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sarahflanders's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
This started out promising and was sweet and fluffy enough, but I was so frustrated with how the FMC Adiba treated and talked about her love interest’s familial trauma and current family dynamic. I felt Adina’s advice and commentary on his situation were sheltered (which, fair— I get it because we all grow up differently), privileged, and a bit selfish. I understand wanting your partner to stand up for you but I felt the situation was much more nuanced than she was making it out to be.
I enjoyed the trope of a city girl coming to a small town, and the way that Schorr flipped the trope around by having her fall for yet another New Yorker like herself who was just visiting Pleasant Hollows. That was goofy, and indeed a lot of fun to watch unravel. I loved Adina’s best friend (maybe I’d like her book better) & I thought the love interest Finn was smooth & so brazen with his flirting lol.
The steam is fade to black so sexual content is very tame, just to set your expectations! Anyway, this felt like it was paying homage to Gilmore Girls and all the tv romcoms that are set in small towns, but having it be hilariously opposite of what the movies show.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
This started out promising and was sweet and fluffy enough, but I was so frustrated with how the FMC Adiba treated and talked about her love interest’s familial trauma and current family dynamic. I felt Adina’s advice and commentary on his situation were sheltered (which, fair— I get it because we all grow up differently), privileged, and a bit selfish. I understand wanting your partner to stand up for you but I felt the situation was much more nuanced than she was making it out to be.
I enjoyed the trope of a city girl coming to a small town, and the way that Schorr flipped the trope around by having her fall for yet another New Yorker like herself who was just visiting Pleasant Hollows. That was goofy, and indeed a lot of fun to watch unravel. I loved Adina’s best friend (maybe I’d like her book better) & I thought the love interest Finn was smooth & so brazen with his flirting lol.
The steam is fade to black so sexual content is very tame, just to set your expectations! Anyway, this felt like it was paying homage to Gilmore Girls and all the tv romcoms that are set in small towns, but having it be hilariously opposite of what the movies show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Addiction
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, and Sexual content
jackiepreston's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wanted to like this book so much, but Adina felt naive and stupid in a bad way, not an endearing way, and Finn felt like a complete nonentity as a love interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Sexual content
internationalreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
bekkabergamot's review
medium-paced
3.0
I want to thank @readforeverpub for sending me an ARC of <i>As Seen on TV</i>. As a Jewish reader, it means so much for publishers to seek out readers from the communities represented in books! I love the book cover 😍🤩 and the clever title.
The book had its highs and lows for me. Firstly, I thought the Jewish representation was great in the book, as was the concept of found family. I found the MC, Adina Gellar to me a likable heroine. I appreciated her gumption in pursuing a career in journalism while she balances her side hustles. While she has some growing up to do, I found her to be in the position that many of my peers were in: having a parental safety net. In fact, the awesome relationship she has with her mom had me a bit jealous, but that's neither here nor there.
The Gilmore Girls concept ends there, as Adi finds that the small town she plans on writing about is no Stars Hollow. I did like that twist. I really liked how the more that Adi discovered the town didn't meet her expectations she was able to realize what she had been overlooking in NYC.
I also enjoyed were Adi's meet cutes with Finn Adams. What could have been a fairly successful cozy romance with a dash of heat became muddied with an unnecessarily complicated conflict. The conflict really changed the entire tone of the book for me and while the ending got it mostly back on track it left me wondering how I would rate it.
While this book had its ups and downs for me, I so appreciated the chance to read it. Read it if you like: NYC, small towns, real life, found family, love stories.
The book had its highs and lows for me. Firstly, I thought the Jewish representation was great in the book, as was the concept of found family. I found the MC, Adina Gellar to me a likable heroine. I appreciated her gumption in pursuing a career in journalism while she balances her side hustles. While she has some growing up to do, I found her to be in the position that many of my peers were in: having a parental safety net. In fact, the awesome relationship she has with her mom had me a bit jealous, but that's neither here nor there.
The Gilmore Girls concept ends there, as Adi finds that the small town she plans on writing about is no Stars Hollow. I did like that twist. I really liked how the more that Adi discovered the town didn't meet her expectations she was able to realize what she had been overlooking in NYC.
I also enjoyed were Adi's meet cutes with Finn Adams. What could have been a fairly successful cozy romance with a dash of heat became muddied with an unnecessarily complicated conflict. The conflict really changed the entire tone of the book for me and while the ending got it mostly back on track it left me wondering how I would rate it.
While this book had its ups and downs for me, I so appreciated the chance to read it. Read it if you like: NYC, small towns, real life, found family, love stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
laurasalwaysreading's review
lighthearted
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
thewordsdevourer's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
*thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
a lighthearted romance whose last few chapters rly elevate it. i wouldnt say that as seen on tv is funny to the point of reaching the com in romcom, but it def has its cute moments.
tbh im not entirely endeared to the characters. for some i find their characterization to be a lil awkward, and our heroine adina is too vapid for me--there's a difference between being quirky and being (stupidly) naive. i feel like 25 is a suitable age for ppl not to assume that everything they see on tv reflects reality..but that's apparently not the case here, as it forms the very premise of this book.
the first 60% is also a lil too droll for me, as we see adina going thru the same thought processes over and over and over, whether it be in terms of her writing assignment, realizations abt the town, or feelings for finn. the story could be tightened up a lil more as well; currently some parts are unnecessary and could def be cut out for better pacing.
despite it all, i do like this book. adina's journey towards her final pleasant hollow article is satisfying; i rly like the consent casually portrayed; finn isnt an asshole (is that a low bar?); and the romance is quite cute in the last couple chapters. recommending this for anyone looking for a quick romance read.
a lighthearted romance whose last few chapters rly elevate it. i wouldnt say that as seen on tv is funny to the point of reaching the com in romcom, but it def has its cute moments.
tbh im not entirely endeared to the characters. for some i find their characterization to be a lil awkward, and our heroine adina is too vapid for me--there's a difference between being quirky and being (stupidly) naive. i feel like 25 is a suitable age for ppl not to assume that everything they see on tv reflects reality..but that's apparently not the case here, as it forms the very premise of this book.
the first 60% is also a lil too droll for me, as we see adina going thru the same thought processes over and over and over, whether it be in terms of her writing assignment, realizations abt the town, or feelings for finn. the story could be tightened up a lil more as well; currently some parts are unnecessary and could def be cut out for better pacing.
despite it all, i do like this book. adina's journey towards her final pleasant hollow article is satisfying; i rly like the consent casually portrayed; finn isnt an asshole (is that a low bar?); and the romance is quite cute in the last couple chapters. recommending this for anyone looking for a quick romance read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
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