3.5🌟

As a lover of The Spare Room I went into this with high expectations but unfortunately this one just wasn’t my favourite.

I hate to say but I found this one a bit slow going and it took me a while to finish it because I felt that not much was really happening. Don’t get me wrong the romance was lovely and I really liked all the characters but the plot itself just seemed to drag a little bit. My only problem with their relationship was the miscommunication.

I did however really enjoy the last 30% of the story as I thought it really picked up but other than that I didn’t feel a connection to this story as I did the other.

I enjoyed the premise of this story, the filming aspect and the different scenes and sets and watching a show be made I thought it was a great basis for a love story.

Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Starkey and Embla books for this ARC.

Thank you to Embla Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I was really interested in this book but it unfortunately did not deliver what I was hoping. It was slow, not engaging, and I found myself struggling to push through. It took me way longer to finish than it should’ve.

The writing came off as cheesy and stiff, and the characters felt flat, making it hard to connect with them or the story. There was also the issue where the reasoning behind certain actions didn’t really make sense but was just there to move the plot forward, which is personally a big pet peeve of mine in books.

I’ll probably be avoiding books by this author in the future but if you’ve read/liked any of their past books, I imagine you might like this as well.

I won't be posting a public review of this until at least a month after the pub date, due to the low rating and out of respect for the author. I will edit the feedback once I've posted the reviews.

Not going to lie the premise actually sounded better that it ended up being. I didn't really have any sympathy for Jess I mean what did she think would happen. And even though I liked Nathan I found myself rooting against their relationship.

Jess is left picking up the pieces when her older, cheating, silver fox, work colleague boyfriend steals her life work to pass off as his own, on the same day their relationship ends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So when the opportunity to work on a TV series adaptation for her favourite book by her favourite author is thrown into her lap, she sees it as an opportunity to get away and the opportunity of a lifetime. But when she realises what director Nathan has in store for her beautiful book, she needs to step in before he ruins it for all the fans.

While the two of them clash heads at every suggestion, their own chemistry can’t be denied. They can’t work with each other, but can’t seem to work without each other…

Honestly I loved this one! It was so fun to read and to find out what would happen. I really loved the character development for both Jess and Nathan throughout the book and their relationship was fantastic! I’d definitely recommend this one for anyone who loves an enemies to lovers romance.

Thank you Laura Starkey, Netgalley and Boldwood books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the glimpse into seeing what a script consultant does. Jess takes a break from her current job after her boss and ex betrays her by taking credit for a research paper she wrote. She decides to try her hand at being a script consultant for a TV adaptation on a novel she knows by heart. After initiallly clashing with the director they begin to work together cohesively and they also develop a romantic relationship. Both characters exhibited great growth and development, were interesting, and had great chemistry. The secondary characters were engaging and the plot was captivating. Overall a well written and enjoyable book!

This was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters, main and secondary, and the storyline.
Jess ended up manipulated into a situation that leaves her pretty much starting over again, but interestingly enough so did Nathan. While both characters are coming from prior relationships that were less than great, they both take different paths to growth. Jess takes the high road and decides to make something of herself following a different path than originally planned; Nathan is seeking revenge. The amount of character growth that Jess experiences over the months that she is working on the set of Anne of Arden is admirable. She achieves this despite her parents trying to continue their own manipulations. With the help of the cast and crew, and a burgeoning relationship with Nathan, Jess really shines. Nathan is a tougher nut to crack, but he gets there… eventually.
It is the entire cast of characters that makes this book what it is - a fun romcom with heart.
I recommend this to anyone trying to figure out where they fit in after a major life change or anyone looking for a light read.
Many thanks to Embla Books for an invitation to read a digital advanced copy of this book.
The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Released on March 11th, 2025
Rating: 4.5✨(rounded to a 5 because it is definitely over a 4)
Spice: 1.5🌶️

I want to take a moment to thank Laura Starkey for writing this fantastic book, at the publisher Embla Books and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I know I’m behind on writing and posting this review but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved the classic UK humor and verbiage. If this were made into a movie NO changes would be needed because this is exactly what I would love to see!

This book was sweet, funny, emotional and perfect. The characters all had depth, personality and worked so well together. The playfulness between the main characters and the other characters was such a delight. Jess and Nathan were brilliant together and helped each other to grow into the best versions of themselves. I am heading over to the kindle store now to see if I can find Laura’s other novels!

Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Made me laugh out loud at times. Loved the two main characters. Would definitely recommend this book.

I found Love Off Script to be quite a refreshing read. I loved the concept of Jess becoming a script writer for the adaptation of one of her favourite books and how that book was brought to life.

I loved the instant attraction between Jess and Nathan and despite a very slow build up, their honesty and openness with one another was sweet as was their respective character development. Both Jess and Nathan both seemed perfect for each other

This is a sweet and easy read with a fun enemies-to-lovers dynamic set in the world of TV production. Jess, a script consultant seeking a fresh start, clashes with Nathan, a director with his own agenda. Their banter is sharp, and the premise is engaging, but the story leans too much on dialogue, lacking the emotional depth needed to make the romance truly impactful.

While Jess’s character growth is well done, the connection between her and Nathan feels more like verbal sparring than deep emotional tension. Still, it’s an enjoyable, lighthearted romance for those who love workplace tension and witty exchanges.

Love Off Script is a perfect romance. I loved reading this from the first chapter. I enjoyed the conflicts, the resolutions, the characters, everything. This was my first Laura Starkey book but it was SO great that I’ll definitely be reading more of her books asap!!

Love Off Script was such a wonderful read. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes. And nothing says forced proximity quite like having to work on a set together. I was rooting for the main characters straight from the meet cute. I do think the pacing at the beginning was a little slow, but once I got into the story I couldn't put the book down.
Thank you Netgalley and Embla Books for the ARC!

Love Off Script was a very fluffy little rom-com that felt like we had a first hand view of the making of Bridgerton or an Austen adaptation. The Bridgerton comes from the at times absurdity of the situations - while I loved the side characters at times they were a little over the top. I enjoyed how dedicated Jess was to her work and it really made a lot of her choices make sense and maybe there were things that were too British for me. Nathan was very petty and I appreciated that once someone talked a little sense into him he realized how stupid his plan was.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*“Love Off Script” by Laura Starkey is a charming and entertaining rom-com that offers plenty of humor, heart, and just the right amount of drama. The story follows the ups and downs of its lovable protagonist as she navigates the unpredictable world of romance and second chances. Starkey’s writing is witty and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the relatable characters and the realistic yet fun take on love and relationships. The dialogue felt natural, and the chemistry between the leads was well-developed. There were some laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some emotional ones that added depth to the story.

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that some parts of the plot felt a bit predictable, and I wished for a little more development in certain side characters. However, this didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, lighthearted romance with plenty of humor and charm, Love Off Script is definitely worth reading!*

REVIEW
cw: gaslighting, mentions of coercive control, misogyny, mentions of bereavement, grief, foster care, anxiety

Thirty-year-old introvert Jess Mackenzie should have known better than to fall for the English department's silver fox, but now she's left picking up the pieces after catching him cheating with a student and stealing the credit for her research paper. Desperate for a fresh start, she accepts a job as a script consultant on a new TV adaptation of the Regency novel, Anne of Arden - and no one knows Georgiana Scott's work better than she does. Swapping the world of academia for the glamour of TV is supposed to be her big comeback. But standing in her way is Nathan Lambert, a famous director on a mission to sabotage his unfaithful ex-wife's latest work project. As they knock heads over every detail of the script, sparks fly, tempers flare, and their unexpected chemistry is anything but scripted. Can Jess and Nathan rewrite their happy ending in a world where the lines between reality and fiction blur?

I've really enjoyed all of Laura Starkey's previous books, and this was no exception. As always, there were plenty of the author's witty one-liners that made me snort laughing, as well as some truly swoon-worthy ones. Though I initially found Jess a bit flat as a main character, I think that might have been intentionally part of her development arc. She really grew on me once she was on set, and I loved that she could start showing her more assertive side. I also LOVED her confrontations later on in the story, and how supportive and kind she was to Sara on both occasions. Those scenes were SO satisfying, especially the second one.
I liked Nathan immediately. His POV made me cackle quite a few times, and I loved the scene where his best friend, Rob, saw the terrible rehearsal and Nathan had to explain his devious plans. Nathan's initial intentions were diabolical, so I was glad Jess was able to make him see the bigger picture and how his need to hurt his ex would ultimately hurt many innocent people. But, I would have still loved to see more scenes of them butting heads, as enemies-to-lovers is my favourite trope. For me, there wasn't nearly enough disagreement between them to truly describe it as such. Instead, I found Nathan's fascination with Jess quite instalove early on. However, he was also adorably smitten as the story progressed, so I'll forgive him.
The chemistry was palpable, and I thought their intimate moments were beautifully romantic. What I really loved was the genuine connection they formed as the story progressed. I appreciated how Nathan was able to open up to Jess about his childhood, but my heart broke for him when he recollected the way adults who should have helped him spoke about him being 'damaged'. My heart ached for how he was treated after the separation from his wife, and how she'd made him feel. But, I loved Rob. Their friendship felt so authentic and I loved their banter, but also that Rob's family had stepped up when Nathan was alone. I also appreciated Rob's intervention late in the story. They were hilarious together, but it was so clear how much they loved each other like brothers.
There were some interesting supporting characters. Jess's friends Ben and Vix seemed fun. I liked that they were so supportive of her, and gave great advice. I also really liked Serena. She seemed sweet, and I loved how Jess stood up for her career when Nathan was blind-sided by his need for vengeance. The teensy tease at the premiere made me giddy for her. Rafe was simultaneously hilarious and annoying, but I loved his dancing 'test', and Nathan's reaction was perfect. It was also fun to catch up with It was fun to catch up with Amy and Sam, and I loved their advice for Jess. Jess’s parents were obnoxiously awful, so I was so happy when she took her friend's advice at the restaurant, but most of all, I applauded her finally finding her voice after the 'controversy' and giving them some home truths. As for Miranda, Nathan's ex-wife. She was so manipulative. One of the things I always admire is when people who've experienced a difficult past are able to confront it and seek therapy, and I LOVED that Nathan finally did the work.
I loved the ending, and I absolutely ADORED nervous Nathan. He was so adorable.
While I would have preferred more conflict early on, this was still a lot of fun.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️♥️
Heat Rating: 🔥.5

*Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Love Off Script is out now in the UK*

This book hooked me from the very begging. I loved the whole idea of it and the writing was excellent. I don't always love the miscommunication trope, but I just really enjoyed the writing.

Jess and her friends were so fun to read. They were supportive and the banter was always good.

Jess and Nathan had a great dynamic and the spice was just right. (I am a Jessica with a Nathan husband so this was fun for me).

I am going to go check out more from this author!

I sooo wanted to love this book as the synopsis sounded right up my street!!
But i didn't like the main protagonists, and found the pacing to be super slow.
I need a 'hook' to keep me interested from the beginning, and this didn't have anything. I just didn't care.
Didn't enjoy this at all!

It was okay. It was a nice quick read. The romantic beats were all in the right place, but nothing made it really stand out.

Thank you Embla Books for providing me with an ARC for review!

This is a solid read, especially for those of us who appreciate some romance infused with sarcasm. However, the pacing of the novel is a tad weird. It starts by surprising you and then it seems to skip to the main character already having an alternative to escape her issues. When she gets to working on this new project, there seems to be conflict, but it's short lived and gets resolved quickly. The lack of build up in the animosity between the FMC and MMC makes the tension go down the drain, and the book lost me a bit after that. I just didn't really care that much anymore because I could see exactly where it was going. Similarly, the third act breakup was also very predictable, and it just seemed like a means to extend the novel and connect to the end but without much meat in it. I did like how the FMC grows into her self a bit more and gains the courage to stand up to her family and live her life on her own terms. I also found it surprising what she chose as her next career path after the conflicts are resolved. It was nice to see a change!

Overall, a good palate cleanser for me!

Jess, a literature academic, is hired to be the script consultant for the tv adaptation of her favorite novel, "Anne of Arden". Sheis set to work with BAFTA bad boy director Nathan Lambert. There's a bunch of conflict between the two at first as Jess is determined to honor her favorite book and make this the best adaptation yet, while Nathan is attempting to bring his ex-wife's name to shame. While Jess spends time trying to make the script work and do justice to the story, you see Nathan grow. It's very slow burn and there's plenty of pining and flirtation. The chemistry between the two throughout the book makes it easy to root for these characters from the get-go. There were aspects of the story where they added too much detail, such as spending too long on Jess's conflict with her ex before getting to the script portion of the story, and some of the chemistry between her and Nathan needed to be more show than tell. Overall a fun read!