This story was an unexpected delight. I went into the book expecting more of a romcom vibe, but Olsen penned an excellent single POV romance with a heavier undercurrent. Random and Liz starred in a popular tv show growing up called Girl on the Verge. They were the best of friends until their very last season and have not seen each other sense. The show is reuniting the cast for a 20th anniversary special where Liv and Ransom will have to confront their past feelings, present relationship, and future careers. A beautiful story about second chances and finding your way back to the person who makes you the best version of yourselves.

Oh my gosh. This was the most heartwarming, fluff-filled, slowburn, emotional romcom I’ve read in a long while. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry or Sophie Sullivan, this book will break and mend your heart all in one go. I fell head over heels for this book and it’s wonderful characters in an instant, and couldn’t think about anything else until I reached the end of their story. I honestly couldn’t describe how much I adored this book, and I cannot recommend it enough. Only removing a star for the dreaded miscommunication trope.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The world was so fun and warm and realistic, and the characters were so lovable, that I just wanted to wrap myself in it and live there. I love Hollywood stories, but this one fulfills a fantasy I never knew I had. Last year, after watching reunion specials for Friends and Harry Potter last year, this brought me all the feels! Liv was such a shining character, and I loved her relationship with her best friend Bre. Her moments with Ransom were sweet and hot at the same time. Ransom seemed like a sweetheart. I want him to be my new book boyfriend!

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen MORE of Liv and Ransom together, so that I could see more of what drew them together. But ultimately, that didn't take away much from the reading. I can't wait to go back and read it again!

I enjoyed the story and the characters but I found the romance spark to be lacking. There wasn’t much dialogue between the main characters until 40 percent and then it was insta love. I loved the celebrity aspects and the idea of a love story surrounding a reboot. I just needed to feel the emotion a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olson for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars. I felt like there was something missing when it came to Liv and Ransom. I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.

I love second chance romance so was very excited after being approved to read this book. it started out so promising for me. I loved the banter and trope here is second chance romance .Liv and Ransom had amazing chemistry and feel back into their places perfectly. They seemed like they picked up right where they left off. That being said there were points of tension that I thought could have been dealt with better and differently. It was a fun and cute read though.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC

A 3.5 star read rounded up!

I enjoyed this way more than I expected, since celebrity romances often stress me out - it was fairly light and definitely fun, with great articles and tweets interstitialed. I didn't 100% buy the chemistry between Liv and Ransom (I think it could it benefitted from some flashbacks), and the author's writing style prevented it from being a real 4 star book for me, but it was still a great time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books eGalley for the this E-Arc. I did not vibe with this book it was a solid book but I felt like the characters did not grow at all in the 20 year span. I felt like the past was brought up way to much and that dimmed from what was actually going on. I did enjoy the ending

THE REUNION by Kayla Olson was the perfect story of second chance romance and career. They worked together for years as teenaged actors in a hit show, but fourteen years later, a reunion show offers Liv Lattimer and Ransom Joel the chance to be real with one another and take care of unfinished business. This quick and every enjoyable read featured complex characters in a world that I know nothing about, but for happy hours, I felt like I was living there. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

I loved this book, it was the perfect January I want to read something really fun and quick and satisfying. If you liked Birds of California or have read/want to read Laura Hankin's The Daydreams... this is for you!! When I think of what I love about a romance rom/com read, this is what I want: a book that is well written, sucks you right in, and makes you want to stay up/skip work to read it.

What works
1. This book has fun romantic/sexual tension build up. Second chance love, friends to lovers tropes... this is for you. There was a bit of underdeveloped background about the characters teen years but for me that was ok. I would have loved it but also this was just a fun read and worked for me without detailed flashbacks (that might have bogged down the book).

2. The placement of the story in the context of a reunion show 20 years after the end of the hit teen drama (I felt some dawson's creek type vibes, etc) was fun, I like the leaning into nostalgia that books offer. I also loved the broader context of the epistolatory drops of fan/gossip website news, this worked to pul me out of the story in a good way, to place the characters not just in their relationship but also to place them within the broader celebrity/tv show world they lived in and had lived in during their adolescence.. It reminded me of TJR's Carrie Soto is Back in how I felt that wonderful book benefitted from the drops of news stories that placed Carrie's story in a broader societal context. Plus the gossipy vibes were fun and a good way to develop the secondary characters and stories without drawn out distracting chapters. nicely done.

3. The development of Liv as more than a romantic character but also a a professional actress. I liked her team, the relationships she had with others. She felt indeed still on the verge but also a relatable character.

this was a big win for me. I am all in for another book from Kayla Olson soon. Consider me a fan!

I loved this book! I was hooked from the first page. I am a mood reader and I was in the mood for something fun and juicy, The Reunion delivered. I read this book in one sitting. The writing style is SO good. For a vibe, its a little bit 90210, a little bit Gossip Girl. The characters are written so well. Liv is the perfect main character, it was so fun to cheer for her and the heart throb Randsom, as this reunion brings up a lot of the past that they and other crew members need to work on. I'm looking forward to reading more by Kayla Olson!

A very sweet, second-chance romance! 3.5 stars!

There was a lot to love about this book. It was effortless to read. The pages felt like they were flying by, and I loved the author's writing. However, some small things ended up making me not fall in love with it entirely…

For starters, there was some depth lacking in Liv and Ransom's past. I think for a second chance romance to work, we have to fully understand the character’s relationship in the past. Sadly, with this one, we only get small pieces of it in conversation, and with Liv remembering small things. It would have been much more impactful for there to be chapters set in the past when they were on screen together in their youth. It felt like we were only told that they were close and had this history, and that's so much less impactful than actually seeing those moments for ourselves.

This, unfortunately, ended up adding to my inability to connect with the two characters, believe in their love story, and feel the romance and connection between them. I never felt myself rooting for them or getting excited once they started showing interest in each other. It didn’t feel satisfying to see them together in the present without an accurate idea of how they were in the past. This book missed out on giving us some drama, pining, and tension between Ransom and Liv. I felt myself wanting more from the two characters; more longing, more wanting, more chemistry. Even their first time seeing each other fell a little flat for me. I wanted more overall from this. It seemed like the characters stayed at the same level throughout the entire story, there were no outbursts of emotion or anything that made me feel like they even believed in their love story for themselves.

However, I still think the author’s writing is strong. This story felt very easy to read and dive into. I see many people love it, so that makes me think I might be a bit of a picky reader as well. It’s still worth checking out and reading for yourself! And I'm very excited to read anything else Miss Olsen decides to come out with!

As always, thank you, Atria and Netgalley, for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! It was a fun one to read!

📚📚 BOOK REVIEW🌟 🌟 💫


Thank you Atria books, Netgalley and Kayla Olson for the ARC of The Reunion to provide my honest review.

Now this is the season of reboots and Reunions- as TV production execs are picking at old bygone series to pull at your heartstrings and nostalgia. Kayla smartly uses this as a backdrop, sets up a fictionalised teen drama “Girl on the Verge” reunion with sisterhood, friendship, pop rivalry and loads of fun thrown about. However what makes The Reunion endearing is the sweet romance at the core.

Liv Latimer is about the relive her teen years as she returns to a one night reunion of her popular drama. Liv though has spent her adolescence trying to differentiate the protagonist “Honor” and “Liv” the person. A major reason- Ransom Joel- her on-screen love interest and once best friend. As circumstances force the pair back together, can old bygone misunderstandings be cleared and will romance rekindle amongst the adorable fan favorite- 20 years after the show’s premiere? Will the streaming service green light the reboot? Will Liv and Ransom relive the chemistry and get the ending they deserve forms the rest of the story.

The writing by Kayla is spot on and smart- the interludes of the characters playing out scenes to advance their own storyline kept me engaged. The additional pop culture online articles was innovative and helps flesh out the characters and their lives thought could have been edited. What worked for me were the two protagonists who will make you root for them to be united. The “will they- won’t they” cliffhangers and the conflicts on the sets seem real. My first ARC for 2023 and definitely recommended.

#BookReview #NetGalley #TheReunion

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, laugh-out-loud funny at several parts—one of the best romps books I've read in ages.

I loved these two characters. They were so great. I loved their background history and their chemistry, the love and support for one another, the angst, the push and pull, the sexual tension between them, everything was so well executed by the author. The characters were not perfect, they had their own struggles and obstacles they had to overcome before they came to the realization that they are better together than apart. I’m so happy with how everything wrapped up at the end. It was such an enjoyable book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Fun friends to lovers, second chance romance set in Hollywood. Lots of 90s sitcom vibes. I loved the description and was excited to pick this one up. I got a little bogged down/annoyed by some of Liv and Ransoms miscommunications but overall loved their story and the second chance aspect. It was also fun to experience all the behind the scenes of filming. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for an escape to Hollywood.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much @AtriaBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 17 January 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Liv & Ransom played high school sweethearts on a hit teen tv show, yet in real life they were the best of friends and nothing more. After filming ended, the co-stars had a falling out, went their separate ways & haven't spoken in 14 years. Now they are brought back together to film a special 20 year reunion episode which causes them to face their feelings about each other & what happened all those years ago.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the addition of tabloid articles & social media posts after each chapter were a clever way of allowing us to get to know the secondary characters
- the day-by-day behind the scenes look into filming a tv show
- the story focused on both the romance & on the main characters deciding how they wanted to shape & pursue their careers
- second chance romance & mutual pining

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the chemistry between the MC & love interest was written wonderfully, but I wanted it to translate into intimacy on the page
- I would have also loved to see flashbacks of them during their teen years to help cement their romantic connection (there was a lot of telling us they had feelings without actually showing us)

The Reunion
by Kayla Olson
Pub Date: January 17, 2023
Atria
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I was drawn to this book because I have recently read several heavy books and needed a more lighthearted one.
When two former teen stars reconnect at the reunion for their hit TV show, they discover their feelings for one another were not merely scripted in this charming and heartwarming novel perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
I loved the dedication page to all the Emily's who inspired the author and encouraged her while writing this book. This one's for you!
The second chance romance was cute at times but fell flat for me due to the lack of emotional depth. This is probably a case of the book wasn't for me. The writing was fine and easy to read but it felt too trendy as it mentions certain brands, celebrity gossip items and social media posts between
every chapter.
3 stars

I just finished reading "The Reunion" by Kayla Olson and it was such a fun ride! 4⭐

Liv and Ransom were teen stars in a beloved TV show 20 years ago. Their characters were love interests and they were besties in real life, but they took a step back and have fallen out of touch. Sparks fly again as the gang gets back together for the reunion special. Liv and Ransom must decide what's real and what's just acting, while also making hard decisions about their next career steps.

I got really invested in Liv and her friends, as well as the drama onset. I also enjoyed the inclusion of social media feeds and tabloid stories in between chapters. I think the only reason this wasn't more stars for me was because it was so similar to several books I read last year. But, if you love "Hollywood insider"-type stories and second chance romances, I do think you'll really like this one!

3 Stars The Reunion by Kayla Olson is a sweet, closed-door, second-chance romance between two former co-stars and best friends. Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were just teenagers when they starred on the hit TV show Girl on the Verge and they became household names overnight. Twenty years after the show’s premiere, the cast has reunited for a single reunion episode, giving fans the closure they’ve been seeking over the fourteen years since the finale, which left on a cliffhanger of Liv’s character choosing between staying with Ransom’s character or going to New York. Liv and Ransom were the best of friends on set, even though Liv secretly hid that she was in love with Ransom for years. Just as the show wrapped up, Ransom suggested they get some space from each other, as no one would want to date them considering how close they were. Since then, Liv hasn’t spoken to Ransom at all. Now an indie film darling, Liv is nervous to be back in the spotlight and back on set with Ransom, where she has to conceal her feelings once more. Liv and Ransom grow close once again, seeming to lead towards more. Is this the chance Liv’s been waiting for? And what will happen if the rumored show reboot gets a green light?

This was a light and easy read, and I quickly read the entire thing in one sitting. I really liked Liv’s character. Even though she was a big star and had a famous Oscar-winning dad, she was down to earth and genuine, while still protecting her privacy from the paparazzi and fans. I wish the epilogue had been set further out from the last chapter so we could have seen more about where Liv and Ransom ended up.

Kayla Olson had me hooked from the Dedication page. I absolutely adored this book and its sweet story. I wish I could be friends with Liv and Brie! This book gave me so many nostalgic feels for my favorite TV shows in the 90s and 00s. I’m so glad it was my first read of he year, and I can’t wait for all my friends to read it. Thanks NetGalley!