Not Like the Movies

Score: 4/5 Bookmarks

Steam Rating: 🍆/5

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for gifting me a review copy of Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey. This is the second in the Waiting for Tom Hanks series, and while I haven’t read the first book yet I thought this one worked really well as a stand-alone novel.

Our leading lady, Chloe, doesn’t have time for herself, let alone romance. She’s too busy doing everything for everyone else, along with being the sole caregiver for her father who has early onset Alzheimer’s.

Her best friend is a screenwriter and turns Chloe’s life into a rom-com, shipping her and her surly, bearded boss Nick, who owns the cafe where she works. As the movie buzz increases, both online and off Chloe’s life starts to get more and more complicated. But is Chloe being affected by all the articles about #relationshipgoals or has she always had feelings for Nick?

I loved all the characters in this book and their banter, along with the funny quips and one-liners. Chloe felt real and relatable, and Nick was such a teddybear—being gruff on the outside but loyal and there when you need him. I happily got lost in their little world and it was the perfect distracting read for me right now. I would love to see this made into a movie series!

Definitely grab yourself a copy of this one, and keep your fingers crossed with me for a third book in the series!

Synopsis:

What happens when your life is a rom-com...but you don't even believe in true love?

Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer's, she's pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that's about to premiere in theaters across America...and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe's cute but no-nonsense boss.

As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can't see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who's Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn't so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After.