Waiting for Tom Hanks

So despite my dislike for actual rom-com movies I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and cute and sucked me in from the start. I know a book as grabbed me when I feel like shaking the book around hoping it will somehow kick sense into a character.

Winfrey did a great job at making the characters relatable and while I do have to admit it is not the most original concept, who doesn’t think about meeting their very own Tom Hanks. It has a pretty predicable ending with some predicable twists and turns. But that doesn’t mean I still didn’t enjoy it. It was a nice escape into a life that wasn’t my own and kept me happy for the 24 hours it took me to read it (My housemate once called me a “chronic speed reader” and he might not be show more wrong). Anyway I really enjoyed the fun cast of characters and makes you wish that life was as fun or simple. I can really relate to the main character Annie in many ways, despite our different opinions on rom-coms. She spends her days writing click bait-ish pieces in a coffee shop while wishing to be working on more significant things, for her it is a screen play, for me I want to stop writing pieces for a travel magazines blog and write about actual news. Although I do enjoy my local Starbucks I wish it was more like her place, Nick’s. Can I also say I really enjoyed Gary, he did nothing for the plot or have any significance to the story but he made me laugh. show less

*** Note: I received e-copy of this book as a winner of Goodreads group challenge. Many thanks to YA Buddy Readers’ Corner. ***

Waiting for Tom Hanks was lovely and entertaining romcom that revolved around Annie Cassidy’s search for her own Tom Hanks- her true love like romcom movies and Tom Hanks she adores. It was about being realistic with expectations, taking risk in life, having faith in real love, family, and friendship.

This had everything that cheesy romance novels have but what made it different and refreshing was lots of references of romcom movies and not just movies but of actors and actresses and situations in those movies and the ingenious way they were intertwined with Annie’s story.

There was presumptions, show more misunderstanding, mistakes, fight, break-up and make up everything you would love in romcom. What more interesting was there wasn’t just Annie and Drew’s chemistry in book but we also see Nick and Chloe’s banter filled chemistry through Annie’s eyes as well.

Overall, Waiting for Tom Hanks was adorable, refreshing, sweet, and entertaining romcom with hate-to-love arc. I highly recommend this book to fan of this genre. show less

To put it simply, Waiting for Tom Hanks is adorable! It was like reading one of my favorite romantic-comedies; it was full of romance and fun, quirky characters with their own problematic pasts that they work through. The book is full of references to old movies and TV shows that had me feeling nostalgic the entire time, but I loved every second of it.

Annie was a very relatable character in different ways, especially her introverted nature and having that perfect image of what a romance should be in her mind. Her love of film and wanting to be a screenwriter hit close to me as well, as I have had an interest in working behind-the-scenes in film before and, well, I’m also a writer (though unpublished). Really, all of the characters show more were relatable on some level and I could see myself interacting with any of them in real life.

While the story had me laughing out loud at times – especially with Annie’s best friend Chloe – there was also some sadness in Annie’s life whenever she remembered her mother, who passed away while Annie was in high school. The romance between Annie and Drew had a nice build-up and I loved how they immediately got off on the wrong foot so they spent quite some time arguing – I loved their banter! Then of course we had Nick and Chloe on the side and they were fun to read as well, so I cannot wait for the next book to read Chloe’s story.

Again, the book was full of great characters, banter, and romance that just oozed sweetness! Waiting for Tom Hanks is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! show less

So I didn't love (or really even like) either of the main characters, but I looooooooooooooove reading about my city. So many books default to setting in a generic NYC, LA, or London, and I really enjoy getting to visit other settings through fiction. The bits about how gross and slush the roads get in January really hit home. And why don't I have a rich uncle who owns a house in German Village?

I'm glad to see this is part of a series and hope that we eventually get Gaffer Guy's story.

Annie loves '90s romantic comedies. With both of her parents gone, she cherishes the memories she has of watching rom-coms with her mother, and of hearing about their perfect romance. And, of course, she dreams of meeting her own romantic hero. She's pretty sure that hero is not Drew Danforth, the actor who is starring in a romantic comedy being filmed right in Annie's Columbus neighborhood. Annie thinks Drew is arrogant and isn't taking the film seriously. When she gets a job as a production assistant on the set, she starts to get to know him a little better -- but, just like in the best romantic comedies, the course of true love isn't about to run smoothly.

This is the second hate-to-love romance that I've read this month, and it needs show more to be the last one for a while, because I apparently have a low tolerance for that trope. I got really frustrated with Annie, who kept leaping to the worst possible conclusions about Drew, who was only ever nice to her. I'd recommend this to readers who love both rom-coms and characters who go from hate to love over the course of the story -- if either of those is not your jam, you can pass on this one. show less

re-read 7/26/21 Still at least a 4 star book for me it is so funny!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was so funny, I can’t believe it was so lowly rated on goodreads. While 3.5 isn’t terrible if you like rom-coms you really need to give this book a chance. I loved Annie, she was awkward and smart and occasionally a little bit so far into her head she misses what’s going on around her.

“Bonjour,” he says with a small smile, before taking a sip of coffee.
I narrow my eyes. “Bonjour,” I mutter back.
“Oh, do you speak French?” Tarah asks.
“N-no,” I stammer, stealing a glance at Drew. He tries to hide his smile behind his cup, but it reaches his eyes. “I mean, I took French in high school but I don’t remember anything. Ouvre la

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porte. Open the door. I remember that.”
I clamp my mouth shut to stop myself from rambling.

My favorite scene in the book happens in chapter seven, Annie’s date with Barry, it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. show less

This would have been a solid 3, but the end ruined it for me. It was just too farfetched and over the top. First of all, do people really take pictures of people they just had sex with and send to their friends? While said people are sleeping? Even without the mishap, that seems wrong. He seemed to get over that really fast, which I found weird. But the whole buying 4 plane tickets so one person could chase a guy was a bit much. Annie and her best friend at most would maybe have been believable.

I will read the next one because I enjoyed the writing style. I hope I don't regret it!