What a great book! I love rom coms and this was the perfect book on book form. It was so fun seeing a write love out her rom com dreams. Loved every minute. Liam was so charming and I hope this gets adapted to a movie. It was that good.

My love for bookish books and romcom made me ask for this arc and I wasn’t disappointed 💞

Cannot wait to go buy my own copy to add it to my collection 💞

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

I found it a little hard to get into at the beginning, but I think that was my fault as my brain was still processing a Romantasy book.

When I say I couldn’t put my kindle down tonight - I mean it!

“Come on, City Girl, let’s see how country you can be” - I was grinning like a loon!

‘Thumb-to-pointer-finger theory: proven. - had me choking on my drink!

The bus trip? My heart was in my throat!

I can’t wait to get a hard copy for my bookshelf!

I need to reread this soon!

A huge thank you to the Aria and Aires team at NetGalley for the ARC.

How to Write a Rom-Com is a fourth wall breaking romantic comedy that really plays to its strengths of being a writer's guide to romantic novels. The author has done a fantastic job in blending the techniques, elements and structures required to write the perfect romance novel. Focusing on various subjects such as romantic tropes, and even the character building. It was a fascinating concept of having the MC be the person who is aspiring to write her own novel, whilst starring as the main character in this novel, it was brilliantly executed as well.

There were numerous emotional moments, and one-liners, and the character development and scene setting were really strong, I could easily enjoy the story whilst also using it as guide to plan my own romance novel, if I really wanted to but as Lucy says, not everyone can write a romance! I especially loved Lucy’s take on “Happily Ever After” and completely agreed with her sentiment about it, like why can’t we live in the “Happy Ever Now”, I think that is a great aspect for romance novels to take on, it really highlights about living in the present rather than the future.

The characters were are really lovely as well, other than Ruby who felt a bit out of place, but I especially loved Liam, and the twins, the relationships built between Lucy and the small-town characters were great, and it definitely did feel like the scripts of one of those Hallmark movies that Lucy loves to talk about. This is your cosy meet-cute, small town romance novel, that delivers exactly as it promises on the tin, engrossing and adorable enough that you become invested in the romance. The author has done a fantastic job with this story, and I really enjoyed being along for the ride.

How to Write a Rom-Com is a very fun read, I loved it!

It delivers on those small-town, Americana vibes, and I have recently binged Virgin River, so I felt like I was perfectly primed for this. As ever, I am a massive fan of books about books, and this certainly has a bookish hook!

Lucy works for one of NYC's biggest romance publishers, Heartwarming, where she has a bestselling author who threatens to leave. Hard pressed to think of any new ideas to win her over, Lucy's boss concocts a plan: Lucy is to infiltrate a small-town where she can find inspiration for said author. It's a super simple premise but it's cute—Lucy spends time in a quirky little lake house and of course she has a hot neighbour. He also happens to run the local cafe (Jack vibes all the way), but he's a real softy. Lucy initially clashes with Liam (she is a city girl, after all), but this leads to some nice introspection on Lucy's part. It's a slow burn but you can see that there is instant chemistry between them.

It'll be the perfect summer holiday read for hanging out by the pool or beach (or lake!), it certainly had me yearning for warmer weather. I found Lucy a bit tough at first, she's very fiery and sarcastic, but she grows on you!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a small town rom-com and it was just what I needed! I liked Lucy literally from her forts few famous romance references and up until her last line. She just a sweetheart , a bit of a realist but just like you and me romantic in heart. I liked how her journey of self discovery was portrayed with all insecurities and doubts, it made her even more realistic. Liam is just a perfect small town main male character, good looking and charming, but also with depth and security. Them together makes total sense, being together in beautiful scenery of their personal heaven that calls Hudson Hollow.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

how to write a romcom was a short and sweet experience for a romcom lover like me and i truly mean it since i was a kid i’ve been watching all the random types of romcoms and this book captured the feelings u have while watching one!

like…look at the cover and tell me that’s not giving an early 2000s romcom vibe… i dare u! and yes… i was sold by just these aspects but not only these if i have to be honest because the story’s also set in a small town and i mean if u know u know right?

while reading the story of our female main character lucy i was like she’s such a mood help i can’t with her! simply because she could be funny, lighthearted and also an inspiring character and it was a pleasure for me to read her story that led her to meet liam,our lovely small town man main character,and the rest of the gang!

so if you want and are in the need for some cozy and lighthearted vibes just go for it because this story’s waiting for welcoming you in its world and ready to capturing you!

a lot of thanks to netgalley and Aria & Aires team for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Oh how I understand that Lucy fell for Liam...
They are so so cute !

The perfect small town romance :)
I really loved this book.

It's like : how to write a romance novel 101 with the tropes, characterization, the scenery,...

I must admit that Lucy was sometimes annoying because of all her doubts and the distance she tries to keep with Hudson Hollow's inhabitants. BUT all the other characters won me over.

Lucy has a great support system and I wish Elle has her own love story very soon (not in Manhattan, I would love to go back to HH).

Liam is a really nice guy and his people are super sweet and fun. Loved them all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for books featuring characters in publishing, and HOW TO WRITE A ROM-COM fits perfectly into that category, with main character Lucy who works as an assistant at a romance imprint and is tasked with coming up with a new concept for their star writer by moving to a small town for a few weeks. Lucy seems to have given up hope for a romance of her own, but when she arrives in Hudson Hollow and meets neighbour and handsome-as-hell restaurant owner Liam she’s starting to reconsider her stance.

Okay, listen — if you’re into classic 2000s romcoms, have always wished to visit Luke’s diner IRL, and want a generous sprinkling of a romance-aware and skeptic heroine, you’ve come to the right place. How To Write A Rom-Com is funny and made me swoon with its heart-warming cast of characters and lovely reflections on how our dreams might change as we move through life.

Thank you, Aria & Aries for this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

By now, everyone who follows me online knows how much I love small-town romance and bookish books, so, naturally, I had to read this book.
How to Write a Rom-Com gave me everything I needed in a good romance 🥰 The writing was incredibly funny, especially the awkwardness between Lucy and Liam. I loved how Lucy made Liam smile again after what he'd been through and how the book played with small-town cliches.
The fmc's character development was *chef's kiss*. There were so many emotional moments in this book that brought me to tears (I was not expecting that in a cozy small-town romance lol) and the angst was intense! I had no idea how the story was going to end, but loved the way everything turned out.
I can't wait to read more of Cristina Wolf's books because this one was amazing 😍

Thank you so much to the publisher Aria & Aries and NetGalley for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this one!!
How to Write a Rom-Com is a short and sweet novel centering around our FMC Lucy who works in the publishing industry, and has been sent to scope out a small town to help a major client plan their next novel. Enter Hudson Hollow which is an absolute dream, and easily one of my favourite small towns that I have ever read about! That scenery *chef's kiss*

I enjoyed the awkwardness of the initial interactions with Liam (MMC) who gave off major Luke Danes vibes. Lucy's journey of self discovery was portrayed really well and made her a very realistic and relatable character. I adored Blue (adorable furry friend), especially his relationship and interactions with the twins! This was a cosy and lighthearted read and I enjoyed every minute of it! If you love small town romances, early 2000s rom coms, and Gilmore Girls, then this book is perfect for you!

I cannot wait to read more Cristina Wolf books, so consider this my formal request for a Jill book.. I will literally beg you to take me back to Hudson Hollow

Pre thoughts:
Small Town Romance

Post Thoughts:
A lovely Small-Town Romance Read. This book features a lovable MMC, as both the FMC and the MMC set out on their paths to achieve their goals.

The perfect 2000's esq romance read.

As the FMC (Lucy) is a sweetheart and must be protected at all costs ( Her inner monologue is the best)

Quite a lovely read, I will be adding it to me collection when released.

Thank you net gallery and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to review this ARC

Just by the title alone, I knew that How to Write a Rom-Com was going to be for me. This story begins when Lucy Bowen agrees to go on a research trip to a charming lakeside town to gather inspiration for Ruby Jones' next romance novel - hoping for a long-overdue promotion - she finds herself immersed in the charm and chaos of small-town life, and irresistibly drawn to her charming neighbor, Liam. But as time goes by, fiction starts to blur with reality and Lucy faces her biggest challenge: will she stick to the script or finally take a leap of faith in her own love story?

This book had so many things I loved, making this an easy and enjoyable read. The first thing that caught my attention was the writing, it’s light, funny and does a great job of showing the characters emotions, you can easily see that through Lucy, our main protagonist. Lucy is such a great character to follow, she’s funny, easygoing and sometimes a bit messy (in a very realistic way). Following her journey felt like following a friend, and I really loved seeing her growth throughout the story.


The town of Hudson Hollow felt vivid that I honestly felt like I was right there with Lucy exploring with her. But the best thing about the town was all the side characters, they were absolutely delightful and made a strong impression. (petition to get Jill her own book!!!)

I’m in LOVE with the romance in this book. Since their first interaction I was hooked and amazed by their chemistry, the slow-burn was torturous (just the way I liked it). Watching them slowly find their way to each other was everything, this is the feeling that I search for in every romance book and Cristina Wolf delivered perfectly. The romance made me want to stay in the book forever!!!


That being said, there were a few things that bothered me. While I loved Lucy, sometimes in her inner monologue she would over-explain her actions, which felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing a bit. I also really wanted more scenes with the small-town locals, because there was so much focus on the romance, we didn’t get enough moments of Lucy connecting with them which resulted with the small-town atmosphere not being as strong as it could have been. If the book had been just a little longer, there would have been more room to explore these characters.

So if you're looking for a cozy and heartwarming small-town romance I'll definitely recommend this amazing book.

~
Thank you to Aria & Aires and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

When I read the first page of this book I honestly thought this was going to be just anothet cheesy romance book...in a hallmark film kinda way. But the more I read, the more I fell in love with the characters and the small town and I devoured this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Yes, its plot is very much hallmark, but the character development from big city girl (with a lot of swearing I may add!) to being humbled by the small town and friendly people she meets was what helped me to see this as something more. It's pure escapism and such an easy read. A little bit of steam but not too much. It made me want to visit Hudson Hollow myself just for the atmosphere, and to eat in Liz's diner. We all dream of a romance like this and for our lives to fall into place with the support of friends and family. It's such a heartwarming read.

I love a small town romcom and this book does not disappoint. It had me giggling and kicking my feet from the start. It was such an easy and fun read.

Lucy is such a fun, loveable and quirky character. She speaks before she thinks and this really had me laughing throughout the book. Liam comes across as mysterious and grumpy at first but you soon come to release he is a big softy like his GSD Blue. He is passionate about his town and has his family, friends and townspeople best interests at heart (and he’s a great chef, what more could a girl want)

The relationship between Lucy and Liam is fun and lighthearted yet you can see the romantic tension building between them from the start, it had me rooting for them after every meet! The book is such a slow burn romance but in the sweetest possible way!

Hudson Hollow is literally the blueprint for a small town. It was detailed so well that I felt I was there. I loved the town and all of its characters.

This book gave me Abby Jimenez vibes and I loved it!

If you enjoy a slow burn romance with serious small town vibes then this is the book for you!

I have been screaming from the rooftops about this book to every single soul I've seen. I am someone who needs a rom-com to ensure that they feel an ounce of happiness in their life. How to Write a Rom-Com provided me with an infinite amount of joy. I feel like I have been floating around on a cloud since reading this dazzling debut from Cristina Wolf.

Let's be honest, the current dating scene doesn't exactly fill a girl with a lot of hope at the moment. It's no wonder that Lucy Bowen has sworn off love. If you're searching for a fairytale romance with a happily ever after, you may as well turn to the books. The only place you'll find a decent man these days is in between the pages. And that's exactly what Lucy does, working for the New York City's biggest romance publisher. When Lucy is given an assignment to go to a small town and find the next chart topping hit for their bestselling author, Ruby Jones, it sounds exactly like the start of a cliche rom-com she would sink her teeth into at home. These kinds of stories don't exist in real life. Or do they? When the first person she meets is the attractive restaurant owner, Liam, who just so happens to live across the road from where she's staying, could Lucy have been wrong this entire time? Always remember the biggest cliche of every rom-com... love finds you when you least expect it.

From laughing out loud, to just giggling at how much I loved the characters, How to Write a Rom-Com was a book that I couldn't put down. Not that I wanted to. There's nothing quite like having your eyes glued to the page of a rom-com.

This truly is for people who loved Book Lovers (Emily Henry). And just for people who love books.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Aria for sending me an e-ARC of this book! I have been skipping down the road ever since I finished reading! If you love romance, read How to Write a Rom-Com. If you love reading, read How to Write a Rom-Com. If you want to get into reading, read How to Write a Rom-Com. In case I didn't make it obvious enough, I think everyone should read How to Write a Rom-Com.

Whatever Cristina Wolf writes next, I will read it. Until then, I'll just continue gushing over this book!

Lucy works in publishing as an assistant, she is sent to small town upstate New York to get ideas on a new small town romance novel. Luke is the local diner owner (I see what you did there) who runs into Lucy when she arrives in town. Quirky, funny and romantic, this story will perfectly capture your heart if you love a small town romance novel.

♥️ How to write a rom-com
✍️Cristina Wolf
📚Published 15 May 2025

Thank you @netgalley for a kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy has sworn off love, but happens to work for New York’s biggest romance publisher. Her next assignment? A working holiday to research small town romance, undercover in an actual small town… What could possibly go wrong?!

Lighthearted, cosy, cute and fun. I couldn’t put this one down! I found Lucy to be really relatable, and everyone who knows me knows how much I appreciate a FRIENDS reference 🤭

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A charming, witty delight—this book had me grinning from page one!

How to Write a Rom-Com was everything I wanted in a feel-good romance and more. I went in expecting a light, cute story, and what I got was an absolute joy to read—clever, hilarious, heartwarming, and totally addictive. I devoured it in a single weekend, basking in the sunshine, drinking iced tea devouring the dopamine it delivered.

Lucy, our main character, is a total mood and I want to be her bestie. Funny, self-aware, and unexpectedly vulnerable, she felt so relatable from the very beginning. Her job in publishing brought an irresistible charm to the story, especially with the way the book played with rom-com tropes and poked fun at them in the most loving way. Her Instagram obsession and love for happily-ever-afters made her feel like a character straight out of a BookTok feed, in the best way possible. I wonder if she’d join my book club? 😂

And Liam? Oh, Liam. The grumpy small-town restaurant owner across the street from her rental cottage? He was the perfect counterpart to Lucy’s chaotic optimism. Their chemistry was electric, the slow burn delicious, and the moments of yearning and miscommunication had me squealing.

I laughed out loud more times than I could count—at the banter, the quirky small-town residents, and the perfect awkward moments. But beneath the humour was also a story about rediscovering hope, embracing vulnerability, and finding love in the most unexpected places.

Fans of Book Lovers by Emily Henry or anyone who lives and breathes rom-coms will adore this. It’s smart, joyful, and absolutely brimming with heart. I genuinely haven’t stopped talking about it since I turned the final page—and I’ll be first in line for whatever Cristina Wolf writes next.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC—I’m still floating on a cloud from this one. If you love books, if you love love, and if you need a break from the bleakness of real life, How to Write a Rom-Com is the book for you!!!

Such a fun read! I love a protagonist who works in publishing and the meta qualities of the book made it so much fun and fresh! I loved the use of Lucy's instagram and her love for book tropes dotting throughout the book. This was devoured in the garden over a weekend and it could not have been more perfect. The yearning, mis-interpretations and hilarious town characters create an irresistible small-town romance read!

this was a short and sweet experience for a rom-com lover like me.
while reading the story of the female main character Lucy I was like she's such a mood help I can't with her! simply because she could be funny, lighthearted and also an inspiring main character and it was a pleasure for me to read her story that led her to meet Liam our lovely small town male main charcter and the rest of the gang

I really enjoyed this book!

Book Review💫💫
How To Write a Rom-Com by Cristina Wolf
Pub Date: May 15th 2025

Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Debut Novel
Small town romance
Single POV
He falls first
Book about books

Lucy Bowen has had enough of romance and sworn off love. Working in the biggest romance publishing house she deals with it on the regular. When their bestselling author Ruby is in a creative rut and threatens to leave due to poor sales.

She is sent to a small lakeside town to find inspiration for Ruby's next bestselling love story. And suddenly she finds all her views beginning to change..


-
I've been on such a weird funk with my reading lately that I am not obsessed with anything I have read lately but this book was the complete opposite.

Just loved it, such a good read. I will recommend this to everyone I cross paths with.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such a quick, charming read! I loved the premise of How to Write a Rom-Com from the very start - an editorial assistant at a romance imprint sent to a small town to work on a book idea for a burnt out author? Brilliant. Lucy was such a great heroine. I really connected with her, and her weaning hope in romance being real. Her character arc was done so beautifully, from the eagerness for promotion and frustration to embracing the people of the gorgeously set lakeside town, to falling in love with Liam and realising what she wanted from her own life.

The ending had me grinning like an idiot to my Kindle on a plane. Just loved it, such a lovely book. Would recommend to all rom com fans!

I loved this book so much. It was a perfect debut romance.

It had all the feels you need.
It was a pleasure reading this book about writing a rom-com. It's interesting learning about what an author has to do to write a book.
Can't wait to read this authors next book.
Just loved it!!!!