"Ten OMG-YES-AND stars!! This opposites-attract romcom is a swoony delight, sparkling with humor, intelligence, and all the feels. I loved every breathlessly addictive minute!"~NYT bestselling author Annika Martin
Imagine a sexy, notoriously romance-dodging, workaholic US Senator finding a seat among the audience of your five-dollar improv show. Even more baffling—this governmental hottie has been secretly fanboying on you for over a year. Well, that's what happens to Jennifer "Pal" Palcoski. And once she locks eyes with Mason Weller, she can't deny her overwhelming insta-crush. With his breathtaking good looks, polished charisma, and power-lunch lifestyle, the Senator is nothing like Pal’s usual slacker boyfriends.
And Pal is nothing like the powerful, decisive go-getter. She's an unconventional and irreverent comedian, sharply contrasting the poised political elite. Despite their differences, he's enchanted by her wit and charm and wastes no time in pursuing her. So much so, by the end of their first date, he's determined to leave his bachelor days behind.
However, as their worlds collide so do the realities of their vastly different lifestyles. His frequent out of town travel and the invasive media his career attracts threaten their fragile romance. But when Pal becomes the target of an online troll turned terrifying stalker, everything changes.
Mason is ready to build on their relationship and truly connect by embracing his vulnerability. Afraid of facing her true feelings and what they will mean for her, she goes straight for the punchline instead. And he quickly learns that loving a comedian can be a one-way emotional road.
He's won the hearts of the voters...will his campaign to win hers be triumphant?
If you enjoy an opposites attract story with a strong female main character, an upstanding and caring male main character who falls first, insta-crush with spice, some suspense, top notch banter, and a whole lot of humor, check out this laugh-out-loud romcom.
This exciting debut is the first book in the Detroiters In Love Series by the award winning comedian and writer, Maggie Eliot.
After spending 25 years performing, writing, teaching, and founding programs in improv and sketch comedy, Maggie Eliot turned her creative attention toward writing what she loves to read—romance. With a BFA in acting and a decade of playwriting, Maggie brings a wide variety of experience to her passion for writing RomComs with spice and laughs. She’s a proud member of the Greater Detroit Romance Writers. She won a Wilde Award (Detroit theatre awards) for best new script in 2013, and her standalone romance Lark Lake Lodge won the unpublished contemporary category for both the Put Your Heart in a Book contest for New Jersey Romance writers and the Maggie Award from the Georgia Romance Writers. In 2021 she was selected as a mentee in RWA’s RAMP program, having the great fortune to work closely with her mentor, New York Times best seller Annika Martin. Maggie’s debut novel Humor Me is the first in the Detroiters In Love series.
I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review. This is the debut novel by Maggie Eliot and releases on March 26. 2024.
I really enjoyed this story! It was a sweet, romantic comedy with some serious parts as well. I liked that the characters were all flawed in a relatable way and how we got glimpses of all the chaos that happens in everyday life - struggling to pay bills, trouble with friends, cancer, overbearing family, losing a job, stalkers, and social media trolls. Pal and Mason had a meet-cute moment, although it wasn't a complete surprise to one of them, and they had a true opposites attract vibe.
*I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly, this had me questioning if “romance” books aren’t for me again… I’m not sure I liked anything in this book unfortunately.
The book feels like a mix of a wattpad story and a daytime soap opera. Idk how it can read as middle school and over the hill at the same time, but it did. The pacing was a bit strange too. It moves very fast but the pacing is a bit weird at times (I like that most things weren’t drawn out like many books do, but some situations were more awkward bc they didn’t have the time to pan out).
There are also a lot of stereotypes I noted throughout that I wasn’t fond of: •first, what is up with all the slut shaming?! So many times it’s brought up in dialogue or personal thoughts that people will think she’s a “slut” or a “skeeze” 🤦🏼♀️ for someone who does “raunchy” sets, she sure brings up “slut” a LOT. the woman is 32! Why does she care and why does she think everyone else cares what she’s doing in her personal life?!
•second, Hooper comes off as a caricature of a flamboyant gay man (but he’s bi). Aside from the dialogue, at one point he’s heavily flirting with an FBI agent and then a few pages later it’s revealed he has a boyfriend?? Then he seems like a “gay man accessory” when he becomes “a fixture around the place” at the end at Mason’s place when Pal moves in.
•next, the stereotypical lesbian comment was unnecessary. Even from a queer character. “You know me. ‘Slow’ isn’t in my vocabulary. I commit so quickly, you’d think I was a lesbian.” 🥴
•next, Adil was a character that was just used to shit on and use as the butt of terrible jokes. In the beginning, he tells his FRIENDS and troupe to stop making him a terrorist in the scenes 🥴 they call him whipped. And later Adil himself even says, “Man, being a brown guy in the lily-white word of improv is a fun-filled trip to Racistville every day, lemme tell you.” This book does nothing to step away from that either.
•finally, her mother’s feelings at the end that if her daughter “couldn’t succeed in her own career,” her mother would be “satisfied if [her daughter] married well.” 🥴 oof.
Pal is pretty awful. She’s apparently secure in her improv/acting and her oral skills, but she’s insecure and hides behind jokes if there’s any emotions other than humor. She’s sooo obsessed with the senator… but she’s oblivious to his actual job it seems. She self-sabotages throughout the whole book. The senator even asks her to stop cracking jokes during serious times on more than one occasion, but she can’t even handle that and continues with her crap jokes. She also can’t just have a normal conversation about her wanting him to perform oral on her, so it’s brought up as a skit. And don’t get me started about her thoughts towards security measures for an actual threat to her life 🙄
Mason comes off like an old man at only 39. And how does a senator not have safety measures in place even in his hometown? Literally like a Hallmark movie 🫠
The book was pretty predictable (as most romance is, so it is what it is) but I felt like I was reading a wattpad story that included any and every trope that could be thrown in. I didn’t find myself rooting for anyone in this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review. I liked so many things about this debut romance! I thought Ms. Eliot did a wonderful job in making the places in the book almost as characters unto themselves; they both served as an outward example of Pal and Mason's contrasts and as a grounding for their differing choices, reactions, and obligations. Even if I weren't familiar with many of the mentioned locations, I could clearly picture them based on Ms. Eliots's depictions. As another reviewer mentioned, I appreciated that the main characters were likable but flawed and that their interactions seemed honest. I also enjoyed that the sex scenes and their discussions about sex were both playful and showcased how real couples do/should talk about their preferences, likes, and dislikes. I did feel that the plot strained itself at times from trying to fit so many threads in, and I questioned the need for a twist of a plot point with the Ian character towards the end. However, I think these are just minor issues for a debut novel that don't take away from what is overall a fun romance with layers of humor, poignancy, and heat. I look forward to reading future Detroiters In Love books and can only hope that we get to see happy love stories of characters we met in Humor Me (crossing my fingers for Pal's BFF).
I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review. I am not a romance/smut reader in the slightest, but I did enjoy Mason's character and his relationship with Pal. Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of Pal herself. It was cool to know the area that the story took place in. 3 stars because of the strength of the secondary characters, the cute vibe Pal and Mason's relationship offered, and the description of the setting.
This is not the type of book I'd typically pick up, primarily because I'm not much of a romance reader. But I had an ARC and dove in because I'm all for anything with "Detroit" in it. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. It was a fast, enjoyable read and a fun romp with characters that felt relatable and real. Considering this was a debut, I was very impressed with the storyline, which had a bit of everything: comedy, suspense, conflict, friendships, and, yes, improv. Loved seeing the familiar touches of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Michigan inside the pages. I may not be a typical romance reader, but I'd happily pick up the next book in the Detroiters in Love series.
When I first began this book I wasn’t 100% hooked. I’m not much for comedy and so I felt a bit disconnected at first. I’m glad I stuck with it though. Through falling in love, to heartbreak, to complete action, to a happily ever after, I couldn’t stop reading.
A light, frilly rom com - a perfect beach read! It was super enjoyable as a Michigander to read a romance set in an area that I am so familiar with. Some of the dialogue felt a little rough, and the "Oh, Honeys" from Mason felt a little forced.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this read, and had decent spice. I would say, probably about 3 peppers out of 5 on the scale. I look forward to more from Maggie!
love! Love! LOVE! I did not want to put this down! This book was the perfect blend of romance, comedy and even a little side taste of suspense! The spice was spicy but I truly loved the focus on the story. Maggie's descriptions really hook you into the story and help you visualize characters and settings! I would absolutely recommend this book and it has been added to my rereads list! I cannot wait to read more in the future!
At times humorous and and light hearted while also exploring the harsh realities of public figures, 'Humor Me' is an interesting read.
Through this story we follow Jennifer "Pal" Palcoski, a talented improv comedian, who has returned home from Chicago where her career was just starting to take off, to help take care of her sister who was diagnosed with cancer. Pal has taken on two jobs in addition to rejoining the improv troupe, Three Wallets and a Purse, that she started with her friends Frankie, Aldi, and Ian. It is after a show where Pal meets Mason, Ian's attractive older brother and a US Senator, for the first time. The two instantly hit it off but they must face the reality of their situation pretty quickly when Pal gains a dangerous stalker due to Mason's politics and publicity.
There are a few characters in this story who are introduced and built up to have some kind of significance in Pal's life, perhaps for the sake of the rest of the series, but they don't get any character development despite their seemingly close relationship with Pal. Hooper, Pal's ex-boyfriend and best friend, is perhaps the most egregious example of this. While he's present throughout the entire story, we don't learn much about him other than the fact that he's bisexual and despite having a boyfriend until the end of the story that we never actually meet, he is insistent on flirting with and joking about hooking up with pretty much every character he comes in contact with. Because this is pretty much the only thing that happens with his character throughout the story and Mason is wary about his flirty nature and past relationship with Pal even though he has a boyfriend, Hooper feels like the embodiment of the many harmful stereotypes about bisexual people. Other characters like Pal's mother and sister as well as the guys in her troupe would have also benefited from a bit more character development.
Despite this, the comedy throughout the story is pretty good! The overall story, even with the serious moments with Pal's stalker, is fun to read. At times it can be a bit predictable as a romance reader but for the most part, it doesn't detract from the story as a whole. However, there are some cringy dialogue choices and most of the characters can be difficult to sympathize with.
If you enjoy comedy, drama, and romance you may like this story, however, it unfortunately wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy for free from Reedsy Discovery, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. While it wasn’t life-changing, it had some very good things about it. Since it’s a debut, I imagine this author’s writing will continue to get better & better!
There were grammar/mechanics errors that distracted from the quality of the story for me. Since publication hasn’t happened yet, hopefully those will be fixed ahead of time. I felt some characters and settings lacked description and depth in some places. For example, there was a Town Hall event, and I had no clue what Pal was wearing, but I was honestly worrying because she is depicted as someone who would not own clothes nice enough for such an event. There are some stereotypes here that I think were supposed to be funny, but it can come off as a little critical in places. Also, the dialogue and euphemisms used made me cringe at times. Some of what was said was so unbelievably corny that it turned me off in places. I honestly hated when Mason called her “honey”. It seemed more condescending than sweet. And I hated when Pal made jokes during sex, especially after he asked her to stop. I am not a typical comedy lover, so Pal was annoying to me a lot of the time. I cannot fathom that she is 32. I am 28, and I don’t think I’ve ever been as immature as her a day in my life. Mason had a lot of good qualities. He’s a senator, for God’s sakes, of course he will have to check and answer his phone. I didn’t understand how unrealistic she was being about that whole thing. It was unclear how the author wanted us to view him. I couldn’t tell if his protectiveness was supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing. The threat and danger increased the interest for me, and it gave the story another facet that made me want to finish it. It was also very fast-paced from the beginning - almost insta love but then had a 3rd act break-up, which I dislike. I definitely thought it started well; some of the middle made me wonder if I was going to finish it; then it ended ok.
Overall, it was a fine book. I don’t regret reading it.
Short version: The plot is one I’ve not personally read before which is refreshing when it feels like everything has been done 200 times, but there were a few issues I took with the way the story flowed and moved. The characters were good — Hooper needs a book of his own — but some of their interactions just felt unnatural. Given that it’s a debut, I’m very pleased and look forward to more from ME.
Full Review: In my years of reading I have found that almost every book I’ve truly loved had a story that was right in the sweet spot as far as pace goes — it doesn’t take 150 pages to get to the good stuff but there’s some build too. Humor Me could’ve used just a bit more build before diving in. The FMC and MMC meet and make goo goo eyes on page two. Which, yay for them, but it just feels like the open of the book could’ve been chapter two. Is that a me thing? Maybe. But it just felt rushed.
These characters are quirky and fun — Mr Senator feels like maybe he is a repressed oddball who wants to let loose and I’m here for it. Pal is such a deeply relatable character despite me having almost nothing in common with her. And Hooper? Don’t get me started. I just love him so much. Like I said, his book needs to be on the agenda.
Everything about Humor Me that led me to give a 4 instead of 5 star rating are things that, I believe, are debut novel issues. Overall the writing is enjoyable, the characters themselves are just the right amount of relatable, and the plot was intriguing and drew me in. I just felt like when I opened and read the first few pages that maybe something else should’ve come first. There were just a few places throughout that felt like similarly for me. Still a solid four star book though!
**This is an ARC review — I was sent a free copy of the book prior to release in exchange for an honest review.**
Humor Me follows the budding romance of an improviser and a Senator, and how their opposites-attract relationship develops and is met with challenges.
Jennifer Palcoski (“Pal”) is living the true artists lifestyle. She works several jobs, has a beaten up old truck and tends to pay for her drinks with change. She spends the majority of her time at the Island Theatre, where she both teaches improv classes and partakes in shows with her troupe, Three Wallets and a Purse. One night, she catches the eye of a devastatingly handsome member of the audience, Mason Weller, and there is an instant connection between the two. Turns out, not only is he the brother of her fellow improviser, but he’s been harboring a crush on Pal for some time now. The story continues to follow the trials that Mason and Pal meet along the path towards a building relationship, figuring out how to cope with Mason’s near-celebrity status and all that comes with it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. There were a few jutting moments in dialogue or plot, along with some repetitive and circuitous plot points, that couldn’t squeak this to a five star review, but overall I had a nice time reading it. Based on the description, I did expect it to be a whole lot funnier - I think instead it had a lot more heart (especially by our MMC!)
Tropes in this story: ✨ “Celebrity” falls for commoner ✨ Opposites attract ✨ Insta-love ✨ Age-gap
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, but my review is all my own.
~ I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review. ~
I’m not a reader of rom-coms and didn’t know that was what this book was going to be. But I agreed to read it and leave a review, so here goes.
Pros: • The main character, Pal, was very likable. She was funny, independent, hardworking, and loyal. • It’s always fun reading a book that takes place in locations you’re familiar with. • Hooper, Pal’s best friend, was also a character I enjoyed.
Cons: • The Senator, Mason, was pretty unlikable to me. Too controlling and self-important. But that’s true of a lot of people in power. • I would have liked a little more of the improv part of the storyline developed. • I’ve seen the word “spicy” in both the synopsis and reviews that others have written. To me, it was over-the-top “spicy”, but maybe this is the norm for rom-coms. I prefer it when some things are left to the imagination.
I gave it 3 stars because of Pal, Hooper, and the local flavor. If there had been a little more improv and a little less “spice” I would have given it more stars. If you’re a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey, you will probably enjoy this book too.
This was so cute and I loved the difference in the characters! I’m going to try fill you in on this debut novel where He Falls First without any major spoilers.
Jen Palcoski, aka Pal, is an improv comedian who ends up meeting the devilishly handsome senator, Mason (who also happens to be one of her troupe mate’s brother). They have this instant chemistry between them and everything moves pretty quickly. As you can imagine, his life is crazy busy and quite structured whereas Pal’s…is not. As their relationship blossoms, they have to navigate it while in the public eye which we all know can take its toll. Pal struggles most I would say because she doesn’t want to lose who she is but wonders, is she good enough for a senator? Then again, does her funny personality balance out his serious one? You’ll have to find out!
In the end, one of my favorite lines was “It was straight up magical to meet you”. 😍
I am part of the Detroit Improvisation Counter Culture. So I found it very relatable, and refreshing in that it was a new spin on a very heavily saturated Rom-Com genre.
I thought that ME did a masterful job of bringing non-improvisor readers into the behind the scenes drama that happens when that much talent and egos inevitably collide.
I gave it 4 stars because I kept waiting for why Pal always uses humor for deflection. It felt like it was tied to her father that passed. A betrayal of some sort perhaps? I wanted a dark reveal from her past, so that when she had her break through, it would elevate Pal's growth even more.
There were a few typos that caught my eye, but the official 1st release is still a month out and I'm sure these will be caught.
All-in-all I'm very impressed, and can't wait to say "yes... and..." to Maggie Eliot's second book.
Maggie Eliot's debut novel offers a refreshing and innovative plot. A true testament to laughter being the way to one's heart and that love at first sight is possible.
Pal's just one of the guys, a down to Earth comedian. She never imagines that that her life will change one night when she locks eyes with audience member Mason Weller. Mason who until now has been a bachelor , romance dodging, workaholic, US Senator. After one date, enchanted by her with and charm, Mason is convinced that Pal is the one. Despite their vastly different lifestyles, both are convinced to make their romance work. However, neither are prepared for Mason's scrutinizing and invasive media presence to result in a terrifying stalker targeting Pal. Will Mason be able to winover Pal's heart, like he's been able to win over his supporters?
I received an ARC of this book, which I'm very grateful for. But this book was not for me. The positives are that the romance starts right away and the story is very fast paced. With a title like Humor Me, I expected it to be funny. My mistake. I think I saw that the author actually did some improv before which surprised me because this was not enjoyable at all. The main character is annoying, all the dialogue is cringey, one of the brown characters exists just for everyone to hate on him (which was an unfortunate and unnecessary choice) and the ending was just foolish. I think I'm being generous with two stars.
A fun, quick read romance debut by a talented writer, Humor Me brings together an unlikely couple. Mason is a senator on the road to greatness when he meets Improv Queen Pal, juggling multiple jobs and helping her sister through cancer. It’s insta-connection, but with the strait-laced senator as the pursuer, and Pal cracking jokes to keep from falling hard.
Their road to love is full of potholes with social media perils, a jealous sibling and friend, and a crazed stalker. Oh, and behind the wheel of an aged, rusted, green minivan, Pal feels every bump! A book for all romance readers and lovers of Detroit.
I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review.
Four *Sweet weeping Jesus* stars!
I will be very honest, these are 2 characters I never thought I would see coming together in a book.
Their meet-cute had me smiling along with their banter.
Tiny spoiler - I laughed so loud when the assistant called for a background check and Pal texted Mason saying, "Are you sure it is safe to be alone with me?" I could just imagine her face and smirk.
It wasn't just their story, it was the reliability of the characters that made this book a touch too real - their lifestyles, their family relationships and even their relationships with friends.
Another spoiler - I knew there was something not right with the Ian dude from the reaction he had to Pal dating his brother. I didn't trust him AT ALL.
My aversion to Pal's joking in a serious conversation and Mason's 'honey' (I am sorry. Unless couples are married, this nickname just gives me the ick, a personal choice), doesn't take away from the fact that was a very charming and adorable debut book.
I can't wait to see what Maggie does next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Pal is the lone female of an improv group. She meets Mason at a show. They spend time together after the show and the flirting begins. It turns out Mason is the brother of a member for her improv troupe. Their budding romance causes big problems for them both. She garners attention of a stalker and he get negative attention as well. But, I suppose that happens when you are a handsome young Senator. If you enjoy a story with humor, some angst, and spice. Be sure to read Humor Me by Maggie Eliot
Humor Me is a fun, quick read. What you get...... ♡Rom-Com ♡Lots of Laughs ♡Strong Sassy Independent Woman ♡She's a Comedian ♡Cinnamon Roll Hero ♡He's a Senator ♡Age Gap ♡Opposites Attract ♡Fast-paced ♡He Falls First ♡Spicy ♡Suspense ♡Stalker (not the MMC) ♡Adorable Furry Friends! 🐕🐕
Pal and Mason have amazing chemistry! I really liked their story. Something that's a little different than a lot of other romance books. Their ride to HEA was definitely a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed it, and I hope to get Hooper's story!
So happy that I received this ARC. I really enjoyed this book. You get a little bit of everything in the book, from the heartache to the happily ever after, you get a little suspense and comedy as well! The author brings attention to the everyday things happening in real life from struggling, being judged and called rude names, family issues, to being stalked which makes this book a little more relatable. It also shows that it doesn’t matter what you do and don’t have that if a person truly loves you it doesn’t matter to them. I would love to find out what happens to Pal and Mason and the rest of the group! Can’t wait for the next in the series
*I have read an early ARC copy of this debut novel.*
I really love the instant chemistry Mason and Pal had after her show. They had an instant connection even though they lived in different worlds. Pal's life has jokes and improv shows. Mason is a senator with an online presence to his people. This book has comedy, romance, and suspense. Mason with his 2 dogs 🐕 is absolutely adorable! He's a dog parent! Honestly, Pal was a fun character, but in relationships, she had some difficulties. Mason was a sweetheart to Pal. I wish Pal took her safety seriously when Mason told her about a stalker he's dealing with. It was good that Mason gave Pal several times to end the relationship if she couldn't handle all the phone calls, threats, and stalkers. When they broke up, I felt like it was about Pal wanting her control back more than her safety being compromised. If l'm being honest, Mason's brother Ian, I did not like his character at all. I'm glad he apologized for his behavior. However, Ian said something bad to Pal, and then he did something horrible to ruin their relationship. I would not forgive so easily. I'm glad they found their way back to each other and continued their relationship. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. While this isn’t my normal choice of genre, it was such an easy and fun read that I would highly recommend it. The characters are witty and relatable. The dialogue is easy to follow and the book moves quickly. Pal and the Senator are both very likable and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. I can’t wait for more from Maggie and the Detroiter’s In Love series!
I absolutely tore through this fast-paced, hot, hilarious book and could not put it down! Pal is a fantastic character, comedy-as-defense warts and all. Her tendency to walk back intense moments with humor made her so relatable and also made her stand way out in the field of romance heroines.
I’ll be thinking about this couple and their dance toward love for a long time to come. And I can’t wait to read about more “Detroiters in love!”
I liked this interaction. It was hard to believe, but in a fantasy world love always work its way out in unexpected settings. It really enfuriate me the selection of the one character who harmed them an how it was all well after one incident. It shouldn't be that easy to get away with ruining your closest people's lives. In the end what mattered to me the most was that she is strong, he is perfect and they make a really great couple.
Jennifer (Pal) and Mason have great chemistry! You root for them the whole book! The story flowed nicely and I appreciated how Pal took no BS from people. This is my first real “political romance” type book and it was different from what I’m used to but not in a bad way! There was some spice in this book it is was pretty good!
A Detroit romance where He Falls First- Yes, please!
As A Michigander, I adore reading books set in his home state, and this romance was a delight to read. I loved both of the main characters. Their opposites were a great attraction.
Both character arcs were satisfying, and the humor was fantastic!
This was the author's debut book, and I look forward to more from her.
What a read! This book did not disappoint. This is the debut novel by Maggie Eliot. It's an opposites attract romcom with lots of action packed adventure and drama! I couldn't help falling in love with all the characters. It's a spicy read. I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review.