Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel. This book was such a fun summer read. This books takes place over a week at a rom com role playing event being hosted by a small beach town hotel. Prior to this book I had never heard of this trope being used in novels and I actually really enjoyed all the references to popular rom coms and made it easily possible for me to be transported alongside the characters on this adventure. Throughout the book we not only see the blossoming romance between Luke and Julia, but we get to experience seeing the side characters find their match and some of them aren't even human (seagulls). This novel also touches upon the struggles of finding yourself in your career and working towards the things that actually bring you joy. My favorite parts of the book were always when the characters let the environment of what they were experiencing take over, and it was in those moments when you truly saw what was important to these characters. Overall I enjoyed this novel and fell in love with all the characters.

Like a cream filling hidden in a pastry, we have so many delicious layers to this story!

I absolutely adore the premise of this book! Facing layoffs, Julia makes a last-ditch pitch to review a new resort that is hosting a Rom-Com LARP. Bringing along her two besties for the week, she's determined to get the inside scoop and have a little fun along the way.

Luke is the Game Master, the one who's pulling all the strings to give the guests an unforgettable experience. Along with his best friend and his sister, his team has planned every rom-com trope imaginable into an event-filled week that is sure to fulfill more than a few fantasies.

Set along Chicago's lakeshore, the laughs start immediately with Luke and Julia's first meeting that was crashed by a maniacal seagull. There is plenty of humor throughout the book but the author also does an amazing job of focusing on the deep, emotional issues involved.

There are more rom-com references than you can shake a stick at. Johnny Castle? Check. Meg Ryan? Check. Secret identities? Check and double check. The way all these were worked into the story was simply brilliant, and really elevated this to so much more than a traditional rom-com. It's a beautiful tribute to the genre itself.

As expected, there are plenty of romances happening here in addition to Luke and Julia's. Their HEA is perfectly life-changing, and theirs isn't the only one. I loved every character, even Zach, and I loved every single page of this vibrant, enthralling story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I’m not a big fan of rom-com films; I think, for the most part, they’re cheesy. But I do like romantic novels on occasion -- if they’re well-written with likable, interesting characters. Too Good to Be Real fits that bill with Julia and Luke, as well as a pair of scene-stealing seagulls and a crew of corgis.

Julia, a writer making a last ditch effort to avoid being downsized, goes undercover to review a new rom-com themed resort where she (literally) runs into adorkable Luke, who along with his sister and best friend are in charge of the live action role play at the Wisconsin lake-front hotel. When they meet, of course neither Luke nor Julia reveal their true reasons for being at the resort, which results in a moral dilemma for each of them as they grow closer to one another and things get complicated.

Overall, Too Good to Be Real is an enjoyable read. Julia and Luke are sweet and cute; the side plots with Julia’s besties and Luke’s sister keep things interesting, and the resort’s owner, Ms. Weatherspoon, is hilariously goofy. There are copious references to to rom-coms new and old, so whether you enjoy your romance in print or on celluloid, you are likely to find Too Good to Be Real a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Melonie. I needed a book like this!
It was "light and airy". It was funny and it was a break from reality that I needed. Please write more like this.
And again, I loved all the movie references.
To be honest, I'd love to stay at a hotel like the one in this book. A get a way from everyday life.

Love the premise of this story -- the main character is a writer, disillusioned by her "bleak" dating experiences, who is offered the opportunity of a free stay at a unique resort in exchange for her review. The mission of the resort is to provide a fantasy, perfect romance. So, lots of fun, and written with humor and wit.

This book was adorable, at first I wasn't sure because it going pretty fast but it was so good. The ending was so cute and such a good parallel to the beginning of the book.

Julia can’t get laid off from her job at Trendlist. She’ll do anything to keep it - including take an assignment that brings her to Notting Hill, a resort promising to have your week’s stay feel like a romantic comedy.

The chances of finding true love at a manufactured event are slim to none, but when she runs into Luke on the beach, there was something undeniable... right? Told in dual perspectives, and crammed full of fun romcom references, Too Good To Be Real is the perfect escape.

This book has so much going on - antics, secrets, drama and even thieving seagulls. The paintball scene was my fave, and I especially loved the empty nester couple who came to rekindle their spark. Also, LARPing but in a contemporary romance setting? We stan.

If you’re looking for a carefree summer romance, looks like you found it!

Too Good to Be Real was a delight!

Great rom-com.

I loved the characters, especially Julia. When she comes upon a resort that specializes in having their guest live out their romantic comedy dreams she can't help but join. How can you not love this book? It has seagulls, corgis, kisses in the rain, and of course Luke.

Highly recommend Too Good to Be Real!!

Too Good to Be Real by Melonie Johnson was too good for words! I LOVED this book! Three best friends staying at a charming rom-com inspired resort with hijinx and handsome leading men, what's not to love? The writing was smart and sweet! This book leans into the rom-com tropes, but doesn't feel totally fantasy. I loved the realness of the world Johnson created and would visit Notting Hill Resort in a heartbeat if it was real! Please write a follow up book I need to spend more time with these characters!

What a cute storyline. Julia winds up at a resort that promises to make you feel like you’re in a romantic comedy.
Surprisingly, it is because of her worry about job security that leads her there. She offers to go write an article about Notting Hill (the resort) and their rom com experience.
She might also be a bit cynical about love and wondering if even she can enjoy the experience.
She certainly isn’t counting on meeting Luke the minute she shows up there with her friends.

Luke wasn’t planning for his kind of meet cute with Julia either. This is his place of work after all. He isn’t one of the actors but he does work for the resort abc wasn’t going to be part of the “game” as they call it. But he thinks Julia’s friend is the reviewer and he thinks it’s best to keep close to the group of women to make sure they have a good time and a good review is written.

Lines get blurry as the girls start wondering if they are actually falling for the men at the resort. They can’t tell exactly what parts are true either because the whole rom com experience is a game. How can they trust their feelings?

With Julia and Luke both intentionally misrepresenting themselves to each other, it’s putting quite an obstacle in the path of something that could be the real thing.

I thought the recreations of popular scenes from rom coms was quite cute. I watch a lot of them and I hadn’t even noticed his common some of the storylines are.

I’d like to recommend that if you like the idea of this storyline that you should definitely, definitely read Austenland and also Well Met (and the other books in that series).

I won a copy of the physical book from Goodreads and an ebook copy from NetGalley. Thanks! I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another book in this series set at the same resort at Christmastime.

This book was adorable! I never thought I'd end up reading a romcom about romcoms, but here I am. And I regret nothing. This was worth every minute I spent on it!

My favorite part of this isn't even the characters. It's not the plot. It's a pair of seagulls named Bonnie and Clyde. It's our cockblocking friends who made a living off of theft. It's the seagulls that brought our characters together. In case you don't get it yet, I love these guys. Every time they showed up on the page, I knew it was about to be a fun scene.

I figure that's enough about the seagulls, and I should probably discuss the romance. Like every other romcom, the romance is pure fluff. Fluff is a good thing though! This was a super quick read, and it kept me hooked the entire time. Luke and Julia had so many iconic romcom moments, which I loved. I also loved that they communicated, and their problems weren't dragged on.

Finally, Mrs. W made this book even better than it would've been otherwise. She was an absolute character, and between her corgis and fashion sense, I was dying every time she stepped onto the page. Seriously, I'd read an entire book about her alone.

If you're in the mood for a fluffy romance, I'd definitely recommend this! It had all of the iconic moments I look for in romcoms, and added it's own special flare to them. I'll definitely end up rereading this one!

Thanks to Melonie Johnson and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Okay that was a lot of fun. It was a rom-com on steroids! It highlights so many of my favorite things about rom-coms. A light and fun summer read that is guaranteed to leave the reader smiling. Great dialogue and fun characters and situations.

Your one-stop shop for humor, steam, and corgi butts. There's no point lying about the fact that I requested this book from NetGalley based solely on the corgi on the cover and didn't even read the description. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

There are a lot of great things in <i>Too Good to Be Real</i>, but my favorite element was the humor. Talk about putting the com in rom-com! Melonie Johnson's dialogue and situations had me laughing out loud. If there's one thing you should read this book for, it's the seagulls. Every time the seagulls showed up, I ended up in a fit of giggles. The sheer goofiness of so many situations encountered by the main characters brought me pure joy. As someone who grew up in Wisconsin and has made a similar mistake, I got an extra kick out of Julia deciding to swim in Lake Michigan in June. If you know, you know.

This was such an adorable fun read. I loved every minute of it, and I couldn’t put it down! The romance between Luke and Julia was written so well! This story made me smile so many times, and laugh as well. Definitely recommended for romance readers!

Thank you Netgallery for this arc!

This super-cute book gives readers all the 'warm and fuzzies' of a great rom-com! It's chock full of fun movie references and self-aware trope characters. While the the story follows the predictable rom-com plot journey, it is still a hoot to read and a great escape from these crazy COVID times. Be sure to make it your next beach, or staycation, read! Thank you to NetGelley for the opportunity to read and review.

This book was fast paced and fun laugh out loud book that I think would be perfect as a beach read or vacation read. The characters are likable both individually and together. There were many great laugh out loud moments that made me really enjoy the story.

Too Good to Be Real is a fast paced, sweet and funny beach read! Julia and Luke were both likable and their romance was sweet. However, the best part to me was both of the trios (Kat, Andie and Jules & Luke, Pen and Jay.) The conversations the girls have throughout the book are hilarious! (I mean the first sentence in the book is gold.)

Of course, I loved all the rom-com movie references and tropes throughout the novel!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a romance reader, you often wish that most of the meet cutes you read about could happen in real life, right?! What if there was a resort where you could play out a rom-com? Would you attend?

With another round of layoffs coming, website writer Julia is open to anything to keep her job. A resort that simulates popular rom-coms? Why not! After literally falling into a meet cute that isn’t so cute, Julia meets adorkable computer programmer Luke. As they meet, Julia hides the fact that she’s there to write a story on the resort. What she doesn’t know is that he’s hiding secrets from her as well.

I adored this book. Julia and Luke were fun characters and I found myself laughing with some of their awkwardness and humor! The idea of Too Good to Be Real is such a breath of fresh air and I loved the originality of it!

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Wanting to save her career, the heroine goes to a rom-com at a resort where the hero works at, their first interaction is under a misunderstanding. Their consequential interactions deepens their own relationship as time passed away. But how will the couple react as the initial misunderstanding unravels...

I enjoyed this Melonie Johnson book. I liked the couple as individuals and together. The couple each have wonderful friends who have their backs. The animals mentioned in the book were prominent within their roles and some secondary characters were entertaining. The author's vibe is enjoyable and the story is pleasing to read. Definitely will read more books from the author in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

This was a laugh out loud read that I really enjoyed! Julia and her two friends spend a week at Notting Hill, a week-long immersive retreat into the world of romantic comedy movies such as When Harry Met Sally, Sex and the City, Bridget Jones Diary and more. Julia hits it off with Luke, and the two end up living their own version of romantic comedy (and there's a little bit of heat thrown in the mix!), and Julia's friends end up having some adventures of their own.

For the most part I really loved the story. The idea of going to a one-week retreat based on romantic-comedy movies/stories was so much fun, and in a lot of ways, the story followed a plot of a rom-com movie (which I'm sure was the point). I wasn't completely blown away by the writing, but the book caught my attention quickly and had me literally laughing at times, so I'm glad I read it.

If you're in the mood for a fun, quick read, this is a good choice: there are cases of mistaken identity, love at first sight, a thieving seagull couple, lots of corgis and great movie references.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to review this ARC!

This was a fun book to read. You will laugh out reading this book and fall in love all at the same time. I love the idea of a rom-com fantasy week to go to at a resort. Who wouldn't love to go and have a great time being in a rom-com. If you happen to follow in love in life than that's even better. The only thing I wished for was an epilogue but was still so much fun to read this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent a free book.

Too Good To Be Real by Melonie Johnson is a funny, flirty, rom-com that checks all the boxes for me.
This story is about Julia who is a writer for Trendlist. Her job is on the chopping block, Julia decided to take this opportunity to try to write for ‘Take Me’ section. The section is about traveling and adventure. Julia hears about this rom-com resort based off the movie Notting Hill. It's a LARP resort where they assign characters for the guest to act like during their stay. Luke the manager of the resort had a meet cute with Julia when they collided down at the beach near the resort.

Luke, happens to be the designer behind the experience (of course). But serendipitously, he runs into Julia before the event begins. Bam. The lines between faux immersive experience and real love get blurred.

Throw in some kleptomaniac seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and karaoke serenade and soon these two people find themselves falling in love with each other. Even though this resort is about pretend, these feelings are starting to feel a lot more real than both of them realized.

If you like to laugh out loud at dialogue, banter, and just characters refusing to confess their feelings to one another (and being super awkward about it along the way) this one is for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Grab this book when you want something light, sweet and on the funny side. No content warnings. No triggers, unless a seagull stealing your bikini top is a particular fear. Or corgis. Then steer clear. Otherwise, put this on your shelf for the next time you’re on the beach and looking to get away.

Too Good to be Real is what happens when an author watches a whole bunch of rom coms. There’s a quirky romance, over the top resort, a guy, a girl, and their loyal sidekicks - plus cocktails. Gotta have the cocktails. But I gotta say, I kinda liked it.

Our main lady, Julia, is a journalist on the brink of layoffs when, as a last ditch effort to save her job, she volunteers to report on a new immersive experience resort. Of course, she brings her gal pals.

Our guy, Luke, happens to be the designer behind the experience (of course). But serendipitously, he runs into Julia before the event begins. Bam. The lines between faux immersive experience and real love get blurred.

The only thing to raise an eyebrow to is how expected the story is in many ways. It’s following the Rom Com outline on purpose. But ya know, sometimes that’s exactly what ya need.

Big thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC.

A trip to a rom-com themed larp resort, can you really find true love? Julia is a writer for a popular website and when her job is on the line she pitches the Rom-Com themed resort as a review and snags tickets for her friends to come along too. There, Julia will experience popular rom-com activities, experiences, meals, and everything in between while getting to play as a popular rom com character. Upon her arrival she falls, quite literally, into Luke. Luke is awkward, cute, and a bit clumsy. He appears to be participating in the rom-com experience too, but she soon finds out there might be more to Luke than she previously thought. Throw in some kleptomaniac seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and karaoke serenade and soon these two people find themselves falling in love with each other. Even though this resort is about pretend, these feelings are starting to feel a lot more real than both of them realized. A super cute rom-com themed story filled with adorable couples and some classic nods to some of our favorite romantic comedy movies, this was a great read! You get to read from both Julia and Luke’s POVs and I found them both to be really sweet and charming characters. A great romance read filled with lots of heart!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was SO cute!! Melonie Johnson did an amazing job of transporting readers to the resort with Julia and Luke! It was fun, breezy, flirty and laugh out loud. I am a lover of all things rom com so the description pulled me in immediately and I just LOVED the story!! This plot was unique, adorable, and totally fun!!!

I enjoyed this. As a huge sucker for rom-coms full of awkward characters, this checked all of the boxes for me.

This follows Julia as she dreams of a swoony, brooding boy to take her away to a dream-like world and finds love in the most unexpected of places.

If you like to laugh out loud at dialogue, banter, and just characters refusing to confess their feelings to one another (and being super awkward about it along the way) this one is for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!

I received this ARC for an honest review. This was a cute and funny story. This story is about Julia who is a writer for Trendlist. While she enjoyed her job and knows that her job is on the chopping block, Julia decided to take this opportunity to try to write for ‘Take Me’ section. The section is about traveling and adventure. Julia hears about this rom-com resort called Notting Hill Resort. They assign characters for the guest to act like during their stay. Luke the manager of the resort had a meet cute with Julia when they collided down at the beach of the resort. Luke pretended to be a guest of the resort so he can help Julia have a good time. If the week is a success, Luke will get a bonus and he wants to start his own gaming company.
Not going to tell you what happen...as you can guess a lot of things went down. I suggest to give this story a try. I did enjoy it, and will read another story from Melonie Johnson

Too Good to be Real is a story about love and rom-coms.... and rom-com love! Julia is a journalist, and her job position is at risk. In order to save her job, she attends a rom-com inspired resort with the intention of reviewing it. Luke is the mastermind behind the resort. The two meet by chance on a beach, but hide their identities from one another. Will they actually fall in love with each other, or is it all just a game? This is a seriously cute romance!

This book caught my eye because of the author and the premise. As a lover of rom-coms, the story being set in a rom-com "fantasy camp" sounded great.

The book did not disappoint - the relationships were wonderful, the rom-com references were fun, and the resolution was satisfying. I would say of all of those parts that I enjoyed, the relationships were my favorite parts. It was not only a relationship between the main characters of Julia and Luke, but those of the other couples at the event, the brother-sister relationship between Luke and Penelope, the strong friendship among Julia and her two best friends, and even a relationship between two seagulls.

I truly enjoyed watching everyone figure how to best navigate their situations. The backdrop of the story gave a light-heartedness to any of the issues that the characters were experiencing. It was a fun, relatable read with a cast of lovable, well-developed characters. I would recommend the book.

Have you ever wanted to experience what it's like to be in a rom-com? Have you ever wanted to live the lives of our beloved characters from When Harry met Sally, Notting Hill, 10 Things I Hate About You, Sex in the City, the list goes on and on. Well Julia and her two friends actually will have that opportunity to do just that for one entire all-inclusive week.

As soon as they arrive at the resort in Wisconsin, Julia immediately meets Luke in the most adorable meet-cute way. But Luke isn't there to play the game, he's supposed to be the Game Master. Since he wants to know more about this woman, he reluctantly hands over the reigns to his sister, Penelope. The story progresses with several rom-com style activities and some not so planned activities (like a kleptomaniac seagull!)

I really liked these main characters. Both Luke and Julia had their little quirks that made both characters very relatable. Luke was an adorable geek and Julia was a struggling writer who was skeptical about long term relationships. However, I didn't care for Kat or Andie. They barely seemed relevant to the story. However, I might be interested to see if Melonie Johnson created a 2nd and 3rd book focusing on their stories, they would definitely have potential.

This was an easy, engaging read that I would recommend to lovers of rom-coms. There were many times I was laughing or smiling right along with the characters. Even the cover of this book was adorable!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

The PERFECT vacay read. I loved the rom-com trope. I’m not a “game” person but still got a pretty good understanding of the ins and outs. I was here for the romance, let’s be real. Luke and Julia were sweet and I loved their “meet cutes.” I also appreciated the friends storyline; I’m a sucker for strong female relationships.

I breezed through this one in a day! So fun and just what I needed pool side.

I adored this one! Cute and sweet book. I absolutely adore the cover also. I loved the banter between characters so much.

4.25 Stars

Julia writes for a famous online magazine in Chicago. But so many people are getting fired! She needs the perfect idea for an article to convince her boss to keep her!
Enter: Notting Hill Resort.
A resort for fans of Rom-Coms to star in their own little romantic comedy for a week.
Perfect!
Luke, together with his buddy and his sister, have been working their behinds off to create the resort for their boss. And suddenly opening week is here and instead of making sure that everything in running smoothly he accidentally got caught in the middle of a rom-com meet-cute with Julia - and now he's pretending to be a guest too! LOL!

Let the fun times begin ...

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ADORABLE!
I really enjoyed reading this story.
It was so very funny and sparky and sexy and Rom-Com-y.
I adored all the people!
I loved the location and the activities and the dogs and the colorful resort owner. It was all so cute and a bit over the top - but really adorable!

What I didn't love was the third person POV. I prefer first person. It just makes everything so much more confusing with all the HEs and SHEs ... I don't like that.
And the whole idea of this resort ... I kinda get it. But more as a single/matchmaking destination. There were so many couples and even a wedding party. I think as an only-for-singles thingy it would make so much more sense! And without all those paid actors obviously. If you can't fall for them, they're not needed at all. BUT - it was totally okay the way it was. A place for an older couple to spice up their routine et cetera. But it would just make more sense for singles only.
End of rant. ☺

I really liked the story and the people!
Wouldn't mind seeing this on Netflix one day!

In this light-hearted and charming riff on romantic comedy tropes in novels and movies, an undercover journalist visits a resort that promises a romantic comedy get-away week "where guests are invited to step into the world of romantic comedies." The story has all the right ingredients: humor, engaging, sometimes quirky characters, and a plot that follows the bumpy but delightful course of true love for the main character and her friends. There are some comedic passages involving seagulls that border on slapstick, but the kookiness should appeal to lovers of romantic comedy films and stories. The nod to many well-known rom-com movies is a fun touch. The writing is entertaining and the story flows well. A reader looking for some light, entertaining comfort reading (and who isn't under the present circumstances) should find this story fits the bill.

I was drawn into this book from the beginning and didn’t want it to end. I mean what rom-com loving woman wouldn’t want to go to a resort that offers guests a chance to live out their romantic comedy dreams? The romance was sweet, funny and entertaining. This is definitely the book to take to the beach for an escape.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

THIS BOOK RESTORED MY FAITH IN HUMANITY. I'm being serious when I say this book spoke to me! The romance was so simple and yet complex in every way! Also the cover is literally so adorable!

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you.

Loved the concept for this one! It was unique, well paced, and contained all the best references and call backs to all the great rom coms. Highly recommend for all the rom com lovers out there!

Too Good to Be Real

Rating: 4/5🌟!

Rom-coms and meet cutes are just for books and movies right? Or are they?!

Too Good to Be True follows three best friends - Julia, Andie and Kat - as they head off on an all expenses paid vacation to a resort offering just that - a chance to spend one week living like their lives as a story in a romantic comedy.

Enter Luke - sweet, extremely nerdy and head game simulator for the resort. He’s used to having a plan for everything and plan he has. Between him, his sister Penelope and his best friend Vijay, the three of them are ready to give the resort’s guests the most romantic, comedic week of their lives. Or at least, that’s what he planned.

One chance encounter on the beach later, Luke and Julia find themselves questioning if maybe rom coms are real, and maybe so is love at first sight.

This was such a fun and interesting take on romcom but Melonie Johnson - I loved the idea of characters on a LARP (live action role play) adventure and thought it was such a fun approach to a genre that can be a bit overdone. I appreciated the time she gave to developing each character and their stories and felt compelled to keep reading to see where their game experience would take them. While some parts were a little wordy and repetitive, I truly enjoyed this fun and different read!

Read if you like:
+ Romantic comedies
+ Love at (almost) first sight
+ Best friend adventures/character arcs

Thank you so much to Melonie Johnson, St. Martin‘s Press/Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars

I would love to stay in a themed hotel where you get to role play as a rom-com character! I think that's a fantastic idea and now I wonder if something like it exists in real life? The game was my favorite part of the story, the activities they planned like paintball and wine/painting night sound fun and everyone playing a character was great.

Julia and her friends are cute and I enjoyed their relationship. They tease each other and push each other's buttons but are also supportive through tough times. Each of them got a little romance in and they all had some funny moments. Luke also has a squad with his younger sister and his best friend. They aren't as funny, but it was still an interesting relationship.

The pacing was pretty quick and the story was cute. If you're looking for a lighthearted romance, give this a try. Bonus for corgi cuddles and lots of rom-com references!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I have voluntarily chosen to leave a review.

Escapist and fun - perfect for pandemic times! A recommended purchase for collections where light WF and romcoms are popular.

Too Good to be real by Melonie Johnson is well written. The story is fun, quirky, and very enjoyable. I love the idea of a Rom-Com retreat.

<i>"Did the resort deliver the magical experience of being a part of a romantic comedy?"</i>

This one was absolutely adorable. A female journalist signs up for an full immersion, roleplay type experience at a resort - one that lets you experience all the rom-coms you've loved and all the cute moments that go along with them. But when you're staying in a make believe land, it's hard to know when something might actually be real.

I loved the trio of friends (both sets!) The girls were so fun. Their banter was well written and easy to read, even when they were having candid conversations. The other three, putting on the experience, were equally fun and I enjoyed learning some of the behind the scenes stuff for the resort.

This is a great, easy read that had so many cute moments - I laughed and cringed right along with everyone in the story - and I loved it!

<i>An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

Reminiscent of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, in Too Good to be Real we meet Julia who loves Rom-Coms but believes they are just fantasy. When her job for a popular website is on the line she decides to make a pitch... 12 Reasons Rom-Coms don’t happen in real life.. by traveling to a new resort that allows guests to role play living in a rom-com for a week.

Here she has an almost-meet-cute with Luke, a fellow guest with secrets of his own.

Can Julia forge her own real-life Rom-Com or will she prove Rom-Coms just exist in the movies?

This book was so cute and had me rooting for love to prevail!

When I think of entertaining reads, I have a checklist of sorts that I would like the story to encompass, at least, a few of. This story goes above and beyond and almost checks off each item on my “perfect reads” list. Fresh and Innovative or Intriguing Plot/Engaging Characters/Unique Concept/Relatable Interaction/Romance/Humor....it has all of this and so much more! Through the story, we travel to a place called Notting Hill...one of my favorite movies of all time...and experience a week at a romantic simulation getaway through the eyes of three fabulous friends! While there, they experience the ups and downs of the “sim” and each find their own version of romance and fun interactions along the way. From beginning to end, I was thoroughly entertained. With the romantic comedy references, there was an element of sparkle added and sprinkled throughout. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining, wish-you-were-transported-into-the-story kind of book, this must be on your list! I cannot recommend it enough!!

This book is rom-com meets real life or is it real life meets rom-com? Julia is a writer for a trendy website trying to keep her job after another round of layoffs. She accepts an assignment for Take Me!, a travel segment. One problem, she hates travel and gets motion sickness. Thankfully a new resort catering to rom-com lovers has opened and it's not too far to travel. She goes to the resort with her two friends to review it. Luke is a computer guy who's working at the resort, Notting Hill, in order to get the money for his start up. He, along with his sister and best friend, have set up the entire experience for the guests. A lot is riding on the success of the resort. He literally runs into Julia on the first day. He convinces his sister to take over as Game Master so he can spend time with Julia as a role player. Julia decides to let the resort management think that her friend is the reviewer so that she can get the real experience. Julia and Luke spend time together and fall in love but Julia can't help but wonder if the entire thing is real or not. Luke gets outed as one of the staff and much angst ensues. Can Julia trust her heart? Can Luke convince her it's real? A fun book that really delivers. Loved it.

Relatable, enjoyable mad me laugh out loud several times. It’s a fun book to read with friends if you want a new book club read.

I had so much fun with this book! It was an easy read and I found myself staying up late just to finish it. The characters were well-developed, and I felt like I was right there with him. This was a great book, and I can't wait to read more from the author!

I love the idea of a resort that hosts a role-play week devoted to romantic comedy movies! Julia is sent to review the facility. Luke is a manager there but decides to work from the role as a guest. As is classic rom com material, they have a quirky meeting, are smitten with each and keep getting thrown together. This was such a fun read! I don't know if this exists in reality but it is a great idea and made for an endearing book. And there are corgis! You can't go wrong with corgis. I read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable and amusing book. And what a great idea! Julia is a reporter and needs a story to save her job. She finds a gem of a story in the form of a hotel that lets people live through a simulated rom-com atmosphere (the name of the hotel is Notting Hill! I love it). Anyway, Luke is the developer and he and his sister and friend spearheaded development of this activity. Luke needs the bonus in order to start his own game development company. When he meets Julia, he decides to join the game. I laughed a lot at the hijinks, the thriving seagulls, the corgis, and also, the fact that Luke and Julia are written as normal people- not particularly in shape or gorgeous or good at everything. I thought it progressed a little bit slowly towards the end and it was kind of insta-love (I mean the game only lasted like a week!) which goes against the realness of the characters but otherwise, the story was so much fun!