3.5⭐️ // 2🌶️

It was a cute, magical realism roommates to lovers romance. Little bit of a slowburn, too.

I think elder millennials will absolutely eat it up with all the references to shows and movies from our youth (Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, One Tree Hill, etc.) If you watched TV in your teens, you’ll pick up on a lot of references or characters based on other characters. Super fun!

Josh was an endearing guy and I appreciated Brynn’s character arc.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC of this book! It releases 9/3/24.

After a birthday wish gone terribly wrong, Brynn and Josh find themselves in the fictional town of the 90s teenage soap Carson’s Cove tasked with giving the show’s main characters a HEA fifteen years after it was cancelled on a cliff hanger.

Well, another Kate Robb book that was just ok for me. This Spells Love, the author’s debut novel, was like not love for me and Prime Time Romance was about the same. I really liked the concept. Like who wouldn’t want to be plopped into their favorite teenage drama series? Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything particularly bingeable about it. It was just fine. However, what I enjoyed most about it was the nods to some of my favorite shows - Dawson’s Creek, TVD, etc.

Largely, I just didn’t find any of the characters overly compelling. Josh was my favorite, but other than that I just felt sort of blah about everyone. I wanted more from the romance, the conflict, and all of the relationships. Unless you really loved Robb’s writing in This Spells Love and nostalgic romances with magical realism, I’d probably just skip this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

4 ⭐️2 🌶️ for Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

Getting over a marriage is never easy but at least you always have your comfort shows, for Brynn that has always been Carson's cove but with the show ending on a cliff hanger and not getting renewed there was always some questions on if Sloan ever got her happy ending. On Brynn's 30th birthday a strange cake gets delivered and she makes her wish, to go to Carson's cove.

This is a adorable read, its funny and so relatable, I mean come on who hasn't every wanted to live in their comfort show, Gilmore girls or friends anyone lol. if you enjoy cute romance books pick this one up its so relatable and enjoyable!.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I was pretty excited going into this because I LOVE a good teen drama (think Dawson's Creek/One Tree Hill vibes). Prime Time follows Brynn and her hot roommate (who's not exactly a friend, but more of a renter) Josh who both end up in another dimension living as the main characters in Brynn's favorite TV show Carson's Cove.

This was a cute, quick read about how our dream world isn't always what it seems and maybe reality is just the thing we needed.

I wish I enjoyed this more. The concept of the book was not what I expected, but I became excited as I discovered the predicament Brynn had gotten herself and Josh in. Picture perfect Carson’s Cove! Brynn getting her wish of having Sloan’s life and later realizing that’s not what she wanted at all is a classic jealousy “the grass is greener on the other side” trope. There were a few potholes or things that happened in the book that didn’t make sense to me, like how easily Sheldon was okay allowing Brynn to make her independent woman speech, get sent home and realizing he needed to move on? Poppy’s involvement with Sheldon and insistence on Sloan getting her happily ever after. There were times in the book I thought it would get a bit darker, but I’m glad it didn’t.
I also felt the plot was super juvenile… like when yes they came back 15 years later and are still playing this high school plot? Maybe that’s how smaller towns are, but it was a bit boring.

📚 **Synopsis:**
Is love on the small screen better than the real thing? Brynn's happy ending has gone up in flames. Newly divorced and living with a roommate - Josh - to afford her mortgage, she finds solace in binging her beloved 90s teenage soap, Carson's Cove. On her birthday, a wish for her own happily-ever-after lands her and Josh inside the TV show, as the sweetheart and the bad boy. Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?

💭 **What to Expect:**
- Nostalgic 90s TV show setting
- A touch of magic and whimsy

📝 **My Thoughts:**
I'm not gonna lie, I struggled to finish "Primetime Romance." The beginning was promising, with a super cute premise, but the rest of the book dragged for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't feel much chemistry between the FMC and MMC.

I'm all for some spice in my books, but the spicy scenes in this one were just straight-up legit cringe to me. I couldn't read them and had to skip over them.

The only reason this is getting three stars is because I truly enjoyed all the TV show references, especially those to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I caught nods to The Bronze, Seth, and Dingoes Ate My Baby, which kept me curious to see what other references I could catch.

Overall, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It's a quick read, especially if you're a fan of 90s TV show nostalgia, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb offers an intriguing premise where Brynn, a recent divorcee, and her roommate Josh, wake up in the world of a 90s TV show. Their mission: to get the characters to fall in love. While the concept is fresh and the adventure helps Brynn and Josh address real-life issues, the romance lacks depth. Their connection feels average, and the ending is too neatly resolved without much emotional tension. Overall, it’s a fun, quick read but leaves something to be desired in terms of a gripping romantic arc. 3 stars.

I loved the blurb and was super excited to read this, but for some reason I could not get into it. I have watched those types of tv shows and have liked them.The author's writing was not a problem, it was more I found the characters not as exciting. I was not as engaged and I know not every book will be a page turner, but it didn't capture my interest. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This a a fun light hearted read with a nod to many favorite TV shows. I especially loved the section after the acknowledgements that reveals the Easter Eggs of all the TV shows the author pays hommage too. It reads like a modernday Plesantville that has a Dawson's Creek/Gilmore Girls setting with a little Riverdale mixed in. It was a fun adventure & brought me back to my days of being wrapped up in the hottest new teen/young adult drama. I love how the author brought in so many elements of different shows over the 90s/00s so your're likely to notice some fun references no matter what shows you were a fan of. Perfect summer/vacation read. I read it in 2 days & will definitely check out Kate Robb's other work!

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb will send you straight to the 90’s with all those teen shows we loved.

I think most of us have that show from our teen years that is a comfort show and know all the episodes and maybe ended not quite like how we wanted.

This story gives our main character a chance to get the ending she wanted but isn’t really how things should go?!?!

This story is cute and not a ton of spice for those not into that. it was a super quick read which was nice . It reminded me too much or Pleasantville so didn’t feel so original but was still cute with the teen drama aspect.

Thank you to Net Galley, Kate Robb and Dial Press Trade Paperback for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you Net Galley and publicists for the advanced copy of the book.
When I read the premise, I found it something new and interesting to read and when I got into the book, I felt just that, interest in continuing reading and seeing what happened to our characters, although I would like it more as a film.

Kate Robb does it again! Another feel good rom com that touched my soul and made it feel those warm fuzzies. I absolutely adored This Spells Love and Prime Time Romance is just as amazing. A touch of magic, a dash of small town romance, and the nostalgia of all your favorite early 2000s favorite shows (Dawsons Creek, anyone?!) will capture your millennial heart!

As a fan of the film Pleasantville and of quaint, small town TV series, I immediately connected with the character of Brynn and her desire to lead a happy, conflict-free life. Therefore, it was all too easy for me to breeze through Prime Time Romance. That said, despite the moral quandary of the premise and the seemingly developed storyline in Carson’s Cove, most of the characters felt less fleshed out than the novel portrayed them as, including Brynn and Josh. So too did the resolution— it was too quick and wrapped up way too neatly to be realistic. Therefore, I’m not sure Prime Time Romance will make its mark for most readers. Indeed, it unfortunately may become one of those novels that we often read and then, forget the details of entirely.

Unfortunately, I found this novel really lackluster. The plot was not interesting, the characters were boring, and so was the plot. I was disappointed in this one because I enjoyed Kate’s previous novel, but this one was a no-go for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

Prime Time Romance - Kate Robb

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re like me and grew up watching TV drama shows like Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek in the 90s/00s then chances are, you’re going to like this read. In this book, we follow Brynn as she tries to take her mind off all the things going wrong in her life by binge watching her favorite teen romance show growing up called Carson’s Cove. However, this time around she is joined by her bartender roommate (who she rarely spent time with previously and barely knows but luckily is very attractive), Josh. During their Carson’s Cove marathon, they are interrupted by a special delivery that magically sweeps both Brynn and Josh to the big yet small world of Carson’s Cove.

Instantly I was intrigued by the premise. I wanted something different and this definitely was a fresh breath of air. I’ve always imagined what I would do in my favorite characters shoes in the teen shows I grew up with and this book awoke those nostalgic memories.

The writing was great and immersive and there were moments I actually laughed out loud (which is rare!). My only qualm with this book was that the last quarter or so seemed rushed. So it wasn’t quite the ending I was looking forward to but overall I really enjoyed this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’ve ever rewatched a teen drama over and over and been unsettled over the way the series wrapped up, Prime Time Romance gives the chance to imagine if you were transported to a reunion season as the main character with control over seeing your desired ending through. You may realize the ending you wanted then, may not be what you’d want now, 15 years later. While cheesy at times, an enjoyable summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fun idea! I have seen several romance novels lately with a similar concept (i.e. finding love, but on some kind of TV show -- be it romcom style or gameshow etc.) but they're enjoyable and great reads for the summer months! I thought that the characters were fun and the situations endearing. I was recommended this title based on reading Kate Goldbeck's You, Again, and that felt like an accurate rec. Overall a fun title.

With a premise like this one, a book is either going to be magical or a mess. Sadly there was more of the former than the latter found on these pages for me. With such a go big or go home conceit I never felt like the story was fully committed to the craziness of waking up in your favorite teenage drama or the central romance. Neither is written about convincingly and made the book read like a lackluster YA novel that wanted you to find the feel-good moral.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for giving me this ARC!

Very fast paced! Very nostalgic! And just the tiniest bit creepy??? 👀 In this day and age of every teen drama getting a remake/continued storyline this story was an interesting look at what that might ACTUALLY look like if you happened to be dropped in the middle.

Kate Robb does an excellent job of integrating past storylines from the fictional ‘Carson’s Cove’ without making the reader feel lost or making the storyline clunky. I honestly felt like ‘Carson’s Cove’ was a show I had been watching for years, and that made it all the more eerie when the cracks started to show. 👀

I’m excited to see what Kate Robb gives us next! Magical Realism for the win! ❤️

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Kate Robb also wrote the previously reviewed "This Spells Love," which I gave 4/5 🌟, so I went in reasonably sure I'd enjoy this.
The publication date is 9/3/24, so I'm actually on time for this one, too!
I'd strongly recommend grabbing a copy of Prime Time Romance for anyone who really enjoys Teen Beach Movie, Pleasantville, and/ or Dawson's Creek.
This book has a lot of positives, aside from the super cute cover. It was such a fun, quick read, and the concept of ending up in the movie/TV show still feels really unique and fresh. I love that the FMC is a divorcee in her 30s, because that feeling of failure is kinda where I'm at right now (though I've never been even close to married), and I like being able to relate to the characters in stories.
What brought this down to a 3 🌟 review for me was that it felt like it was aimed at a younger audience, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps because Pleasantville & Teen Beach Movie are about teens? And the romance - hand to God, I couldn't tell you the Love Interests name without looking it up. He was that forgettable to me. There was no angst, no sparks, no FEELING in the romance. While I don't need it to be explicit and smutty, I looooove angst, and this was not there.

As I said, overall, I give it 3 🌟. It's a fun, quick, magical read but I'd recommend it more as fiction, or even those who enjoy some YA style romance.