Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

As Seen On TV by Meredith Schorr

2 reviews

theespressoedition's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Oh my goodness gracious, I feel as though this book was written just for me!

I've always, always been a fan of small-town stories. Romance or not, if a book, movie, or show takes place in a small town, you can almost guarantee that I'll be interested. I've watched Gilmore Girls more times than I can count, and I'm a sucker for a sweet holiday film set in a little village with a close-knit community. There's something so appealing about that lifestyle where everyone knows everyone and there's all sorts of cute and creative events happening each weekend. So, if you enjoy witty banter, sweet romance, and small towns - you're bound to love this book.

Needless to say, I instantly related with Adina. All she wanted was to escape Manhattan and find the emerging "small town story" in Pleasant Hollows. There was a desire to discover camaraderie, unearth the "corporate villain" who was breaking up the town by adding a giant apartment complex, and have a meet-cute with the town hottie. Cue the hilarity when Pleasant Hollows is really... anything but pleasant.

I laughed out loud constantly while reading As Seen on TV. There were so many moments that just had me rolling my eyes at Adi's naivety in relation to small towns - but of course, her dream to make those small town fantasies come to life was equally adorable and understandable. I can imagine that there will be so many people who will read this book and feel like they've been seen.

One of the things that was so much fun was how many small town pop culture references there were. Now, I didn't grow up watching Hallmark films, so the nods to the stories, characters, and actors from those movies went above my head a little bit. But even if you haven't seen a single Hallmark movie in your life, you'll still understand exactly what Adina wants to accomplish.

In addition to that, Adi's career ambitions were so phenomenal and inspiring. She wants to see her mom have a better life and be taken care of for once, rather than the reverse (which is what she's currently experiencing as a 25-year-old who lives with her mom). She's willing to do whatever it takes to crank out a fantastic story, despite not even respecting or liking the person she's working for. Her drive reminded me a lot of myself and I loved seeing how she worked through adversity to make something happen.

There were so many sweet moments filled with great depth throughout As Seen on TV. Between Adi's relationship with her best friend Kate (and their mutual love for small towns), the romance with Finn (and the more challenging topic of seeing him navigate his relationship with an alcoholic father), and the sweet mother-daughter friendship, my heartstrings were constantly being tugged.

This is a must-read, for sure. I truly can't recommend it enough!

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readingwithmeredith's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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