This sweet yet sexy rom com put me in such a nostalgic mood. It’s got so many great references to the rom com movies of years past, and I liked the easygoing, laidback vibe. It’s perhaps a little too long and a little TOO laidback, but I enjoyed the story as a whole. This one will work best for those who love romance that’s got humor, heart, and just a touch of heat.
The story follows Julia, a journalist whose career is in jeopardy. She’s been tasked with reviewing a destination, and it can’t be anywhere too expensive. So when Julia discovers that there’s a real life romance retreat opening up not too far from her home, it sounds like the perfect option. Her friends join her on a vacation that promises to make them feel like they’re in a movie come to life, and that’s definitely what happens. Julia has her own imperfectly perfect meet cute with an adorkable guy, and their romance seems almost too good to be true. And you know what? Maybe that’s because it is. Julia and Luke are both keeping secrets that threaten to hit their fairytale romance with a heavy dose of reality.
I will say that I found this to be slow-moving and frustratingly charming at times, but I still liked the vast majority of it. Readers who love a low angst, laidback romance will likely fall for the story though – it’s classic with a twist, and the premise is pretty unique. I liked that the characters are flawed and have insecurities, which added some authenticity to the stylized rom com vibe. Luke is a great guy, a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows he’s not the typical romance hero. And Julia’s group of friends make this a well-rounded read that hints towards future books. It may have been a little slow (this sits between 3 and 4 stars for me), but there’s something to be said about a story that is just so charming. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this rom com.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jSZBQy
Blurb:
In her trade paperback debut, Melonie Johnson brings her signature humor, sexy romance, and strong female friendships in this hilarious romantic comedy about finding perfectly imperfect love, Too Good to Be Real.
She plans to prove there’s a dozen reasons why life isn’t like a romantic comedy, only to discover the one reason it is…
While her friends wish for meet cutes worthy of their favorite rom-coms, Julia is ready to give up on love. Swiping right has replaced getting swept off your feet and good old-fashioned romance has become, well, old-fashioned.
A writer for a popular website, love becomes the last thing on her mind when impending layoffs threaten her job. As Julia searches for the ultimate pitch to impress her boss, she stumbles upon a resort offering guests a chance to live out their romantic comedy dreams. Real life dating is so bleak, who wouldn’t want to spend a week in a fantasy rom-com world with your best friends?
At the resort, Julia literally falls into a not-quite-meet-cute involving an aggressive seagull and an adorably awkward guy named Luke who is also participating in the rom-com experience. Julia hides the fact she is there to do a story, but Luke harbors a few secrets of his own. Among further encounters with thieving seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and even a karaoke serenade, their feelings deepen quickly. But could their love be real when they haven’t been honest about their true identities? Once the fantasy is over, can they have a relationship in the real world?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jSZBQy
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Melonie Johnson―aka #thewritinglush―enjoys sipping cocktails that start with the letter m. Declared a “writer to watch” by Kirkus and a “fizzy, engrossing new voice” by Entertainment Weekly, her smart funny contemporary romances include Too Good to Be Real and her award-winning Sometimes in Love debut series: Getting Hot with the Scot, Smitten by the Brit, and Once Upon a Bad Boy. A former high school English and Theatre teacher, she spends her days in her Star Wars office, dreaming up meet cutes. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, their two redhead daughters, and one very large dog.
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