I love this new sub-genre of whimsical, genre-bending romances - think Ashley Poston's A Novel Love Story and The Seven Year Slip. Prime Time Romance is a worthy entry to the sub-genre: fun, romantic, and nostalgic in all the right ways.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

✨Magical Realism
📺Reality TV
🏘️Small Town
💓Roommates to Lovers

I enjoyed listening to this book, the unique concept grabbed my attention straight away. Brynn was a well-developed character and I enjoyed seeing her overcome her difficulties. The setting of Carsons Cove instantly reminded me of some of my favourite teen shows; the characters we meet there are cliche and funny. Overall it was fun and easy with a little bit of spice.

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Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is a charming blend of nostalgia and whimsy, perfect for fans of early 2000s teen dramas like One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek. The story follows Brynn, a recently divorced woman, and her roommate Josh, who mysteriously wake up in the fictional world of Brynn's favorite show, Carson’s Cove. To return to reality, they must orchestrate a happy ending for the characters, all while navigating their own budding feelings for each other.

The book’s magical realism and lighthearted tone make it a fun, escapist read. While the plot is predictable at times, Robb’s knack for blending romance with a touch of fantasy keeps the reader engaged. Fans of nostalgic TV dramas will find plenty to love, though those unfamiliar with the genre may miss some of the deeper references.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Kate Robb for the ARC of Prime Time Romance.

This was an amazing romcom with plenty of laugh out loud scenes - i was rooting for the main characters the whole way through and thought the whole concept was amazing - a brilliant witty read with plenty of romance throughout

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb is a delightful escape into a world where romcom magic meets the nostalgic glow of 2000s teen dramas, with just the right touch of alternate reality fantasy.

From the very first page, it’s a book that delivers pure fun and feel-good vibes, making it an absolute must-read for anyone who grew up glued to their favorite TV shows.

At the heart of the story is Brynn, a newly single woman navigating the complexities of life after divorce.

Her journey of self-discovery is as relatable as it is endearing.

Like many, she finds comfort in rewatching her beloved TV show, Carson's Cove, a fictional teen drama that acts as her safe haven during turbulent times.

Brynn’s love for the show is palpable, and anyone who has turned to their favorite on-screen worlds for comfort will find themselves nodding along to her experience.

The real magic begins when Brynn and her roommate Josh are transported—quite literally—into the world of Carson’s Cove.

In a clever and whimsical twist, they become Sloan and Fletch, the main characters of her favourite comfort show.

This shift turns their ordinary lives into a whirlwind adventure filled with all the juicy tropes and heartwarming moments that make TV dramas so addictive.

Watching them navigate this new reality, trying to bring Brynn’s fantasy of a happily-ever-after to life, is pure joy.

The chemistry between Brynn and Josh is a key part of the story, and while the romance is sweet and charming, some readers might wish for a few more heart-fluttering moments to really amp up the emotional stakes between them.

Nonetheless, their evolving relationship is heartfelt, and it’s impossible not to root for them as they face their unexpected new roles.

What sets Prime Time Romance apart is its love letter to pop culture.

The book is filled with clever nods and Easter eggs that will have fans of 2000s TV squealing with delight. From the tropes to the subtle references to beloved shows, Robb captures the essence of what made those dramas so special, blending it seamlessly into Brynn and Josh’s story.

With its unique blend of romcom charm, nostalgic fun, and a sprinkle of fantasy,

Prime Time Romance feels like a binge-worthy TV show in book form. Kate Robb has crafted a story that is both lighthearted and comforting, perfect for fans of pop culture and feel-good romance.

If you’re looking for a fun, escapist read with characters who feel like old friends, this book is the perfect pick.

With thanks to NEtGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really fun & gently magical romance to scratch the itch - not ground-breaking but perfect for the genre.

This book was absolutely amazing and deffo up there with one of my top reads of the year!

I loved how it was basically a teen drama show set in a small town!

The dual POV was done SO well! It had minor spice but it linked to the story and characters well so that was also really good!

Full review to come on insta!

Newly divorced and turning thirty, Brynn is done with heartbreak. She’s sharing her home with a roommate, Josh, just to make ends meet, and escaping into her favourite 2000s teen soap, Carson’s Cove, where life always seems to work out—unlike her own. The show ended abruptly, leaving its central couple, Sloan and Spencer, without a happy ending. But when a mysterious birthday cake arrives and Brynn makes a wish for her own happily ever after, her world flips upside down.

The next morning, Brynn and Josh wake up in Carson’s Cove, and they’re not themselves anymore—they’re Sloan and Fletch, the bad boy of the show. Their mission? To give Sloan and Spencer the happy ending they deserve if they ever hope to get back to real life. But as they navigate the over-the-top drama of the show, real-life feelings between Brynn and Josh begin to surface, leading to a plot twist neither of them expected.

With humour, heart, and a dash of nostalgia, this is the perfect feel-good read. The concept of being transported into a beloved TV show is both fresh and well-executed, while the chemistry between Brynn and Josh makes for an engaging slow-burn romance. It’s a delightful palate cleanser—light, fluffy, and full of laughs—that leaves you with a smile and a perfectly satisfying ending. Fans of fun rom-coms will devour this book from start to finish.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

This was a super quick and readable magical realist romance! Will I remember I've read it in a few months from now? Probably not. But did it provide a nice distraction and tie in perfectly with my recent craving to rewatch some old teen dramas? Yes, yes it did. 3.25 stars to be specific

At first I was thinking I would DNF this as it took me a couple of chapters to get into it but after that point I fell completely in love with this book - it’s characters feel so whole and real and the town, as fictional as it is, felt so well thought out that I could imagine sitting on lawn chairs with Luce getting drunk on strawberry wine. The chemistry between Brynn and Josh was so well written and I loved seeing things from both of their perspectives.

This was an interesting concept! Newly divorced Bryan and her roommate Josh find themselves inside Brynn’s favourite tv show!

I loved Brynn and she was very relatable. It was a slow burn, but the relationship development was lovely. A nice fun read.

I read this spells love last year, it was my first magical realism romance and I loved it. So of course when penguin wrote me that I would be getting an arc of this one I screamed.

Kate robb did it again, this book is amazing.

👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻 The chemistry between the two main characters is incredible. After their first scene I was already dying for them to be together. The relationship develops slowly in the most swoon-worthy way I loved it.

🎞️ The book takes place in a made up small town that's the set of the female main character favorite tv show.
Not only did the author write a book, she also created an entire tv show inside of it. The characters are so funny and the vibes of the classic teen dramas are top tier.

✨ I loved this book and gave it 5 stars!

Such a lovely read, I really hope this one does well - the friends to lovers trope isn't my favourite but this might just sway me, with the great chemistry and slow burn between Brynne and Josh, who are both really likeable characters.

I really enjoyed this book and give it a solid 3 stars.I engaged with the characters immediately, and the development between Brynn and Josh was so believable because it wasn't rushed.

The bottom line is that it was such a fun, lighthearted read with a little bit of spice tossed into the mix.

This spells love was my number one book i read earlier this year and has become one of my favourites ever so when i saw this one i knew i had to give it a read.

It is wonderful and brought me back to my teen years and my love of sitcoms such as Dawsons creek! such fabulous cosy vibes and a good dose of nostalgia!

Firstly thank you to Katie Robb, NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book of Katie Robbs I have read and it did not disappoint. If anything it was another level up to This Spells Love which was another great read.

The pacing of the story is great and I was instantly engaged. Especially as our lead protagonist  Brynn is having a rough time with the loss of friends and love due to divorce and seemingly dealing with some fake_fair weather friends at the start of the story.

I fell in love with Josh, Brynns roomate who had more layers to him than just the gorgeous bartender.

The fact they wake up in a 90s TV show world and as time progresses things morphing and not being as perfect as they initially seem gave me pleasantville/Truman show/isn't it romantic vibes. It was a good commentary on how 'perfect' and 'happily ever after' isn't always what we think it is.

I enjoyed all the side character interactions, except for Sheldon as that man has issues, but special shout out is needed to Luce and Sherry. Also the fact the main characters couldn't swear was hilarious.

I could say so much more but I don't want to give any spoilers I'd just say read this book! It's fun it's sexy and I can't wait for more from Katie Robb.

I'm off to get my physical copy to add to the trophy shelf

There's just something about romance books with a magical element that really makes me want to pick up that book, and that was the reason I wanted to read this one. Brynn and her roommate Josh accidentally end up in Brynn's favourite tv show, where they have to play the part of characters in the show who are in love.
This book was so good and the small town vibes were definitely giving me stars hollow/gilmore girls vibes but the reality of being in Byrnn's favourite show was kind of depressing as the characters were not as happy as they seemed, which definitely made the plot a lot more interesting. Despite really liking both Brynn and Josh's character, I think this book lacked a little on the romance and it was hard for me to root for them when we had barely any romantic interactions between the two of them.
This book definitely gave me the same vibes as 'A Novel Love Story' by Ashley Poston, so if you liked that book you should try this one.
I definitely want to carry on reading this author's books because the plots always sound so interesting.

“Prime Time Romance” is the cutest love story.
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I loved the premise. Where after making a birthday wish, Brynne and her roommate Josh wake up mysteriously in Carson’s Cove. The small town that is the heart of Brynne’s favourite 90s teenage soap “Carson’s Cove”. And they will only get home if they manage to secure the Cove’s sweetheart’s happily ever after.
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Romances with a twist are my favourite. And so I adored Brynne and Josh’s story. The storyline was captivating and enchanting and I couldn’t put this book down and could have quite happily have given up adulting to read “Prime Time Romance”.
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The chemistry between Brynne and Josh was sizzling. And I loved the way they supported each other, fought for each other and wanted the best for each other. Josh was a gorgeous golden retriever MMC and I loved him. I just wanted him to have his happily ever after and I felt so sad when he was sad.
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But one of my favourite things about this novel was the Easter eggs. This book was full of nods to the teenage soaps that I grew up watching. Beverley Hills 90210, Buffy, Dawson’s Creek, Gilmore Girls and more. They were all lovingly referenced in “Prime Time Romance”. And I was here for it.
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A brilliant romance. That I loved.

What would you do if you found yourself living inside of your favourite show that you keep rewatching?

This is exactly what happens to newly divorced Brynn, and her roommate Josh gets dragged along for the ride.

Forced to play the roles of the show’s characters in order to get home, will Brynn see that perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? Or maybe that there’s more to characters than what you see on the screen… And will Brynn ruin the show’s happily ever after by falling for Josh instead of the romantic lead?

This book was a really fun and nostalgic read for someone who grew up on teen shows exactly like Carson’s Cove. I didn’t quite love it as much as I loved This Spells Love, and there were a few plot holes that niggled at me. However I didn’t feel the need to pull at that particular thread because it is what it needs to be - and easy, fun and light romance.

If you loved shows like Dawson’s Creek, The OC or One Tree Hill, this is a book you may need to pick up.

I love everything Kate writes!!! this was so much fun and i loved all the references throughout! Kate writes such loveable characters and the plot had me gripped the whole time