I'm trying out a new feature that's similar to mini reviews except this feature will be all about romance! Sometimes you just need a light escape from reality and I'm hoping the books featured here will do just the trick.
Goodreads says, "Is love on the small screen better than the real thing? A young divorcée finds herself in the ideal world of her favorite 2000s teen soap in this “gleefully nostalgic and completely fresh”* romance from the author of This Spells Love.
Newly divorced on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Brynn is sick of heartbreak. She thought she had found her happy ending, but now she’s living with a roommate, Josh, to afford her mortgage, and she’s trying to adjust to her new single life. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge, her beloved 2000s teenage soap. The show ended unexpectantly on a cliffhanger after five seasons, and the two main characters, Sloan and Spencer, never got to declare their love for each other. The show is still perfect in Brynn’s eyes; despite all the drama that goes down, things always have a way of working out in Carson’s Cove . . . unlike her own life.
So when a birthday cake surprisingly shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for the one thing she’s always wanted (but has failed to achieve herself): a happily-ever-after.
The next morning, she doesn’t wake up in her apartment. She’s in Carson’s Cove . . . and Josh is there too. Everyone seems to know them, except they’re not Brynn and Josh; they’re Sloan, the sweetheart of Carson’s Cove, and Fletch, the town’s bad boy. And to get home, they have to make Brynn’s wish come true by ensuring Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, end up together at last. But as they spend more time together, Brynn and Josh realize that Carson’s Cove might not be as perfect as seen on television . . . especially when they start developing feelings for each other in a plot twist no one has expected. Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?
This was a cute romance, especially all the allusions to some of my favorite TV shows, like Dawson's Creek. This was my favorite aspect of Prime Time Romance, because who hasn't dreamed of waking up at Stars Hollow or hanging out on Dawson's Creek's Capeside? It was interesting to think about the implications of changing the storyline in not only Brynn's actual life but also in Sloan's. The other enjoyable aspect of the novel was the chemistry between Brynn and Josh. This was especially done well and I liked their slow burn. My main issue with Prime Time Romance was the fact that it wasn't overly memorable; in fact, the characters did not stand out to me at all. If teen dramas from the 2000s are your thing, give Prime Time Romance a try, but if it isn't, I'd skip this one as the genre is already saturated with some fantastic options.
Goodreads says, "The beloved New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California hits it out of the park with this smart, sexy, thrilling take on the celebrity-athlete story—a funny, sizzling, ripped-from-the-headlines romance between an international pop star and a major league baseball player who thought his best days were behind him.
Taylor and Travis. Jennifer and A-Rod. Marilyn and Joe. When a professional athlete and a megawatt star fall in love, the world is obsessed . . .
With four chart-topping albums, Lacey Logan is a superstar whose life no longer feels like her own. Her every move is photographed, videoed, and dissected online, and her carefully curated Instagram feed studied by fans worldwide. To maintain her privacy, Lacey skillfully controls her narrative, showing fans and paparazzi what she wants them to see.
But when Lacey discovers her boyfriend is hiding two devastating secrets—a bad cocaine habit and a pregnant girlfriend—she begins to lose confidence and control of her own story. Then big-shouldered baseball player Jimmy Hodges, a former Rookie of the Year when Lacey was in high school, walks into the bar where she’s venting to a friend. With his shaggy beard and unfashionable button-down, Jimmy is the opposite of the picture-perfect guy Lacey thinks she wants. Soon, sparks fly and inhibitions go out the window when Lacey dares to take some chances.
Lacey and Jimmy are polar opposites. But could this be the forever after they both need?
Lacey Logan is an international pop star, think Taylor Swift big, but even she has bad days. For starters, her ex-boyfriend cheated on her and has a drug issue that made headlines. It's over between them, but she is pretty hesitant when it comes to guys. When she meets Jimmy Hodges, a professional baseball player, she is instantly attracted to him. She used to have his picture on her wall as a teenager and now they are chatting at a restaurant. Jimmy, who is five years older than Lacey, is thinking about retirement, and in the back of his mind, he is wondering why Lacey would be interested in him. There's no doubt there's an attraction brewing between the two, but can they actually form a healthy relationship taking into consideration all the separation they will have between her international tours, his games, and all the imposing fans? Katie Cotugno's Heavy Hitter is a fun sports romance that takes its plot right from Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce headlines.
Lacey should have it all and it appears she does at first glance in Heavy Hitter. But the one thing she doesn't have is a healthy relationship. She can't get over what her ex did to her, so she is hesitant to form something real with Jimmy, but there's no denying their attraction. I enjoyed their romance and all the details of celebrity life as well as professional athletes. I have never read a sports romance, so this aspect of the story was pure fun. However, I did feel like the characters were very surface level. I wish Cotugno would have delved deeper into them as this felt all very rushed (the book is only 230 pages!) and a bit too gimmicky in that it was obviously a nod in a big way to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a quick, fluffy romance to read during baseball playoffs, look no further.
Have you read Prime Time Romance or Heavy Hitter? Are you a fan of the romance genre? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
