Reel Love: A stand-alone, age-gap, workplace romantic comedy

If you are looking for an afternoon escape this is your book!
This book was a little bit different from the ones I usually read. Although the plot was slower, the characters were also more “real” in my opinion.
I loved the use of criticism in this book, There are discussions about feminism, about a woman taking what is considered a "man’s job" and being belittled since day one.
The author has a way with word and drawing emotions out of you in ways you don’t expect! I truly felt for the characters of this book

Evie Browning was able to create a unique and well written romance on a movie set. I thought the comedic elements worked overall and was invested in what was happening. The characters were fun and realistically done. It uses the slow burn perfectly and was glad it had that happy ever after.

I stayed up ALL night reading this.

Despite the formatting weirdness my kindle did to the beginning, this book hooked me from the start. I LOVE Anna, she’s probably my favorite FMC I’ve had in a long while. She’s hilarious, clever, and I find her refreshing.

I loved their chemistry so much! This was just a super fun and cute read!

A great romance novel with an older woman and a younger man getting together! They work together and it was entertaining to read their story! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I actually enjoyed this and I’m not a fan of the age gap
I loved the characters and how real they was no imagine world were everything is amazing and money if no issues

Lovey easy read, sweet romance good characters and fun read

Great book!! Realistic characters!! Great plot. I would read another book by this author. It had me engaged from start to finish.

Reel Love by Evie Browning is an age gap romance set in the film industry. This book is a SLOW burn story with lots of moments leading up to our love story.

Anna is a movie director. John is ... well he wants to be a director. He's currently a screenwriter working odd jobs while trying to find his way.

I loved the beginning of the book. Their meet cute was so sweet I felt like I was going to gush over their story. As the book progressed and we got more layers, I felt like I saw more realistic depictions than usual in a romance story. It felt like getting a glimpse into a real world variation than fiction -- which is fine. I simply haven't read anything else like it.

Overall, it's a good read and I'd recommend to my friends looking for something quick to enjoy one weekend. I will say the cover is ADORABLE and I am highly considering grabbing a copy for my trophy shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and Evie for the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This book was great! I loved the writing style and I loved the characters and their chemistry. This was a good romcom and a great pallet cleanser.

Thank you for the e-ARC.

This was a fun rom-com read! I loved Anna and John (movie director x screenwriter) from their first interaction. I found it to be cute. They work together to save a vampire movie from crashing. There's forced proximity, age gap, workplace romance and he falls first and harder. Many of the things were predictable but it is a fun and simple read.

Reel Love is a charming and poignant love story that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to choose between their passion and their heart. Browning brings Hollywood to life in a way that feels both glamorous and grounded, and her characters are layered and relatable. This novel is perfect for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, as well as those who appreciate stories about the complexities of balancing love and ambition.

With its authentic characters, compelling romance, and emotional depth, Reel Love is a must-read for anyone looking for a romance that feels real, inspiring, and thoroughly engaging.

This was a sweet, fun and quick to read romcom. I'm not the person who laughs while reading romcoms but even I had to giggle sometimes while reading the book. The storyline is a bit predictable but that isn't a bad thing when it comes to romcoms. I got the happy ending I was hoping for.

I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I thought that Anna and John were both well-written and acted / thought appropriately for their respective ages. There were times when the pacing was off and the dialogue was a little hard to follow, but overall I enjoyed the story and the HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book.

Leni Kauffman's cover is what lead me to pick up this book. I have not been disappointed when using this method to select my reads. Given that, I went into this book with zero expectations and ended up having the best time. I totally did not see myself almost giving this book five stars, but I came close. This insane feeling of overwhelming satisfaction when I finished came close to pushing me over. Unfortunately, its only four because it could have benefitted from some editing. Cannot overstate how much I recommend this book.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was one of the books that I picked solely based on the cover and the subtitle. And my god did all the tropes play our perfectly!

I really like it, enjoy the set up , how it develops. The characters are fun and easy to get. The workplace set up was fun . Definitely a cute rom com

The bartender telling you the card got declined usually doesn't start a sparkling romance. This time, it was the moment Anna and John met and their chemistry was palpable. She is a movie director and he acts on the side, while trying to sell a movie script. The witty banter between them is definitely a highlight and made me smile throughout the book.
Add to the mix an evil ex husband and a Hollywood vibe and you get a light contemporary romance. While the plot may not break any new ground, it’s exactly what you'd expect.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were lovely and I loved their storylines. The book was well-written and interesting. I really enjoy this author’s writing and I loved this book!

"Reel Love" by Evie Browning is a lighthearted romantic comedy that follows Anna, a struggling 37-year-old film director, and John, a 27-year-old aspiring screenwriter and part-time bartender. The story brings together classic rom-com tropes like age-gap romance, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers, all set against the backdrop of a chaotic movie production.

What makes this book fun is its blend of witty dialogue and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the film industry, giving it a bit of extra flair. Anna and John have an undeniable chemistry that makes their interactions, both romantic and professional, engaging. The slow-burn romance builds naturally, and watching their relationship evolve through workplace drama is entertaining.

However, while *Reel Love* has its charming moments, the plot does feel a bit predictable, leaning on familiar tropes without offering much surprise. Fans of rom-coms will likely enjoy the ride, but seasoned readers might crave more depth and unpredictability in the storyline. Despite this, it’s a sweet and easy read, perfect for anyone looking for a fun, low-stakes romance with a satisfying happily ever after.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the copy of this book!

I thought the story had great pacing, and I loved the way that the two main characters met. While some elements in the story about the film industry felt dramatic, other parts felt quite real (as someone who lives in LA and has friends in the industry). I did NOT like the MMC's third act tension, and I felt that could've been resolved way earlier.

The story had good spice for the pacing, and it felt believable.

Overall, I would recommend this book!

Anna Kovác’s directorial career is currently facing serious challenges. Recently divorced from a high-powered Hollywood agent who's making things difficult for her, she's struggling both personally and professionally. Meanwhile, John, a young actor, is desperately trying to get his screenplay noticed, but all anyone seems to care about is casting him as the stereotypical shirtless hunk.

Their paths cross at a bar, and though there's an undeniable spark between them, Anna hesitates. Dating a younger man would fuel tabloid gossip, something she’d rather avoid. What she doesn't realize, though, is that their lives are about to intersect in a much bigger way—they'll soon be collaborating on her upcoming film.

This book was unlike my usual reads. The pacing felt slower, and the characters had a more grounded, authentic feel compared to the typical romance protagonists. I found the Hollywood setting to be refreshing—it’s not often I read something that delves into the inner workings of the entertainment industry, so that aspect kept me engaged.

The story also weaves in some thought-provoking themes. There's commentary on gender dynamics, particularly on how women in traditionally male-dominated roles face constant undermining, and I appreciated how the male lead stood by the heroine in her fight for respect.

However, the predictability of the plot did take away some of the excitement for me. I could see the major turns coming from the start and kept hoping for a surprise that never came.

Evie Browning is a relatively new voice in the literary world, and this is only her second book. It’s a solid effort with a charming couple, a feel-good ending, and a sweet epilogue.

This was a very sweet age gap book that is a rom com, but also touches on the difficulties that woman face in a male oriented world.
I do love a HEA

I really enjoyed this age gap book, especially since the FMC was older and that's not super common in age gap stories anymore. I would have liked a little more story of them working together, since it was mentioned they work great together. The this was a cute story, and very well written!

Really cute palette cleansing book! It was a little tough to get into for me personally but once I did I really enjoyed it! I also really enjoyed the reverse age gap of her being older because it’s one that isn’t done a lot and when it is, it sometimes isn’t done well but it was here!

Reel love was great. I loved John and Anna’s story. I enjoyed the shift from the usual age gap with “older” man.

Their last fight was great and the way the made up was even better.

And if there’s one thing I love it’s a good epilogue that tells me everything I need to know. THEY GOT THEIR OSCARS and that’s what matters to me. It wrapped up nicely.

A nice easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC!

Reel Love by Evie Browning is quick and quirky read that is a standalone book where a film director and bartender are tasked to save a movie.

I really enjoyed this read, it was simple and fun. But I felt like most things were predictable. There are positive developments in society indicated in this book which madee love it more!

I chose to read Reel Love because of the captivating cover design by Leni Kauffman and then I fell in love with the premise. I’m a sucker for books that challenge the status quo and place strong women in male-dominated roles. Add in some slow-burn tension and a captivating unique plot and I’m SOLD!!

3.5 ⭐'s with Lots to Love:
Age Gap (she’s older 👏🏻)
Female Movie Director (in a male-dominated world) 🎥
He falls first 💙
Enemies to Lovers ⚔️
Slow burn with plenty of steam once ya wait for it 🧯
Compelling dialogue and verbal sparring 💬
Well-developed side characters 👯

“When did I stop taking chances?” “I don’t know, friend, but it’s not too late. It’s never too late. Besides, we need some good stories for when we end up in an old folks’ home together, eating mushy peas and racing in our wheelchairs down the hallway.” 🤣 <b><< Perfect BFF real-talk </b>

This was my first Evie Browning book and I loved learning more about her in her bio:
Evie Browning writes romantic comedies when she's not working for a living, parenting her two children or taking her dog for a walk. So, not as often as she would like. Her MMCs look like they could kill you, but are cinnamon rolls. Her FMCs look like they are cinnamon rolls, but could kill you.

The only reason it’s not 5 stars for me is that it was a little slow building to 35% and once the forced proximity kicked in then the book hit its stride. Also, this eARC copy had some pretty obvious errors that should be caught in editing, so hopefully, that’s all smoothed out in the final version.
THANK YOU to Evie Browning, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. The plot made you feel involved in the directing industry as Browning included a mass of details about the work life. The two main characters John and Anna were the perfect characters and the cover portrayed them so fully. I love it!

John and Anna meet at the bar one day but expect to never see each other again. However they are both thrown back together due to being the director and co director of a vampire movie.

John the MMC has written a screenplay however it isn’t going anywhere. Therefore he works at the bar. I loved seeing his character evolve through the book.

Anna is stuck in the shadow of her ex husband. This makes her career much harder.

Definitely recommend this book it was a really fun read but also had some very meaningful parts.

This book was such a cute and easy read. I have been reading a lot of heavy stuff recently and this was just the pallet cleanser that I needed.

Anna is a woman in a male dominated field and has to fight for everything she wants by being a female director. John is a screenwriter/bartender who wants his movie to be made. Anna and John meet by happen chance at the bar he’s working at. They get along smashingly well and even and up making out a little bit before parting ways.

Anna’s ex-husband pulls some not great strings behind the scene and get John and Anna on a movie set together, but Anna doesn’t know it’s because of her ex. She just thinks it’s a coincidence.

I don’t want to give too much away but the ending of the book was really satisfying. Anna stuck it to her ex and also got a happily ever after, even after she didn’t think she deserved one. This was a great book!

Book Review: Reel Love by Evie Browning

Reel Love by Evie Browning is an entertaining workplace romantic comedy that brings humor, heart, and a touch of Hollywood glamor to a slow-burn love story. Set against the chaotic backdrop of a doomed movie production, the novel follows Anna Kovacs, a 37-year-old down-on-her-luck director, and John Mills, a 27-year-old bartender-slash-struggling-screenwriter-slash-reluctant shirtless werewolf actor, as they stumble their way into romance.

The premise immediately grabs attention. Anna’s life is in shambles—freshly divorced, financially strained, and doubting her career in the cutthroat film industry. John is no better off, barely making rent while juggling side gigs, and desperately hoping his screenwriting ambitions come to fruition. They meet under less-than-ideal circumstances, culminating in a "hot hook-up" followed by a fiery argument. When they discover they have to work together to salvage a film project, the sparks—both romantic and combative—fly.

What stands out about Reel Love is its witty dialogue and delightful take on the “enemies-to-lovers” and “forced proximity” tropes. The age gap between Anna and John, a central theme, adds a refreshing layer to their dynamic. John is portrayed as falling first, head over heels for Anna, while she, hardened by past experiences and the pressures of her career, takes a more guarded approach. The age gap never feels like a gimmick but rather a thoughtful exploration of two people at different life stages trying to connect.

The setting of the novel, a chaotic film set, allows for plenty of “on set shenanigans.” Browning’s humor shines here, poking fun at the absurdities of the movie business, from diva actors to disastrous production setbacks. The industry backdrop adds a layer of authenticity to the story while also providing a source of tension that keeps Anna and John on their toes. Their journey feels real and relatable as they try to balance their professional lives with their growing attraction.

The pacing of the romance is more of a slow burn, which fits well with the “idiots-to-lovers” trope. There’s a sense that Anna and John keep getting in their own way, but that only makes their eventual coming together all the more satisfying. Their chemistry builds steadily, with plenty of playful banter and simmering tension along the way.

If you’re a fan of rom-coms with heart, Reel Love offers the perfect combination of romance, humor, and industry satire. The novel's blend of quirky yet relatable characters and fun workplace drama makes it a highly enjoyable read. The happily-ever-after ending feels earned, offering the perfect payoff for all the challenges Anna and John face.

Overall, Reel Love is a feel-good romantic comedy, perfect for readers who enjoy age-gap romances, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and a dash of Hollywood humor. Evie Browning delivers a charming story that will leave you rooting for the couple from start to finish.