Scan barcode
sashanicholle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
carsonelainee's review against another edition
4.0
This was the perfect post-Funny You Should Ask book for me to read. I love stories about Hollywood and the entertainment industry and I enjoyed Nora Goes Off Script Immensely.
It wasn’t what I expected, but in the best way. It’s a very easy read and was delightful and sweet and the perfect thing to get me out of a slump.
Nora Goes Off Script is a Hallmark movie in a book. Which is funny because the main character, Nora, writes screenplays for what she calls “The Romance Chanel” but we all know it’s a thinly veiled Hallmark Chanel.
Essentially, Nora writes a screenplay that is different from what she normally writes for TRC. Her new screenplay is based on her separation from her husband and is dark and tense and sad when what she normally writes is happy and romantic. When the screenplay goes into production, they decide to film a part of the movie at Nora’s house because that’s where it originally happened. So when the actor playing Nora’s ex husband shows up on set, sparks fly. Nora originally sees him as a bit of a nuisance, but over the course of the book things obviously change.
Leo is the romantic hero of everyone’s dreams. He is the dream man in every sense of the word. But what won him over in my eyes and in Nora’s heart was his relationship with Nora’s kids. I feel that that’s the real heart of this book and a really special relationship that I haven’t seen in a book before. Leo’s relationship with Nora’s kids (and Nora) is the best part of the book.
I want to be able to read this all over again for the first time because it’s just so special and sappy and I love it. It’s my perfect book.
It wasn’t what I expected, but in the best way. It’s a very easy read and was delightful and sweet and the perfect thing to get me out of a slump.
Nora Goes Off Script is a Hallmark movie in a book. Which is funny because the main character, Nora, writes screenplays for what she calls “The Romance Chanel” but we all know it’s a thinly veiled Hallmark Chanel.
Essentially, Nora writes a screenplay that is different from what she normally writes for TRC. Her new screenplay is based on her separation from her husband and is dark and tense and sad when what she normally writes is happy and romantic. When the screenplay goes into production, they decide to film a part of the movie at Nora’s house because that’s where it originally happened. So when the actor playing Nora’s ex husband shows up on set, sparks fly. Nora originally sees him as a bit of a nuisance, but over the course of the book things obviously change.
Leo is the romantic hero of everyone’s dreams. He is the dream man in every sense of the word. But what won him over in my eyes and in Nora’s heart was his relationship with Nora’s kids. I feel that that’s the real heart of this book and a really special relationship that I haven’t seen in a book before. Leo’s relationship with Nora’s kids (and Nora) is the best part of the book.
I want to be able to read this all over again for the first time because it’s just so special and sappy and I love it. It’s my perfect book.
ktomon's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a cute romance. I was laughing the whole time.
sarahwpotter's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
this book was sooooooo cute :)
tashas_bookcase's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
5.0
Nora Hamilton makes a living writing screenplays for The Romance Channel (a thinly veiled Hallmark Channel), swapping out the details but keeping the essential fantasy romance elements intact. However, when her deadbeat husband leaves, she turns her personal story into a major Hollywood movie, earning enough (barely) to get herself and her kids out of the debt he left behind. The studio even pays extra to use her actual tea house/writing studio for the last two days of filming. However, when they pack up and leave, she discovers the leading man--famous actor Leo Vance--remained behind. He begs to be allowed to stay and rest in the tea house, offering her $1000/day in rent--money she badly needs to fix her gutters. She agrees, and suddenly she finds herself playing tour guide and shopping tutor for a gorgeous man eager to participate in her family's life. As he integrates into her world, their relationship evolves into a romantic one, but will he actually stay, or will he leave like her ex-husband did? Nora felt relief when her husband took off; she's very much afraid Leo's departure could shatter her heart.
I absolutely loved this book. It both pokes fun at the formulaic Hallmark movies we all love and love to hate, and also works within that same basic framework. Thankfully, this story is one of the good ones, not the ones with the plastic blonde (or brunette) attempting to pretend to be a regular person. I loved that Leo actually did seem like he could fit into Nora's world, and later she proved she could hold her own in his. Nora's daughter Bernadette seems a bit older than her 8 years, but 10-year-old Arthur is entirely believable. Plus it was a breath of fresh air to read a romance novel where the protagonists are 40-ish instead of 20-somethings.
I think this would be a great book to discuss in a book group. What makes a person stay with someone like Ben who has no observable redeeming qualities? Yet Nora endured almost two decades of his freeloading and emotional abuse until *he* decided to leave. Even if his absence is welcome, those years he was around were traumatic and left emotional scars, so how did that conditioning impact Nora and Leo's relationship, particularly after Leo flew to L.A. for the audition?
For readers' advisors: story doorway is primary, character secondary. All sex happens offscreen, and there are only a few well-placed swear words, so the book is nearly a "gentle read." No violence. All the characters seem to be heterosexual, and racial identity isn't indicated that I can recall, aside from a few names that indicate some secondary characters might be something other than white. Pretty much like the majority of the Hallmark movies, really. (Honestly, that's the biggest drawback--how hard would it have been to make the characters more diverse?)
I absolutely loved this book. It both pokes fun at the formulaic Hallmark movies we all love and love to hate, and also works within that same basic framework. Thankfully, this story is one of the good ones, not the ones with the plastic blonde (or brunette) attempting to pretend to be a regular person. I loved that Leo actually did seem like he could fit into Nora's world, and later she proved she could hold her own in his. Nora's daughter Bernadette seems a bit older than her 8 years, but 10-year-old Arthur is entirely believable. Plus it was a breath of fresh air to read a romance novel where the protagonists are 40-ish instead of 20-somethings.
I think this would be a great book to discuss in a book group. What makes a person stay with someone like Ben who has no observable redeeming qualities? Yet Nora endured almost two decades of his freeloading and emotional abuse until *he* decided to leave. Even if his absence is welcome, those years he was around were traumatic and left emotional scars, so how did that conditioning impact Nora and Leo's relationship, particularly after Leo flew to L.A. for the audition?
For readers' advisors: story doorway is primary, character secondary. All sex happens offscreen, and there are only a few well-placed swear words, so the book is nearly a "gentle read." No violence. All the characters seem to be heterosexual, and racial identity isn't indicated that I can recall, aside from a few names that indicate some secondary characters might be something other than white. Pretty much like the majority of the Hallmark movies, really. (Honestly, that's the biggest drawback--how hard would it have been to make the characters more diverse?)
kristinaroseee's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhere between a 3.5-4. Highly cliche with a closed door romance. I wanted to stop or skip to the end at times but I am so glad I pushed through - It felt like a pleasant surprise.
b0okcupidity's review
3.0
A creative use of the misunderstanding trope that strangely worked. Weirdly, I liked the kids the best. Very fantastical romance but it was quick and light and a perfect summer read.