The storyline for this book was really cute! I actually have read quite a few books recently, where an American girl falls in love with a British man with a title. Unfortunately, for me, there was some inconsistency with the depth of the characters, their relationship, and their feelings. At times, it was beautifully written and well described. At other times, it seems like we jumped ahead, two or three steps in their feelings towards each other. There were also some things that were written into the book that felt irrelevant or things that just all of a sudden appeared with no tie in. This was a really fun one, but I think it could’ve been done better.

The Meet-Cute Manuscript by Kimberly Duffy centers around Georgina Justice, an author. Whatever Georgina writes takes off, but after a disastrous public breakup she is unable to write. Stuck in a rut, her agent sends her to England to hopefully reignite the writing spark.

It is there that Georgina meets Graham Michael Phips-Harington a actual Viscount, who spends his time as an engineer and trying to preserve his Georgian manor. Their meeting writes a story, neither of them could have thought up.

I loved the premise of the story, but was thrown off at how it was written. It felt like it was written more like a historical fiction which threw me off a bit. I did like Graham's sister Eleanor as she brought some comedic relief. I also like how you get glimpses of the book Georgina is writing. Spice wise, its about a 1, which I guess is to be expected for a viscount who has to be proper.

Thank you Kimberly for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review!

Lately, everything’s just felt a bit gloomy to me, so I decided to pick up a rom-com from my TBR—The Meet-Cute Manuscript.

Honestly, it was a good start. It felt light, cute, and sweet, and the storyline really caught my interest. But as I kept reading, I started noticing some holes in the plot. The writing got a little messy, and things slowly started to fall apart. The plot felt kind of all over the place.

When it comes to the writing, I think it’s because the author usually writes historical fiction—and that really showed in this book (not in the best way, sorry). At some point, it didn’t feel like I was reading a rom-com anymore. And the closer I got to the ending, the more I found myself questioning everything.

Still, this book has a lot of potential—like every book does. It could be a sweet, light read for romance lovers.

It just wasn’t for me. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be for you. You might read it and feel something completely different—and honestly, I’d be happy to be wrong.

"But for now, I’ll just leave comments in the margins where I need to fill in the details. I’m itching to get to the good parts—the meet cute and kissing and swooning. I’ve been writing since after dinner and I only have a couple more hours before I’ll have to go to sleep or risk being catatonic tomorrow."

As a prolific writer, Georgina Justice knows how to get words on the page. But then her personal life falls apart, and she ends up struggling to write anything positive. Her editor is convinced that she simply needs a change of scenery. Perhaps immersing herself in the very locations that she writes about will help.

Crestford House was once a stately manor. But time has not been kind to the estate. Eleanor knows that turning their home into a temporary bed and breakfast will help - now she only needs to convince her older brother, AKA Grumpy Graham.

Further into the book, Graham's crabbiness makes more sense. Georgia's life, especially her past is full of complications. They both have many circumstances to overcome. Yet despite it all, they are drawn to each other. Will their connection be able to last?

This book is mostly set in England with plenty of charm. The supporting cast adds much to the story. For all who love the idea of an actual (realistic) happy ending, this one is for you!

I read a copy of this book on NetGalley. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, but it took me a bit to get into it. It’s very different than any other books this author has written. I don’t mean that as a negative at all, I just didn’t know what to expect.
The POV switches between the heroine and her hero. I don’t love that fact, and reading it from his POV was maybe the thing I liked about this story.
I loved the setting! England, and an old derelict and dilapidated estate, with lots of quirks and things to discover?! Bring it on!!
The characters were interesting. They weren’t as relatable as some I’ve encountered, but in spite of that, I still really liked them.
All in all, this was a fun read!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Prepare to be swept away into a charming, bookish romp across the English countryside with Kim Duffy’s The Meet-Cute Manuscript—a delightful blend of modern romance, Regency flair, and slow-burn charm that feels like a love letter to readers and romantics alike.

At the heart of the story is Georgina Justice, America’s literary golden girl, whose dazzling career screeches to a halt after a humiliating breakup leaves her unable to pen another love story. Her publisher’s solution? A change of scenery—and perhaps a change of heart—via a temporary stay in England. There, in the crumbling halls of a once-grand manor, she meets the impossibly British and emotionally barricaded Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury, whose favorite pastimes include brooding, engineering medieval siege weapons, and resisting the undeniable charm of his unexpected houseguest.

The dynamic between Georgina and Graham is classic grumpy/sunshine perfection. She’s bubbly, romantic, and just a touch dramatic; he’s reserved, logical, and burdened by a family “curse” that has seemingly doomed generations to heartbreak. What unfolds is a witty, tender, and endearingly awkward journey from mutual skepticism to undeniable connection—with meddling siblings, quirky house staff, and literary nods along the way.

Duffy’s writing sparkles with humor and heart, delivering swoony moments without the spice, and offering a richly atmospheric backdrop filled with manor house nostalgia and modern emotional depth. Fans of both contemporary and Regency romances will find much to love here, from Georgina’s Regency-era daydreams to Graham’s begrudging vulnerability.

The Meet-Cute Manuscript is the kind of cozy, clever romance that feels like the literary equivalent of tea by the fire on a rainy day—warm, comforting, and impossible to put down. Whether you come for the banter, the setting, or the slow-burn chemistry, you’ll stay for a love story that proves happily-ever-afters don’t always follow a script.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book really lived up to it's title. It was cute. It was also fun and I really enjoyed reading it!

*Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for this eARC; the review is my own.*

When I requested this book, I expected it to be cute--a fun way to pass some time while waiting for my husband to catch up in the book we're reading. But I didn't expect it to be this cute. I didn't expect it to enjoy it so much that I was no longer impatient to continue reading my other book. That's what happened, though. This book is adorable.

Character development was surprisingly thorough for something that's not even 250 pages. I loved Frankie and Graham (both mid 30s). Some may find their journey from strangers to love to be a bit quick, especially after the heartbreak Frankie experiences early on in the book. But I was totally fine with it--my husband and I knew we were going to get married two weeks after we started dating, and we've now been happily married 20 years. But I digress. I liked how Frankie and Graham helped each other be more themselves, if that makes any sense. Frankie didn't have to be Georgina Justice while she was around him, and he (as Eleanor pointed out) allowed himself to feel things again. Speaking of Graham's sister, Eleanor (17), I loved her, too. The way she and Mrs. Lewis schemed to get Frankie and Graham together was quite amusing, especially since Graham was so completely oblivious to it.

I think the one thing that bothered me was Frankie's insistence that Crestford House and all of its history should belong to the world and be open to visitors. Yes, it's important for people to see and experience history. But Crestford House as their home and property. So I disagree with Frankie on that. Nobody should feel obligated to open their house to strangers or make their family's possessions available to the public simply because they're antiques. I wouldn't have minded her suggestions had they merely been a way to preserve and maintain the estate (which was falling into disrepair), but her belief that the Phips-Harington history should belong to the people irked me.

However, I can overlook that flaw (because everyone has flaws), and say that I still really liked this book. If you like your rom-coms filled with spunky heroines, gruff heroes, and a somehow humorous macabre history of a quirky estate, try this one out. Plus, I feel a second book in the works, and I'll be there for it.

Two quotes stuck out to me as I was reading:

"Readers don't mind grumpy heroes but they don't want it spelled out for them in the title."
- This is absolutely true. I find it rather off-putting when a title totally spells out the tropes, like The Grumpy Firefighter Next Door or Stranded with Her Best Friend's Brother (I'm totally making these up, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were actual titles). Dear authors, use those as your placeholders while you think of real titles, but please don't publish your books like that.

"There are more feelings than ways to describe them."
- Fact. Just like there are more colors than we have words for, we feel things more than we can describe them. I love it. What a great and simple way to articulate something so true.

Love books about writers, so that was very cute to read. The storyline, although very descriptive, felt a bit flat which was a bit disappointing. I also had a bit of a hard time with the 3rd person POV because I haven't read that in a while so I had to get into it again.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the unique setting. English manor houses are pretty common in regency books, but I've not seen many in contemporary stories. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of some of the different rooms like the smoking room and the ballroom. I was a little thrown off by Graham's POV being in 3rd person present. It felt unnatural to me, although that's mostly because I haven't read other books like that. Once I got to know Graham, it made more sense for him to think like that, but I think it threw off the whole story for me. I liked the fact that Frankie was an author. As a reader, it's always fun to get a little peek behind the scenes and see how an author's mind works. And including some parts of the story she was writing was such a fun way to lead up to an amazingly romantic end-of-story moment. This was a cute romcom with a few deeper topics to keep things interesting. Sweet/clean romance readers will want to add this one to their TBRs.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book definitely got better the farther I got into it. The whole fiancé who’s a jerk and wedding dress thing seemed a bit much for real life. But everything else was fun. The stories surrounding the castle and the family she meets in England were odd and fun and I loved getting to know Graham and his sister Eleanor. The main character, Frankie, had a fun overlapping story going on using a novel she was writing. Overall, a cute story.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book had some pluses and minuses for me. It started off really slow and I almost stopped reading about 20% of the way through because of it. Also, I was confused by the switches in tenses. The FMC, Georgina, was in 1st person while the MMC, Graham, was in 3rd person, which was a bit jarring for me. Once I got used to the tense switches and Georgina and Graham were together more often, the book started to feel like it was in the groove and was flowing better until the end where I felt like there was tension thrown in for the sake of tension.

What I enjoyed about the book was how the characters grew and realized they had to let go of the past to live in the present. I thought this aspect was beautifully portrayed in both Georgina and Graham’s life and was ultimately what brought them together.

Unfortunately the book felt a bit flat for me and I found a few typos and extra words that the editors have missed.

The premise is good and I'm a sucker for any romance novel or movie that involve a Brit MMC and/or someone who works in publishing or is a writer, but I found the attraction between the FMC and MMC empty around the 40/50% mark. I wish there were more direct hints towards the development of feelings, rather than sometimes overdoing it when it comes to the physical attraction between the two characters.

I also think the MMC was far too focused on other people's and his family's social standing, even though his title pretty much amounts to nothing. I found that quite tedious.

It's just not a book for me, but I'm sure others would enjoy it!

I have a soft spot for novels about writers, and The Meet Cute Manuscript is that and so much more as main character Frankie Brown aka author Georgina Justice not only is writing a romance but living out a romance in real life!! Now I don’t read Regency romance books and so I didn’t appreciate the references as much as one could, but I did love the historical fiction component. As well as Kimberly’s dedication to her husband and use of trebuchets throughout the novel!! This book is a cute as the title states!!

3 stars

The premise of this book had all the ingredients I usually adore: a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, British charm, and a literary heroine rediscovering her romantic spark. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with the story the way I’d hoped.

One of my biggest hurdles was the dual POV. I found the switches between their perspectives jarring, and I often had to reread sections to figure out what was going on due to the different tense/and POVs in first vs third person.

That said, I can absolutely see this being a hit for readers who enjoy quirky, modern-meets-Regency storytelling and love a reserved, brooding British hero. The atmosphere is charming, and the writing itself is witty in parts, I just wasn't the right reader for it.

I really thing the POVs were the biggest problem for me. I own a ton of Kimberly's other books so I plan to read those, so take me with a grain of salt. I read a ton of rom-coms each year so thats why I think the POVs were why I struggled so much.

Wishing this one all the success with the readers it does connect with!

SCREAMS IN BRITISH ACCENT Oh my GOD, what did I just read?? I am officially OBSESSED. Thank you SO MUCH for the ARC—because wow, I devoured this book like it was the last crumpet in the manor pantry. 😭💋

Okay, let’s break it down. First off—Frankie. Miss Georgina Justice. Frankie freakin’ Brown. Bestselling Regency author, romantic queen, and total hot mess in the most relatable, loveable way. She’s smart, she’s vulnerable, she’s hilarious—and the way she just crumbles after that very public breakup?? Girl, same. And when her bestie ships her off to some grand old English manor to recover (please someone do this for ME), that’s when the REAL magic starts.

Now let’s talk about HIM. Graham Michael Phips-Harington. Viscount Rosebury. That name alone made me blush. He’s grumpy, broody, noble, sarcastic, secretly soft... he’s my new religion. AND THE CHEMISTRY?! THE SLOW-BURN? I was literally giggling and kicking my feet like a teenage Victorian ghost in the conservatory. 🫠🕯️

Also??? The whole double storyline??? Like Frankie is writing a romance WHILE LIVING A ROMANCE??? Genius. Meta. Art. I was living for the way fiction and reality blurred like one of those foggy English mornings. And the setting—the manor, the ghosts, the paintings, the old trunks full of secrets and history?? Literal aesthetic heaven. Give me a map, I’m moving in.

AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT GRUMPY/SUNSHINE??? Opposites attract??? It’s giving Jane Austen meets Emily Henry meets the warm hug of a cozy blanket and a well-timed kiss. 💋

This book was funny, swoony, tender, and gave me butterflies in all the best ways. I laughed, I sighed, I highlighted like half the dialogue. It’s clean romance but the TENSION??? I needed a fan. 🫠

To sum it up: I’m in love. With the book. With Frankie. With Graham. With ghost stories and conservatories. 10/10 no notes. Stephanie Alves wishes she wrote this level of swoon (JK ILY Stephanie). Please let me live inside this book forever. 📖🏰

BRB rereading. And yes, this is your sign to read it NOW. 💋💋💋

The Meet-Cute Manuscript by Kimberly Duffy is a sweet romance that combines everything I love into a book. American Georgina Justice is an amazing writer know round the world. After a very public break-up with a wealthy man her agent sends her to England to help her make a come-back. Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury, is an engineer who builds trebuchets and is trying to save his Georgian manner.

For me this story pulled together all the things I love and was a joy to read. This well played romantic comedy had me laughing out loud and swooning while hoping to meet a viscount engineer. I enjoyed the Regency romance within the story that Georgina Justice was writing. The heroine was multi-layered and I enjoyed watching her make peace with her past, move forward, and fall in love. Graham was a great hero and his sister dazzled with humor and life.

I enjoyed this humorous, romantic, and sweet story. The Meet-Cute Manuscript by Kimberly Duffy is one you do not want to miss. I highly recommend.

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

What a wonderfully exciting and immersive story- it perfectly combines romance along with historical fiction so effortlessly whilst keeping the reader engaged throughout the book. The book focuses on a lady known as Frankie (with her pen name of Georgina Justice a renowned romance author) and her decision to take a break to England after her life in New York takes a turn for the worse. Frankie's editor and friend Ashley instills that the break away will inspire her writing process and give her a new lease on life and it may in fact do just that- (with a few bumps along the way).
This was such an enjoyable, humorous book that I absolutely devoured in two sittings.
A huge thankyou to both Victory Editing Co- Op along with Net galley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this wonderful story.

I was so excited about Kimberly Duffy’s switch to contemporary romantic comedy! Georgina Justice, famous American romance author, heads to England for research under her real name Frankie. She rents a room in a British manor house from the lady of the house-unbeknownst to the brother in charge, Graham, Viscount Rosebury. Jilted by her long-term boyfriend, Frankie seeks inspiration from manor’s history and even heirloom clothing in hopes of convincing herself to believe in love again-perhaps with the shy, practical, trebuchet-loving viscount. It did take me a little bit to get into this story but once I did I could NOT put it down. What British romance-loving American woman doesn’t daydream about what it would be like to fall in love in the British countryside?? Frankie and Graham have so much chemistry- there’s plenty of yearning in this slow burn romance! Between a gorgeous manor property, meddling younger sister, treasure hunting, ghost stories, and a villainous ex, The Meet Cute Manuscript has more than enough fun to keep you on your toes! I definitely recommend this book for Duffy fans and new readers alike!

*I was provided a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed above are my own and I was not required to give a review.

✉️Review: The Meet-Cute Manuscript

🍫Rate: 5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💞Praise: So so so so adorable! Frankie is my new favorite book character! Our beautiful regency romance author is trying to heal from a breakup from an ex-fiance. Yikes! She decides in order to continue working on her next novel getting inspiration by being in England is the ticket! (Yes please!) Graham is the ultimate grumpy recluse and I could not get enough of them! Men who tend to be grumpy definitely have the most secrets! LOL

☕Characters: Another character I absolutely without a doubt adored was Graham's younger sister Eleanor! She definitely has a good heart and her meddling I considered the most entertaining! Her personality is kind of like a tiny dessert you couldn't get enough of and just wanted more! While Graham and Frankie are navigating a romance you definitely sense a lot of whimsical moments and a lot of heartfelt moments leading up to each page. That definitely grabbed my attention!

🥃Extra: I have read Kimberly's books in the past and I was so excited she was writing a contemporary romance! I knew I had to pick it up immediately and I was so glad I was picked to read it!

🍵Bravo!