Firstly I’d like to thank the publishers for allowing an e-arc copy of this book, In return for an honest review.
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me, and I had to DNF at 18%
The whole blurb sounded right up my street (hence requesting this book), however when I began to read I’m not sure if it’s the writer’s writing style or something else (my mind set, my anticipation of the story), but it just didn’t grip me how I hoped it would, and I really struggled.
I really wanted to like this story, and who knows maybe I will pick this book up again in the future and really enjoy it.
I wish the author and publishers all the best with this book and truly hope it does well for them.
Happy Reading!

I thought the plot line of this was unique, there were times it dragged a little however was enjoyable overall.
Not quite enough romance for my liking however is a fun, easy read!

This was an incredibly fun read, I had an absolute blast. The plot line of being placed in to your favourite show is such a unique concept and one that I could only dream of! It was extremely nostalgic and I loved the little nods to iconic tv shows throughout. The romance was perfectly executed and unlike any other, the build up and the pining was literally everything you could ask for in a tv show and Kate gave us that with our lead characters as they explored a fictional world where they was never meant to be. I'm really enjoying Kate's stories, she has such a unique taste for storylines and they're my most favourite kind of genre so keep them coming!

Remember that time as a teenager when you discovered that one show that resonated with you on a cellular level? You adored everything about it! There was that one character you just knew you'd have an instant, raw connection with if you met them in real life. You were certain that if you lived in that universe, all your problems would melt away. What if you actually got that chance? Would you take it? And more importantly, would everything turn out as perfectly as you envisioned?

Prime Time Romance explores this tantalising premise. It follows the story of Brynn, a newly divorced 29-year-old struggling with the social isolation that stems from losing the communal friend pool post-divorce, and Josh the roommate Brynn had to take on to afford the mortgage on her now single wage. Finding life and the merry-go-round of building a friend circle too trying, Brynn slips back into the comfort of her favourite teen soap Carson’s Cove. Its endless reruns bring solace in the way that everything always works out and people always get exactly what they deserve. So, when Brynn made a wish for her 30th birthday thinking that’s what she wanted for herself…. She wished for exactly that.

Thrown into this new reality, both Brynn and Josh get the chance to explore their true desires, ones they've been too afraid to pursue in real life. Watching their personal growth gives both characters a very satisfying character arc. The romance unfolds in multiple layers, echoing themes of "be careful what you wish for" and "don't overlook what's right in front of you." Yes, the story can be predictable, but in the best way possible. It's not overly dramatic and may be a touch subtle for some, but fans of slow-burn romance will find it utterly charming.

Author Kate Robb clearly had a love of 2000s soaps and this shines shines through in the multitude of Easter eggs scattered throughout the book, offering a delightful nostalgia trip for anyone who fondly remembers their own teen-soap obsessions. It’s a smart move as readers become engaged with the story filled with their own feelings from the same period in their life. It really helps with deepening their connection to Brynn's story.

I love how the book challenges the simplistic views we often hold about our favourite shows. It reinforces the idea that people are multidimensional, not just defined by a single characteristic. It gives you the same feeling as the first time that you watched Dirty Dancing and realised that Baby’s dad was actually quite reasonable.

Overall, Prime Time Romance is an easy, enjoyable read. The characters' growth is satisfying, the romance is sweet and subtle, and the backdrop of teen drama nostalgia makes it the perfect holiday escape.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own.</i>

This book was such a fun read. I was really rooting for Josh and Brynn and I loved both characters. The little Easter eggs to shows were a great addition. Similarly premise to teen Beach movie but for adults. Definitely recommend this read. A fun, heartwarming romance with a hint of magic.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

All the nostalgic feels of teenage drama tv series with a great romance plot! Loved the set up and all the nods to great tv series (plus handy guide in the back for all those Easter eggs you may not have gotten). I think even if you didn’t know these shows as well as me and the author you would still absolutely love this book and it’s heartwarming (and spicy) moments.

Kate Robb is definitely one of my new go to authors!

such a fun read! probably the most fun read of the whole year. first of all, thank you so much to penguin for sending me this book!! i reviewed kate robb’s previous book ‘this spells love’ ahead of its releas, and i can already say this book has overpowered and overshadowed that one completely. kate robb you have outdone yourself.

it’s wonderfully ridiculous and perfectly executed. i truly couldn’t put it down- i managed to read the whole book in about three hours. i LOVED the premise of this story…disappearing into your favourite show? genius. the fairytale not working out how it should? genius. not to mention that there’s so much character growth and development at times that it feels a little too much like a therapy session (in the best way).

the amount of work that’s gone into this, creating two whole worlds that are almost complete opposites to each other but painfully similar at the same time is honestly incredible. to make the fictional world seem also realistic enough for them to be able to interact with the characters as they did but as ridiculous enough that the reader DESPERATELY wanted them to go home is such an insane back and forth but it worked so well.

genuinely, i don’t think i’ve enjoyed a book this much in so long. im so looking forward to everything upcoming with this author. Take My Money.

I absolutely loved Kate Robb's Under Your Spell so I was super excited to get my hands on her new book, Prime Time Romance. I'll start with my only "complain", whereas I felt that in Under Your Spell the magical and witchery elements were super well integrated in the story, I felt that this time, it was not very clear how the "magic" happened here. The main characters simply appeared in a fictional town and couldn't leave until they accomplished their goal. I would have liked maybe a better explanation of how they ended up there and how this type of magic worked.

But apart from this, once I was onboard with the concept I actually enjoyed the story a lot. I loved that it was an ode to those teen drama tv shows from when I was a teenager myself, and I especially liked how the story and the main characters evolved and realised that not even those perfect storylines were that perfect to start with, just as life, we grow, we make mistakes, we learn and we try to do better.

I was also a big fan of Josh, our male main character. He was very easy to like, he was supportive, mature and a good guy all round. So all in all, I would say this was a fun escapism rom com with lots of nostalgic bits and fun moments.

I found this entertaining but I struggled to connect with the characters, I found the ending a bit odd and felt it was unresolved, but it was an easy, enjpyable read

This time, instead of ending up inside a romance, the author takes us to the set of a teen drama hodgepodge made from Dawson Creek, Beverly Hills 90210, the Q from Star Trek and a little something from Buffy but not enough if you ask me. Fantasy romance with all the teenage angst topics: from the election of the town queen to the rivalry between girlfriends. It gets read, but nothing more.

Stavolta, invece di finire dentro un romance, l'autrice ci porta sul set di un miscuglio di teen drama fatto da Dawson Creek, Beverly Hills 90210 e il Q di Star Trek piú qualcosina di Buffy, ma non abbastanza secondo il mio parere. Fantasy romance con tutti i topic della teenage angst: dall'elezione della reginetta della cittá alla rivalità tra amiche. SI fa leggere, ma niente di piú.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I loved the book at the start. Took be a while to actually get into the storyline but eventually I managed to then it had a twist and I was thrown again.

The romance was all really at the end and I am not sure how that made me feel. Definitely good for YA readers.

Prime Time Romance - Kate Robb

As somebody who lives for rewatching predictable, small-town sitcoms where everything works out and nothing drastically changes, this book became something I didn’t know I needed.

What I would do to be thrown into the world of one of those tv shows to play the role of my favourite character to give the season the finale it truly deserves… Which is exactly what happens to Brynn when she makes a wish on an unexpected cake delivery the night of her 30th birthday.

The plot twist however.. Is that Brynn has to take on the role of Sloan, in Carson’s Cove where the characters are living life as if the show Brynn loved is real. Her only way home? To give Sloan the happy ending she never got.

However, Brynn is thrown into the world with her roommate Josh who is expected to play the role of town bad boy Fletch without truly knowing a thing about Carson Cove.

This book made me reevaluate everything I thought I knew about my favourite sitcoms. Are the on-screen sworn enemies as necessary as we think? Is the typical dreamboat boy next door, in this case Spencer, as perfect as he seems?

Brynn and Josh undertake their roles as Sloan and Fletch with the aim of getting back home whilst realising not all as it seems and coming to terms with the issues they know they must face upon their return.

I felt a bit lost at some points, with the ‘extra-extra’ Sheldon pulling the strings and the magical cake. A bit more explanation to the magic behind the plot would have added an extra star or two!

As Brynn realises Sloan’s fictional love interest isn’t what she wants, she realises she can find what she needs a bit closer to home.

It’s definitely giving 2000’s tv and The Good Place!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the arc in return for an honest review!

Really loved the premise of this book, with that little hint of Sci-fi. I thought it was overall excited well and was a fun and enjoyable read. I think that I missed the majority of references to TV shows that were in this book because I do not think I’ve watched any of them but that didn’t personally affect my enjoyment of the book.

This definitely is a Summer read so a little shame it’s coming out in September. Although not all countries have Summer through June-August, I guess.

I liked this couple and I thought they made sense together and have good chemistry. I liked the flirting (even when they weren’t intending it, too). Overall I thought the too main characters complimented each other and I enjoyed reading their story.

My main criticism of this book was in regard to pace. I think there was several sections that dragged on more than needed and I wanted more moments between the core characters that lead to the ending. So it all made that little bit more sense in the end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Prime Time Romance' by Kate Robb.

The concept of this novel was exciting and although I did enjoy the writing style, I felt like some areas did drag and it ruined the experience for me. I do believe that it would be perfect as an adaptation.

This is a great romance with some steamy scenes. It also has great characters that you are rooting for as well as a dash of magic. There is also a wonderful message at the heart of this book. I highly recommend Prime Time Romance. It is one of those books that you can escape with and feel happier because you read it.

If you're a fan of nostalgic TV shows like Dawson's Creek and The OC you'll love Prime Time Romance. Brynn, newly divorced, spends her days trying to forget the present by rewatching reruns of her favourite teen drama Carson's Cove with her room mate Josh. So when a meeting with a mysterious delivery driver ens in Brynn and Josh being magically transported into the world of Carson's Cove, Brynn must embrace her new role as leading lady and give the nostalgic TV show the ending it deserved.

This was filled to the brim with nods to much loved TV shows, nostalgic characters and those complicated teen emotions every millennial knows and loves. The setting was really well described and developed, as I could almost imagine myself stepping straight into this world and hanging out with Sloan and Spencer at the local diner. However I found that the relationship between Brynn and Josh was a little rushed and underdeveloped. Yes they're friends at the beginning, but to me they actually feel more like acquaintances that have been forced to live together. Josh's backstory is also a little underwhelming and predictable compared to Brynn, who has to juggle the complexities of her feelings towards a failed marriage and moving on to the strong hold she has on the past. I also found the ending a bit rushed given all the build up that happens.

Good summer read, with a massive hit of nostalgia, but I just wanted a bit more from the characters given the wonderful setting.

I had so much fun reading this, the storyline was unique, the characters were entertaining, and the 2000's callbacks were compelling.

Josh and Brynn had the chemistry, I wish there was a bit more push/pull between them, after their first kiss it all felt a little rushed, but really enjoyable nonetheless.
The *literal* side characters we meet in Carsons Cove are great, and fit in with the clichés we all loved growing up. Poppy classic 'mean girl', Spencer 'perfect boy next door', Luce 'sweet girl never given the chance to fit in,'

I enjoyed 'This Spells Love' but I think I enjoyed this just a little bit more, suffice to say I'll definitely be keeping tabs on what Kate Robb comes up with next

Thank you Penguin and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest opinon

I don’t know how to truly feel about this book mainly because it felt like I was too you to really relate to the main character in her current stage of life and the whole being transported into a fictional world is something I’ve seen before in Chinese dramas and anime as well but this story kept giving me uncanny valley vibes and other times I thought it was close to being cute I don’t really know how to feel about the book at all

3.5/5

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book pre-release. All thoughts are my own.

Considering I am in the biggest slump of my post-covid life, I have devoured this book.
I went into it completely blind and I just loved the crazy premise. So let me explain it:

Brynn is a unhappy divorcee, living with Josh, a basically stranger, to be able to pay the bills. She is (kinda) coping thanks to her teenage years favourite tv show, Carson's Cove, that she rewatches in loop. The day of her 30th birthday, she and Josh are teleported in the show's town, after she wished she'd get her happy ending. You can image how it goes from there.

Carson's Cove feeds right into my millennial nostalgia, and it's honestly hilarious. Very stereotypical of course, but that's the fun part for me. I am a sucker for a good small town story, especially when it has the vibes of my teenage years (and possibly even after lol).

The first 60% of the book was very entertaining for me, and I seriously had so much fun reading it, for the first time in a while I actually was thinking about my book when I couldn't read and that's a feeling I missed dearly in my life. It's mostly well written for a romcom, there's a few good funny moments and, again, the setting is just so good.

I still had a great time and to be honest, it's the kind of vibes that I need these days, but I think it kind of flattened out in the last third? There wasn't enough pining for my liking, and the romance went from 0 to 100 SO quick. I am always partial to a good slow burn, and this wasn't really it.
Also I found the sex very weird, half very detailed, and half very rushed so it kind of threw me out of the story. I would have preferred it if it had faded to black and in its stead we could have gotten a few more tension scenes in there.

Quite predictable plot wise, which again, I don't mind given what I was in the mood for, but for sure I was expecting a little bit more.
I would recommend it if you're looking for an easy, fun, and low-expectations read, it makes a good palate cleanser. Enjoyable but not life-altering.

Thank you for my earc of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t finish, I just couldn’t get on with the FMC