even though I’d never seen the fictional ‘Girl on the Verge’, there was an element of nostalgia, which I greatly enjoyed.

On the other hand, as much as I loved the characters and the show biz setting… I didn’t love the pacing and the execution. The chapters are broken up by press and gossip articles, and though I’m sure this was intended to be a fun touch, they felt very distracting. In other instances the story felt repetitive and as a result, a bit boring. We are told repeatedly that Liv and Ransom were incredibly close *before*, yet we never get to see any scenes play out on the page. I think flashbacks of some sort or dual perspectives would have been a great addition.

All in all: The Reunion’s characters are its shining stars. And though I may not have loved everything about this book, I greatly enjoying getting to meet them!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book started out with a strong concept and storyline. I love Hollywood. I love a reboot. I love friends to lovers and second chance tropes. With all this love fresh from the start, I really thought I would love this book. Unfortunately, it fell extremely flat. Liv was such a boring character. Even her internal dialogue was a snoozefest. She should have been a powerful woman in Hollywood that knows her worth and fights for what she wants, but she was so lame. Her affection towards Random was also very boring. There was no build up of their past connection or even friendship. She hinted a lot that there was something there when they worked together the first time around, however I couldn't tell you what it was because it was never mentioned. Random is a big loser who knew what his dad was going to do and he could have prevented it but didn't.

Overall, this book had so much potential but really missed the mark. I am really sad to say but I didn't enjoy the read.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book in advance.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The synopsis of this book sounded cute - two former teen stars, Liv and Ransom reconnect for their hit tv show reunion and come face to face with their feelings.

This was a pretty average read for me. I felt like I was told more about the character’s relationship than I was actually shown, even though Liv and Ransom knew each other for over 10 years the chemistry between them was lacking.

I also thought the blog posts and comments between chapters were overused and way too long. Unfortunately, it made the story feel more like an extended celebrity news article rather than a romance.

It was interesting reading this second-chance romance novel when I was just thinking about and rewatching Friends, an actual old show with a reunion special. Oh, the nostalgia... There were times when I really felt like I was on set with the characters in the book!

I adored the cast. The romance was fine, sometimes I was skeptical and sometimes I was onboard. Liv had such a great team and support system ("everyone needs a Bre in their corner", hell yes). However, I also felt like there were some loose ends and would have loved to hear more from everyone else. Like, what happened to Ford?

One of my favorite aspects here is getting a glimpse into the inner workings of Hollywood and what goes on behind the scenes. The author also delves into issues such as fans being unable to separate actors from the parts they play on screen, how women tend to be villainized more than their male counterparts, cyberbullying by the media and the "secret sides to success":

There were some parts in the early chapters that felt over-descriptive (a play-by-play of Liv's every move isn't really necessary), but either it got better or I stopped noticing. The gossip articles sprinkled in between chapters was a fun and insightful touch.

Overall, it was a sweet read brimming with nostalgia and romance.

While I originally felt that the premise was too similar to Birds of California, as I got further in, I was glad to see that the story was not as alike as I thought! I loved the supporting characters and our leads were utter perfection. Oh my gosh, is there anything hotter than a man that cares about animals?? Anyways, the childhood-friends-to-lovers status between Ransom and Liv was excruciatingly beautiful, both amazing in their own right yet always concerned about the other’s well-being. I am not usually into fade-to-black scenes, but in this case, it rather felt like it was a tribute to Liv’s desire to keep some things for just herself. Absolutely recommend!

I could not stop reading this romance! I loved it from the opening note, which addressed my (and many other people’s) legit concern regarding Joey’s choice of Pacey/Dawson in the series finale, set 5 years in the future from where the last storyline concluded. Most of y'all are younger than I am, and that episode (if you watched it) was nowhere near as MONUMENTAL for you as it was for me. I will hold back my opinions on the episode itself, but I know how greedily I (and my friends) watched it… LIVE, because there was not other option at the time!!
I absolutely loved the unabashed Dawson/JVB love on Don't Trust the B* in Apartment 23. And his role on How I Met Your Mother… ok I have to stop now that I’ve dated myself on multiple shows and shown my true allegiance
Anyway, pretending I didn’t just word vomit all of that, I read about ⅓ on my flight last night and finished it today. I kept imagining the cast of Dawson's Creek while reading The Reunion. But I bet people from other time-frames can experience this story with their own teenage stars of choice in place of the former TV stars that the book follows. I can’t wait to read more from the author because this was a JOY to spend my Saturday reading.
I think other romance fans who have followed a TV show and wondered what happened with the characters after the show wrapped, both in real life and on screen, will also enjoy this one!
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This one comes out on January 17th - let me know if you check it out!!

Super cute! I really loved all the characters, the plot and the romance. This was a super satisfying, if not somewhat predictable, read. Always a fan of a well-written rom-com and that's exactly what this was.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book so perfectly evokes the nostalgia of your favorite teen shows that you'll find yourself forgetting that you weren't actually a fan of Girl on the Verge yourself. I was rooting for these characters to be able to find themselves outside of who they were as teenagers. Anyone who has ever been made to feel like people around them don't want them to grown and change will relate, even if it's just family or old friends making you feel boxed it and not millions of fans of a former tv show.

The Reunion is about teen stars who reconnect after their show is rebooted. They didn't get the chance to date when they were younger. Two things I really love: celebrity romance and second chance romance so I wasn't disappointed. Their relationship was fun to watch and the flirting was cute!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.