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Big Star, Small Town #1
Hooked On Hollywood
Olivia Bloom just won the jackpot: a dinner date with her former childhood crush and now Hollywood hunk Ryan Jones. The only problem? She hates him. And those handcuffs that were supposed to be “just for show” aren’t coming off.
After discovering her fiancé’s affair, Olivia retreats to her small hometown and swears off anything to do with love. Unfortunately, her well-meaning friends have just the plan to pull Olivia out of her funk – they’ll pool their money at a silent auction and win the big prize: a one-on-one date with Olivia’s celebrity crush, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Jones.
Charming leading man Ryan Jones credits his love of acting to his childhood community theater teacher. When he hears that the theater might close, he volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, where he’ll be handcuffed to the winner. The last person he expects to win the bid is the one girl he never forgot.
The date goes poorly – ever since a terrible video of Ryan went viral, Olivia can’t see him as anything other than an egotistical jerk.
Things go from bad to worse when they learn the key is missing – and they’ll be locked together for the next five days.
And worse than that – Olivia’s starting to catch feelings for the man she’s shackled to. Will being stuck together become the spark that reignites old feelings, or will it only drive them apart forever?
Hooked on Hollywood is a small town, closed door romcom featuring a celebrity crush, a fake relationship, and a delicious slow burn. You’ll get sizzling chemistry, lovable characters, but NO spice. Perfect for those who want a whole lot of sweet and less heat.
Tropes:
Hollywood Heartthrob
Forced Proximity
Fake Relationships
Closed door/kissing only
Small town
Slow Burn
Celebrity Crush
After discovering her fiancé’s affair, Olivia retreats to her small hometown and swears off anything to do with love. Unfortunately, her well-meaning friends have just the plan to pull Olivia out of her funk – they’ll pool their money at a silent auction and win the big prize: a one-on-one date with Olivia’s celebrity crush, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Jones.
Charming leading man Ryan Jones credits his love of acting to his childhood community theater teacher. When he hears that the theater might close, he volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, where he’ll be handcuffed to the winner. The last person he expects to win the bid is the one girl he never forgot.
The date goes poorly – ever since a terrible video of Ryan went viral, Olivia can’t see him as anything other than an egotistical jerk.
Things go from bad to worse when they learn the key is missing – and they’ll be locked together for the next five days.
And worse than that – Olivia’s starting to catch feelings for the man she’s shackled to. Will being stuck together become the spark that reignites old feelings, or will it only drive them apart forever?
Hooked on Hollywood is a small town, closed door romcom featuring a celebrity crush, a fake relationship, and a delicious slow burn. You’ll get sizzling chemistry, lovable characters, but NO spice. Perfect for those who want a whole lot of sweet and less heat.
Tropes:
Hollywood Heartthrob
Forced Proximity
Fake Relationships
Closed door/kissing only
Small town
Slow Burn
Celebrity Crush
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
104 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Mia Summers
4 books4 followersMia Summers is a sucker for love. There's nothing she likes better than snuggling up in a soft fleecy blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and an even sweeter romance to read the night away. Especially if she's reading about Hollywood heartthrobs or hunky hockey players. But after telling her best friend one too many times how she would have written the most recent novel, her friend blurted out, "Well then, why don't you write your own romance novels?" And that is exactly what Mia did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 29, 2024
3.5 STARS.
I wouldn't say this was terrible, but it definitely had more potential.
The insta-love was a bit too much and too fast in my opinion. Also, I just feel like the characters were my age but still acted like they were in high school and that's a big turn-off for me in books.
thank you netgalley and publisher for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wouldn't say this was terrible, but it definitely had more potential.
The insta-love was a bit too much and too fast in my opinion. Also, I just feel like the characters were my age but still acted like they were in high school and that's a big turn-off for me in books.
thank you netgalley and publisher for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2024
This was sweet and a little strange but I loved it, now that I'm doing Hallmark movie marathons this book fits like a glove. Olivia and Ryan get “trapped” on a date and handcuffed, yes, handcuffed with real handcuffs and chaos practically ensues.
Ryan is a famous actor who has a dubious reputation thanks to a viral video showing him on his bad side. Olivia is a small town girl who lives with her mother after a horrible breakup. The two met when they were little since our actor also lived in the town.
With the issue of handcuffs, they have to last five days, yes five days. But I had fun with that fact, the two of them fell in love little by little and I liked that. It was a story that is more than good to pass the time, if you like the small town trope this is undoubtedly a favorite.
📌I received a e-copy through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Esto fue dulce y un poco raro pero me encanto, ahorita que estoy haciendo maratones de películas de hallmark este libro queda como anillo al dedo. Olivia y Ryan quedan “atrapados” en una cita y esposados, si, esposados con esposas reales y un caos prácticamente pasa.
Ryan es un famoso actor que tiene una reputación dudosa gracias a un video viral donde lo muestran en su lado malo. Olivia es una chica de pueblo pequeño que vive con su mamá luego de una horrible ruptura amorosa, los dos se conocieron cuando eran pequeños ya que nuestro actor también vivió en el pueblo.
Con el tema de las esposas, ellos tienen que durar así cinco días, si cinco días. Pero vamos que me divertí con ese dato, los dos fueron enamorándose poco a poco y eso me gusto. Fue una historia que para pasar el rato está más que bien, si te gusta el trope de pueblo pequeño este sin duda es un favorito.
Ryan is a famous actor who has a dubious reputation thanks to a viral video showing him on his bad side. Olivia is a small town girl who lives with her mother after a horrible breakup. The two met when they were little since our actor also lived in the town.
With the issue of handcuffs, they have to last five days, yes five days. But I had fun with that fact, the two of them fell in love little by little and I liked that. It was a story that is more than good to pass the time, if you like the small town trope this is undoubtedly a favorite.
📌I received a e-copy through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Esto fue dulce y un poco raro pero me encanto, ahorita que estoy haciendo maratones de películas de hallmark este libro queda como anillo al dedo. Olivia y Ryan quedan “atrapados” en una cita y esposados, si, esposados con esposas reales y un caos prácticamente pasa.
Ryan es un famoso actor que tiene una reputación dudosa gracias a un video viral donde lo muestran en su lado malo. Olivia es una chica de pueblo pequeño que vive con su mamá luego de una horrible ruptura amorosa, los dos se conocieron cuando eran pequeños ya que nuestro actor también vivió en el pueblo.
Con el tema de las esposas, ellos tienen que durar así cinco días, si cinco días. Pero vamos que me divertí con ese dato, los dos fueron enamorándose poco a poco y eso me gusto. Fue una historia que para pasar el rato está más que bien, si te gusta el trope de pueblo pequeño este sin duda es un favorito.
July 17, 2024
I accidentally rated this one star, I must've hit the button on my Kindle app without realising it, so now I feel obliged to correct that for any of my friends who saw that rating! This book was delightful and I really enjoyed it, including snorting several times at the poker-faced sarcastic narration. I plan to read more of the series!
December 15, 2023
Fans of Hallmark movies will probably like this book.
It has all the makings of a Hallmark movie (minus the holiday setting) - a cozy PG-rated romance set in a small town, cheesy and predictable plot, cartoonish characters with stereotypical personalities who spout unrealistic dialogue, and forced chemistry.
Overall, it was a really easy, quick, and unmemorable read as the story was quite formulaic and the characters lacked depth and development.
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #11 of my 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book about or set in Hollywood ***
It has all the makings of a Hallmark movie (minus the holiday setting) - a cozy PG-rated romance set in a small town, cheesy and predictable plot, cartoonish characters with stereotypical personalities who spout unrealistic dialogue, and forced chemistry.
Overall, it was a really easy, quick, and unmemorable read as the story was quite formulaic and the characters lacked depth and development.
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #11 of my 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book about or set in Hollywood ***
October 21, 2023
4.25 stars
Delightful, if a tad predictable, story. Heartbroken, Olivia returned to her hometown, Ocean Springs, after her would-be groom and maid of honor hooked up and then stole her business. Meanwhile, Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Jones, returns there also to do some much needed reputation rehab which involved a celebrity auction. When her besties pool their funds to win her the dinner date with Ryan, the dinner date comes with an unexpected accessory accenting the event's theme of Cops & Robbers. A pair of handcuffs.
Told in alternating POV, I quickly became enamored and invested this story and it's characters. Engaging with charming banter.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Delightful, if a tad predictable, story. Heartbroken, Olivia returned to her hometown, Ocean Springs, after her would-be groom and maid of honor hooked up and then stole her business. Meanwhile, Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Jones, returns there also to do some much needed reputation rehab which involved a celebrity auction. When her besties pool their funds to win her the dinner date with Ryan, the dinner date comes with an unexpected accessory accenting the event's theme of Cops & Robbers. A pair of handcuffs.
Told in alternating POV, I quickly became enamored and invested this story and it's characters. Engaging with charming banter.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2023
This book was surprising good! I think the trope is something that is expected and often predictable, but I loved the banter between the two main characters. I often giggled and laughed at the dialogue and premise, so that is a major plus for me.
I think more background on the characters and a smoother timeline would have solidified this book more for me. There are also side storylines that I am assuming lead up to the next novel in the series. That being said, if you read this book, Lucas’ character has a set fixation that again probably is explained in the next novel, but it adds nothing to this storyline. This isn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but overall it’s something I would recommend to any romance reader!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this book!
I think more background on the characters and a smoother timeline would have solidified this book more for me. There are also side storylines that I am assuming lead up to the next novel in the series. That being said, if you read this book, Lucas’ character has a set fixation that again probably is explained in the next novel, but it adds nothing to this storyline. This isn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but overall it’s something I would recommend to any romance reader!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this book!
October 10, 2023
This is a sweet, albeit predictable, love story between Olivia and Ryan - two people who met in their hometown of Ocean Springs in 4th grade at a sock hop. Ryan is now a famous movie star in Los Angeles, while Olivia just moved back home to Ocean Springs after a rough breakup.
When Ryan comes to town for a charity auction, Olivia's friends go behind her back and place a high bid for Olivia to win a private dinner with Ryan - and there's a catch. The two have to be handcuffed to each other. The situation becomes a bit of a disaster when the key is lost, and they face the thought of being cuffed together for five days. Can the forced proximity bring these two former crushes together despite the vastly different lives they lead?
As I said, this is a predictable read, and nothing about this story was vastly different from any other sweet romance novel. I typically like to read books that just make sense, and a few things either didn't make sense or just nagged at me. (1) It's just implausible that a famous Hollywood guy would continue mentioning this girl he danced with in FOURTH GRADE for years afterward - and heck, I didn't have any dances in fourth grade. (2) The way Olivia continually brought up how "rich" Ryan was - I am shocked he didn't lose his mind over that. (3) I just didn't feel the chemistry between these two at all. They seemed so awkward with one another, and even by the end, I wasn't really buying it.
Despite that, this was an easy, heartwarming romance. I wouldn't put it on my list of top romance novels, as I prefer those with a bit of "steam" in their scenes, a bit more realism. But this is a good pick if you're looking for something sweet to finish in two days!
Thank you, NetGalley, Mia Summers, and Sterling & Stone, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Ryan comes to town for a charity auction, Olivia's friends go behind her back and place a high bid for Olivia to win a private dinner with Ryan - and there's a catch. The two have to be handcuffed to each other. The situation becomes a bit of a disaster when the key is lost, and they face the thought of being cuffed together for five days. Can the forced proximity bring these two former crushes together despite the vastly different lives they lead?
As I said, this is a predictable read, and nothing about this story was vastly different from any other sweet romance novel. I typically like to read books that just make sense, and a few things either didn't make sense or just nagged at me. (1) It's just implausible that a famous Hollywood guy would continue mentioning this girl he danced with in FOURTH GRADE for years afterward - and heck, I didn't have any dances in fourth grade. (2) The way Olivia continually brought up how "rich" Ryan was - I am shocked he didn't lose his mind over that. (3) I just didn't feel the chemistry between these two at all. They seemed so awkward with one another, and even by the end, I wasn't really buying it.
Despite that, this was an easy, heartwarming romance. I wouldn't put it on my list of top romance novels, as I prefer those with a bit of "steam" in their scenes, a bit more realism. But this is a good pick if you're looking for something sweet to finish in two days!
Thank you, NetGalley, Mia Summers, and Sterling & Stone, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
3.5 stars
ARC review from NetGalley
It was good and sweet and I had a great time reading it but it just felt like it was still lacking a little more. It seems Summers ends her stories at the happy ever after and you don’t really get to see more beyond that. It makes sense, I just keep leaving wanting more. This book was cute and I liked the characters, but I do not feel like the exploration of their characters went that deep and there were some things that feel like they should have been expanded upon more.
ARC review from NetGalley
It was good and sweet and I had a great time reading it but it just felt like it was still lacking a little more. It seems Summers ends her stories at the happy ever after and you don’t really get to see more beyond that. It makes sense, I just keep leaving wanting more. This book was cute and I liked the characters, but I do not feel like the exploration of their characters went that deep and there were some things that feel like they should have been expanded upon more.
February 2, 2024
Hooked on Hollywood is such a cute , closed-door rom-com! I"ll admit, I loved Ryan and Olivia's chemistry, and would have loved to have a bit of spice-my only complaint! This book is fake relationship/celebrity crush/forced proximity trope with a great slow burn that will keep you reading to see if they get their HEA! Thank you NetGalley, MIa Summers, and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
May 17, 2024
✨ 2.0 stars!
Hooked on Hollywood is a light-hearted romance read that follows Olivia Bloom and Hollywood actor Ryan Jones, both back in their hometown—Olivia after a bad breakup and Ryan to recover his public image—and get handcuffed to each other for days after an auction dinner date for the community theater.
While an easy read, this book felt flat. It needed more depth with its characters and storytelling. Everything was too convenient or instant with adult characters being too juvenile. I wanted more tension and exploration, an unpredictable plot, and chemistry.
Although, I see the potential for the story or that this would be enjoyable for someone looking for a quick and cute read but overall, I found this very lackluster.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for providing a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Hooked on Hollywood is a light-hearted romance read that follows Olivia Bloom and Hollywood actor Ryan Jones, both back in their hometown—Olivia after a bad breakup and Ryan to recover his public image—and get handcuffed to each other for days after an auction dinner date for the community theater.
While an easy read, this book felt flat. It needed more depth with its characters and storytelling. Everything was too convenient or instant with adult characters being too juvenile. I wanted more tension and exploration, an unpredictable plot, and chemistry.
Although, I see the potential for the story or that this would be enjoyable for someone looking for a quick and cute read but overall, I found this very lackluster.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for providing a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2024
Great cozy romance book.
The characters were great.
I like the subtle ways Ryan gave back, not the over dramatic self indulgent acts of ‘giving back’
The characters were great.
I like the subtle ways Ryan gave back, not the over dramatic self indulgent acts of ‘giving back’
October 3, 2023
“Hooked on Hollywood” is cute romantic story set in a small town. Ryan is a Hollywood star who comes back to his home town to help gather money for the local theatre. Olivia, after being set up by her friends, wins the event’s big prize, which is an exclusive dinner with Ryan. Handcuffed. The problems start when the key is lost and it seems that they will be stuck to each other for a little while.
The book is written in dual POV, 1st person and is not spicy at all.
I found this book easy to read and rather entertaining, I laughed at various points, especially with Olivia’s mom. The characters are likable but I would have liked to learn some more things about their past, eg Ryan’s relationship with Lydia. And maybe a more intense climax at the end.
For me, it’s a solid 3,5/5 🌟 and I will be looking forward to reading more of the author’s future works. I’d give 4 but the version I read had a few imperfections.
Thank you Mia Summers and Sterling & Stone for providing this book for review via NetGalley.
The book is written in dual POV, 1st person and is not spicy at all.
I found this book easy to read and rather entertaining, I laughed at various points, especially with Olivia’s mom. The characters are likable but I would have liked to learn some more things about their past, eg Ryan’s relationship with Lydia. And maybe a more intense climax at the end.
For me, it’s a solid 3,5/5 🌟 and I will be looking forward to reading more of the author’s future works. I’d give 4 but the version I read had a few imperfections.
Thank you Mia Summers and Sterling & Stone for providing this book for review via NetGalley.
October 30, 2023
2/5 ⭐
This book is a pretty easy read, the romance is sweet but a tad predictable. It has a dual POV and sometimes the story didn't make much sense but still was a good read.
Perfect for the readers that only want to snuggle on the couch with a easy and cute romance book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in the exchange of an honest review.
This book is a pretty easy read, the romance is sweet but a tad predictable. It has a dual POV and sometimes the story didn't make much sense but still was a good read.
Perfect for the readers that only want to snuggle on the couch with a easy and cute romance book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in the exchange of an honest review.
September 1, 2024
This is my first Mia Summers book, I received it through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. In this closed door, forced proximity romance, we find our MC Olivia back in her small hometown after catching her fiance cheating with her maid of honor in LA. She's trying to figure out where to go next with her life while her friends are plotting to cheer her up. She ends up on a date with her celebrity crush in handcuffs that they can't seem to get out of. For the next five days, Olivia and Ryan are handcuffed together and things get pretty interesting!
The spice level of this book is on par with a Hallmark channel production but equally as sweet. The story is well written and my favorite part of the book was the author describing flavors. It's giving "foodie". The small town girl meets rich Hollywood movie star is always a cute trope but I appreciate the picture the author paints of the small seaside town and the depth of the characters in the story.
This is a great, sweet romance and I will definitely read the other books in this series.
Read along on my blog!
www.introvertsbookclub.com/
The spice level of this book is on par with a Hallmark channel production but equally as sweet. The story is well written and my favorite part of the book was the author describing flavors. It's giving "foodie". The small town girl meets rich Hollywood movie star is always a cute trope but I appreciate the picture the author paints of the small seaside town and the depth of the characters in the story.
This is a great, sweet romance and I will definitely read the other books in this series.
Read along on my blog!
www.introvertsbookclub.com/
November 13, 2023
I loved "Hooked on Hollywood"! Small Town and Forced Proximity have been two of my favorite tropes at the moment and to have them in one book is just awesome.
Ryan being a Hollywood actor and Olivia a complete "stranger" to that industry makes it so cliché but them actually knowing each other from school, is just amazing! I loved their dynamic and the way they kinda love/hate each other. I guess I was just confused about the handcuff thing at first but then it made sense on the way the story unfolds. I loved that the story could not go on without the side characters. Olivia's mom is just effortlessly funny.
I could see a lot of my childhood fantasies in this book and in general, I loved it and wanna see more from the author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Mia Sommers for letting me read this book.
Ryan being a Hollywood actor and Olivia a complete "stranger" to that industry makes it so cliché but them actually knowing each other from school, is just amazing! I loved their dynamic and the way they kinda love/hate each other. I guess I was just confused about the handcuff thing at first but then it made sense on the way the story unfolds. I loved that the story could not go on without the side characters. Olivia's mom is just effortlessly funny.
I could see a lot of my childhood fantasies in this book and in general, I loved it and wanna see more from the author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Mia Sommers for letting me read this book.
November 10, 2023
I don’t think I’ve read something like this before so it felt kinda refreshing with something new. It was super cute and so much fun with all the banter. It is a shorter romance so it’s a quick read, besides that it’s such an easy story to follow. It does have dual pov which I loove; but might not be for everyone. There was a plot twist that I didn’t actually see coming but all in all it had a satisfying story all the way through to the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
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September 26, 2023When Anger Fades to Something Else . . .
I was chuckling all through the first few pages and knew I had found the right book to read! Olivia Bloom had come home from LA when her fiancé cheated on her. She wants nothing more to do with love. Her friends commiserate and come up with a plan to get her over her misery. They collectively bid on a silent auction to win her something very special – her former childhood crush, Hollywood actor Ryan Jones. Ryan had fond memories of the theater in his hometown that gave him training he needed to become a star. So the fund-raiser would help the theater keep going, and he was willing to be one of the prizes. Olivia’s best friends Madison, Brooklyn, and Ashleigh came over to her mom’s house and they all put on their cops and robbers costumes to celebrate Ryan’s latest movie. Olivia didn’t want to go, but the laughter and friendships changed her mood. The enormous flock of paparazzi made her once more regret attending this.
Olivia was still angry at Ryan. Someone had released a video of him shouting at his director and cursing at him. She felt so disgusted at his behavior, as did many who saw the video. He was a talented actor, but that behavior was unacceptable to her. A short play was put on to entertain everyone. Lucas Stone played the cop and Ryan played the robber in this one and both were excellent. But she thought again of Ryan’s arrogant behavior and missed the last half of the play! Everyone went for drinks and snacks, then returned for the auction. Lucas was perfect acting as the auctioneer and it sounded like he was born to the job. Or was this so easy for actors? Then Ryan was brought on stage and the bidding started, ending when Madison raised her bid to $1,000. Olivia was surprised the bid wasn’t ten times that amount, until Madison laughed and said she promised everyone free parking for a month downtown if they let her win. She handed the paddle to Olivia to go get her prize!
In honor of the cops and robbers theme, Ryan and Olivia are to be handcuffed for the duration of their dinner. The cuffs are just for show, of course. But things go from bad to worse when they find out the cuffs are real and, if figuring out how to sit at the table in cuffs was difficult, eating an extra 10 pounds of crab would be a nightmare trying to coordinate with each other. But remembering the cop costume had a key, they decided to unlock the cuffs then reattach afterward. It would also help the issue of his having to go to the men’s room. The key, of course, did not work on the “real” cuffs. So she sang a song while he took care of business and they returned to 10 pounds of crab needing both hands to eat it until they learned to work on it as a team. They finally made it through dinner when Lydia called to apologize that she has lost the key to the handcuffs. How long would it take for them to begin to realize how they felt about each other? There will be so many more issues until they get free of the cuffs. But they were each seeing the real person in each other and everyone else could see what they still hadn’t acknowledged. Will they figure it out? Or would they walk away from each other broken-hearted and not know what they left behind?
I was chuckling all through the first few pages and knew I had found the right book to read! Olivia Bloom had come home from LA when her fiancé cheated on her. She wants nothing more to do with love. Her friends commiserate and come up with a plan to get her over her misery. They collectively bid on a silent auction to win her something very special – her former childhood crush, Hollywood actor Ryan Jones. Ryan had fond memories of the theater in his hometown that gave him training he needed to become a star. So the fund-raiser would help the theater keep going, and he was willing to be one of the prizes. Olivia’s best friends Madison, Brooklyn, and Ashleigh came over to her mom’s house and they all put on their cops and robbers costumes to celebrate Ryan’s latest movie. Olivia didn’t want to go, but the laughter and friendships changed her mood. The enormous flock of paparazzi made her once more regret attending this.
Olivia was still angry at Ryan. Someone had released a video of him shouting at his director and cursing at him. She felt so disgusted at his behavior, as did many who saw the video. He was a talented actor, but that behavior was unacceptable to her. A short play was put on to entertain everyone. Lucas Stone played the cop and Ryan played the robber in this one and both were excellent. But she thought again of Ryan’s arrogant behavior and missed the last half of the play! Everyone went for drinks and snacks, then returned for the auction. Lucas was perfect acting as the auctioneer and it sounded like he was born to the job. Or was this so easy for actors? Then Ryan was brought on stage and the bidding started, ending when Madison raised her bid to $1,000. Olivia was surprised the bid wasn’t ten times that amount, until Madison laughed and said she promised everyone free parking for a month downtown if they let her win. She handed the paddle to Olivia to go get her prize!
In honor of the cops and robbers theme, Ryan and Olivia are to be handcuffed for the duration of their dinner. The cuffs are just for show, of course. But things go from bad to worse when they find out the cuffs are real and, if figuring out how to sit at the table in cuffs was difficult, eating an extra 10 pounds of crab would be a nightmare trying to coordinate with each other. But remembering the cop costume had a key, they decided to unlock the cuffs then reattach afterward. It would also help the issue of his having to go to the men’s room. The key, of course, did not work on the “real” cuffs. So she sang a song while he took care of business and they returned to 10 pounds of crab needing both hands to eat it until they learned to work on it as a team. They finally made it through dinner when Lydia called to apologize that she has lost the key to the handcuffs. How long would it take for them to begin to realize how they felt about each other? There will be so many more issues until they get free of the cuffs. But they were each seeing the real person in each other and everyone else could see what they still hadn’t acknowledged. Will they figure it out? Or would they walk away from each other broken-hearted and not know what they left behind?
February 5, 2024
Olivia Bloom finds herself thrust into a surreal situation when she wins a dinner date with her childhood crush and Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Jones. However, there's a catch – they're handcuffed together, and the supposed "just for show" cuffs are not coming off. After a painful discovery of her fiancé's affair, Olivia, disillusioned with love, retreats to her small hometown. In an attempt to lift her spirits, her well-meaning friends concoct a plan to win a silent auction prize: a one-on-one date with Ryan Jones. Little do they know that this seemingly harmless plan will set off a series of events that will either reignite old feelings or drive Olivia and Ryan apart forever.
Ryan, a charming leading man, volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, complete with handcuffs, to save his childhood community theatre from closure. The unexpected twist occurs when Olivia, the girl he never forgot, wins the bid. The date starts on a sour note due to a viral video tarnishing Ryan's image, leaving Olivia with a skewed perspective of him as an egotistical jerk.
As if things couldn't get more complicated, the duo discovers that the key to unlock the cuffs is missing, ensuring they are stuck together for the next five days. Amid the challenges and awkwardness, Olivia begins to develop unexpected feelings for Ryan. The question arises – will their forced togetherness be the catalyst for rekindling old emotions, or will it only deepen the divide between them?
It is a charming small-town romcom featuring a celebrity crush, a fake relationship, and a delectable slow burn. Mia Summers delivers sizzling chemistry, lovable characters, and a heartwarming story perfect for those who prefer a sweet romance with less heat. It is a delightful rom-com that delivers on its promise of a sweet and heartwarming story. The premise of being handcuffed to a childhood crush adds a unique and entertaining twist to the traditional romcom formula.
The author skillfully weaves together humour, charm, and a delicious slow burn, creating a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Olivia and Ryan's dynamic is endearing, and their challenges while shackled together provide ample opportunities for laughter and heartfelt moments.
The small-town setting adds a cosy backdrop to the unfolding romance, and the closed-door aspect ensures that the focus remains on the emotional connection between the characters. Mia Summers successfully navigates the complexities of fake relationships and unexpected feelings, delivering a satisfying and heartwarming read.
"Hooked On Hollywood" is a delightful escape for readers who enjoy romcoms with lovable characters, witty banter, and a healthy dose of sweet romance.
Ryan, a charming leading man, volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, complete with handcuffs, to save his childhood community theatre from closure. The unexpected twist occurs when Olivia, the girl he never forgot, wins the bid. The date starts on a sour note due to a viral video tarnishing Ryan's image, leaving Olivia with a skewed perspective of him as an egotistical jerk.
As if things couldn't get more complicated, the duo discovers that the key to unlock the cuffs is missing, ensuring they are stuck together for the next five days. Amid the challenges and awkwardness, Olivia begins to develop unexpected feelings for Ryan. The question arises – will their forced togetherness be the catalyst for rekindling old emotions, or will it only deepen the divide between them?
It is a charming small-town romcom featuring a celebrity crush, a fake relationship, and a delectable slow burn. Mia Summers delivers sizzling chemistry, lovable characters, and a heartwarming story perfect for those who prefer a sweet romance with less heat. It is a delightful rom-com that delivers on its promise of a sweet and heartwarming story. The premise of being handcuffed to a childhood crush adds a unique and entertaining twist to the traditional romcom formula.
The author skillfully weaves together humour, charm, and a delicious slow burn, creating a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Olivia and Ryan's dynamic is endearing, and their challenges while shackled together provide ample opportunities for laughter and heartfelt moments.
The small-town setting adds a cosy backdrop to the unfolding romance, and the closed-door aspect ensures that the focus remains on the emotional connection between the characters. Mia Summers successfully navigates the complexities of fake relationships and unexpected feelings, delivering a satisfying and heartwarming read.
"Hooked On Hollywood" is a delightful escape for readers who enjoy romcoms with lovable characters, witty banter, and a healthy dose of sweet romance.
December 12, 2023
They say never meet your idol. But never don’t get handcuffed to your childhood crush - who happens to be a Hollywood heartthrob - and lose the key.
If this book was made into a movie in the early 2000s, I would have been all over it.
YA
Dual POV
Childhood crush
He fell first
Forced proximity
FMC Olivia moved to LA with her then boyfriend who declared he was settling by being with her, cheated on her, and then stole her business idea. She moves back home, and is working towards a fresh start. Her best friend conspire in her favor to reconnect her with a former elementary classmate/Hollywood crush…
MMC Ryan is a movie star finding himself in the tabloids and wanting a break from Hollywood. He quietly sneaks back to his hometown despite it being filled with unkind memories of his childhood, with the exception of his 4th grade teacher and a dance he attended in 4th grade.
Olivia and Ryan find themselves in their hometown of Ocean Springs, handcuffed together, and navigating the small town life while dodging paparazzi.
Ryan may be a leading man in Hollywood, but Olivia was never one to be center stage. Gaslit by her ex, he found her passion and creativity to be an annoying trait of hers. She steps up to the plate and pitches ideas to Ryan and his manager to make the best of being handcuffed, while Ryan scrambles to save his career and brings his new movie premiere to Ocean Springs.
The sock hop calling on Back to the Future with Earth Angel… kicking and screaming!!
The themed appetizers and cocktails post Cops and Robbers themed performance were creative. It made me want to plan a themed party… actually the theme of food throughout had my mouth watering. Was the author a food critic or a CIA trained chef?!
Overall, incredibly descriptive of all things food in this book. Wish the dialogue was a bit more connected.
Man, I am so glad that any handcuff mixer we did in college never involved actual handcuffs.
There are plenty of holes in this story: is Olivia a cop or a robber?, being so stubborn and unwilling to compromise, successfully hiding your handcuffed wrists from the entire town and paparazzi, leaving the hotel after the premiere empty handed - girl where are all your clothes/toiletries?, not knowing where your phone is, no closure around the resurgence of her ex boyfriend Taylor, but again, if this was a 2000s romcom, I would have been all over this because we know how unrealistic these movies were and we just didn’t care.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
If this book was made into a movie in the early 2000s, I would have been all over it.
YA
Dual POV
Childhood crush
He fell first
Forced proximity
FMC Olivia moved to LA with her then boyfriend who declared he was settling by being with her, cheated on her, and then stole her business idea. She moves back home, and is working towards a fresh start. Her best friend conspire in her favor to reconnect her with a former elementary classmate/Hollywood crush…
MMC Ryan is a movie star finding himself in the tabloids and wanting a break from Hollywood. He quietly sneaks back to his hometown despite it being filled with unkind memories of his childhood, with the exception of his 4th grade teacher and a dance he attended in 4th grade.
Olivia and Ryan find themselves in their hometown of Ocean Springs, handcuffed together, and navigating the small town life while dodging paparazzi.
Ryan may be a leading man in Hollywood, but Olivia was never one to be center stage. Gaslit by her ex, he found her passion and creativity to be an annoying trait of hers. She steps up to the plate and pitches ideas to Ryan and his manager to make the best of being handcuffed, while Ryan scrambles to save his career and brings his new movie premiere to Ocean Springs.
The sock hop calling on Back to the Future with Earth Angel… kicking and screaming!!
The themed appetizers and cocktails post Cops and Robbers themed performance were creative. It made me want to plan a themed party… actually the theme of food throughout had my mouth watering. Was the author a food critic or a CIA trained chef?!
Overall, incredibly descriptive of all things food in this book. Wish the dialogue was a bit more connected.
Man, I am so glad that any handcuff mixer we did in college never involved actual handcuffs.
There are plenty of holes in this story: is Olivia a cop or a robber?, being so stubborn and unwilling to compromise, successfully hiding your handcuffed wrists from the entire town and paparazzi, leaving the hotel after the premiere empty handed - girl where are all your clothes/toiletries?, not knowing where your phone is, no closure around the resurgence of her ex boyfriend Taylor, but again, if this was a 2000s romcom, I would have been all over this because we know how unrealistic these movies were and we just didn’t care.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 24, 2025
📸 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to return to your hometown and confront your past, old feelings, and someone you thought you’d forgotten? I just finished reading Hooked on Hollywood by Mia Summers, and I was completely captivated by how the author combines romance, comedy, and the “small town meets Hollywood” dynamic. Olivia Bloom is a strong protagonist who, after a painful betrayal, chooses to retreat, only to be brought back into proximity with her childhood crush, Ryan Jones — now a famous actor. The premise of Olivia being “hooked” to Ryan for a few days due to a comedic yet unexpected situation was both original and entertaining, setting the stage for a series of humorous and tense moments. 😏🎬💞
📸 What I loved most was the evolution of Olivia and Ryan’s relationship. At first, there’s tension and animosity, and the “enemies to lovers” and “grumpy/sunshine” dynamics are present in every interaction. Olivia isn’t just a delicate woman; she has a strong voice, courage, and a sense of humor that pushes Ryan out of his comfort zone. Ryan, on the other hand, is charming and mysterious, but also vulnerable when it comes to emotions he tries to hide under his celebrity persona. Their interactions are full of chemistry, and the witty banter and forced proximity moments make the reading experience both funny and captivating. 🔗🤣🌹
📸 The author perfectly captures the conflicting feelings that arise when someone you admired as a child becomes a complex, unexpected presence in your adult life. 💖🔥😉
📸 Hooked on Hollywood is a story about rediscovering yourself, learning to trust, and the magic of reconciling with your past in a fun and charming way. The charity dinner premise and the unusual situation of the two protagonists add originality and humor. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile, feel, and hope that every mistake or disappointment in life can be balanced by unexpected encounters and moments that change your perspective. 💖🔥😉
📸 Hooked on Hollywood is a sweet novel filled with chemistry, humor, and authentic romance, perfect for anyone who loves stories with small-town charm, clever banter, and “enemies to lovers” dynamics. I highly recommend it to all readers looking for a fun, relaxing, and heartwarming escape into the world of Hollywood seen through the eyes of a small town and memorable characters. 💞✨
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP96NhdjE...
📸 What I loved most was the evolution of Olivia and Ryan’s relationship. At first, there’s tension and animosity, and the “enemies to lovers” and “grumpy/sunshine” dynamics are present in every interaction. Olivia isn’t just a delicate woman; she has a strong voice, courage, and a sense of humor that pushes Ryan out of his comfort zone. Ryan, on the other hand, is charming and mysterious, but also vulnerable when it comes to emotions he tries to hide under his celebrity persona. Their interactions are full of chemistry, and the witty banter and forced proximity moments make the reading experience both funny and captivating. 🔗🤣🌹
📸 The author perfectly captures the conflicting feelings that arise when someone you admired as a child becomes a complex, unexpected presence in your adult life. 💖🔥😉
📸 Hooked on Hollywood is a story about rediscovering yourself, learning to trust, and the magic of reconciling with your past in a fun and charming way. The charity dinner premise and the unusual situation of the two protagonists add originality and humor. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile, feel, and hope that every mistake or disappointment in life can be balanced by unexpected encounters and moments that change your perspective. 💖🔥😉
📸 Hooked on Hollywood is a sweet novel filled with chemistry, humor, and authentic romance, perfect for anyone who loves stories with small-town charm, clever banter, and “enemies to lovers” dynamics. I highly recommend it to all readers looking for a fun, relaxing, and heartwarming escape into the world of Hollywood seen through the eyes of a small town and memorable characters. 💞✨
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP96NhdjE...
October 9, 2023
"Hooked on Hollywood" is a book that took me on an unexpected journey through the small town of romance and comedy. The story begins with an intriguing twist—an auction that lands Olivia in a hilarious situation where she finds herself handcuffed to none other than the Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Jones. The catch? They're stuck together with no key in sight, and Ryan's friend is conveniently out of the country for the next five days.
Narrated in a dual perspective with a first-person point of view, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the minds of Olivia and Ryan. It's important to note that this isn't your typical steamy romance; instead, it's a light-hearted and entertaining tale.
While I found the characters a bit lacking in depth and the emotional development of Olivia and Ryan's relationship somewhat wanting, there was still something undeniably enjoyable about the book. Olivia and Ryan, with their occasional childishness, managed to charm me, especially in the many scenes they shared. The story seemed to hit its stride around the halfway mark, drawing me in even more.
"Hooked on Hollywood" is the ideal choice for those seeking a quick and pleasurable read. It definitely delivers on its promise of being a light and fun romantic comedy. Olivia's relatable post-breakup antics and the unexpectedly complex character of Ryan added layers to the narrative. What stood out for me were the side characters; they played pivotal roles and breathed life into the story, which is quite a rare find. On a lighter note, there were moments when the accuracy of handcuff-related descriptions left me wondering if I'd missed something about how handcuffs work.
If you're in the mood for an entertaining rom-com with a fresh twist, "Hooked on Hollywood" should be on your reading list. Despite its minor imperfections, it offers an enjoyable reading experience that left me looking forward to more from this author. I'd personally rate it a solid 3.5/5 stars, with the potential to climb higher with a few tweaks
Narrated in a dual perspective with a first-person point of view, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the minds of Olivia and Ryan. It's important to note that this isn't your typical steamy romance; instead, it's a light-hearted and entertaining tale.
While I found the characters a bit lacking in depth and the emotional development of Olivia and Ryan's relationship somewhat wanting, there was still something undeniably enjoyable about the book. Olivia and Ryan, with their occasional childishness, managed to charm me, especially in the many scenes they shared. The story seemed to hit its stride around the halfway mark, drawing me in even more.
"Hooked on Hollywood" is the ideal choice for those seeking a quick and pleasurable read. It definitely delivers on its promise of being a light and fun romantic comedy. Olivia's relatable post-breakup antics and the unexpectedly complex character of Ryan added layers to the narrative. What stood out for me were the side characters; they played pivotal roles and breathed life into the story, which is quite a rare find. On a lighter note, there were moments when the accuracy of handcuff-related descriptions left me wondering if I'd missed something about how handcuffs work.
If you're in the mood for an entertaining rom-com with a fresh twist, "Hooked on Hollywood" should be on your reading list. Despite its minor imperfections, it offers an enjoyable reading experience that left me looking forward to more from this author. I'd personally rate it a solid 3.5/5 stars, with the potential to climb higher with a few tweaks
December 5, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed this book but didn’t feel anything special from it. It was really fast paced and a good book to read in between heavier and more difficult books seeing as it is pretty light and fluffy. It had some really good comedic parts and banter between Olivia and Ryan.
He is a Hollywood big time actor who recently got filmed in an altercation with a producer and is dealing with the aftermath. Olivia used to be the biggest fan of him but not so much given the recording. Also they happened to somewhat know each other as kids and went to a sock hop together. I think it was a cute idea to have the auction and be handcuffed together, but some of the execution was not great.
I feel like in the beginning there was a lot of telling and not showing, especially in the theatre/auction part. Even throughout the book we get a lot of paragraphs just describing stuff and no actual dialogue or anything about what’s actually said. And I understand at times doing this for the less important things but a lot of things were skimmed over that I felt could’ve helped me connect to the book and characters. There were also a couple times I forget they were even handcuffed together because they didn’t act like it in certain scenes or just due to how the scene was written I just forgot. The timeline of this book was pretty speedy given it basically all took place while they were handcuffed which was just for 5 ish days. This to me always makes a book hard to believe their feelings for each other are real.
I did enjoy the overall plot of the book and how they learned to get along given the predicament they were in. I liked the banter that we got between them. I liked Olivia and Ryan’s friends a lot and how we got to see parts of them. The twist at the end was predictable but I don’t think it was supposed to be a blindside. All in all, I did like reading this book and will probably read more from her.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley & the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mia Summers for this novel!
He is a Hollywood big time actor who recently got filmed in an altercation with a producer and is dealing with the aftermath. Olivia used to be the biggest fan of him but not so much given the recording. Also they happened to somewhat know each other as kids and went to a sock hop together. I think it was a cute idea to have the auction and be handcuffed together, but some of the execution was not great.
I feel like in the beginning there was a lot of telling and not showing, especially in the theatre/auction part. Even throughout the book we get a lot of paragraphs just describing stuff and no actual dialogue or anything about what’s actually said. And I understand at times doing this for the less important things but a lot of things were skimmed over that I felt could’ve helped me connect to the book and characters. There were also a couple times I forget they were even handcuffed together because they didn’t act like it in certain scenes or just due to how the scene was written I just forgot. The timeline of this book was pretty speedy given it basically all took place while they were handcuffed which was just for 5 ish days. This to me always makes a book hard to believe their feelings for each other are real.
I did enjoy the overall plot of the book and how they learned to get along given the predicament they were in. I liked the banter that we got between them. I liked Olivia and Ryan’s friends a lot and how we got to see parts of them. The twist at the end was predictable but I don’t think it was supposed to be a blindside. All in all, I did like reading this book and will probably read more from her.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley & the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mia Summers for this novel!
October 19, 2023
The plot of this book intrigued me and I was excited to dive right in and see how the author tackled it!
Olivia wins a dinner date with the guy she shared a dance with in 4th grade, and now mega movie star, Ryan. Sounds great, right? Nope. Ryan recently found himself in hot water with some bad press and Olivia thinks he is a typical Hollywood jerk because of it. After some unfortunate events, they find themselves handcuffed together for the next 5 days.
Let’s tackle the important questions first….well important if you think like me.
How will they use the bathroom?
How will they shower?
How will they get dressed?
How will they sleep?
Not to fear…all of these questions are answered and the author did a very good job on illustrating very plausible solutions to these problems.
Now that we have addressed that, let’s get to the romance.
I think this book had promise but it just didn’t quite get there for me. I did not feel the chemistry between the main characters. I would have loved to learn a little bit more about Ryan’s childhood and why he felt so alone and how Olivia’s dance with him truly impacted his life (enough to talk about it on a regular basis). It’s implied that the theatre director, Lydia, is a very important person to Ryan, but the book doesn’t give us much context on that either. I think understanding both Olivia and Ryan more as individuals would have given them more depth which would have assisted in setting up the love story.
There are a few subplots in the story that were all over the place. Specifically Olivia’s career path. She was very wishy washy.
This book just wasn’t for me, but if you are looking for a light and quick romcom, this could be for you!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book and the opportunity to provide my honest review.
Olivia wins a dinner date with the guy she shared a dance with in 4th grade, and now mega movie star, Ryan. Sounds great, right? Nope. Ryan recently found himself in hot water with some bad press and Olivia thinks he is a typical Hollywood jerk because of it. After some unfortunate events, they find themselves handcuffed together for the next 5 days.
Let’s tackle the important questions first….well important if you think like me.
How will they use the bathroom?
How will they shower?
How will they get dressed?
How will they sleep?
Not to fear…all of these questions are answered and the author did a very good job on illustrating very plausible solutions to these problems.
Now that we have addressed that, let’s get to the romance.
I think this book had promise but it just didn’t quite get there for me. I did not feel the chemistry between the main characters. I would have loved to learn a little bit more about Ryan’s childhood and why he felt so alone and how Olivia’s dance with him truly impacted his life (enough to talk about it on a regular basis). It’s implied that the theatre director, Lydia, is a very important person to Ryan, but the book doesn’t give us much context on that either. I think understanding both Olivia and Ryan more as individuals would have given them more depth which would have assisted in setting up the love story.
There are a few subplots in the story that were all over the place. Specifically Olivia’s career path. She was very wishy washy.
This book just wasn’t for me, but if you are looking for a light and quick romcom, this could be for you!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book and the opportunity to provide my honest review.
December 4, 2023
Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
I thought this book was cute, well-written, funny, and overall enjoyable to read. I liked that the pace was not slow, but was just right and with all the banter, I was eating up the words and wanting to know what happened next.
To have two different people come together after years apart and on top of that to have one of them that is a Hollywood hunk and the other that just had to move back to her hometown because of her no-good ex cheating. Finally get to have a chance at what might happen if they can put aside their hurt, uncomfortableness, their own issues and of course the what if’s; they just might have a chance at a great love.
I thought the author did a great job with the characters. She made them likable and relatable. I know that I found myself thinking the same things that Olivia did about a hotshot movie star, even if he was one that was from her hometown as well. Then not only to make it a dinner date with her childhood crush but to have them handcuffed for the dinner and then to lose the keys. I was dying of laughter and dying to know how they would handle certain situations, and to my surprise I loved how those moments went down, it made the characters more real for me. I did find myself getting a little angry with Olivia and Ryan because man their miscommunication was the worst and I wanted to shake the heck out of both of them, but to finally watch the “Oh moment” was beautiful, and I might have teared up a little at it and saying it's about time you dummies lol.
I loved all the different tropes that were in this book: fake relationship, forced proximity, small town, slow burn, celebrity crush, and some great scheming by friends.
This was my first Mia Summers book, and it will not be my last one.
I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
I thought this book was cute, well-written, funny, and overall enjoyable to read. I liked that the pace was not slow, but was just right and with all the banter, I was eating up the words and wanting to know what happened next.
To have two different people come together after years apart and on top of that to have one of them that is a Hollywood hunk and the other that just had to move back to her hometown because of her no-good ex cheating. Finally get to have a chance at what might happen if they can put aside their hurt, uncomfortableness, their own issues and of course the what if’s; they just might have a chance at a great love.
I thought the author did a great job with the characters. She made them likable and relatable. I know that I found myself thinking the same things that Olivia did about a hotshot movie star, even if he was one that was from her hometown as well. Then not only to make it a dinner date with her childhood crush but to have them handcuffed for the dinner and then to lose the keys. I was dying of laughter and dying to know how they would handle certain situations, and to my surprise I loved how those moments went down, it made the characters more real for me. I did find myself getting a little angry with Olivia and Ryan because man their miscommunication was the worst and I wanted to shake the heck out of both of them, but to finally watch the “Oh moment” was beautiful, and I might have teared up a little at it and saying it's about time you dummies lol.
I loved all the different tropes that were in this book: fake relationship, forced proximity, small town, slow burn, celebrity crush, and some great scheming by friends.
This was my first Mia Summers book, and it will not be my last one.
I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
October 13, 2023
This was a lovely feel-good read that transported me and gave me a break from real life. It has fabulous characters with Ryan, a gorgeous movie star who turns out to be so much more than his image suggests, and Olivia who still lives in the town they both grew up in and has nursed a crush on him for years.
Ryan is both the boy next door, and the glamorous film star. Olivia danced with him at the school sock hop when he was the shy little boy, and then followed his film career as she developed a full blown crush on him. When he comes to his home town and offers an evening out with him to be auditioned off for charity, Olivia’s friends buy the experience for her. Olivia was expecting a simple dinner out, until the organiser handcuffed them together for one evening only. Until the key went missing and one night turned into 5 days.
As Olivia and Ryan learn to live handcuffed, accommodating even the most private of moments, they learn more about themselves, each other, and the lives they both lead, warts and all.
This was a lovely and funny heartfelt romance, both sweet and emotional. I loved Olivia and Ryan and enjoyed watching the many personal and public challenges they were forced to contend with. I also enjoyed the wider community and the memories as the story delved into the past.
This is a perfect weekend read, fabulous characters, plenty of humour, but also real emotion and a depth of feeling that reaches right back into the past and tugs on the present. It brings glitz and glamour, but also has the characters working out how to go to the toilet chained to a virtual stranger. And in these extremes lies the beauty and rawness that made me fall in love with both of them.
Ryan is both the boy next door, and the glamorous film star. Olivia danced with him at the school sock hop when he was the shy little boy, and then followed his film career as she developed a full blown crush on him. When he comes to his home town and offers an evening out with him to be auditioned off for charity, Olivia’s friends buy the experience for her. Olivia was expecting a simple dinner out, until the organiser handcuffed them together for one evening only. Until the key went missing and one night turned into 5 days.
As Olivia and Ryan learn to live handcuffed, accommodating even the most private of moments, they learn more about themselves, each other, and the lives they both lead, warts and all.
This was a lovely and funny heartfelt romance, both sweet and emotional. I loved Olivia and Ryan and enjoyed watching the many personal and public challenges they were forced to contend with. I also enjoyed the wider community and the memories as the story delved into the past.
This is a perfect weekend read, fabulous characters, plenty of humour, but also real emotion and a depth of feeling that reaches right back into the past and tugs on the present. It brings glitz and glamour, but also has the characters working out how to go to the toilet chained to a virtual stranger. And in these extremes lies the beauty and rawness that made me fall in love with both of them.
January 14, 2024
HOOKED ON HOLLYWOOD By Mia Summers
Olivia Bloom just won the jackpot: a dinner date with her former childhood crush and now Hollywood hunk Ryan Jones. The only problem? She hates him. And those handcuffs that were supposed to be “just for show” aren’t coming off.
After discovering her fiancé’s affair, Olivia retreats to her small hometown and swears off anything to do with love. Unfortunately, her well-meaning friends have just the plan to pull Olivia out of her funk – they’ll pool their money at a silent auction and win the big prize: a one-on-one date with Olivia’s celebrity crush, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Jones.
Charming leading man Ryan Jones credits his love of acting to his childhood community theater teacher. When he hears that the theater might close, he volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, where he’ll be handcuffed to the winner. The last person he expects to win the bid is the one girl he never forgot.
The date goes poorly – ever since a terrible video of Ryan went viral, Olivia can’t see him as anything other than an egotistical jerk.
😊What i liked -
✔ Celebrity/Closed Door/Fake Relationship/Forced Proximity/Small Town.
✔ An absolute cliche and cheesy story that I loved.
✔ It did have me giggling now and then.
✔ The side characters were all hilarious.
✔ Though predictable, it was a really cute and sweet read.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ There were a few places I did not like Olivia.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
💝Romance Lover
🚪Closed Door Romance
😎Celebrity Romance
📈My Rating : 3.5/5
Thank you, Mia Summers and Sterling & Stone, for a copy.
Olivia Bloom just won the jackpot: a dinner date with her former childhood crush and now Hollywood hunk Ryan Jones. The only problem? She hates him. And those handcuffs that were supposed to be “just for show” aren’t coming off.
After discovering her fiancé’s affair, Olivia retreats to her small hometown and swears off anything to do with love. Unfortunately, her well-meaning friends have just the plan to pull Olivia out of her funk – they’ll pool their money at a silent auction and win the big prize: a one-on-one date with Olivia’s celebrity crush, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Jones.
Charming leading man Ryan Jones credits his love of acting to his childhood community theater teacher. When he hears that the theater might close, he volunteers to be auctioned off for a dinner date, where he’ll be handcuffed to the winner. The last person he expects to win the bid is the one girl he never forgot.
The date goes poorly – ever since a terrible video of Ryan went viral, Olivia can’t see him as anything other than an egotistical jerk.
😊What i liked -
✔ Celebrity/Closed Door/Fake Relationship/Forced Proximity/Small Town.
✔ An absolute cliche and cheesy story that I loved.
✔ It did have me giggling now and then.
✔ The side characters were all hilarious.
✔ Though predictable, it was a really cute and sweet read.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ There were a few places I did not like Olivia.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
💝Romance Lover
🚪Closed Door Romance
😎Celebrity Romance
📈My Rating : 3.5/5
Thank you, Mia Summers and Sterling & Stone, for a copy.
February 2, 2024
ARC REVIEW
My Star Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
My Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
What you’ll find:
📽️Dual POV
📽️Closed-Door Romance
📽️Forced Proximity
📽️Fake Relationship
📽️Slow Burn
📽️Small Town
Hooked on Hollywood is a second-chance, closed-door rom-com.
After catching her fiance cheating with her maid of honor, Olivia moves from LA back to her small hometown. Olivia's friends bid for her to win a dinner date with Ryan Jones (a Hollywood star and her childhood celebrity crush), who happens to be back in town to host a charity event. As luck would have it, they end up being handcuffed together for a week, and forced to acknowledge their true feelings for each other.
This book is super cute and funny. The scenes of Olivia and Ryan trying to figure out how to do everyday things while handcuffed had me laughing out loud. I also laughed when Ryan saw what Olivia had in her childhood bedroom. I felt Olivia's embarrassment! The banter between Olivia and Ryan was great! They had great chemistry and I was rooting for them to get past their issues and be together. I loved Olivia's creativity! Reading about the sock hop had me feeling nostalgic. I didn't like the phone mishap, stubbornness, judgments, and trust issues they pushed on each other, but all of that was necessary for this story to have a happy ending.
Although there are some holes in the story, some unanswered questions, and some predictable moments, this was an overall fun and easy read.
Thank you Mia Summers, Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
My Star Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
My Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
What you’ll find:
📽️Dual POV
📽️Closed-Door Romance
📽️Forced Proximity
📽️Fake Relationship
📽️Slow Burn
📽️Small Town
Hooked on Hollywood is a second-chance, closed-door rom-com.
After catching her fiance cheating with her maid of honor, Olivia moves from LA back to her small hometown. Olivia's friends bid for her to win a dinner date with Ryan Jones (a Hollywood star and her childhood celebrity crush), who happens to be back in town to host a charity event. As luck would have it, they end up being handcuffed together for a week, and forced to acknowledge their true feelings for each other.
This book is super cute and funny. The scenes of Olivia and Ryan trying to figure out how to do everyday things while handcuffed had me laughing out loud. I also laughed when Ryan saw what Olivia had in her childhood bedroom. I felt Olivia's embarrassment! The banter between Olivia and Ryan was great! They had great chemistry and I was rooting for them to get past their issues and be together. I loved Olivia's creativity! Reading about the sock hop had me feeling nostalgic. I didn't like the phone mishap, stubbornness, judgments, and trust issues they pushed on each other, but all of that was necessary for this story to have a happy ending.
Although there are some holes in the story, some unanswered questions, and some predictable moments, this was an overall fun and easy read.
Thank you Mia Summers, Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 4, 2023
"Hooked on Hollywood" by Mia Summer is a romantic comedy that provides some entertainment but ultimately falls short of being a standout. While it offers moments of amusement and a standard romantic plot, it lacks the depth and originality that could elevate it to a higher level.
The story follows Olivia Bloom, whose well-meaning friends win her a date with Hollywood heartthrob and A-list movie star, Ryan Jones. The date goes awry when Olivia and Ryan are handcuffed together and the key mysteriously vanishes. Olivia and Ryan must learn to navigate the ups and downs of their daily lives, a movie premier, the paparazzi, and a budding romance between the unlikely pair.
While the book is entertaining, it suffers from predictability. It follows a well-trodden path common to rom-coms, and there are few surprises or unique plot twists. Readers may find themselves craving a more distinctive and unexpected storyline. Additionally, character development is somewhat lacking. While Olivia and Ryan are likable, their personal growth and journeys are not explored as deeply as they could have been. This lack of depth in character development may leave readers wanting more emotional complexity.
“Hooked on Hollywood" is a middle-of-the-road romantic comedy that delivers a standard dose of romance and humor. It's a passable option for those seeking a quick and undemanding read, but it doesn't excel in terms of originality or depth. While it may not be a stand out book, it still manages to provide some enjoyment for those looking for a familiar and straightforward romantic escapade.
The story follows Olivia Bloom, whose well-meaning friends win her a date with Hollywood heartthrob and A-list movie star, Ryan Jones. The date goes awry when Olivia and Ryan are handcuffed together and the key mysteriously vanishes. Olivia and Ryan must learn to navigate the ups and downs of their daily lives, a movie premier, the paparazzi, and a budding romance between the unlikely pair.
While the book is entertaining, it suffers from predictability. It follows a well-trodden path common to rom-coms, and there are few surprises or unique plot twists. Readers may find themselves craving a more distinctive and unexpected storyline. Additionally, character development is somewhat lacking. While Olivia and Ryan are likable, their personal growth and journeys are not explored as deeply as they could have been. This lack of depth in character development may leave readers wanting more emotional complexity.
“Hooked on Hollywood" is a middle-of-the-road romantic comedy that delivers a standard dose of romance and humor. It's a passable option for those seeking a quick and undemanding read, but it doesn't excel in terms of originality or depth. While it may not be a stand out book, it still manages to provide some enjoyment for those looking for a familiar and straightforward romantic escapade.
December 28, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.4 rounded down to 3/5
"Hooked on Hollywood" by Mia Summers is a delightful read, particularly suitable for fans of Hallmark movies. The plot follows Olivia Bloom, who wins a dinner date with her childhood crush and Hollywood star, Ryan Jones. The catch is that they end up handcuffed together, facing the challenge of being stuck with each other for five days.
Positive aspects of the book highlighted in the review include good banter between the main characters, making it an easy and quick read. The use of tropes like forced proximity, childhood crush, and a he-fell-first dynamic adds to the charm. The book is very descriptive, particularly in capturing the details of the food. This is a quick and easy read with good banter between Ryan and Olivia.
The plot is somewhat predictable, and I wish there was more character background. I would have liked to learn some more history about Ryan, especially his relationship with Lydia and why he was sent to live with his grandparents. The side character plotlines, which seem to set up future books, are not particularly relevant to this specific story. There were some plot inconsistencies, such as was Olivia a cop or a robber for the fundraiser? She was described at times to be both.
In summary, "Hooked on Hollywood" is a cute and easy read with charming banter and engaging tropes, but some areas, such as character background and the relevance of side plots, could be further developed.
3.4 rounded down to 3/5
"Hooked on Hollywood" by Mia Summers is a delightful read, particularly suitable for fans of Hallmark movies. The plot follows Olivia Bloom, who wins a dinner date with her childhood crush and Hollywood star, Ryan Jones. The catch is that they end up handcuffed together, facing the challenge of being stuck with each other for five days.
Positive aspects of the book highlighted in the review include good banter between the main characters, making it an easy and quick read. The use of tropes like forced proximity, childhood crush, and a he-fell-first dynamic adds to the charm. The book is very descriptive, particularly in capturing the details of the food. This is a quick and easy read with good banter between Ryan and Olivia.
The plot is somewhat predictable, and I wish there was more character background. I would have liked to learn some more history about Ryan, especially his relationship with Lydia and why he was sent to live with his grandparents. The side character plotlines, which seem to set up future books, are not particularly relevant to this specific story. There were some plot inconsistencies, such as was Olivia a cop or a robber for the fundraiser? She was described at times to be both.
In summary, "Hooked on Hollywood" is a cute and easy read with charming banter and engaging tropes, but some areas, such as character background and the relevance of side plots, could be further developed.
February 28, 2024
This book was not great. It had its moments of fun and clever but overall lacked a grasp on reality. The whole plot is obviously very goofy and far-fetched but it could have been played off well if other parts were realistic. Just an example - they were overly detailed on some of the logistics of managing while being cuffed together, but then other moments it would just say ‘then they did this’ and you’re left imagining the situation and realizing they didn’t address the physical aspect of that at all. Plus all of these convenient clothing items they managed to find or have made for them in record time. There were also some surprisingly risqué jokes and lines but then the kiss in the end is so disproportionately chaste and disappointing. There was also a lot of fluff, it could be very repetitive, and the inner dialogue was not realistic.
Some quotes that I really disliked:
“Ryan was right — I was highly creative, constantly conjuring up new flavor combinations and innovations. Ice cream was the perfect medium for me to fully exercise my limitless imagination.” Um.. ok.
“I had even landed on a name for my potential business venture: Tea-riffic Ice Cream. The playful moniker felt catchy yet classic, evoking a sense of nostalgia and summertime reverie.” What the heck is this sales-pitch speak?
I debated not finishing it but I was on a red-eye flight without much else downloaded to choose from so I stuck it out.
Some quotes that I really disliked:
“Ryan was right — I was highly creative, constantly conjuring up new flavor combinations and innovations. Ice cream was the perfect medium for me to fully exercise my limitless imagination.” Um.. ok.
“I had even landed on a name for my potential business venture: Tea-riffic Ice Cream. The playful moniker felt catchy yet classic, evoking a sense of nostalgia and summertime reverie.” What the heck is this sales-pitch speak?
I debated not finishing it but I was on a red-eye flight without much else downloaded to choose from so I stuck it out.
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