Kathryn Freeman

I'm a big fan of Ms. Freeman's romcoms and I couldn't wait to pick this one up. I mean, come on, the title alone had me chomping at the bit. Ya gotta love a book celebrating some of the best romcoms ever made and I love how the author ingeniously incorporates them into her love story.

Sally Thornton is a smart and savvy business owner, a responsible and loving sister, and a hopeless romantic. Her younger sister Amy has moved out of their flat and a friend of a friend is moving in. Harry is a show more large, sarcastic Grumpy Pants who doesn't believe in love and hates romcoms. However, he pays his rent on time and keeps to himself, so she can't complain. Being the happy and friendly person she is, she is determined to change Harry's mind about romcoms by proving the lift from Dirty Dancing is romantic and not "just a guy catching a girl". After videotaping the lift to make improvements, they agree to add their own funny take on the lift to TikTok for fun only to have it go viral. And so more "cute woman/sexy guy having laughs" re-enactments of iconic romcoms were born. She should keep this friendly. After all, Harry the love cynic wasn't one to share warm fuzzies with.

Harry Wilson has been forced out of his home by his selfish cheating ex and is temporarily renting a flat with the most obnoxious and extremely cute landlady, Sally Thornton. Her bright pink clothes and romantic notions are ridiculous considering he didn't believe in fairy tales. His parents are proof of that by selfishly living their separate lives and ignoring him. He's still wondering why he agreed to Sally's crazy TikTok idea, but he wouldn't mind making some money from sponsors. But is that the only reason he's going along with it or is Sally starting to grow on him?

The plot of this romcom is so creative and hilarious as Sally tries to convince the very blunt and serious Harry that love is real. Sally is a rock raising her lazy and unappreciative sister Amy after their parents died. In return, Amy, the brat, uses her sister's generosity to give her money until Amy's inheritance comes through in a couple of years. Money is tight for Sally, but she is a kind soul who believes she will find The One someday. Her attraction to Harry the cynic is unexpected as he shows his unintentional romantic side in subtle ways such as sticking up for Sally with her sister and giving in to her TikTok challenges. Harry has been honest with Sally that he cannot love anyone and that a relationship would be temporary, but the more she hears about his life, the more she falls for this spurned and lonely man. My favorite re-enactments are the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally, the sexy hot clay pot scene in Ghost, and certainly the door and card scene from Love Actually. When Sally and Harry finally give in to their feelings, it is delicious, but there is always the love obstacle between them. The tables eventually turn on them with Sally trying to pull away before she is totally destroyed and Harry hanging on for dear life to stay together. Everything seems bleak until, with a little help from some unlikely friends, Harry's grand gesture saves the day.

Vince and Kitty love their friend, Sally. Vince is more cuddly while Kitty is a pit bull. In fact, Kitty is a bit over the top with her bitchiness toward Harry, but she comes through in the end. Poor Harry didn't have a chance at love with his nasty ass parents and his "See You Next Tuesday" ex-girlfriend, Isabelle. However, Harry's friends Mike and Jack are there for him despite their teasing.

I am delighted to recommend this truly endearing and funny romantic comedy that took me back to my favorite movie scenes and famous lines.

Thank you again to Ms. Freeman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

Who would think that texting the old-fashioned way would be so romantic? Notes in the window to the girl in the flat opposite his seems to be working, but what does he do once she accepts his offer?

Mia has been burned one too many times by guys she trusted and then broke her heart. Her self-confidence is crap, her trust is non-existent, and she's lonely as hell in a new place with few friends. But as she gets comfortable in Manchester her new friends list grows including her 67-year-old show more neighbor and wingman, Stan, the cafe owner, Naomi, who has the hots for her grumpy neighbor, Sandy the outspoken waitress, and of course the gorgeous hot bar owner, Luke. As Luke charms Mia, she lets down her defenses only to be stunned by a big secret that could make or break their relationship.

At first, Luke's cocky and womanizing ways turned me off and disappointed me, but as his sad story unfolds and he reveals the truly good man he is, I couldn't wait to see how he wins Mia over. The notes in the window are genius and fun and I like how Mia turns him down and sticks to her guns to be friends only even though the chemistry is off the charts. The non-dates were fun and a good way for them to get to know each other as well.

As Mia and Luke deal with their personal insecurities and real-life issues such as professional choices and family dynamics, one takes pleasure in watching how they grow by tackling things together and falling in love. The story seemed slow at first, but for me, it picked up when Luke's story started to unfold, and then I couldn't wait for the HEA.

I was pleasantly charmed by the lovely storyline and the quirky characters, not to mention the hilarious dialogue.

Thank you to Ms. Freeman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

Think 'So You Think You Can Dance' ...but with a Contemporary Romance story to build all the tension, the potential drama, and the feelings you really need to make that routine SHINE! Add a twist on the May September type couple, two darling little girls, a few feisty seniors, and a gaggle of pre-teens that meddle just as much...and you've got the makings of this story set to dazzle and enchant!

I was listening to Dan Shay while reading portions of this and..."...girl I wanna be what keeps show more you up at night..." just struck me as a very appropriate line for our boy Seb! Yes, he's the younger one in this equation, which doesn't raise other eyebrows as much as it does our leading lady's, but he's not one to give up when his heart is fully engaged. Maggie is wary with good reason. She doesn't want to mess up her friendship with his sisters, nor does she want to get her heart in a tangled mess again after her marriage ended in a less than lovely manner...but the age gap is also giving her pause. Can she let go enough to listen to her heart instead of just her mind and enjoy the moments given? Now, if they can just get each other on the same page, they'll be two stepping in no time!

In the end, I'd give it a 9.5 out of 10! Very entertaining, heartfelt, and yet realistic. Age gap romances when flipped the other way aren't generally even blinked at but put the woman older than the man and all of a sudden you've made news! These two though...make serious sparks, both on and off the dance floor, and that chemistry, that ability to be in step with each other could just see them making a go of something they never saw coming. Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans to put a skip in your step and a flutter in your heart!



**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own show less

PERFECT way to while away a late summer afternoon! You’ve got good friends, a great venue, a fabulous book club not afraid to read what they want, a great leading lady, and a hunky yet bookish leading man! There are smiles to be shared, awkwardness to get around, feelings that need revealing, and enough excuses thrown up as road blocks that a state trooper would have a hard time getting around them, but in the end, these folks are there for each other through think and thin. Once you’re show more a member of the Beach Reads Book Club, you’re a friend for life!

Lottie was a doll! She was fiercely independent, stubborn, vivacious, and business smart. She led with her heart instead of her pocketbook and while it might not have netted her millions, everyone thinks a million of her. She can make a friend out of a stranger in no time flat...something experienced with a certain bookshop owners curmudgeonly father and samesaid owner’s sister. She can prize a smile out of the most unlikely candidates, yet has the backbone to demand to stand on her own two feet. Her heart takes the hit sometimes when it’s put out there first, but if she didn’t live that way, she wouldn’t be her and the world would be sadder for it. Matt was awkward, but sweet; hard to figure out yet trying so hard for everyone involved. He picked himself up after heartbreak hit home, and strove to make good on their family promise to his mother. It wasn’t easy, and there were more than a few bumps along the way, but he was determined to make it work and with a wing, a prayer, and Lottie’s help, he just might have a chance. Seeing these two come together, slowly but surely, was smile inducing, and the time it took might be frustrating to some, but I found it sweet and realistic. True, at one point I wanted to smack them both upside the head and be like will you please get it together, but things had to brew in their own time, making the final outcome that much sweeter.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own show less