This was surprisingly a really fun read. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started reading (I hadn't read the synopsis, but knew I liked her first book, so I went for it).

In the beginning I wasn't sure how I felt about the Pleasantville inspired plot, but it worked and it was such a fun, quick romantic story. I read it in a day as I found myself immersed in the story and wanting to see what happened next. Lots of fun nods to teen TV dramas, so if you grew up loving Buffy, Dawson's Creek, Vampire Diaries etc, then this is totally for you!

I’m obsessed with the concept of cute rom com with a full on evil villain manipulating the outcome, and this book definitely delivered on that. it felt like an Emily Henry book meets a Disney Channel Original Movie. 10/10 more rom coms need little vindictive bleach blonde henchmen messing up the love story.

Thanks to Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for the E-ARC! This was so cute!! Loved the characters & the magical realism! New favorite author.

Calling all Millenials! This is a must read for anyone who couldn't wait to see what happened with Dawson, Joey, and Pacey each week on Dawson's Creek. In Prime Time Romance, a woman obsessed with a Dawson's Creek-esque show magically ends up inserted into it, but not as it was then - as it is now (or would be if it hadn't been cancelled!). Oh, and she just happens to take her (hot but largely unfamiliar) roommate with her (it works, trust me). What a fun premise for a romance!

I had so much fun reading this book - it truly felt like I was in on the joke of what it would be like to be in the made up town. No cursing! Characters who can't change (even though they are real people and a little growth or depth might actually exist)! Falling for your TV heartthrob crush! It truly was just so much fun. It does have a smidge of magical thrown in, but it's not over the top - it adds to the 'wink and a nod' that the author is going for.

This was a great brain candy book, and the dedication to Pacey and that dang sweater is SPOT ON. Super fun read.

Thank you to @thedialpress and @netgalley for this e-arc book. All thoughts are my own.

Brynn is recently divorced, so on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, knees deep in her comfort show, when a birthday cake surprise shows up on her and her roommates’ doorstep. Since her favorite show ended on a major cliffhanger after five seasons, she wishes that she and they get a happy-ever-after.

The next morning, she wakes up, and it isn’t her apartment. Turns out she’s actually in her favorite show, and her roommate Josh is there too. Except their not Brynn and Josh, they’re Sloan and Spencer. Now they have to decide if they’re going to stick to the script, especially when they’re not supposed to end up together but are quickly developing feelings, or go for real love.


This book was a light and fluffy romcom and I did enjoy it. It did feel a little familiar to me, much in a way that it felt similar to another new release, but not so much so that I hated it. This book was still warm and cozy just how I like my romcoms, it was maybe a little on the cozier side than I tend to lean towards. Despite not being my favorite read of the year, I still found this book to possess a certain magical quality to it and gave me some serious nostalgia. Familiar tropes and books aren’t necessarily bad, nor is there anything wrong with them, they can be like warm hugs, and I think that this book is going to be just that. I really enjoyed that this book was dual point of view, this is my favorite way to enjoy romance books especially. It really helps get me in the right frame of mind and wrap my head around the story.

This book also made me think about cake in a different way, and if someone shows up on my doorstep at midnight, I’m throwing it away!

3.5 Stars rounded to 4

What a cute story! I am living for all the Dawson’s and Buffy and Chad Michael Murray Easter eggs. That made it fun! I felt like some parts were a bit rushed around the end but overall I really enjoyed reading this one! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!

What a lovely trip down memory lane, this story felt like reliving your days watching teen dramas
But this time, you get the inside scoop on what really goes down inside the small screen. And happily ever after doesn't always play out how it's scripted.

Willfully suspend your disbelief and follow this multi-faceted "will they, wont they" love story.

A perfect follow up to This Spells Love; I think I liked this even better! Kate Robb is shaping up to be an author I MUST have on my TBR shelf!

“Prime Time Romance” intertwines the allure of nostalgic television with the complexities of modern love and self-discovery. As Brynn navigates the aftermath of divorce and the uncertainty of her thirties, readers are invited on a whimsical journey where wishes come true in the most unexpected ways. Author Kate Robb’s narrative balances humor, romance, and relatability, drawing readers into Brynn’s world as she navigates being sucked into her favorite TV show, Carson’s Cove.

After loving Robb's This Spells Love AND being a huge fan of Dawson's Creek back in the day, I was really excited to read this novel. As a sweet rom com following Brynn and Josh as they wake up in Carson's Cove, you have to suspend all belief here. If you can, you'll really enjoy this book. It lacked a little depth, but as a quick escape, it definitely checked all the boxes! A special thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh the nostalgic vibes I got from this book!! The comfort of that classic TV show! I found the characters in this book lovable! I do wish there was a little more angst & longing, I think with a little more depth there the story would have made you crave their HEA a little more!

A romcom with 2000s tv references and themes? Millennial me loved all the references! Prime Time Romance is a dual POV story following Brynn and Josh through the crazy world they are thrown into. I liked the two of them together and their journey in Carson’s Cove, but it did feel a little rushed, like some backstory or interactions between them before Carson’s Cove was missing. Overall a good and easy read! 3.5 stars

Thanks Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

I love Kate Robb so much! After loving her debut, I was so excited for Prime Time Romance! The way she writes magical realism is spot on. Also the fact this plays on early 2000 dramas - perfection and so nostalgic!

The beginning was super cute and fun and it hooked me right away. It got really repetitive about halfway through and when I hit about 65% I really wanted to start skimming. This reminded me of a mashup of the old movie Pleasantville and Dawsons creek.

I didn’t really connect with the characters but I still think book has some potential.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Prime Time Romance is a cute, fluffy, predictable rom-com and a quick, enjoyable read.

We meet Brynn and Josh at the beginning of the book. The former is an almost-30-year-old divorcee and the latter an unfulfilled bartender still licking his wounds from a past failure. They happen to be roommates (convenient!) but also happen to be practically strangers. When a strange man shows up at their door one night, what happens next is a twist right out of a teen drama.

Literally.

Without spoiling the narrative, Brynn and Josh must work together to escape a fictional town from a 2000s teen drama, starting with making sure the show's heroine, Sloan, gets her happy ending with the love of her life Spencer. What follows is a formulaic "what you want isn't what you need" story with enough humor and tender moments to still be entertaining.

While I was rather enchanted by the story, as a one-time devotee of 90s teen dramas, the actual romance between the characters felt rushed and unrealistic. They went from barely speaking as roommates to the loves of each others' lives in the span of a week. And most of that week, Brynn was trying to get with another guy (as Sloan, but you get it). As Fletcher, the town disappointment and resident bad boy, Josh managed to save the local bar, which was a much more realistic part of the plot than many others.

I know the book was written to be fanciful and a blatant homage to the many teen dramas of the 90s and early 2000s, with those overworked tropes that we hate to love. This definitely was that, but still missed the mark for me in terms of a good romance.

This gave me such nostalgia and reminded me of the shows I watched as a teenager. One thing that stood out was the character development of this book. I adored Josh and Brynn. I loved their dynamic.

Such a fun read! I loved her last novel and this one was a great follow-up. It made me want to rewatch Dawson's Creek, but also made me think deeply about how odd it'd be if that was real life!

Kate Robb is becoming one of my favorites. I came into this afraid I wouldn’t love it as much as her previous book. And I was absolutely happy to be wrong, because I love this book. I loved the magical element to this romance. I was obsessed with the early 2000 teenage soap/drama vibes. It was fun to watch them discover the world and slowly grow closer.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC.

I loved the first book by this author and was excited to get an ARC for her new book. Imagine you wake up inside your favorite TV show and this is what happens to Brynn and her roommate Josh. I loved the nods to old TV shows I grew up on. The chemistry between the two main characters pulled me in. It’s a cute story that I couldn’t put down and wanted more of. I love how this author handles alternate realities and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

“Primetime Romance” by Kate Robb is a rollercoaster of emotions, taking readers on a journey through a small town where nose-bopping seems to be the norm. Initially skeptical, I was tempted to DNF, but perseverance paid off. Robb’s deliberate homage to teen dramas added an endearing layer to the story, making it a cute and enjoyable read. The spice in the romance was a delightful surprise, though I found myself craving more. While the alternate reality time travel aspect could have been fleshed out further, the underlying message about the allure of teen dramas and the need to embrace change resonated deeply. Overall, “Primetime Romance” is a quirky and heartwarming tale that reminds us not to get too comfortable in our nostalgia.

[arc review]
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Prime Time Romance releases September 3, 2024

Just as the clock strikes midnight on Brynn’s 30th birthday and she blows out a candle to make a wish, her and her roommate Josh are transported into the fictional world of her comfort tv show: Carson’s Cove.

The premise was too cheesy for me to take seriously and it wasn’t engaging at all. Brynn and Josh couldn’t even be themselves because they had to assume the identities of the characters inside the tv show. Since the two roommates didn’t have a fully established friendship prior to being transported to Carson’s Cove, their interactions didn’t feel earned.

I liked all the nods to popular 90’s/2000’s shows, but it didn’t quite work for me as a romance book.