Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

Up and coming director, Cali Daniels, goes head to head with director of photography, Jory Blair, in this TV set, drama-filled new romance.

Again, I have no idea how I’ve ended up reading so many TV set romances lately. It’s truly becoming a startling amount 😂 The downside to this, however, is that I have plenty of reference for what else is on the market right now in this department. Unfortunately, this one fell into the middle of the pack for me. It didn’t stand out against the backdrop of other similar reads.

My chief complaint with this book is Jory’s behavior, especially in the beginning. If there is one thing I hate, it is an arrogant man. ESPECIALLY, an arrogant man acting like he’s the epitome of “green flags” and “deconstructed misogyny.” Um no, sir, you are not as progressive as you seem to think you are. Jory is told by the showrunner that he needs to “control” Cali on the set, so she doesn’t ruin their antiquated vision for the show. Never mind that Cali is extremely qualified for this job and genuinely cares about it and her cast and crew. Jory can go kick rocks for that. His inner monologue during this time was truly ridiculous.

He also made me so mad when he literally let one of the main actors on the show go on believing that Cali was the one saying bad things about his acting even though it was Jory who said it all. I will give Jory credit for doing the right thing in the end, but he really went about the whole thing entirely wrong. Nevertheless, I was still a fan of their romance and that first kiss was HOT 🥵 Was there a total breakdown in communication on Jory’s part? Definitely. But I was still rooting for them to be together. Once Jory got his head on straight, they were actually really cute together.

I think I would definitely read another book by this author. I just might be a smidge burnt out on TV set romances at the moment haha. I did enjoy the audiobook narration for this book! The narrator did a great job representing the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Noel Stark for the ALC! All opinions stated are my own.

Love, Camera, Action was such a fun, heartwarming read! Cali Daniels is exactly the kind of character you dream of being when landing your first big dream job—she’s talented, hardworking, and quickly wins over her crew while building genuine connections with her actors. You can’t help but root for her every step of the way.

At first, it seems like Jory might be a major obstacle for Cali, but I loved how their story unfolded. The chemistry between them felt authentic, and it was so rewarding to watch their relationship grow. I especially appreciated the parallel character development—seeing both Cali and Jory evolve individually and together added so much depth to the story.

If you're looking for a swoony, behind-the-scenes romance with characters you'll genuinely care about, Love, Camera, Action is definitely worth picking up!

DNF the audiobook at 30% unfortunately.

I love Maxine Mitchell and she did a great job but the story is painfully slow and uninteresting. Great premise but just too clunky and try hard for me. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute romcom with a look into the film industry. The work dynamic was actually my favorite part of the plot with the romance coming in second. Cali was definitely a badass - she knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. I love reading about women who are good at their jobs! I liked the vibes between Cali and Jory and thought their personalities worked well together. I went between listening and reading and really enjoyed the narration so I would recommend the audiobook for this one!

The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!

Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark is a sweet, heartfelt, and surprisingly layered romance set against the glitzy backdrop of Hollywood. This audiobook swept me up with its blend of witty banter, on-set tension, and genuine emotional growth between the characters. If you’re a fan of behind-the-scenes love stories with a pinch of enemies-to-lovers energy, this one’s for you.

The story follows two leads—one jaded by the spotlight, the other still trying to find their place within it. Their chemistry crackles from the start, and the dynamic between them evolves beautifully throughout the story. I especially appreciated how Stark didn’t rush the emotional beats; instead, they allowed the romance to simmer naturally, creating moments that felt both real and romantic. I also really appreciated Cali Daniels as a character; she's someone I would befriend - kind and considerate but unwavering in her values.

As for the audiobook narration: excellent. The voice actor (Maxwell) captured the tone and emotion of the characters perfectly, adding depth to the story that made it easy to binge in a single sitting (or two). Their delivery brought the script to life, especially during the more emotionally charged scenes. It's always a toss up for me when a feminine voice actor tries to voice a masculine character, but this one hit it right on the nose.

The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, and a few plot points felt a little too convenient, but overall, it was a charming, escapist read with just the right amount of spice and sincerity. Love, Camera, Action is a delightful listen for romance lovers who enjoy Hollywood glamour mixed with authentic emotional arcs.

**Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the Audiobook ARC! All opinions are my own.**

***TRIGGER WARNING: Some bad language****

I really wanted to like this, but I didn't come out because I couldn't get into the book and I didn't connect with the characters. I didn't feel like it was a massive or visual at all, so it was hard to imagine what was happening.

Also, there was no need for the bad language now and then. I really dislike bad language in romance books.

The narrator didn't read this in a way that I felt was immersive.

1 star

Thanks to Noel Stark and publisher for my audiobook in exchange for a voluntary and homest review.
Edit Review

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

I always love a good Hollywood themed romance. It was fun to go behind the scenes and be apart of the crew and get a glimpse of the magic of making a tv show. I like seeing a strong female MC and her fight against the grain in the workplace. I also appreciated the MMC actively recognize when he was wrong. I loved seeing the magic of teamwork and the creativity of the MCs. This had good character development and I liked the tension but the enemy to lovers aspect was short lived in my opinion. The narration was great the inflection used was amazing. At times I forgot it was the same person reading the different roles. I recommend grabbing this audiobook if you’re in the mood for a backstage trip to a tv set.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Cali just got her big break to direct 2 spicy episodes for the hit show “The Demon”. She brings a creative new edge to filming but a feud with the photography director may put everything at risk.

Jory was instantly attracted to Cali but he has put her in the enemy zone as he can’t fall for her. He recently had a health scare and he won’t risk letting anyone in. But by starting a feud has caused a rift in set. He’s starting to regret things because to be honest Cali is good at what she does and she’s even helping elevate his game.

But a stolen kiss and tensions at an all time high may be the make or break of their careers.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

"Creativity is a spark-once you light it, you have no idea where it will lead. And sometimes it leads straight into someone's heart."

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Workplace Enemies to Lovers
* Director for 2 Part Spicy Episodes FMC
* Director of Photography MMC
* Strong Female Lead in a Male Dominated Industry
* He doesn’t do Love Because of Health Scare
* Forced Proximity - TV Set of “The Demon” in Atlanta
* Dual POV - Spicy 🌶️

🧡🔥🎥 🧡🔥🎥 🧡🔥🎥 🧡🔥🎥🧡

I got the audio book, and let me just say, LOVE LOVE LOVE Maxine Mitchell, she can bring the story to life like no one.

Cali is a new director and while she does feel insecure, she can delivery diplomacy and shows that she cares to the cast and crew like no other. Her and Jory, the Director of Photography (DP) has been zapping and zinging all over the place.

This is a slow burn, they don't get to kissing until like 58% of the book, and while I do appreciate the build up, the zinging together was a tad underwhelming. It's almost like hate sex, but hate making out. But once they do get there, they do get hot. But the love that Jory always wanted he knew it'd be from her, meanwhile she's in love-phobia mode for the longest time. The 3rd act was predictable, but appreciated the Jory did the right thing even though the break did take place.

Again, love the audio version with Maxine Mitchell, definitely worth listening.

Thank you Netgalley & Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

The narration on this book was amazing!! Maxine Mitchell did a fantastic job of creating distinct voices for each character and holding the attention of readers, even when the source material was difficult to continue.
I had such a difficult time finishing this book. It started out well with the introduction of Cali, I genuinely LOVED her character. However, as soon as the male main character was introduced with his perspective the story started to lose me. *Spoilers to follow* I absolutely despise Jory, he is such a hypocrite. There were quite a few times where Jory flat out stated he wasn’t sexist, when his character very clearly is sexist and doesn’t like taking direction from his female superiors. One of the reasons I kept reading was to see if Jory would have a sudden change of heart or redemption arc, which never came. Knowing that Jory was going to be the love interest for Cali from the beginning there were points I didn’t want to keep reading. I would find myself actively rooting for Cali to ditch Jory and find someone better. Jory was consistently undermining Cali, even after she proved herself capable and a visionary. There were so many better characters in the book, who were all written really well and did a great job filling their roles to the plot. Aside from Cali my favorite characters were Dan and Thalia. I loved how Dan was honest with Cali about if her ideas were feasible and would work in the time allotted. Dan also called Jory out on his bad behavior, but he was friends with Jory so he didn’t actually do anything to counteract it. The relationship between Cali and Thalia was really nice to see them supporting each other and trying to act in each others best interests. I love how Thalia felt comfortable with Cali and really opened up throughout the story trusting Cali with more personal opinions and history. Thalia was written as such a strong character who knew her worth and advocated for what she deserved and to keep boundaries she was entitled to. I could see myself really enjoying this book and reading it multiple times if Jory wasn’t the main love interest. I did enjoy the other characters and the storyline of directing a TV Show, but the horrible treatment of the main character by her love interest really ruined the experience for me.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the early opportunity to experience this audiobook!

I thought this was a fun quick romantic read. There isn't a ton of depth to the plot or characters, but it was entertaining. The world of TV cinematography was new to me and I enjoyed stepping into it. The building tension between the FMC and MMC was well written. I was definitely rooting for them to end up together.

The narration by Maxine Mitchell is always fantastic. I really enjoy listening to an audiobook by Maxine. This was no exception, she did a great job.

Love, Camera, Action is a romance novel set against the backdrop of a bustling television production.
Cali Daniels, an ambitious TV director lands her big break directing a steamy episode of a popular series The Demon. Her task is to deliver an unparalleled show using her hard-earned skills and creativity.
However, she finds herself constantly at odds with Jory Blair, the show's director of photography. Joru, reeling from a recently health scare, is contemplating a shift in his career and is intrigued by Cali's fresh perspective.
Their professional clashes ignite a chemistry, blurring the lines between work and personal desires.
They must now decide if pursuing their dream jobs is worth risking a potential future together.

Part of my low rating for this book is the lack of knowledge and research by the author. If you are going to write a book about intimacy coordinators in film you don’t write that they are the intimacy director, coordinator, and then coach. Also to talk about the importance of intimacy coordinators and how actors have been hurt on films without them, and then to have Thalia and Paolo going off of the choreography due to being in “love: is really disappointing and missing the point.

Thanks to NetGalley and and Dreamscape Media for the audio arc.

Review: Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5 rounded up)

This book was definitely not what I expected. While I was intrigued by the enemies-to-lovers tension between Cali and Jory, the story overall felt like it was trying to juggle too much at once. It tackled mental health struggles, physical health issues, and the dark side of the film industry—which ended up making the plot feel scattered and unfocused. I think the book would’ve been stronger if it had committed to one central theme instead of trying to do it all.

The spicy scenes also felt forced and out of place, like they were added in just for the sake of steam rather than contributing to the characters or story.

I listened to the audiobook and it was just okay—nothing particularly memorable or standout in the narration.

A fun, heartwarming read full of charm and romance! The characters were engaging, the story flowed beautifully, and the mix of love and the spotlight made it a unique and delightful escape. A feel-good journey that left me smiling—loved every minute!

This book was entertaining, i liked the plot. I got a chance to listen to the audio version and the narrator was good. I do think this story could have been shorter but it was good nonetheless. This has all the components of the enemy to lovers but i did feel something was missing in the story.

I want to thank @NetGalley and @dreamscape_media for allowing to listen to this ARC.

Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark is a charming, feel-good romance that makes it easy to root for the main characters. Their chemistry is sweet, and the story moves along at a fun, easy pace. Maxine Mitchell’s narration adds a nice layer of warmth and personality, making it a smooth and enjoyable listen.

What I really appreciated was that beneath the light romance, there were some deeper themes woven in, giving the story more heart and substance without weighing it down. It added another layer to the characters and their journey.

A quick, cozy audiobook with just the right touch of depth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½

#LoveCameraAction #NoelStark #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

Honestly, from beginning to end, this book was unable to grab my attention. In the beginning, we see Cali, a new director working on her first major project, that could potentially make or break her career, and Jori, the director of photography on set. Of course, there is insta-lust and the "relationship" forms off of that and after fighting it for a bit, they give in and find themselves in a friends with benefits kind of situation. The progression of the relationship wasn't good. They spend a lot of time feeling lust for each other and becoming co-workers with benefits, yet bickering and miscommunicating the whole time, and then suddenly at the end they want to be in a relationship. It just needed way more work and progression. Other than that, and a little bit of bickering between the two about who is right with what they want to do while filming, nothing really happens. It's just a bit bland.

Thank you to Alcove Press, Noel Stark and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

"Love, Camera, Action" by Noel Stark offers an engaging look into the world of filmmaking, with a rivals-to-lovers romance between an up-and-coming director, Cali, and an established director of photography, Jory. While I enjoyed the exploration of professional dynamics on set, the romance felt rushed, and the chemistry between the characters didn't fully convince me. The abrupt shift from tension to passion, along with some miscommunication, detracted from the connection I was hoping for.

I appreciated the inclusion of heavier topics, including references to #MeToo, though some parts felt clumsy, especially around Jory’s concerns regarding false accusations. However, I found the character development, especially Cali’s, satisfying. The book offers an interesting look at the pressures and creativity of film production, but the pacing and some aspects of the conflict resolution left me wanting more.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, quick read with great narration by Maxine Mitchell. Looking forward to seeing what the author does next! 3.5 STARS

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for an ARC!

This was a super enjoyable listen! Cali, an up and coming TV director, is confident, ambitious, and and ready to be a household name as she works on her first big TV show. When she’s paired with director of photography Jory, tension and sparks fly—both creatively and romantically. However, Cali cannot help but feel resentful- she's trying to make it in this business while he has seemingly had everything handed to him with a silver spoon.

The stakes feel real as both characters wrestle with career ambitions, creative differences, and attraction that threatens to derail everything they are both working so hard for. The added pressure of industry politics and personal dreams gives the romance a nice edge.

The audiobook narrator really brought the story to life with great energy and delivery. The only small hiccup was that a few times, it sounded like she pronounced “Cali” as “Kelly,” which pulled me out of the moment a bit—but honestly, it didn’t take away much from an otherwise excellent performance.

All in all, this was a compelling, sexy, and satisfying story with just enough tension to keep you hooked. Would definitely recommend!