Review by Gabrielle

Sharp, funny, and full of heart, Prime Time Romance is a fun read.

Favourite Quote:

She moans what sounds like an “Mmm hmmm” and then tucks herself into a tiny ball. She’s a clammy shade of white. Definitely sweating. Her hair is wild, and she smells a little like barf.

And fuck, I think I really like her.

Book Synopsis:

Newly divorced on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Brynn is sick of heartbreak. She thought she had found her happy ending, but now she’s living with a roommate, Josh, to afford her mortgage, and she’s trying to adjust to her new single life. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge, her beloved 2000s teenage soap. The show ended unexpectedly on a cliffhanger after five seasons, and the two main characters, Sloan and Spencer, never got to declare their love for each other. The show is still perfect in Brynn’s eyes; despite all the drama that goes down, things always have a way of working out in Carson’s Cove . . . unlike her own life.

So when a birthday cake surprisingly shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for the one thing she’s always wanted (but has failed to achieve herself): a happily-ever-after.

The next morning, she doesn’t wake up in her apartment. She’s in Carson’s Cove . . . and Josh is there too. Everyone seems to know them, except they’re not Brynn and Josh; they’re Sloan, the sweetheart of Carson’s Cove, and Fletch, the town’s bad boy. And to get home, they have to make Brynn’s wish come true by ensuring Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, end up together at last. But as they spend more time together, Brynn and Josh realize that Carson’s Cove might not be as perfect as seen on television . . . especially when they start developing feelings for each other in a plot twist no one has expected. Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?

Review:

Do you ever find yourself getting into a reading rut? I sure do. Especially with romances. Luckily, this book was sitting there quietly on my TBR shelf, waiting patiently for its turn. The synopsis promised me something a little different than what I usually go for, and it ended up being just the thing to get me out of my rut.

I’m not big on fantasy books in general, but I loved this one. I’d call it more magical realism than fantasy. If you are looking to dip your toes in the water of magic, but don’t want to go full on, this would be an excellent choice.

Our main character, Brynn, is struggling.  Newly divorced, she just wants some comfort in the form of watching her favourite old TV show in her fuzzy blue snuggly. But it’s her birthday, and although she doesn’t have a lot of friends, she’s trying to make the best of it. After a terrible date, she meets up with acquaintances to go to a club and throws caution to the wind by getting blindingly drunk. Luckily, her roommate Josh happens to work at said club and gets her home safely, where she receives a mysterious delivery of a birthday cake. Making a wish for her own happy ending, she then passes out. When she wakes up, she is in her favourite show, cast as one of the main characters. Her roommate Josh is there too, also as one of the cast members. In order to get home, they have to play along and give the “show” the happy ending it never got when it was abruptly cancelled. The only problem is that Brynn and Josh can’t help their growing feelings for each other.

I like Josh and Brynn together. Kate did a great job of having their relationship develop fairly naturally, which gave it a realistic feel. If you are a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, you will like their relationship. They are somewhat thrust into this unusual situation together and need to work together to resolve it.

The writing is smart and funny, and I really enjoyed it. One of my favourite little details is that it is quite swear-y, as in, there are a lot of swear words, but when Brynn and Josh are in the world of the show, they can no longer swear. 

For those who grew up watching all the 2000s teen drama shows like Dawson’s Creek, The OC, or even Gilmore Girls, this book is like a love letter. Full of easter eggs from those shows, you’ll feel a great sense of nostalgia for the times when things turned out okay in the end. There is even a helpful guide written by Kate at the end of the book to help you spot all references.

A great book to escape reality with for a little while, Prime Time Romance is a wonderful read.

Thank you, Dial Press, a trademark of Penguin Random House, for the copy in exchange for an honest review.