This book was so much fun. I love a small town setting, and this delivered on that in such a unique way. I really loved this romance and seeing the characters grow. Would be a great beach read!

Prime Time Romance is like stepping into a cozy, rom-com daydream—and you won’t want to leave! With its blend of heartwarming romance, witty dialogue, and a sprinkle of nostalgia, this book is pure fun from start to finish.

Brynn is the relatable heroine we all cheer for. Fresh off her divorce and navigating the messiness of adulthood, she’s resilient, funny, and just a little bit obsessed with Carson’s Cove (who can blame her? We’ve all had our comfort shows). When she gets magically transported into her favorite soap opera, alongside her roommate Josh, the book takes readers on a delightful journey of twists, turns, and unexpected romance.

The “stuck in a TV show” concept is creative and executed brilliantly—complete with all the over-the-top drama you'd expect from a 2000s soap. From secret relationships to swoon-worthy heartthrobs, Carson’s Cove isn’t just a setting; it’s a character in itself. The chemistry between Brynn and Josh as they navigate their roles adds a layer of depth to the story. Their budding romance sneaks up on you in the best way, delivering moments that are both laugh-out-loud funny and tenderly sweet.

Kate Robb does an excellent job balancing escapism with real-life emotions. Sure, Carson’s Cove has its quirks, but through Brynn’s eyes, readers also see how love and happiness don’t follow a script. Sometimes, the best endings are the ones you don’t plan.

Whether you’re here for the romance, the nostalgia, or simply a good laugh, **Prime Time Romance** delivers in all the right ways. Perfect for fans of rom-coms with a dash of magic. Who’s ready to dive into Carson’s Cove and binge on love? This book will leave you grinning like it’s prime-time TV!

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb was such a fun and nostalgic read for me. As someone who grew up loving teen dramas like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, I really enjoyed the story of Brynn, a recently divorced woman who suddenly finds herself living inside her favorite early-2000s TV show. The magical realism gave the book a quirky twist, and I loved watching her and her roommate Josh navigate this fictional world together.

The slow-burn romance between Brynn and Josh was sweet and had plenty of heart, though I’ll admit the middle of the book dragged a bit and the pacing felt off at times. I also didn’t connect super deeply with the characters, but the premise kept me hooked. Overall, it was a cute, imaginative escape with just the right amount of charm—perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light and nostalgic.

This book was such a clever take on workplace romance with a side of reality TV fun. I loved the behind-the-scenes media setting and the sharp, witty dialogue. It’s sweet, snappy, and so bingeable.

Funny People meets A Novel Love Story. This book was the easy romance book I needed! I love magical realism novels and this one is no exception. My only reason for deducting a star is because for an FMC that got divorced because her husband didn’t know her well enough, it seemed odd she’d think she’d be into a guy who believed her to be a different person.

This was such a fun read! Roommates Josh and Brynn get sucked into the world of Brynn's favorite teen soap after a birthday wish gone-wrong and have to give the show the ending it deserves before they are allowed to return home. Even though she's supposed to be falling for the Dawson's-Creek-inspired blonde boy next door, Brynn can't stop thinking about her roommate and everything she's learning about him. I thought that this book was really sweet & funny, although I thought some scenes between the main duo lacked genuine chemistry. Overall, a fun read!

3.5 stars, rounded up

I thought this was a super cute book! I felt like it mostly read like a YA book (with the exception of the two spicy scenes, of course), but I didn't mind. It's not exactly a literary masterpiece, but I found the plot pretty interesting, and the characters were likeable. I really liked it being set inside of a TV show. Since Carson's Cove is supposed to mirror Dawson's Creek, I do wish the book's setting had more of a Capeside feel.

4/5

Prime Time Romance was such a fun and unique read! If you grew up loving teen drama shows like The OC, Dawson’s Creek, or One Tree Hill, this book is like stepping into that world, with a magical twist.

Brynn and Josh are just roommates (not exactly friends), but after a birthday wish gone sideways, they wake up inside her favorite old TV show, Carson’s Cove. It’s got all the drama, angst, and quirky characters you’d expect from a 2000s teen series—plus plenty of hilarious and heartwarming moments.

I’ll be honest, it took me a minute to figure out who was who with the character/show name mix, and the chemistry between the leads wasn’t immediate. But once I settled in, I loved Josh—he's caring, patient, and quietly devoted. Brynn took a bit longer to warm up to, especially with how stuck she was on how she thought things “should” play out. But that’s also part of her growth, and I appreciated the way her character evolved.

There’s a splash of magical realism, lots of clever Easter eggs for TV fans, and a small-town setting that felt charming and familiar. The romance is more slow-burn and low-steam, which worked well for the vibe of the story.

Overall, it’s a whimsical, nostalgic story about letting go of the past, rewriting endings, and finding something real in the most unexpected place. Definitely a cute, comforting read

I didn't enjoy this as much as Kate Robb's first book but I'd recommend for fans of soap-operay TV, like One Tree Hill, and cozy mysteries. definitely still a romance, but the mystery behind how they get inserted into the story is intriguing and makes it easy to binge.

This was a cute and quirky read with a touch of magical realism that added a fun sparkle to the story. It had all the makings of a cozy romantic escape—TV studio setting, a reformed (maybe?) bad boy, and just enough magic to bend the rules of reality without needing a wand or a Hogwarts letter.

The romance was swoony in a familiar kind of way—he’s the bad boy who’s maybe not so bad after all, and she’s the one who challenges him to grow. I always fall for this trope, and this book leaned into it in a charming, low-stakes way. What really gave it heart, though, was how both characters made conscious choices to be better people—not just for each other, but in general. I love when growth is part of the love story.

That said, some parts felt a little too predictable or surface-level, and while the magical realism was fun, it didn’t always feel fully fleshed out. I wanted a little more depth—more world-building, more emotional payoff. It had moments that tugged at the heart, but they didn’t always land as strongly as they could have.

Still, if you're in the mood for something light with a sprinkle of magic and a sweet redemption arc, this might be your next cozy read.

Primetime Romance has a fun premise and charming characters, but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. The behind-the-scenes look at television added a fresh twist, and the chemistry between the leads was enjoyable, though at times a bit predictable. Some parts felt drawn out, and the pacing lagged in the middle. Still, it’s a light, feel-good read with sweet moments—perfect if you’re in the mood for something easy and romantic, just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

This was really cute! I absolutely loved that 2000s tv vibe throughout the whole book. It really felt like we were in Stars Hollow or Dawson Creek and that was so nostalgic. I would have liked if there was more building in the romance as I felt like we didn’t have enough time of them actually connecting. It felt like they went from roommates to romantic love interests really quickly. But overall I enjoyed this one and will definitely continue reading this author!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for the eARC; the review is my own.*

After DNFing this book a while ago, I decided to give it another chance. For the most part, I enjoyed the cute, funny rom-com with a roommates-to-lovers romance and a dash of magical realism. It's always fun to imagine a little bit of magic sprinkled into the real world. However, I don't feel like that portion of the story was very well explained. The how and why were kind of waved away with a "part of the something bigger" explanation by a character who didn't seem to know the answers himself. And, okay, I can accept non-answers like that . . . for a time. But I like to have things make sense by the end, and that aspect of the story was never explained. Since I don't see a sequel following this book, I suppose I'll never get those answers.

Aside from that, the book was fun to read. I wasn't looking for a big twist or unpredictable ending (why do we read/watch rom-coms if not for the happy ending we know we'll get?), and I got exactly what I wanted. Brynn (30) had to discard the rose-colored glasses she'd worn for the Carson's Cove of her teenage years and figure out her own life following a divorce. I'm happy the book included Josh's perspective, as well, so we could see what was going on in his head. He was caring and kind, exactly the person Brynn needed after her husband left her. I have to believe that they would have ended up together at some point anyway, but the wish and their magical insertion into Carson's Cove acted as a needed catalyst to get things going.

I liked that their experience in Carson's Cove forced both Brynn and Josh to re-evaluate some of the things that were important to them and consider what they were willing to risk for the futures they hoped to have. They'd been allowing themselves to kind of float along, just existing. It's funny how being shoved into a fictional TV show helped them to start living.

Language: Yes, including f words
Violence: No
Physical Intimacy: Kissing, a couple of descriptive open-door sex scenes
LGBT: No

There is not enough Joshua Jackson fanfic in the world and honestly that’s a travesty. Kate is doing a public service and the lords work. This isn’t direct Dawson’s creek AU. This is the accumulation of so many sitcoms and that glowing everything will work out alright feelings. I loved the way Kate was able to pay homage to that nostalgic glow while digging into the parts that sometimes carelessly get glossed over.

I’ve realized that magical realism in a contemporary romance setting just doesn’t fully work for me because I find it too hard to suspend disbelief, but I was intrigued by the premise of this one. I love 2000s teen tv dramas and fandom, so the nostalgia of it all made me want to check this one out. This one was sweet and lighthearted, but I ultimately didn’t connect much with the characters.

Brynn and Josh are roommates in their early 30s both navigating setbacks in their lives when they find themselves stuck in an alternate reality set within Brynn’s favorite canceled teen tv series as two of the main characters.

I truly had no idea how this would end, so that definitely kept me reading until the end. I started to connect more with the MCs in the last 30-35%, but the pace started to feel super fast, and they were all of a sudden fully in love. Their connection throughout the book was definitely believable, but the ending wrapped up a little too fast for me.

Overall, I enjoyed the nostalgic elements, but placing 30 year olds onto teenaged tv characters sometimes made it feel like the actual characters were immature and regressing into stereotypical teenage behavior, and sometimes this made the writing feel a bit cheesy. I appreciated Brynn’s personal journey and how Josh felt normal and not too over the top as an MMC, but ultimately I wanted more depth and insight into the characters.

If you enjoy magical realism, 2000s tv nostalgia, and a quick, light romance, you may like this one!

3.5 stars

Did you enjoy the movie "Pleasantville"? Want to relive the magic with a romantic twist? Here's your chance!

I found Kate Robb's story really entertaining! Brynn and Josh are friends who find themselves inside Brynn's favorite comfort watch after she makes a wish on her birthday. Imagine being swept into the fictional world of "One Tree Hill", "Gilmore Girls", or "Dawson's Creek"! It was neat to see how Josh and Brynn navigated the supposedly perfect world of the show. Brynn is supposed to fall for Spencer, the show's heartthrob, but she's starting to feel things for Josh. What to do, especially if their only ticket home relies on following the rules?!?

This was really inventive. I wasn't always super enamored with our MCs, but I really wanted to know how things would turn out, and I was pleased with the way they grew.

I'd like to thank Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really, really wanted to love this one but I just could not get into it at all. The story felt a little boring from the get go, and I found myself not wanting to come back to it often. I’m sad because I thought the premise was genius and I was so excited about reading it.

3.5⭐️ for PRIME TIME ROMANCE! It’s giving me Dawson’s Creek meets One Tree Hill, as early 2000’s teen drama characters of the fictional tv show, Carson’s Cove, are thrown into an alternate reality where Brynn and Josh return to the set of the show.

In order to return to their old lives, Josh and Brynn must sort out their feelings and give the show the ending it deserved!

WHAT TO EXPECT
-small town
-90s and early 2000s nostalgia
-Dawson’s Creek nostalgia

*many thanks to Dell Romance, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I loved this book! Genuinely, I have such a respect for books that are unique and the concept is interesting and new. So 5/5 for me for sure!

I loved prime time romance by Katie Robb. The story hooked me from the very beginning. Brynn and Josh were so perfect together, and I loved following their story. I also really enjoyed the nostalgic vibe of the tv shows from when I was in high school.