Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, I was excited for this and I guess I wasn’t the exact target audience. These main characters… I didn’t care one iota for them or their relationship. They just seemed to be acquaintances and then suddenly love. I wanted more angst, more drama, more anything honestly.

The 90s teenage soap show (Dawson’s Creek inspired… which I never watched so here’s where that “this book is not for me” comes from) and then the characters ‘falling into’ that world was not my jam.

Such a fun premise with great potential for those that would love this kind of comfort show and who always wanted to join their favorite fictional TV characters in that fictional world. Just not for me

3.75/4 stars. It was cute! It gave what I assume are Dawson’s Creek vibes (I’ve never seen an episode). I enjoyed reading about the characters and getting to know their background information. I wish we got a little more development of their relationship because I felt like at times it just kind of happened at least at the beginning. Overall a cute summer read that had an interesting concept.

Ohhh…one more thing… just completely glossed over that they were gone for a week…no one cared or was worried..that was weird.

This was such a delight of a sophmore novel from Kate Robb! The Canadian touches are perfection and I loved this cast of characters! Such a fun premise, I can't wait to read more.

I went back and forth on this book. On the one hand, I was captivated by the world of Carson’s Cove. However, I couldn’t get past the fact that she loses her book in the first chapter and doesn’t seem to care. No 30 year old is this chill about it. Forget if Josh needs back in time, girl, where is you phone?!?

I also really struggled with the required disbelief in this book with the Extra Extra and his motives. The book was fun if you could get past that but it never really built to the romance between the two main characters so the sex and spice feels out of place.

Over the last week, I excitedly poured myself into reading this book that I had such high, high, hopes for.

To be frank, I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to. It really had such a great premise, and I was heavily invested at the start, but then my interest slowly started to fade (which is the kiss of death for me).

The beginning started off strongly, and I was hooked rather quickly, but as the story continued, I felt like it started to drag.

As characters, I felt that Brynn and Josh were average; I did not immediately resonate with either of them, but they weren’t horrible either. Honestly, it was as though they were just present in the story, and I never found the hook I needed to root for them. I also felt like the romance didn’t have the natural chemistry that I love most in romance books.

The concept of book had so much potential, and it reminded me so much of how I would like my story to play out if it was based on my own comfort show obsession: One Tree Hill. I needed the romance to have that spark, the undeniable tension and chemistry that I lust for in books, TV shows, and movies, but Brynn and Josh didn’t have that.

I was hoping there would be more for me to get out of it as a reader, but I couldn’t find that in this story.

Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group, for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb follows Brynn, a recently divorced woman who is at stagnant point in her life. She feels as though she is unworthy of love, has superficial friends, and a roommate named Josh she barely knows. The only thing to comfort her is her favorite TV Show: Carson’s Cove.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, a mysterious cake arrives at her doorstep. With a wish for an idyllic life with no plot twists, Brynn wakes up not in her bedroom in Ontario, but in a beach side cottage of her favorite show. Except, she accidentally brought her roommate Josh with her too.

Now, Brynn and Josh are forced to play the part of characters in a show. Will they give their characters the true ending they deserve, and is the cozy town of the show as idyllic as it seems?

My Review:
First and foremost, this is simply put, a fun book.

I found that the characters of Brynn and Josh, as well as their romance, were never fully fleshed out. And the majority of their personalities were defined by a single problem in their life; Brynn being a divorcee and Josh wanting to run his own bar. Their romance is defined by magical happenings, and not true intimacy.

With that being said, following Brynn and Josh along in this weird space time continuum adventure is a mix of fun and cheesy. The two get involved in typical TV Show antics, saving lives, a pageant show, and much more. It’s a quick and bingeable read that I think will be a great option to keep on the back burner as a palette cleanser book.

So would I wholly recommend this? Not if you’re looking for a soul-crushing romance that brings out every emotion possible. But yes if you’re looking for something that will bring a little bit of joy into your reading.

We are following Brynn, a recent divorcee, whose life has been toppled over, the only people in her life are fake friends and this roommate, Josh. On the night of her birthday this guy comes and gives her a birthday cake that reels her into her favorite tv show.
I was expecting a fun rom com book with shenanigans occurring left and right and Brynn learning something as spends time in this place. Maybe along the way she learns a lesson that will help her when she returns home.
That is not how it went, the place she was sucked into is actively trying to hurt her if she behaves in a way that goes against the mold of the character she is supposed to be playing. She learns that while everything works out for the main character, the golden child, that is not the case for those around her. It doesn’t matter if the mean girl is actually a pretty nice woman that wants to make a safe place for animals at her farm, she can never have a happy ending because that’s not how it works.
I expected more from the romance, I wished Brynn and Josh had known each other in real life more before they were sent into tv land. That would have helped them trust each other more and have made their interactions more fun.
I was super excited about the concept of magical realism. The idea of being transported into a nice cozy comfort show was fun as someone that loves rewatching Gilmore Girls. The execution fell short for me.
The concept was great though so it was a decent book with some really enjoyable parts in it (Luce). Luce was the best part of this book, you go in expecting something out of Mean Girls, and she turns out to be this kind, smart and caring person.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Prime Time Romance was super cute and I thought it was really fun getting to see Brynn live out her teenage fantasy, but wasn't too big of a fan of the insta-love thing between her and Josh. It was super rushed and unbelievable for me, but other than that I loved this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From the publisher Random House:
Newly divorced on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Brynn is sick of heartbreak. She thought she had found her happy ending, but now she’s living with a roommate, Josh, to afford her mortgage, and she’s trying to adjust to her new single life. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge, her beloved 2000s teenage soap. The show ended unexpectantly on a cliffhanger after five seasons, and the two main characters, Sloan and Spencer, never got to declare their love for each other.

So when a birthday cake surprisingly shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for the one thing she’s always wanted (but has failed to achieve herself): a happily-ever-after.

The next morning, she doesn’t wake up in her apartment. She’s in Carson’s Cove . . . and Josh is there too. Everyone seems to know them, except they’re not Brynn and Josh; they’re Sloan, the sweetheart of Carson’s Cove, and Fletch, the town’s bad boy. And to get home, they have to make Brynn’s wish come true by ensuring Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, end up together at last. But as they spend more time together, they start developing feelings for each other in a plot twist no one has expected. Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?
*****************
My review: Love the premise. Who doesn't want to suddenly be IN their favorite tv show? But a favorite show from one's teenage years may not be what a 30 year old needs. Josh is very likable but it took a bit for me to warm up to Brynn. The Cove characters are hit and miss, except for Luce who turns out to be a friend and not a nemesis.
Everyone has lessons to learn and realizations to attend to in Carson's Cove, especially Brynn. There were some fun and funny parts and I really worried Brynn and Josh wouldn't get home in time, so I guess I cared. Spencer was kind of annoying...but I guess that what can happen when you get to know your "crush"?
I loved Robb's last book so I had high hopes for this one. It was entertaining but I had a hard time becoming part of Carson's Cove and Brynn's plan to get home was slow in coming to fruition. Overall, a decent and fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advance digital copy of the book in exchange for my review.

4.25!!!

Although I’ve never watched Dawson’s Creek, which the author says is the vibe along with pleasantville, the book gave me a very nostalgic feeling while reading. I was getting flashes of “Teen Beach Movie”, “Freaky Friday”, “Seventeen Again”, and “Halloweentown” vibes from the premise of the story.

The writing was very clear and easy to read. I felt that the pacing overall was well done. I stayed invested throughout. There weren’t any slow moments for me. Unfortunately, as a lot of romance novels, the time span in which the story and romance occurs left me with whiplash, but I ATE IT UP!!! I enjoyed the journey even though I felt some things happened too quickly.

As it pertains to the FM and MM characters, their actions at times didn’t match the age that was established, but overall I did feel their energy/personality stayed consistent. However, some of the side characters gave me a washed out feeling. I think the best way for me to put it is that they were blips to move the story forward, which I guess that can be expected since it happens over a week.

Some things that I wish was covered more was the roommate aspect and the life of the FMC outside of the main scheme of the story. There were some topics mentioned that I think I would’ve liked knowing more about or at least seeing more of the aftermath prior to main plot being jumped into.

I still look forward to reading more books by Kate!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Kate Robb for allowing me to review the ARC of Prime Time Romance 💝

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb was my second book by this author, and I just enjoyed it to bits!! So much nostalgia and magical realism which is one of my favorite tropes. Loved Brynn, she was very relatable and loved all the heartwarming moments she shared with Josh as they navigated the "reality." This was such a fun story and I read it so fast! Will be recommended to everyone and looking forward to more by this author!

I went into this a bit sceptical due to the magical realism aspects but quickly realised that was the fun part. It was a bit confusing in the beginning but I liked the TV show aspect to the story. I loved Dawson's Creek, The Gilmore Girls and the other 90s TV shows so it was a nice cosy familiar setting. Unique as well.

But the romance itself and the characters could have used more development. It had the TV small town wholesomeness with life lessons and emotional growth but I would have liked to have seen more of Brynn and Josh's romance develop. It was a bit confusing as they were 'cast' in teh rolls of the TV show characters and not themselves. The TV show aspect of it wore thin after a while.

It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't terrific. I thought the author could have done so much more with it. But it's a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial press for the early ARC in exchange for this honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🏡 Small Town
✨ Magical Realism
🫶🏻 Nostalgia
💜Roommates

Although I have literally never watched Dawson’s Creek, Prime Time Romance made me wish that I did 🤭

I love Kate Robb’s take on magical realism and just like with This Spells Love, this one had me laughing out loud and giggling at my kindle.

Brynn and Josh just made sense together and I enjoyed watching them come to the same conclusion while being stuck in Brynn’s favorite show, Carson’s Cove. Their surface level friendship as roommates slowly develops into more while being stuck together and I thought it was very clever having us learn about Brynn and Josh through their parallels with the characters of the show.

Overall, Prime Time Romance is sweet and super bingeable. When you don’t feel like watching your favorite small town show, pick this one up to read about one instead 🤗

This book is such a fun read and I really enjoyed it. It was very nostalgic and throwback to my younger years. If the shows Dawson's Creek and The Good Place had a baby it would be this book. It was funny, sweet and a throwback to lat e 90's and early 2000's. This book follows Brynn and Josh and their unlikely romance. This book has likable main characters. It is a quick fun read that made me smile and just feel good.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. I read voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

I will be posting the above review on Goodreads and Instagram shortly and on BookBub and StoryGraph when it is released on Sept. 3, 2024.

Brynn has yet to completely bring herself back to life after a divorce, frequently finding solace in her favorite binge worthy soapy teen drama relegated to syndication on Netflix… haven’t we all? What is surprising is when she actually jumps into the story to love out her teenage dreams amongst those comfort characters.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the teen drama background plot and wanted more substance in the core story of Brynn and her love interest. A HEA that was pretty obvious from the beginning, this felt more lackluster than I wanted after being in love with This Spells Love.

I was provided a complimentary arc via NetGalley by Dial Press / Random House

•Title: Prime Time Romance
•Author: Kate Robb
•Genre: paranormal romance
•Format: ebook
•Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•Premise: *What if you got transported into your favorite sitcom from your teenage years?*
Brynn sits down to watch her comfort show “Carson’s Cove”, and when she falls asleep, she wakes up in the show, and takes her roommate Josh with her. While there, she realizes that everything isn’t as she thought, and learns that change can be a good thing.

•Thoughts: This was SO CUTE! I had such a fun time reading this and felt the nostalgia I feel when I rewatch old comfort shows like One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek, etc. It was such an interesting premise and one I haven’t read before. I loved Brynn’s romance with Josh, it just felt so real and believable. Kate Robb’s writing is addictive and truly is done so well that the reader feels as if they’re watching a show/movie. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own

I was really looking forward to reading Kate Robb's second novel because I adored "This Spells Love"! As a huge fan of magical realism, I loved how well she incorporated it into her debut novel and hoped it would be the same in Prime Time Romance. The concept seemed so intriguing!

Unfortunately, I found it a little challenging to get through. The story seemed somewhat rushed and disjointed. I had trouble connecting with most of the characters, except for Josh. His storyline and backstory were compelling, and I felt he had the most development, which kept me invested in his journey. His relationship with Brynn throughout was intriguing, but felt rushed. That said, I did find most of Brynn's one-liners absolutely hilarious.

A major challenge for me was that I hadn't watched the TV shows the book is based on, which made it harder to connect with the plot. However, if you enjoy rom coms and liked Kate's first novel, you'll probably really enjoy this one too!

Prime Time Romance is a love letter to classic 90s teen angst shows with nods to Dawson’s Creek, Buffy, and Saved by the Bell. Get ready to be thrust into the perfect world of Carson’s Cove as Brynn and Josh are responsible for giving the perfect ending to the series that fans were denied of when it was unexpectedly canceled. As Brynn and Josh play out the fantasy, Brynn starts to realize that Carson’s Cove might not be as perfect as she once believed it to be.

Prime Time Romance is fun and cute as Brynn lives out her teen fantasy. However, it quickly became apparent that Prime Time Romance is more than just a teen fantasy becoming reality. Instead, it’s a story about growing up and learning that life doesn’t always turn out the way you think you want it to and that’s okay.

Robb also spent time deconstructing the tropes and cliches favored by these types of shows.
One of my biggest criticisms of Prime Time Romance, and the reason I gave it 3.5 stars, is the instalove. Brynn and Josh confess their love for each other quickly and after spending almost no time together.

Spice level: 🌶️

Overall, Prime Time Romance is a cute and fun read about teenage fantasies and learning about life.

Cute romance full of teen TV drama nostalgia. 90210, The OC, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Dawson's Creek...you name it, and there's a dash of that show in Carson's Cove, the once-popular, now-streaming TV show that Brynn and her roommate Josh magically find themselves in.

Brynn's had a hard run of it the past few years, and she find solace in watching Carson's Cove endlessly. On the eve of her 30th birthday, a strange delivery driver with shows up at her door with a birthday cake. After she makes a wish for a future that is low-drama and predictable, one where she can find her happily ever after, she awakes in the home of the wallflower, girl-next-door of her favorite show. Josh, too, has been sucked into this world. If Brynn plays by the rules and helps the lead characters find the ending they didn't get on the show, she and Josh may one day find their way home. Of course, with Josh being cast in the role of the resident bad boy, Brynn will have to stay away from him in order to help them achieve this goal...just as she and Josh are developing feelings for each other.

There's a whole magical element here that makes absolutely no sense, so you just have to let go of that to enjoy this book. Focus on the 90s/00s nostalgia and you'll enjoy the little Easter eggs dropped here and there. (My favorite was the name-checking of a secondary actor from a popular teen vampire series.)

The romance itself is a bit ho-hum. I imagine if there had been something between Brynn and Josh before they got sucked into the alternate universe, it would have made more sense to see it develop as it did. That said, they were agreeable and had some sparks of chemistry (literally, at one point). Other relationships, such as the one between Brynn and her new friend, were just as engaging.

It was a sweet book with messages of empowerment tossed in there with the romance. If you are a fan of any of those teen dramas and like a heroine looking to find her voice + a warm, cuddly hero, you'll probably enjoy this novel.

Stars: 4.5
Spice: R
52 Book Club Summer Prompt #17 - Team Pursuit: Featuring a Group of Friends

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok, for a prompt about a group of friends, what could be better than a romance about a woman who makes a wish on her birthday and wakes up to find herself in the fictional world of her favorite teenage drama series?

Brynn is an almost 30-something divorcee living in Toronto. Josh is her 30-something bartender roommate. After Josh comes to Brynn’s rescue the night before her birthday, they spend the evening watching Brynn’s favorite show, the 90s teen drama, Carson’s Cove. But just after midnight, and before they can watch the show’s cliffhanger, a stranger appears at their door, cake in hand, and tells Brynn to make a wish. Next thing she knows, she and Josh are in Carson’s Cove and in order to get home, they need to bring the series to its conclusion. But what happens when Brynn realizes that the teenage heartthrob she thought she would want can’t really compare to Josh? Will they be able to break the spell and return home?

So I sat down to just read a little bit of this book before I got started with my day and you know what happened? Nothing, nothing happened because I spent the next five hours devouring this novel. Much like Robb, I am a huge lover of 90s teen dramas, so this was a true homage to the genre (and Josh Jackson). But I wouldn’t have torn through this book if it just existed on that superficial level. No, Robb writes these two wonderful characters who are struggling to find themselves after the dreams that they thought were realized had been ripped from them. And, like all good romances, they start to grow together and find new dreams.

Look, this was a delight of a book, it made my entire day just getting to spend it with Brynn and Josh and all those crazy kids in Carson’s Cove. This one is out in September, just in time for back to school, so put it on your list.

And oh my god, Kate Robb, anyone that loves both Jann Arden and Don’t Trust the The B—-- In Apartment 23 is just good people.