This just didn’t hit for me unfortunately.

I can see what Evie Browning was trying to achieve, but the characters just didn’t feel developed enough for me to connect with. I also couldn’t understand the reasoning for the third-act breakup.

I think other readers will enjoy this, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

This book was okay—a quick read with some light spice—but the characters lacked depth, and there wasn’t much focus on personal growth. Both characters had unresolved issues with their parents that could have been explored more deeply to add layers to the story.

While I didn’t find either character particularly relatable, I did enjoy the glimpse into a lesser-seen side of Hollywood. It was interesting to read about the hardworking individuals behind the scenes who earn little but stay in the industry purely out of passion for what they do.

Uhh…I’m going to try and keep my review short. This didn’t work for me. The third act break up at the end was insufferable. I felt that each character lost themselves in each other and not in a good way.

This was such a amazing standalone romance book. Starting from the characters, plotline and scenarios, everything was on top notch plus it includes the tropes which are my favourite ones, workplace romance and age gap. The pace was well maintained throughout the whole book.
The characters were penned down brilliantly, not only the protagonists shine throughout the story but also the side characters too. The spotlight was given to each and every character to shine and contribute to the book.
I had a great time reading this one.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was wonderful!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Here’s the pitch: Reel Love is an age-gap, workplace romantic comedy set in the chaos of a struggling movie production. Anna Kovacs, a 37-year-old director trying to salvage her career (and her finances), meets John Mills, a 27-year-old bartender-screenwriter-slash-reluctant-werewolf-extra. Cue shenanigans, forced proximity, and a dash of enemies-to-lovers spice.

The Good:
The setup is fun and packed with classic rom-com tropes: a hot hook-up, career struggles, and plenty of on-set drama. Anna and John’s banter is sharp, and the age gap dynamic adds a refreshing layer to their relationship. The Hollywood chaos is a fun backdrop that gives the story some unique flair—who doesn’t love a doomed production bringing unlikely people together?

The Meh:
While the book promises a witty, slow-burn romance, the pacing feels more sluggish than sizzling. The chemistry between Anna and John occasionally misses the mark, and their “idiots-to-lovers” journey doesn’t pack the emotional punch it could have. Some of the humor lands, but other jokes feel forced, like trying too hard to deliver quirky rom-com energy™.

Why It’s 3 Stars:
This is a fun, light read, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impression. The characters are likeable enough, but their arcs feel underdeveloped, and the ending is predictable without much payoff. It’s one of those books that feels fine while you’re reading it but doesn’t demand a re-read or a gush-fest.

Best Moments:

The on-set disasters—think exploding props and temperamental actors—add some much-needed levity.
John’s mix of vulnerability and ambition is endearing, even if his dialogue occasionally falls flat.
Anna’s struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry are relatable, though not deeply explored.
Final Take: Reel Love is the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie you watch when you’re in the mood for something easy and tropey. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s not bad. If you’re a fan of age-gap romances and Hollywood rom-com antics, give it a try—but keep your expectations at "casual popcorn entertainment." 🍿

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave a heartwarming, feel-good romance that explores the complexities of second chances, career struggles, and the power of love to reignite passion and purpose in the lives of two talented, yet underappreciated, creatives.

Reel love by Evie Browning is a fun romantic comedy style book that’s easy to read and entertains the reader.

Reel Love by Evie Browning offers a light, Hollywood-set romance with an intriguing reverse age-gap dynamic. Anna, a struggling director, and John, an aspiring screenwriter, have witty banter and some sizzling moments, but the chemistry feels inconsistent. The slow burn sometimes dragged, and the romance lost steam just when it should have soared.

The behind-the-scenes Hollywood setting is a highlight, though the heavy focus on filmmaking details occasionally overshadowed the romance. Anna’s internal struggles and John’s persistence were charming, but their growth felt underwhelming, and the rushed, surface-level ending left me unsatisfied.

While not a blockbuster, Reel Love is a cute, quick read for fans of workplace and forbidden romance. A solid 2/5 stars—fun, but it doesn’t quite hit its mark.

It was a great fun read!! Anna's character was definitely a sweet yet showed a very great character development. No offense but I do hate her ex-husband and it actually describes the actual truth of the industry. John's real struggles as a screenwriter then his way to charm Anna is one of the most sweetest and cutest thing ever. Overall the couple proved that overcoming difficulties is a great start and strengthens a couple. We all need a best friend like Jenny!! I love her very much
Thank you Netgalley for this quick yet great read!

Anna Kovác’s career as a movie director is over if she can’t jumpstart a failing production in Rome: a B-movie that’s over budget and behind schedule. She’s thirty-five years old, her best picture is ten years behind her, and her ex-husband, a powerful Hollywood agent, is still meddling in her career.

John Mills can’t get an agent to listen to his screenplay pitch, because they’re too busy casting him as Shirtless Werewolf Number Three. His part-time jobs are barely enough to pay his rent, and he’s done being thought of as nothing but a pretty face, by the industry and his dates.

On location in Rome complications abound on-set, but with each disaster that Anna and John overcome together, their burgeoning friendship develops into a not-to-be-denied attraction. Anna’s insecurities about being with John resurface when the press ridicules her for having an on-set fling with a younger man, showing John first-hand the harassment she has to deal with in her job. And John didn't realize exactly what kind of a devil he made a deal with when he took this job from a powerful agent, none other than Anna’s ex-husband out for revenge.

The two must find a way to navigate the rocky terrain of dating a coworker in an already tumultuous industry or lose their careers and their chance at a happily ever after.


Loved it. Will recommend to others.

Yep, this wasn't something that I will think about. Sure, I didn't like it that much, but it was a fun time. I would recomend it as a fun quicky book

Starts off strong with a meet cute, then falls flat. It feels jumbled and jumps around. The last 10% picks up

Thank you to NetGalley and the author of this book for giving me a copy of this to read 😊. This was an easy, fun and quick read. I love a rom com & this really delivered on that. It was quite unique too, I’ve never read a rom com based on a movie set. The characters were easy to get behind & Ioved their story line.

Would definitely recommend if you need a cute & quick read as a bit of a pallet cleanser!

This book had a great concept and was a cute romance. The main characters definitely had chemistry at first, but the rest of the story fell flat to me. Overall, it was just ok. I wasn’t invested in these characters and almost DNF’d a couple of times.

I struggled in the beginning with its writing style so I paused reading this and then picked it up again! Unfortunately throughout the book, I struggled with the writing style.

I did enjoy the characters and how they connected so fast when they met at the bar. I also enjoyed the reverse age gap! It was cool to see behind the scenes of Hollywood because I haven’t seen a lot of books in that sort of setting.

This book is fast-paced, entertaining and hooks you up from the start. I love cinema and I can't help but love the fact that the book jumps into the subject right from the start. 

The plot was so dynamic and all the characters so interconnected that I read the book in one sitting. Anna and John were amazing. 💜 💜 💜

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮! 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:

A bit of a slow start in my opinion, but once I got more into it, I slowly started to enjoy it more and more.
 
While I liked the dynamic that Anna and John initially had, it felt quite forced towards the end, which was disappointing to say the least, seeing as at the start it had a great buildup and I expected a little more from this couple.
 
At times, it felt very insta-lust/love, which I really didn’t care for at all. There’s things I would do differently, but above all else, this was a light, fun, and insanely sweet read!
 
~ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Age gap (she's older)
Forbidden
He fell first (SWOON!!!)
Workplace romance

2.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I was left disappointed in this book; seeing that it was based in Hollywood in a romance set, it initially caught my attention big time but it was not carried out. The chemistry was not there. I give it 2.5 stars because some parts were great and it was a cute easy read.

This was a fun quick read. I really enjoyed the age gap with an older female for a change. I would recommend this to anyone who is fascinated with how things work in Hollywood that also still wants a cute romance.