Main Character Energy | Review: Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

Dawson’s Creek was one of my favorite shows as a tween (Team Pacey always), as well as the movie Pleasantville. So, when I found out that Kate Robb’s Prime Time Romance is a fun combination of both, I just had to read it. 

Brynn Smothers is recently divorced and still reeling from the end of her marriage. Her source of escape is her favorite show Carson’s Cove, a teen drama with a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that never got resolved due to the show’s abrupt cancellation. Meanwhile, her roommate and local bartender, Josh Bishop, is dealing with his own regret over the sale of his father’s bar he once ran. 

After Brynn makes a wish on a mysterious birthday cake she receives, she and Josh are transported into the world of Carson’s Cove. However, they are not there as themselves, but as the characters from the show: Brynn as girl next door Sloan and Josh as town bad boy Fletch. It’s up to them to finally give the series the happy ending it deserves and maybe find their own in the process.

I came into this book with a few expectations, but by the end had a great time reading it. I love all the Easter eggs to various TV shows, Dawson’s Creek especially, and how Kate Robb plays around with the soapy teen drama tropes while still paying homage to it. Beneath the fun, I also like the deeper themes regarding Brynn and Josh that relate back to the idea of rewatching a favorite series. 

Brynn sees Carson’s Cove as her comfort show because after each episode’s dilemma, it all turns out alright in the end. She wants that for herself too, but may have stopped believing in it since her divorce. As Sloan, she begins to see that just as these characters find a way forward, so can she. The same goes for Josh while being Fletch. As he runs Fletch’s bar, he starts to reconcile with his own self-doubts. 

The romance could have been built up more as there is something missing before it gets there. I will say though that I really like their chemistry. It’s like what Joey Potter said on Dawson’s Creek: “You got to learn to read between the banter.” 

Thank you so much NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

Pub Date: September 3, 2024 - Out now

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The Magic of the Movies | Review: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

When it comes to Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I will read practically anything she writes. I love her writing and how she is able to dabble into different genres so seamlessly from speculative to science fiction or, in this case, historical fiction. The Seventh Veil of Salome is one of my most anticipated books this year. Now having read it, this may just be Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s best work to date.

In 1950s Hollywood, the biggest production in town is “The Seventh Veil of Salome.” It’s bound to be a sword-and-sandals Biblical epic on the heels of other hit films alike with every actress clamoring for the lead role. After the studio casts an unknown Mexican ing​​énue named Vera Larios, much to the envy of bit player Nancy Hartley, she is thrown into the spotlight of celebrity and scandal alongside the whirlwind production of the film. At the same time, Salome’s story is also at the forefront and her love for a prophet who foresees her stepfather Herod’s demise.

There are so many things I love about this book, but I don’t want to give too much away. What I can say however and praise, is how Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves together a tale of Hollywood and the myth that is Salome. With the story told through multiple perspectives, including Vera, Nancy, and Salome’s (or so we think), there is a build up that will have you anticipating what is in store.Through this narrative, the three women are seen or scrutinized in a certain way when there is actually much more to them than what we think we know. It all converges into a cinematic climax about dreams, desire, and identity.

I love movies. Everything about them is fascinating along with what is projected on screen. The history, the behind the scene stories, the allure of Hollywood, the artistry that goes into a film, are all pieces of how the silver screen is a place where dreams are made and come to life. Then, when you combine that with Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s impeccable writing, you get a novel that brings together the Golden Age of Hollywood, the magic of the movies, and the truth within the fantasy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the ARC, and Silvia Moreno Garcia for the giveaway ARC.

Pub Date: August 6, 2024

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