Tag: romantic comedies

REVIEW: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

REVIEW: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Emma Wheeler has been given the opportunity of a lifetime – co-write/ghostwrite a screenplay with her idol, Charlie Yates. He’s written a rom-com, and it needs some serious help. But he has to get it written in order to get a pet project produced. Emma has to put her life on hold and go to LA for 6 weeks to work on the re-write. She’s been her father’s daily caregiver for years – it’s a lot to step away from.

But when she gets to LA, Charlie doesn’t know anything about this arrangement – and he’s not interested in anything Emma has to offer.  She’s embarrassed and tempted to flee back home where life is familiar even though it is also soul-crushing at times. Instead, she fights for this opportunity. Taking in some observations of Charlie and recognizing the power of being completely willing to walk away, she negotiates her way into a real chance to write this screenplay and see it get produced. And maybe prove to Charlie – and herself – that she’s not a “failed writer.”

Review

This was excellent! Everything the book describes as essential for a rom-com – the happily-ever-after, the banter, the slow burn, the “sparkle” – is on display here.

I loved Emma and Charlie, both alone and together. Their individual stories are fascinating. And the psychology of how those individual stories impact the relationship between the two writers was delightful. There were many beautifully written scenes that begged to be read out loud. And I laughed out loud often.

Katherine Center’s fans should not hesitate to grab her latest rom-com. It absolutely sparkles, both in the cozy relationship and in the writing. And if you are a rom-com fan in general, you do not want to miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

REVIEW: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Meg has built a business around hand lettering. Stationery, signs, wedding programs, planner spreads. She does it all. And her business is really taking off (Instagram is a huge help!). But when she needs her business most, as her roommate tells her she’s moving out, Meg hits a creative wall.

At the same time, Reid Sutherland comes into her life. Well, back into her life. A year ago, Meg had worked with his fiancée on wedding materials. But Reid was the only one who discovered the “code”  in Meg’s designs – a sign she had seen the doomed relationship for what it was long before he did.

After talking to Reid – a handsome but uptight, reserved guy – Meg gets the idea to scout the city for lettering inspiration. And she invites Reid along. Maybe their hunt will help her over her creative block and help Reid find some joy in a city he says he hates.

Review

This was unexpected! The lettering angle – serifs and type/font descriptions and pen preferences – was so unique! I’ve never read anything with a premise like this. And the writing is sharp and funny with GREAT metaphors. At times, the humor would sneak up on me in delightful ways. I kept reading Meg’s descriptions out loud to my husband because they were so clever!

In the early chapters, while the writing was sharp, the story unfolded slowly. That is something that can derail me pretty quickly. But as Meg and Reid started their New York lettering “games,” I was sucked into the story. And as their relationship grew and Meg started to grow and develop some backbone in her relationships, I was completely captivated. Her observations about people – and about herself – were fascinating. I couldn’t wait to see how things developed. The conflict at the end was unexpected (for me), and fit the story perfectly. I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out how it would all turn out.

I have read some delightful rom-coms this year – Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥), The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Passion on Park Avenue (♥♥♥♥½), Love on Lexington Avenue – and this is another delight to add to the list. Don’t miss this one! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

REVIEW: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After seven years at the business equivalent of “always the bridesmaid, never the bride,”  Evie is ready for a change. She’s the assistant to an agent who manages screenwriters, including Oscar-winner Ezra Chester. The rude and arrogant writer is woefully behind on  completing a contracted rom-com script. And Evie is sent to light a fire under him. Maybe if she handles this well, she will get the chance to be an agent to some clients of her own.

Ezra feels rom-coms are beneath him. He says he has no intention of writing the script. Evie knows if he backs out of this, her company is doomed. All of her years on grunt work waiting for her big break to move up to agent will be wasted. So she convinces Ezra to sign on for a challenge.

Assuming the real reason he’s not writing is writer’s block, Evie says she will test out all the popular movie meet-cutes and show Ezra they can work. And while she tries to find love like in a romantic comedy, he’ll start writing his script. Sure, it’ll be embarrassing to spill coffee on a stranger or go looking for a date at a book club meeting, but it’s worth it if she can wrangle a script out of Ezra, keep her job, and maybe even find love.

Review

Stories like this, whether in a book or a movie or on TV walk a fine line between humor and pain. I struggle to rate this one because several of the scenarios in this were painful for me. I wanted to close my eyes rather than watch Evie ruin something else related to her friend’s wedding or endure another disastrous  meet cute. At the same time, I loved that Evie didn’t take herself too seriously. She set aside any humiliation and owned her disasters. And through them, she re-discovered herself as a writer.

Ezra was a piece of work. I wasn’t surprised by where things went regarding his script, but I was surprised by some of the choices he made in the end with Evie. Also, her work situation in general – not just the Ezra parts – was infuriating. I don’t know that the character ever communicated that she felt trapped in her work situation, but I felt trapped for her.

Evie’s friends had the patience of Job. They endured so much. I would have liked to see/read more of why they were friends. Sarah was an odd fit in the group for me. I would have liked to see some warm moments with Sarah and Evie, or Sarah and the group, to offset the shrill bridezilla moments. And I cringed every time Evie had to apologize to them yet again. They were awfully gracious.

I wanted more scenes with Ben and Anette. They were delightful! Yes, Anette comes across as older than her stated age, but I liked her so much, I didn’t care.

This has a particular sort of humor – disasters and embarrassment and quite a lot of sexual humor. For the right reader, this will be a hoot and a half. For me, it was sometimes more awkward than funny.  I agree with other reviewers who have said this feels more “chicklit” than “romance” because that’s really something that only gets sorted out in the end. Once settled, though, I enjoyed the romance in the end. (Language, sexual references)

Rating: ♥♥♥½