(2.75 stars)

I was drawn to this book from the synopsis. Who doesn't love a second chance romance between two best friend actors? It felt like the perfect opportunity for angst, connections, and Hollywood drama. However, my expectations of what the book could have been were different than the actually product.

What I liked:
- Kayla Olson is an amazing technical writer. She displays great execution of the fictional romance writing format and voice. I was immediately hooked in from just the Prologue!
- Olson had some amazing quotable lines. I also think Liv's voice is super clear throughout the whole story
- I absolutely loved the connection that Liv and Ransom had. Actually, the relationships between all of the characters in this story were extremely diverse and fun to read about.
- I really enjoyed that the secondary characters were given their own events to happen in the course of this timeline. It made them feel more fleshed out and not just plot devices.

Things I didn't like:
- The amount of time/years it took for Liv and Ransom to speak again makes me angry and doubt their feelings. It makes me think their attraction for each other in present day is based mostly on nostalgia and not actual deep feelings.
- While the writing itself is technical perfection (I love the style, the voice, the formatting, etc), the content is lacking and (at times) a bit boring. This story would have been aided well with a B plot. It was incredibly repetitive in the first 31%, and during that time I was still waiting to be hooked (back) in. I think I was only invested in the the last 10% of the book.
- Anther thing that bothered me was that I was constantly told over and over and over and over again how close Liv and Ransom used to be. I never got to actually SEE a scene of them in their teens being best friends. If this book was told from dual timelines of past and present day, I think my enjoyment would have been completely different. Or at least given a couple of scenes from the past.

Overall, the idea for the plot was amazing and exciting but the execution was a tad disappointing.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 stars for this childhood best friends, second chance, forced proximity (sort of?) celebrity romance.

"The Reunion" by Kayla Olson sees main characters Liv and Ransom thrust back into each other's orbit 20 years after the success of the hit TV show they were on when they were much younger. Liv confessed her feelings for Ransom years ago but was essentially rejected by him. Though they remained friends after the show ended, their interactions dwindled over time. Now, a reboot of their show has been greenlit, which means they will be on-screen and in each other's arms again. This time around, it seems like Ransom reciprocates the feelings that have never evaded Liv all these years. Can they get their second chance?

This book is good, but not spectacular. The description sounded sooo good that the fact that it wasn't better is a bit of a disappointment. I liked the celebrity elements, which are well-written. Some of the characters do feel pointless and overly soap opera-y. Luckily, Olson does a good job laying out the years-long relationship (fervent in the past and nonexistent in the present) between Liv and Ransom. Their past is presented in a way that makes readers root for them to get together in the present. I really believed they were the best of friends who fell out when Liv caught deeper feelings for him. Their second chance in the present could have been a lot deeper, though. It feels convenient with no real stakes or big emotional investment.

Despite that Liv and Ransom are supposed to be 20 years older than they were when their show initially aired, they don't feel as old as they're supposed to be. I honestly forgot they were in their 30s because they are written with quite a lot of immaturity. This book is basically a YA book with 30-year-old protagonists. The third-act conflict isn't super believable. If readers are supposed to believe that Liv and Ransom were the best friends with a profound friendship, two people who knew each other inside and out, then the conflict is a moot point because Liv would never believe Ransom would betray her.

"The Reunion" is a quick read, and some will be dazzled by the glitz and glamor of the celebrity life and reboot chatter, but there were one too many issues for me to recommend this one fully. I'll still check out this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kayla Olson, and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Liv co-starred in a teen show for six years with her secret love and former best friend, Ransom Joel. Twenty years after the show first aired, the reunion episode/ special is in the works and it’s the first time in 14 years she’s seen him.

I loved this story. I thought the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was real and palpable: the furtive glances, the flirting…. It was all so cute. I loved the secondary relationships of Ford (another co-star) and Bre, Liv’s BFF/ assistant. I wish we would have gotten more snippets of them and the other side characters like Millie and Sasha-Kate. And I really wished for more spice from Ransom and Liv.

But if you’re in the mood for a nostalgic teen show story with a second chance romance, read this one. Super cute.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC. The Reunion comes out Jan 17, 23.

Liv starred in a popular teen television show for six years growin gup. It is now 20 years since the show first aired and the network is gathering together the original cast for a reunion episode. Her costar, and former best friend, Ransom Joel, and her haven't seen each other since the show ended. The past 14 years, Liv has layed low, leaving acting behind for awhile then coming back to do more meaty indie films. Ransom has gone the other direction as an action-adventure superstar. Liv and Ransom had been close, speculating rumors of off-screen romance, until Ransom suggested they take some time apart so their future significant others wouldn't question their friendship. Liv, who was secretly in love with Ransom, was incredibly hurt by the betrayal of her best friend. The minute they reconnect for the reunion, sparks fly. Is Liv imagining Ransom's feelings toward her again, like she fears she did all those years ago? And what comes next after this reunion?
I adored this story. Liv is the sweet, girl next door. She was raised in Hollywood, but is as down to earth as can be. After losing her father, thanks in part to the paparzzi, she has always wanted to be more lowkey and private in her personal life. The book is filled with fun side characters, like Sasha-Kate, Liv's 'sister' from the show who has made their relationship incredibly compeitive, Millie, the third sister who has transitioned into a pop superstar, and Ford, funny and witty friend and costar. Honestly, I think we could have used some beefing up on the rest of show's characters and their roles. We get hints and snippets of the other relationships, but my biggest complaint is that those weren't given more room to grow and a lot of Liv's concerns and worries about the show and Ransom got a little repetitive.
In this day and age of popular tv show reboots and movie remakes, it was easy to slip into the concept of this story and want to root for a favorite tv couple to become the real thing.

This was so cute!

If you like celebrity romances, pining, friends to more and the second chance book trope then this is for you!

This book is filled with friendships, insight into Hollywood, interviews, articles and a closed door romance.

I do wish there was a bit more about Liv and Ransom’s romance but other than that it delivered exactly what it promised.

Thank you so much Atria books and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5⭐️

What a great read! I was happy to read an ARC of this AND make it my book of the month pick for January

The Reunion is a super sweet Friends to Lovers/Second Chance Romance about Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel, two actors who once played in a popular teen drama called Girl On The Verge. They were best of friends and attached at the hip during their adolescence growing up on the show together until they had a falling out. After the death of her father and Ransom's betrayal, Liv retreats from acting for a time before taking on a select few Indie roles she feels drawn to. Now twenty years after the show's premier the cast has been signed on for a special reunion episode. Liv and Ransom have not spoken in years, but their chemistry has not dissipated one bit. They must endure interference from rivalries and tabloid drama making Liv question whether revisiting the past is what she really needs.

I really enjoyed this sweet closed door romance. I'm a big fan of both second chance and friends to lovers tropes so this one was a total win for me. While I typically prefer a bit more spice, I can certainly appreciate this for the sweet romance it is and the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was definitely there. The side characters were wonderfully written and I would absolutely love to read a second book about Bre and Ford. I also loved the additional tabloid article inserts between chapters and thought they were a fun way to mix things up. This celebrity focused story had me reminiscing about some of my favorite shows from my youth like Dawson's Creek, The OC and One Tree Hill. If you love celebrity gossip and seeing your favorite stars fall in love then you'll love this book!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was everything to me!! Maybe it's just because I'm a major pop culture nerd who grew up in the time of Disney icons, but this felt like if my favorite stars reunited 15 years later and ended up together.

I really enjoyed Liv's perspective, especially since first person narratives aren't always my favorite. I felt her hurt and knowing what the bitter side of fame did to wreck her life, and the hard decisions she had to make for a better future. There was a line about making a decision for the next few months that would have an impact on the following years that really stuck with me, because our choices always have consequences, where we know them or not.

I also enjoyed Ransom and was glad that he made the choices he did regarding his own career, because otherwise I don't think I would've been able to see a HEA for these two.

I very much recommend this to anyone who loves second chance romances, or celebrity romances, or both!

Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Reunion by Kayla Olson 🎬

Liv was the star of a teen drama and spent her entire childhood on screen trying to be as picture perfect as her character in real life. After the death of her father and betrayal of her on-screen love interest and off-screen best friend Ransom, Liv wanted nothing more than to live a normal life aside from a few indie films. Twenty years after the show’s premiere the cast is invited back for a reunion special and Liv couldn’t be happier to be back on set. Ransom and her fall into their old rhythms, rediscovering what drew them together before.

I loved the premise of this book, celebrity plus second chance romance is such a perfect combo. However I think I hyped up this book a little much in my head and it didn’t live up to what I was hoping it would be. I really liked Liv, she knows what she wants and doesn’t let the pressure of Hollywood influence how she prefers to live her life. The book was solely from her perspective which worked, however I feel like I learned next to nothing about Ransom which resulted in me not enjoying the romance between them as much.

With Liv’s unresolved feelings for Ransom, I was hoping we would get some more insight to them in the past and their friendship but that didn’t really happen. I would have loved to have seen just a few flashback moments between them to be more convinced of their chemistry. I expected a bit more of angsty-ness (if that’s a word) between them since they haven’t talked to each other for 14 years, but it felt very insta-love. I’m also someone who loves dialogue in a romance, I want to hear the characters talking through things instead of being told about it. There were a lot of moments where Liv and Ransom were together but it was just mentioned in passing instead of showing it. I needed those moments to be convinced of the romance and chemistry between them rather than be told about them in a few sentences.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. The celebrity gossip was fun, I liked the "articles" between chapters, and I loved Liv’s character. What didn’t work for me was the telling instead of the showing when it came to the romance.

single POV
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️

Is it possible to have already read the best release of 2023 barely three weeks into the year? If so, Kayla Olson’s newest novel, The Reunion, might be the one!

Liv Latimer grew up starring in the hit television series Girl on the Verge, but so much has changed in the past twenty years since the show’s premiere. Liv has dealt with grief, rediscovering her passion, and having to part ways with her former best friend and costar, Ransom Joel. Fourteen years after the series finale and deciding to take a step back from their close friendship, the show is planning a big reunion special and a potential reboot, which means going all the way back to the beginning. Liv is having the time of her life seeing old collaborators and reconnecting with Ransom, but old spats and crushes keep bubbling back up from the surface! Is going back to basics the best decision for her, or is it time to walk away for good and pursue new connections?

This book is IMPOSSIBLE to put down, and it’s clear how well the new Celebrity Romance trope shines! This is the novel for anyone who watched all of the teen dramas in the mid 2000s and was living their best life when Netflix decided to reboot everything under the sun. The main shift in Liv and Ransom’s attraction for one another was sudden at first, but since the reader is rooting for them from page one, it’s extremely forgivable.

My personal favorite segments were the tabloids in between the chapters! They were a fun reminder of how their relationships and work drama was perceived by their fans.

This is a romance I’ll be recommending all year long! Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was great. It had a great story to it. The romance aspect of it was definitely lacking a little. I don’t have an issue with insta love but I thought they should have had the characters work up to being in love instead of it being just instant.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Our main characters in this book are Liv and Ransom. They were co-stars/best friends whilst filming their tv show, but something happened that caused them to cut ties when their show, Girl on the Verge ended. Fast forward 14 years to when they are invited back to film a 20 year reunion episode and they soon realize that their feelings for each other never left.

Ya’ll, two of my favourite tropes are childhood friends to lovers/ second chance and this book delivered! This book gave me an insight as to potentially what our favourite actors/actresses feel when they are brought back to film a reunion/reboot (Yano, since there are a lot of those happening recently) and I loved it!

I could feel the connection that Liv and Ransom had together, but I also loved that with the magazine articles, we got to learn more about some of the side characters in a unique way. I also enjoyed that this book wasn’t jam packed with drama. It had some where it was needed but it wasn’t over the top.

My only two things I wish this book had was Ransoms POV (I’m nosy, okaaaayyy?!) and some spice.

Is anyone else hoping we get a follow up book featuring our other favourites, Ford and Bre?! 👀

Former teen TV co-stars Liv and Ransom had a falling out 14 years ago, the friendship and bond they had built dissolved. When their once hit show is being casted for a reunion, Liv and Ransom reconnect. Could they just pick up where they left off after so many years of having not talked? Or, is there more in store for them?

I enjoyed Olson’s writing, the ins and outs of TV shooting, and the fun tabloid articles, comments, and even the dialogue between Liv and Ransom in-character. I love celebrity romances! But, I think I’m more a fan of celebrity hero x girl next door. That preference aside, THE REUNION had potential. The chemistry was definitely there between Liv and Ransom, but the slow burn didn’t exactly build it as well as it could. Nonetheless, perfect for fans of Erin Hahn’s BUILT TO LAST.

3/5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This story revolves around Liv and Ransom, who both used to star in a teen drama tv show titled Girl on the Verge. They were costars but also very close friends. At the beginning of the story we learn that something had happened during the last season of the show to cause Liv and Ransom not to speak to each other anymore. This changes when their old show does a twenty year reunion special which brings both characters back into each others lives.

My first impression before reading the book was that I liked the premise and I loved the cover art. It definitely made me nostalgic for the shows that have gotten reboots or specials over the years like Gilmore Girls. Overall it was a nice story and it included fun press or gossip articles in between chapters. The story does not include any flashbacks which I usually prefer but it might have been nice to have one or two so that we could have seen Liv and Ransom’s history a bit more instead of just hearing about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars

The Reunion is a juicy, addicting celebrity romance between two former teen stars brought back together when they sign on to film a reboot of their hit show. Liv and Ransom were best friends while they were filming their classic teen show until something tore them apart in the final season. Now, twenty years later, they reunite and find that there may be more than friendship between them.

I loved this book. It flew by and I was caught up in the glitzy, angsty world. Liv and Ransom were very likable and I rooted for (and stressed over) their second chance romance. I love a Hollywood romance and this one delivered on all of the drama, swoons, and pop culture references. Highly recommend.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about second chances.  When she was a teenager, Liv Latimer was the star of one of the most popular teen dramas, Girl on the Verge.  Her chemistry with her co-star, Ransom Joel, was palpable on screen, and, to Liv, it seemed to extend off screen.  Liv and Ransom were best friends behind the scenes, but, even though Liv wanted more, Ransom did not seem to feel the same. Toward the end of the show, the two had a rupture.  Once the show wrapped, Liv largely retreated from public view.  Recently, she has appeared in some small indie movies.  Ransom, by contrast, has become a huge action star.

Twenty years after the show's premiere, it is being rebooted with a reunion special that could turn into a series featuring the characters as adults.  When Liv sees Ransom after so many years, she discovers he is even more attractive than before -- and she finds herself as drawn to him as ever.  The two grow closer and closer as they rediscover their old rhythms and find new ones as adults.  But with the pressures around their careers, jealous co-stars, intrusive media, and fans who are desperate for their old favorites to get together in real life, Liv finds that recapturing the old magic may not be so easy -- and may not be what she wants for her future if it can't be on her terms.

This book was great!  The premise is so fun -- whether picturing Dawson's Creek, The OC, or another favorite, it is a delight to get what feels like a true-to-life look at what things are like behind the scenes and imagine what it would be like for these casts to reunite.  The author does a terrific job of exploring both the professional aspects of the story -- including what it takes to build a career after a run on a successful teen show, how the tv and entertainment industry have changed, and the pressure for stars to reveal their personal lives on social media -- and the second chance romance at the heart of the book.  Liv and Ransom are both compelling characters on their own, and their chemistry together jumps off the page.  The supporting cast, including Liv's team and the actress who played her little sister now all grown up, were terrific and added great dimensions to the story.

Heartily recommended!

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕓𝕪 𝕂𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕒 𝕆𝕝𝕤𝕠𝕟

ℝ𝔼𝕃𝔼𝔸𝕊𝔼 𝔻𝔸𝕋𝔼: 𝕁𝕒𝕟𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝟙𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝗔 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁.
𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘃 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆. 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆.

I love movies, and books about movies, especially when they feel like a movie. If you love Style by Taylor Swift, you will LOVE this book!

This book was a rollercoaster, and did not have any of the regular romance plots I am used to. It honestly did not feel like a book at all. Liv and Ransom have a rollercoaster of a relationship, which includes second chance, friends to lovers, and my favorite *I can't have you but I want you.*

The plot line was very well created which made it really easy to get into. The world building was subtle but you for sure get the idea of where the story is going. However, there were plenty of moments that make you want to scream at the characters and have you on the edge of your seat.

I only gave this book 4 stars because I felt like it was mildly finished, and the plot was fixed a bit too quickly. so rounded up 4.5 stars because LIV AND RANSOM. I also want to add, that you don't feel like your reading, everything is so vividly described, but not taken up to much on the setting.

Thank you to Kayla Olsen, Atria Publishers and NetGalley for this E-ARC.
(I did love this book and will continue to look out for Kayla's other books!)

Is my new favorite trope best friends to strangers to lovers? Yeah, I think so.
If you are looking for a precious romcom about child stars reuniting at their show's reunion, then The Reunion is the perfect book for you to pick up. Liv and Ransom were costars who played love interests on a beloved tv show as teenagers; they were inseparable best friends until their show ended, and they went separate ways. Now, their show is having a reunion/reboot, and Liv realizes that after all these years she still loves Ransom. As they continue to reconnect and work together, the spark is there again, and neither of them can ignore it. I also loved all of the supporting characters; they were fun to read about, and I would love to read more about them. Honestly, it was close to being a five star to me; there were some parts that I thought were rushed, and I don't like any sort of miscommunication.
All of the supporting characters were fun to read about, and I would love to read more about them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

I am so conflicted on this book. I was unable to put it down and read a majority of it in one sitting (I had self control and made myself stop at 11pm--be proud of me!!), but I feel like every chapter, I would cringe a little bit at how out of touch and privileged the people in this book were. Of course, that's probably to be expected when reading a book about Hollywood celebrities, but it really caused a rift in me as to whether I enjoyed this book or not. I feel like Liv references other celebrities and their philanthropism, but we never see a cause that she is passionate about, which I think would've added more depth to her character. And especially with all this talk on nepo-babies right now, it was hard for me to read parts of this book--though the fact that Liv's father passed away due to a paparazzi accident definitely adds some depth to this: How much do celebrities actually owe us in terms of privacy? Some people seem to argue that if you're willing to pursue a career in showbusiness, having people want to know every intimate detail of your life is to be expected, but do they not deserve privacy? But also what does it say about me that I loved reading this book that shows the other side of being a celebrity? It was all very confusing to my brain, but in the end, I really did enjoy the journey of it all.