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emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
35-year-old Edie Pepper is getting over a recent breakup and slogging through the dregs of modern dating. Depressed after yet another shallow date, she happens across the newest season of a dating reality show that happens to star her high school boyfriend. Whether it's fate or desperation that pushes her to sign up to compete, Edie is well on her way to figuring out what she really wants. Right??
I really liked this book! I clicked with the writing style very early on, and the wit and humor throughout were just delightful. *This* is the rom-com I've been waiting for! (I have read sooooo many books deceptively described as rom-coms that had minimal humor, but this story was a breath of fresh air and genuinely enjoyable). The writing and plot were over-the-top in an entertaining way, and Edie's frustration and anxiety over her love life felt pretty universal. (Edie is an interesting mix of both naïve and mature with a huge dash of romantic delulu mixed in. She was hugely relatable.) There is a nice amount of snark overall, and the author has a deft way with phrasing that I'm not ashamed to say made me snort-laugh multiple times. There's a great hook in engaging the reader to try to figure out how and why high school Charlie and present-day "Bennett" are just so different, which does pay off. Adding showrunner Peter into the mix was a great move, and the hope and expectation was that jaded Hollywood Peter and the starry-eyed romantic Midwest Edie would meet somewhere in the middle and become the better versions of themselves. I'm putting this book solidly in the midlife representation category, which is always a plus for me when it comes to romances. The reality show setting was not groundbreaking, but that didn't matter too much as it really only served as a forced-proximity vehicle for the Edie/Bennett/Peter love triangle. There's a great supporting cast of characters and multiple POVs (which was risky but added depth and perspective). Adding in Edie's genuine experiences with some of her co-competitors was a nice touch. I stayed up way too late to finish this book and I regret nothing. I would absolutely read this author again and I can't wait for whatever her next book will be! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars for the sheer fun of it all. Publishes June 24, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.
I really liked this book! I clicked with the writing style very early on, and the wit and humor throughout were just delightful. *This* is the rom-com I've been waiting for! (I have read sooooo many books deceptively described as rom-coms that had minimal humor, but this story was a breath of fresh air and genuinely enjoyable). The writing and plot were over-the-top in an entertaining way, and Edie's frustration and anxiety over her love life felt pretty universal. (Edie is an interesting mix of both naïve and mature with a huge dash of romantic delulu mixed in. She was hugely relatable.) There is a nice amount of snark overall, and the author has a deft way with phrasing that I'm not ashamed to say made me snort-laugh multiple times. There's a great hook in engaging the reader to try to figure out how and why high school Charlie and present-day "Bennett" are just so different, which does pay off. Adding showrunner Peter into the mix was a great move, and the hope and expectation was that jaded Hollywood Peter and the starry-eyed romantic Midwest Edie would meet somewhere in the middle and become the better versions of themselves. I'm putting this book solidly in the midlife representation category, which is always a plus for me when it comes to romances. The reality show setting was not groundbreaking, but that didn't matter too much as it really only served as a forced-proximity vehicle for the Edie/Bennett/Peter love triangle. There's a great supporting cast of characters and multiple POVs (which was risky but added depth and perspective). Adding in Edie's genuine experiences with some of her co-competitors was a nice touch. I stayed up way too late to finish this book and I regret nothing. I would absolutely read this author again and I can't wait for whatever her next book will be! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars for the sheer fun of it all. Publishes June 24, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail