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Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance
On a cross-country road trip, an expert in romantic comedies finds herself living one in a funny, refreshing, and flirty novel about really falling in love by USA Today bestselling author JJ Knight.
Kelsey Whitaker knows every hit rom-com by heart and why they work. It’s her job. As a casting assistant to a fearsome boss nicknamed the Demon, Kelsey creates chemistry with perfect leads. Let the tropes take it from there. So where’s the meet-cute in her own life? That she’ll have to make happen herself.
With the help of her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter—a total Hemsworth, even if his career is ebbing—Kelsey trades in her big-city stilettos for small-town tennies and hits the back roads. Somewhere between Hollywood and her Alabama roots, she’s determined to strategically stumble into the arms of an all-American flannel-wearing, decent-hearted, rustic boy next door. It’s a blockbuster blueprint for success! Isn’t it?
It’s all a secretly smitten Zachery can do not to tell Kelsey she’s looking for love in all the wrong places. If she really wants a happy ending, they may have to do a little rewriting, town by town and mile by mile. Together.
Kelsey Whitaker knows every hit rom-com by heart and why they work. It’s her job. As a casting assistant to a fearsome boss nicknamed the Demon, Kelsey creates chemistry with perfect leads. Let the tropes take it from there. So where’s the meet-cute in her own life? That she’ll have to make happen herself.
With the help of her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter—a total Hemsworth, even if his career is ebbing—Kelsey trades in her big-city stilettos for small-town tennies and hits the back roads. Somewhere between Hollywood and her Alabama roots, she’s determined to strategically stumble into the arms of an all-American flannel-wearing, decent-hearted, rustic boy next door. It’s a blockbuster blueprint for success! Isn’t it?
It’s all a secretly smitten Zachery can do not to tell Kelsey she’s looking for love in all the wrong places. If she really wants a happy ending, they may have to do a little rewriting, town by town and mile by mile. Together.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
854 people are currently reading
7634 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Knight
62 books1,376 followersJJ Knight is the Kindle All-Star and USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and sports romance. She’s a fierce mama bear for all the humans under her care: biological, adopted, and those in need of mom hugs. Her books portray characters who learn to push through hardship to find love and belly laughs. For more information visit www.jjknight.com.
THE PICKLEVERSE OF BESTSELLING ROMANTIC COMEDIES:
- Big Pickle: Secret Boss
- Hot Pickle: Brother's Best Friend
- Spicy Pickle: Fake Engagement
- Second Chance Santa: Pickled Holiday Rom Com
- Royal Pickle: Marry a Prince in 7 Days
- Royal Rebel: Princess and Guard Secret Love
- Royal Escape: Secret Identity Princess
- Tasty Mango: Billionaire and Single Mom
- Tasty Pickle: Billionaire Opposites Attract
- Tasty Cherry: Boss and Intern
- Juicy Pickle: Stranded on an Island
- Salty Pickle: Surprise Baby
- Hold the Pickle: Unexpected Roommates
- Wicked Pickle: Bad Boy Biker Bar
- Tricky Pickle: MC Club
ROM COM DUETS:
- The Wedding Confession
- The Wedding Shake-up
- Single Dad on Top: Billionaire Surprise Dad
- Single Dad Plus One: Billionaire Secret Baby
ROM COM STANDALONE:
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance: Sunshine-Sunshine Work Besties to Lovers
- The Accidental Harem: Yup, what it says. It's...a lot. I went nuts.
SPORTS ROMANCE SERIALS:
Grab individually or in boxed sets.
COLT AND JO
- Uncaged Love 1
- Uncaged Love 2
- Uncaged Love 3
- Uncaged Love 4
- Uncaged Love 5
- Uncaged Love 6
COLT'S FRIEND PARKER AND MADDIE
USA Today bestselling series
- Fight for Her 1
- Fight for Her 2
- Fight for Her 3
- Fight for Her 4
JO'S BROTHER HUDSON
- Reckless Attraction 1
- Reckless Attraction 2
- Reckless Attraction 3
THE PICKLEVERSE OF BESTSELLING ROMANTIC COMEDIES:
- Big Pickle: Secret Boss
- Hot Pickle: Brother's Best Friend
- Spicy Pickle: Fake Engagement
- Second Chance Santa: Pickled Holiday Rom Com
- Royal Pickle: Marry a Prince in 7 Days
- Royal Rebel: Princess and Guard Secret Love
- Royal Escape: Secret Identity Princess
- Tasty Mango: Billionaire and Single Mom
- Tasty Pickle: Billionaire Opposites Attract
- Tasty Cherry: Boss and Intern
- Juicy Pickle: Stranded on an Island
- Salty Pickle: Surprise Baby
- Hold the Pickle: Unexpected Roommates
- Wicked Pickle: Bad Boy Biker Bar
- Tricky Pickle: MC Club
ROM COM DUETS:
- The Wedding Confession
- The Wedding Shake-up
- Single Dad on Top: Billionaire Surprise Dad
- Single Dad Plus One: Billionaire Secret Baby
ROM COM STANDALONE:
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance: Sunshine-Sunshine Work Besties to Lovers
- The Accidental Harem: Yup, what it says. It's...a lot. I went nuts.
SPORTS ROMANCE SERIALS:
Grab individually or in boxed sets.
COLT AND JO
- Uncaged Love 1
- Uncaged Love 2
- Uncaged Love 3
- Uncaged Love 4
- Uncaged Love 5
- Uncaged Love 6
COLT'S FRIEND PARKER AND MADDIE
USA Today bestselling series
- Fight for Her 1
- Fight for Her 2
- Fight for Her 3
- Fight for Her 4
JO'S BROTHER HUDSON
- Reckless Attraction 1
- Reckless Attraction 2
- Reckless Attraction 3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
June 24, 2024
This is an age-gap romance. Kelsey goes on a roadtrip targeting small towns in an effort to create a “meet cute” love experience. She is seeking a hallmark movie in real life. Zach chases after her, because he has feelings for her and also wants to protect her.
For most of the book, they remain friends even thought it’s clear they should be together. The one thing that bothered me is that the people of the small towns are portrayed as uneducated hillbillies basically lol. If you are from a small town, this might bother you. But to be honest, the book had to be written this way in order for it to work. If she had met the perfect man from a small town then she wouldn’t end up with Zach and she also would have been unhappy, because all her goals in life are big city goals.
It’s definitely a fun story of a road trip between different towns, funny forced meet cutes, and a little bit of spice mixed in. I really enjoyed this one and I think it’s gonna be a popular read.
Thank you to netgalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
For most of the book, they remain friends even thought it’s clear they should be together. The one thing that bothered me is that the people of the small towns are portrayed as uneducated hillbillies basically lol. If you are from a small town, this might bother you. But to be honest, the book had to be written this way in order for it to work. If she had met the perfect man from a small town then she wouldn’t end up with Zach and she also would have been unhappy, because all her goals in life are big city goals.
It’s definitely a fun story of a road trip between different towns, funny forced meet cutes, and a little bit of spice mixed in. I really enjoyed this one and I think it’s gonna be a popular read.
Thank you to netgalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2024
This book was frustrating .
I really really wanted to loved it because the blurb have me intrigued , but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. There’s not romance at all between Zachary and Kelsey. How we’re supposed to believe they loved each other when they didn’t have cute scenes together ?? The book was more focused on Kelsey's other love interests than her romance with Zachary. I understand the main plot was she finding love while being on road but at some point she had to started being in love with Z because HE'S THE MALE MAIN CHARACTER 🙃. And the few scenes that have them together were poorly written and zero chemistry.
Now Kelsey was so selfish and too judgmental. She was so much into people clothes brands and prices. I just can’t get her. I really hate when authors write dumb females. It annoys me.
She “thinks” she finally found the love of her life -after only a few days- then she asks Zachary to leave and treats him poorly after she gets mad when he doesn’t cover her with her boss, like are you serious? Is your responsibility and Zachary did enough covering you for days. And the cherry on top? EVERYONE BLAMES ZACHARY AFTER SHE WAS FIRED (???) I’m sorry but what??.
And Zachary is not better, I was so tired reading why he was too old for her, like it was his only reason for not asking her out. You know what? You’re a coward.
I appreciate the eArc, but unfortunately this book is not for me.
Thanks NetGalley for providing me this early copy.
I really really wanted to loved it because the blurb have me intrigued , but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. There’s not romance at all between Zachary and Kelsey. How we’re supposed to believe they loved each other when they didn’t have cute scenes together ?? The book was more focused on Kelsey's other love interests than her romance with Zachary. I understand the main plot was she finding love while being on road but at some point she had to started being in love with Z because HE'S THE MALE MAIN CHARACTER 🙃. And the few scenes that have them together were poorly written and zero chemistry.
Now Kelsey was so selfish and too judgmental. She was so much into people clothes brands and prices. I just can’t get her. I really hate when authors write dumb females. It annoys me.
She “thinks” she finally found the love of her life -after only a few days- then she asks Zachary to leave and treats him poorly after she gets mad when he doesn’t cover her with her boss, like are you serious? Is your responsibility and Zachary did enough covering you for days. And the cherry on top? EVERYONE BLAMES ZACHARY AFTER SHE WAS FIRED (???) I’m sorry but what??.
And Zachary is not better, I was so tired reading why he was too old for her, like it was his only reason for not asking her out. You know what? You’re a coward.
I appreciate the eArc, but unfortunately this book is not for me.
Thanks NetGalley for providing me this early copy.
October 23, 2024
🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗔 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘
⏳𝟬𝟳𝗛 𝟱𝟳𝗠
🎙️𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲 & 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴
💖𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙶𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚂𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚗
🔮𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
💖𝙰𝚐𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚙
🔮𝚁𝚘𝚊𝚍 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚙
💖𝙾𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚍
❝ ᴋᴇʟꜱᴇʏ, ᴀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴄᴀꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴢᴀᴄʜ, ᴀɴ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴀꜱʜᴇᴅ-ᴜᴘ ᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱʜɪᴘ. ᴋᴇʟꜱᴇʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ꜰᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴘʀᴇᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ. ꜱᴏ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ, ꜱᴇᴀʀᴄʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʀᴇᴀʟ-ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ-ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ, ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍ-ᴄᴏᴍꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇꜱ…❝
💭This was a quick read that keeps you hooked, and I really loved the vibe of the friendship between Kelsey & Zach. The age gap adds a fun twist to their relationship, but it’s also the reason Zach never makes a move on Kelsey. He’s secretly crushing on her the whole time, which is adorable, but he’s also just trying to do what he thinks is best for her, though he kind of messes that up in his own way.
Kelsey is an absolute firecracker! She’s so determined to create her own epic love story that she totally misses what’s right in front of her. Her hilarious failed attempts at romance had me laughing out loud, they’re definitely one of the highlights of the book!
While I really enjoyed the story overall, I did find it a bit hard to overlook Zach’s womanizing past. Granted, Kelsey wasn't a pining heroine, so it's all good. All in all, this was a solid, fun read that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a light-hearted romance!
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
I picked up this audiobook purely because John Lane was narrating. I'm a huge fan of his work, and he absolutely nailed it again, I loved every moment of his performance. Juniper new to me, but she instantly won me over. She's incredibly expressive, and her portrayal of Kelsey was just perfect. Together, they brought the story to life and made it an amazing listening experience!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟯.𝟱⭐️ | 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟮🌶️ | 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟱🎧
✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 NETGALLEY & BRILLIANCE PUBLISHING 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨
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August 13, 2024Tenía potencial, pero hay algo que hizo que no me gustará y que no pudiera disfrutar: lo de Zachery con las actrices. Se supone que es un ayudante de una directora de casting, utiliza su fama y apariencia para atraer a las actrices y al final se acuesta con ella, es decir, se aprovecha de su poder. No gracias.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2024
This is a cute rom com about 2 coworkers and friends that take a road trip together so one of them can find love.
July 23, 2024
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
I received an arc from NetGalley
This book was tricky for me! I really loved the concept, a Casting agent in Hollywood looking for her own hallmark movie. I loved when she would see her script, that was a great touch. I enjoyed how the road trip started but then I was just kind of waiting for them to have any sort of ‘moment’ together (other than that one spicy scene) or some chemistry at all really.
At one stage I was hoping it would work out with Kelsey and one of her meet cute men. We spent more time with Kelsey and these random side characters than we did with Kelsey and Zachary so Zachary sometimes felt like an after thought. But when Zachary finally got the courage to let her know how he felt that was very cute, the big rom com declaration was a hit, I could see that being in a movie for sure. Overall I enjoyed the concept but I just wish there were some more moments between our FMC and MMC
🌶️
I received an arc from NetGalley
This book was tricky for me! I really loved the concept, a Casting agent in Hollywood looking for her own hallmark movie. I loved when she would see her script, that was a great touch. I enjoyed how the road trip started but then I was just kind of waiting for them to have any sort of ‘moment’ together (other than that one spicy scene) or some chemistry at all really.
At one stage I was hoping it would work out with Kelsey and one of her meet cute men. We spent more time with Kelsey and these random side characters than we did with Kelsey and Zachary so Zachary sometimes felt like an after thought. But when Zachary finally got the courage to let her know how he felt that was very cute, the big rom com declaration was a hit, I could see that being in a movie for sure. Overall I enjoyed the concept but I just wish there were some more moments between our FMC and MMC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2024
4 ⭐️
1 🌶
J.J. Knight's "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a fun road trip into the world of romance, blending heartfelt emotion with relatable fears and some of my personal favorite tropes. As a big fan of the coworkers/friends-to-lovers trope, this book was right up my alley.
The story revolves around Kelsey and her best friend and co-worker, Zachery. After Kelsey seeks her fortune at a fortuneteller, she sets out to orchestrate a meet-cute, like the ones we know from Hallmark movies (saving the christmas farm!)
Her attempts to force a meet-cute leads to a series of hilarious and embarrassing situations that had me giggling throughout. J.J. Knights ability to weave humor and heart into the narrative made this book a joy to read from start to finish and had me finishing it in just a few days.
In conclusion, "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a beautifully and enjoyable book. If anyone is looking for a romantic read that is both heartwarming and heartfelt, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!
Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC.
1 🌶
J.J. Knight's "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a fun road trip into the world of romance, blending heartfelt emotion with relatable fears and some of my personal favorite tropes. As a big fan of the coworkers/friends-to-lovers trope, this book was right up my alley.
The story revolves around Kelsey and her best friend and co-worker, Zachery. After Kelsey seeks her fortune at a fortuneteller, she sets out to orchestrate a meet-cute, like the ones we know from Hallmark movies (saving the christmas farm!)
Her attempts to force a meet-cute leads to a series of hilarious and embarrassing situations that had me giggling throughout. J.J. Knights ability to weave humor and heart into the narrative made this book a joy to read from start to finish and had me finishing it in just a few days.
In conclusion, "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a beautifully and enjoyable book. If anyone is looking for a romantic read that is both heartwarming and heartfelt, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!
Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC.
July 23, 2024
Super cute friends-to-lovers romance. Zachary is a charming former actor, now working in casting and Kelsey is a small town Alabama farm girl working in Hollywood casting with him. I love their friendship together and cute banter. Their dialogue is filled with popular rom com quotes.
Kelsey has perfected the art of capturing the perfect pair on screen and now she’s looking for her own love story and perfect meet-cute. She heads on a road trip to find love away from the typical Hollywood types. Zachary her work bestie decides to tag along showing how protective he is over her. Along the way something changes between the two. It ends up as a journey of self discovery both on the road and within the heart. Like a Hallmark story with a dash of spice.
Dual POV
Co workers in Hollywood
Friends to lovers
Age gap
He falls first
HEA
“She’s given me a glimpse into the infinite. A friendship fully blown into a life promise. A perfect match.”
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and J.J. Knight, for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Kelsey has perfected the art of capturing the perfect pair on screen and now she’s looking for her own love story and perfect meet-cute. She heads on a road trip to find love away from the typical Hollywood types. Zachary her work bestie decides to tag along showing how protective he is over her. Along the way something changes between the two. It ends up as a journey of self discovery both on the road and within the heart. Like a Hallmark story with a dash of spice.
Dual POV
Co workers in Hollywood
Friends to lovers
Age gap
He falls first
HEA
“She’s given me a glimpse into the infinite. A friendship fully blown into a life promise. A perfect match.”
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and J.J. Knight, for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2024
3.25🌟
(I received an e-arc from netgallery and am voluntarily leaving this review)
I found this book to be very 'meh'.
It had some good tropes like road trips and best friends to lovers but i felt like i couldn't completely connect with the characters. They felt very neutral to me.
So while the story was good, it just wasn't the best or memorable for me.
'Zachery steps in close. "It's got the good tropes. Friends to lovers. Country to city. Reformed playboy."
I don't need to see the script or read the words to know what will happen. Because the moment is here. Zachery Carter kisses me in a colorful coffee shop in Fort Worth, Texas.
And it's way more than a meet-cute.
It's a genuine happily ever after.'
(I received an e-arc from netgallery and am voluntarily leaving this review)
I found this book to be very 'meh'.
It had some good tropes like road trips and best friends to lovers but i felt like i couldn't completely connect with the characters. They felt very neutral to me.
So while the story was good, it just wasn't the best or memorable for me.
'Zachery steps in close. "It's got the good tropes. Friends to lovers. Country to city. Reformed playboy."
I don't need to see the script or read the words to know what will happen. Because the moment is here. Zachery Carter kisses me in a colorful coffee shop in Fort Worth, Texas.
And it's way more than a meet-cute.
It's a genuine happily ever after.'
October 13, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and JJ Knight for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This dual POV story follows Kelsey and Zach through their time at an industry party and then on a quest to find Kelsey love after a misguided session with a fortune teller.
Kelsey is convinced she needs out of Hollywood and will find love with a small town, flannel wearing, hardworking man. She meets a few on her trip but she keeps hitting road blocks.
The book was an easy read and fun. I enjoyed all the movie meet cute talk and Hallmark bases vs Hollywood bases.
Overall a cute story I think many would enjoy, 3.5 rounded up.
Open door.
Coworkers.
Best friends.
Age gap.
Secret crushes.
Quest for love.
Road trip
Just one night.
Reformed playboy
Hallmark meet-cutes
This dual POV story follows Kelsey and Zach through their time at an industry party and then on a quest to find Kelsey love after a misguided session with a fortune teller.
Kelsey is convinced she needs out of Hollywood and will find love with a small town, flannel wearing, hardworking man. She meets a few on her trip but she keeps hitting road blocks.
The book was an easy read and fun. I enjoyed all the movie meet cute talk and Hallmark bases vs Hollywood bases.
Overall a cute story I think many would enjoy, 3.5 rounded up.
Open door.
Coworkers.
Best friends.
Age gap.
Secret crushes.
Quest for love.
Road trip
Just one night.
Reformed playboy
Hallmark meet-cutes
October 20, 2024
A cute friends to lovers, dual POV, road trip romance that sees a Hollywood romcom producer trying to find the premise for her next big film by driving across the country in search of the perfect small town meet-cute. Charming and good on audio, this was a fun read but nothing super stand out. Good on audio too though and perfect for fans of authors like Piper Rayne or Samantha Chase. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: a couple of open door scenes
Steam level: a couple of open door scenes
December 17, 2024
Very naive
I felt like the entire thing was a script which was obviously the point due to being casting people but even the parts that weren't supposed to seem like a script were written like one. It felt very choppy.
Title should have been "Not for me" since they said it enough.
Overall a cute love story where she falls in love with her best friend and realizes it toward the end when they can't hold it in any longer.
I felt like the entire thing was a script which was obviously the point due to being casting people but even the parts that weren't supposed to seem like a script were written like one. It felt very choppy.
Title should have been "Not for me" since they said it enough.
Overall a cute love story where she falls in love with her best friend and realizes it toward the end when they can't hold it in any longer.
April 5, 2025
This has been showing up on my recommended kindle unlimited for far too long so I decided to try it out. I enjoyed it but I just did not enjoy Kelsey’s character. Blah.
August 21, 2024
One of the best romances I've read lately, as someone who absolutely loves cute romances and happy endings this one made my heart burst. It's a wonderfully written rom-com.
October 18, 2024
After a reading with a psychic, Kelsey is desperate to find love, roaming through small towns on a road trip. Zach, her best friend follows her closely to help her, but mostly protect her and in the hopes she finally sees him.
This is a coworkers, best friends, age gap, road trip romance with secret pining. I was excited for this onw, but I feel it fell a little flat. There were some cute moments, but both main characters had no dimension at all. And the premise? Who dumps their entire life on a whim to go find love on a road trip because a fortune-teller (aka an actress trying to get noticed) told them that's what would happen? I would also have liked to see less of Kelsey on the hunt for the perfect meet cute and more of the two MCs together. How am I supposed to believe in the romance between the two if I never see them together and when I do, there is zero chemistry? Anyway. I've read many fantastic reviews, so I feel this just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a coworkers, best friends, age gap, road trip romance with secret pining. I was excited for this onw, but I feel it fell a little flat. There were some cute moments, but both main characters had no dimension at all. And the premise? Who dumps their entire life on a whim to go find love on a road trip because a fortune-teller (aka an actress trying to get noticed) told them that's what would happen? I would also have liked to see less of Kelsey on the hunt for the perfect meet cute and more of the two MCs together. How am I supposed to believe in the romance between the two if I never see them together and when I do, there is zero chemistry? Anyway. I've read many fantastic reviews, so I feel this just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2024
Who doesn’t love a good meet-cute?!?
This was such a cute book!
If you love romcoms (especially 90/early 2000’s) this book is for you! There were so many nods to Hallmark and romcom movies throughout!
Kelsey is ready to meet her future husband so she goes out to find him. Meanwhile, Zachary, a guy she works with and is best friends with, decides to go with her to protect her while she is on this journey.
She was looking for love, not realizing it was with her the whole time! I loved the moment when they both realized they had feelings for each other!
This book comes out in October! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
This was such a cute book!
If you love romcoms (especially 90/early 2000’s) this book is for you! There were so many nods to Hallmark and romcom movies throughout!
Kelsey is ready to meet her future husband so she goes out to find him. Meanwhile, Zachary, a guy she works with and is best friends with, decides to go with her to protect her while she is on this journey.
She was looking for love, not realizing it was with her the whole time! I loved the moment when they both realized they had feelings for each other!
This book comes out in October! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
June 24, 2024
Title: Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance
Author: JJ Knight
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★☆
Release Date: 22nd October 2024
JJ Knight's "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a delightful and witty romp through the tropes of romantic comedies, infused with charm, humour, and a touch of self-discovery.
This novel is a refreshing take on the road trip romance, offering plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments.
Kelsey Whitaker is an expert in rom-coms, working as a casting assistant for a demanding boss known as the Demon. Despite her professional success, Kelsey's own love life is sorely lacking in meet-cutes and happy endings. Determined to find her own perfect rom-com romance, she embarks on a cross-country road trip with her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter. Zach, who secretly harbours feelings for Kelsey, joins her in the quest to find an all-American, flannel-wearing, small-town hero.
As they navigate quirky small towns and unexpected adventures, Kelsey and Zach must confront their own feelings and the reality that love might be closer than they think.
What I Loved:
1. Endearing Protagonist: Kelsey Whitaker is a relatable and charming heroine. Her deep knowledge of rom-coms and her quest for her own love story are both humorous and endearing. Her journey from Hollywood glam to small-town simplicity is both entertaining and heartfelt.
2. Best Friend Dynamics: The chemistry between Kelsey and Zach is palpable. Their banter, camaraderie, and the slow realisation of deeper feelings add layers to their relationship. Zach's secret love for Kelsey and his efforts to support her dreams make him a lovable character.
3. Romantic Comedy Tropes: The novel cleverly plays with classic rom-com tropes, from meet-cutes to misunderstandings, while adding fresh twists. Kelsey's attempt to create her own rom-com moments leads to hilarious and touching situations.
4. Road Trip Adventure: The cross-country road trip adds a sense of adventure and discovery. Each small town they visit brings new characters, challenges, and moments that contribute to Kelsey and Zach's evolving relationship.
5. Humour and Heart: JJ Knight's writing is infused with humour and warmth. The light-hearted tone and witty dialogue make the book a fun and enjoyable read, while the emotional depth ensures a satisfying romantic arc.
Kelsey’s meticulous attempts to manufacture rom-com scenarios, complete with checklists and planned meet-cutes, provide plenty of laughs. Watching her navigate the often unpredictable reality versus her scripted expectations is a delightful part of the story.
"Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a fun, cute romance that will resonate with fans of romantic comedies and contemporary love stories.
JJ Knight masterfully combines humour, charm, and heartfelt moments to create a novel that’s both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
Kelsey's journey to find love, with the supportive and secretly smitten Zach by her side, is a testament to the power of friendship, the unpredictability of love, and the importance of seeing what’s right in front of you. If you're looking for a feel-good read with plenty of laughs and a swoon-worthy romance, this book is a perfect choice.
Thank you to The Publisher Montlake,The Author JJ Knight & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
Author: JJ Knight
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★☆
Release Date: 22nd October 2024
JJ Knight's "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a delightful and witty romp through the tropes of romantic comedies, infused with charm, humour, and a touch of self-discovery.
This novel is a refreshing take on the road trip romance, offering plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments.
Kelsey Whitaker is an expert in rom-coms, working as a casting assistant for a demanding boss known as the Demon. Despite her professional success, Kelsey's own love life is sorely lacking in meet-cutes and happy endings. Determined to find her own perfect rom-com romance, she embarks on a cross-country road trip with her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter. Zach, who secretly harbours feelings for Kelsey, joins her in the quest to find an all-American, flannel-wearing, small-town hero.
As they navigate quirky small towns and unexpected adventures, Kelsey and Zach must confront their own feelings and the reality that love might be closer than they think.
What I Loved:
1. Endearing Protagonist: Kelsey Whitaker is a relatable and charming heroine. Her deep knowledge of rom-coms and her quest for her own love story are both humorous and endearing. Her journey from Hollywood glam to small-town simplicity is both entertaining and heartfelt.
2. Best Friend Dynamics: The chemistry between Kelsey and Zach is palpable. Their banter, camaraderie, and the slow realisation of deeper feelings add layers to their relationship. Zach's secret love for Kelsey and his efforts to support her dreams make him a lovable character.
3. Romantic Comedy Tropes: The novel cleverly plays with classic rom-com tropes, from meet-cutes to misunderstandings, while adding fresh twists. Kelsey's attempt to create her own rom-com moments leads to hilarious and touching situations.
4. Road Trip Adventure: The cross-country road trip adds a sense of adventure and discovery. Each small town they visit brings new characters, challenges, and moments that contribute to Kelsey and Zach's evolving relationship.
5. Humour and Heart: JJ Knight's writing is infused with humour and warmth. The light-hearted tone and witty dialogue make the book a fun and enjoyable read, while the emotional depth ensures a satisfying romantic arc.
Kelsey’s meticulous attempts to manufacture rom-com scenarios, complete with checklists and planned meet-cutes, provide plenty of laughs. Watching her navigate the often unpredictable reality versus her scripted expectations is a delightful part of the story.
"Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is a fun, cute romance that will resonate with fans of romantic comedies and contemporary love stories.
JJ Knight masterfully combines humour, charm, and heartfelt moments to create a novel that’s both entertaining and emotionally satisfying.
Kelsey's journey to find love, with the supportive and secretly smitten Zach by her side, is a testament to the power of friendship, the unpredictability of love, and the importance of seeing what’s right in front of you. If you're looking for a feel-good read with plenty of laughs and a swoon-worthy romance, this book is a perfect choice.
Thank you to The Publisher Montlake,The Author JJ Knight & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
October 31, 2024
Kelsey loves living in California. She works hard for her boss even though she knows her boss is not a good person. Kelsey believes that casting the right people in the right movies makes magic so she’ll put up with her boss to accomplish that one goal. One thing that makes her job bearable is working with Zachery. He is a former star who now allows himself to be “pimped” out by his boss. The only thing that makes his job bearable is working with Kelsey. The problem is that neither one of them thinks they can be together. When a fortune teller informs Kelsey that she needs to go on a trip to find love, she takes it seriously and embarks on a plan to find her one true love. Will she find her meet cute or will she realize that love is right in front of her face?
Kelsey comes from Alabama but she never wants to return. She had some issues with her family after her mother died so she left to live in California. I really liked Kelsey’s backstory. I could understand why she would accept the abuse by her boss, Desdemona, because it’s what she grew up with. The journey to force a meet cute was kind of silly. The men Kelsey meets are not that interesting, and the author is a little bit mean spirited toward men. Kelsey’s unwavering belief that she can do a perfect casting to make an amazing movie is kind of cute and makes Kelsey more likable. Zachery works for Desdemona as man candy. He has little self-respect left after his acting career crashed and burned. He is so unhappy with the direction his career took that he can’t imagine trying to pursue an acting career again. He has a good journey working through to the realization that he is good enough for Kelsey and that he is worthy of more than the abuse he endures from Desdemona. Both Zachery and Kelsey convince themselves they can’t be together and that the other will be so much happier with someone else. Their journey to realizing that they are a perfect fit was really nice.
Desdemona is the bad guy in the book. She is kind of lame on all fronts. SPOILER: The end of the book was just short of totally satisfying. I wanted Desdemona to have suffered from losing Kelsey and Zachery because she is evil but the author stopped before that point. The author opted to just let Desdemona hang in the wind once Kelsey and Zachery moved on.
This is a friends to lovers story that takes place in quite a few different places. Both Kelsey and Zachery need to grow up a bit and open themselves up to change. I enjoyed this book even if I can’t give it a rousing endorsement. I will read more from this author in the future.
Kelsey comes from Alabama but she never wants to return. She had some issues with her family after her mother died so she left to live in California. I really liked Kelsey’s backstory. I could understand why she would accept the abuse by her boss, Desdemona, because it’s what she grew up with. The journey to force a meet cute was kind of silly. The men Kelsey meets are not that interesting, and the author is a little bit mean spirited toward men. Kelsey’s unwavering belief that she can do a perfect casting to make an amazing movie is kind of cute and makes Kelsey more likable. Zachery works for Desdemona as man candy. He has little self-respect left after his acting career crashed and burned. He is so unhappy with the direction his career took that he can’t imagine trying to pursue an acting career again. He has a good journey working through to the realization that he is good enough for Kelsey and that he is worthy of more than the abuse he endures from Desdemona. Both Zachery and Kelsey convince themselves they can’t be together and that the other will be so much happier with someone else. Their journey to realizing that they are a perfect fit was really nice.
Desdemona is the bad guy in the book. She is kind of lame on all fronts. SPOILER: The end of the book was just short of totally satisfying. I wanted Desdemona to have suffered from losing Kelsey and Zachery because she is evil but the author stopped before that point. The author opted to just let Desdemona hang in the wind once Kelsey and Zachery moved on.
This is a friends to lovers story that takes place in quite a few different places. Both Kelsey and Zachery need to grow up a bit and open themselves up to change. I enjoyed this book even if I can’t give it a rousing endorsement. I will read more from this author in the future.
November 6, 2024
WOW! What an incredible book! This book easily makes it on my list of top favorite books of 2024. There were so many things to love about this book.
First off, the nonstop entertainment right from the first chapter. This book had me hooked right off the bat and I could not put it down. There was not a spot in the book that lulled or became boring. It was all non stop enjoyment from the beginning.
The development of characters was incredible. I love how each character kept getting built on the more the book went on. You kept discovering something new about each character.
I loved the meet-cutes. They were incredibly entertaining. My personal favorite had to be when Kelsey tripped herself with her bag harder than expected and knocked the stuffed beaver on the ground. Then to have the eye roll away and she had to chase it. Hilarious!!
I love how sweet Zachery is to Kelsey. What an incredible show of romance that he would follow her on her trip to protect her.
I also enjoyed the main moral to the story that if we focus so much on what things should be, we can miss what is right in front of us. Kelsey focused so much on the fact that she had to meet her husband in a small town meet-cute and it had to be like a Hallmark movie, that she didn’t see that Zachery felt the same way about her.
One thing that I thought could be improved in the book was that I was hoping there would be one more sex scene with Zachery and Kelsey after they got together. I did love how the one sex scene they had was in the middle of the book. That completely caught me off guard as I was not expecting her to ask him to have sex as an experiment.
The second thing that I thought could be improved was the ending. Specifically, the last couple of chapters. They were excellent, but I just thought they felt rushed. I understand that it is the end of the book and it is supposed to be a closing, but I felt like they should have been drawn out a little bit longer with a little more detail of how they got to New York and how they got the company started. Did Kelsey ever go home to see her father? Or just see him when her family showed up at Zachery’s proposal (which I loved that part!)? It almost felt like an afterthought.
Overall, the writing was excellent and this book was incredible. I will be reading more books by JJ Knight. I am so thankful to have won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
First off, the nonstop entertainment right from the first chapter. This book had me hooked right off the bat and I could not put it down. There was not a spot in the book that lulled or became boring. It was all non stop enjoyment from the beginning.
The development of characters was incredible. I love how each character kept getting built on the more the book went on. You kept discovering something new about each character.
I loved the meet-cutes. They were incredibly entertaining. My personal favorite had to be when Kelsey tripped herself with her bag harder than expected and knocked the stuffed beaver on the ground. Then to have the eye roll away and she had to chase it. Hilarious!!
I love how sweet Zachery is to Kelsey. What an incredible show of romance that he would follow her on her trip to protect her.
I also enjoyed the main moral to the story that if we focus so much on what things should be, we can miss what is right in front of us. Kelsey focused so much on the fact that she had to meet her husband in a small town meet-cute and it had to be like a Hallmark movie, that she didn’t see that Zachery felt the same way about her.
One thing that I thought could be improved in the book was that I was hoping there would be one more sex scene with Zachery and Kelsey after they got together. I did love how the one sex scene they had was in the middle of the book. That completely caught me off guard as I was not expecting her to ask him to have sex as an experiment.
The second thing that I thought could be improved was the ending. Specifically, the last couple of chapters. They were excellent, but I just thought they felt rushed. I understand that it is the end of the book and it is supposed to be a closing, but I felt like they should have been drawn out a little bit longer with a little more detail of how they got to New York and how they got the company started. Did Kelsey ever go home to see her father? Or just see him when her family showed up at Zachery’s proposal (which I loved that part!)? It almost felt like an afterthought.
Overall, the writing was excellent and this book was incredible. I will be reading more books by JJ Knight. I am so thankful to have won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
October 20, 2024
A heartwarming and funny romance with road trip, friends to lovers, close proximity and reformed playboy tropes, lots of mishaps, LOL moments, a bit of steam and very likable characters. I really enjoyed their natural rapport as friends, their good-humored banter, Zach's support and Kelsey's slightly over-the-top romantic nature, even if I sometimes despaired at her naivety and short-sightedness about Zach. He and their coworker Jester were definitely my favorite characters. Kelsey unfortunately seemed a bit superficial and selfish herself at times.
Kelsey Whitaker is a talented casting assistant to the fearsome casting director Desdemona. However, the superficial, glamorous life in LA is hard to bear. She longs for true love. Her coworker and best friend is Zachery Carter, a former actor with whom she works perfectly. That's all there can be between them, as he's a well-known playboy. At a party, a fortune teller gives her her fortune: Kelsey has until the end of the summer to find the love of her life, and not here in LA, but on the way to her hometown in Alabama. Inspired by various Hallmark Movies, she plans some meet-cutes to help her find the man of her dreams and her HEA and sets off on a road trip towards Alabama.
Zachery was a celebrated actor a decade ago, but then his career went down the drain and he only stays in the limelight as a companion to actresses and through his work for Desdemona. He has had a crush on Kelsey for some time but believes that he is not the right man for her. That's why he paid the fortune teller to help Kelsey find happiness in love. But Zachery hadn't reckoned with a road trip and her obsession with Hallmark movie happy endings, so he decides to protect her and accompany her on her journey as her wingman...
If you like lighthearted romance novels with a mix of Hollywood glamour and provincial charm, you're sure to enjoy this book!
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
Kelsey Whitaker is a talented casting assistant to the fearsome casting director Desdemona. However, the superficial, glamorous life in LA is hard to bear. She longs for true love. Her coworker and best friend is Zachery Carter, a former actor with whom she works perfectly. That's all there can be between them, as he's a well-known playboy. At a party, a fortune teller gives her her fortune: Kelsey has until the end of the summer to find the love of her life, and not here in LA, but on the way to her hometown in Alabama. Inspired by various Hallmark Movies, she plans some meet-cutes to help her find the man of her dreams and her HEA and sets off on a road trip towards Alabama.
Zachery was a celebrated actor a decade ago, but then his career went down the drain and he only stays in the limelight as a companion to actresses and through his work for Desdemona. He has had a crush on Kelsey for some time but believes that he is not the right man for her. That's why he paid the fortune teller to help Kelsey find happiness in love. But Zachery hadn't reckoned with a road trip and her obsession with Hallmark movie happy endings, so he decides to protect her and accompany her on her journey as her wingman...
If you like lighthearted romance novels with a mix of Hollywood glamour and provincial charm, you're sure to enjoy this book!
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
October 26, 2024
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance by J.J. Knight (Release Date October 22, 2024)
Kelsey Whitaker is a young woman from Alabama who left the family farm to break into Hollywood. When that didn't work out, she became a casting assistant to a boss nicknamed the Demon (think Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada). She is the best in the business with her love of Rom-Coms and knows what to look for. She can find the perfect chemistry for actors to work together and make hot movies that do well at the box office. She doesn't however have the same talent to find her own perfect match and has been single for years. She comes up with a plan while the She-Demon is away at Cannes, but her BFF co-worker doesn't want her to do it alone. He's had to be her wing-man in the past and get her out of tricky situations causing him to intervene and bloody his hands. There is no way he will let her drive off for the summer on this adventure alone.
Zachery Carter aka Kelsey's wing-man is a known blockbuster actor (over a decade ago) and in Kelsey's eyes is perfect in every way. Although his acting career didn't last, he was smart with the money he made when he was big and still has some connections even though they don't get him work, he can help make them look good. He also works at the agency to schmooze actresses and be "that guy" on their arms at public events because he is still famous and great to look at. He and Kelsey have grown close in the two years she's worked at the agency. They know each other like no one else, and he will not sit back in California worrying about Kelsey traveling across the country by herself to find her perfect real-life rom-com boyfriend.
With all her meet-cute rom-com knowledge, Kelsey is sure she will run into the perfect small-town dream of a man on her cross-country drive to visit family in Alabama. It happens so easily in the movies, so why can't she do it too? What she doesn't realize is her gorgeous best friend who she has secretly smoldered for also is into her and although he pushed her to try and meet someone thinking he is too old for her, he regrets it because he only wants her to be with him. Trying to take the high road thinking it's best for her, he tries to convince himself it's the right thing to do encouraging her to meet Mr. Right, but it is secretly killing him inside. He will endure almost anything to make her happy, even if it rips his heart out.
This was a cute contemporary romance with all the things. Secret love, jealousy, touch her and I will knock your lights out, family drama, a little spice, and everything nice. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Kelsey Whitaker is a young woman from Alabama who left the family farm to break into Hollywood. When that didn't work out, she became a casting assistant to a boss nicknamed the Demon (think Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada). She is the best in the business with her love of Rom-Coms and knows what to look for. She can find the perfect chemistry for actors to work together and make hot movies that do well at the box office. She doesn't however have the same talent to find her own perfect match and has been single for years. She comes up with a plan while the She-Demon is away at Cannes, but her BFF co-worker doesn't want her to do it alone. He's had to be her wing-man in the past and get her out of tricky situations causing him to intervene and bloody his hands. There is no way he will let her drive off for the summer on this adventure alone.
Zachery Carter aka Kelsey's wing-man is a known blockbuster actor (over a decade ago) and in Kelsey's eyes is perfect in every way. Although his acting career didn't last, he was smart with the money he made when he was big and still has some connections even though they don't get him work, he can help make them look good. He also works at the agency to schmooze actresses and be "that guy" on their arms at public events because he is still famous and great to look at. He and Kelsey have grown close in the two years she's worked at the agency. They know each other like no one else, and he will not sit back in California worrying about Kelsey traveling across the country by herself to find her perfect real-life rom-com boyfriend.
With all her meet-cute rom-com knowledge, Kelsey is sure she will run into the perfect small-town dream of a man on her cross-country drive to visit family in Alabama. It happens so easily in the movies, so why can't she do it too? What she doesn't realize is her gorgeous best friend who she has secretly smoldered for also is into her and although he pushed her to try and meet someone thinking he is too old for her, he regrets it because he only wants her to be with him. Trying to take the high road thinking it's best for her, he tries to convince himself it's the right thing to do encouraging her to meet Mr. Right, but it is secretly killing him inside. He will endure almost anything to make her happy, even if it rips his heart out.
This was a cute contemporary romance with all the things. Secret love, jealousy, touch her and I will knock your lights out, family drama, a little spice, and everything nice. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2025
Kelsey works as an assistant to a Hollywood casting director alongside Zach, who is a faded movie star that has moved into casting but they look out for each other which helps them both deal with their demanding and mean boss.
One night at a party, Kelsey sees a fortune teller who tells her she needs to find love and soon, before she stops believing in it, so she decides she needs to take a road trip across the country to try and find her small town romance. Just like all the rom-coms she watches.
After her first night away when things don't go quite to plan, Zach drives through the night to get to her. He decides he needs to stay with her to protect her but really it's because he's in love with her. Though he thinks he's not right for her, due to the fact he's 11yrs older than her and he's a bit of a playboy. He does want her to be happy though so no matter how he feels about her, he wants to put her happiness above his own which is actually quite sweet.
I liked Zach, but I didn't really connect with Kelsey as a character. She's 25 but for someone who hasn't had the easiest childhood and now lives in Hollywood, dealing with actors and other industry people, she seems a bit naïve about life and love. She also comes across as desperate and throws herself into a relationship with a guy she meets at a Christmas farm, helping his family from day one and then talking about marriage and kids only 6 days in. At least he showed who he really was at that point, but still - who does that after 6 days?!
I would have liked to have seen Kelsey and Zach's boss get her comeuppance after she fired Kelsey and blackballed her in LA but I guess they got their own revenge when they moved to New York and started a casting agency there.
Overall it was a cute little romance, only one spicy scene though in the middle.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
One night at a party, Kelsey sees a fortune teller who tells her she needs to find love and soon, before she stops believing in it, so she decides she needs to take a road trip across the country to try and find her small town romance. Just like all the rom-coms she watches.
After her first night away when things don't go quite to plan, Zach drives through the night to get to her. He decides he needs to stay with her to protect her but really it's because he's in love with her. Though he thinks he's not right for her, due to the fact he's 11yrs older than her and he's a bit of a playboy. He does want her to be happy though so no matter how he feels about her, he wants to put her happiness above his own which is actually quite sweet.
I liked Zach, but I didn't really connect with Kelsey as a character. She's 25 but for someone who hasn't had the easiest childhood and now lives in Hollywood, dealing with actors and other industry people, she seems a bit naïve about life and love. She also comes across as desperate and throws herself into a relationship with a guy she meets at a Christmas farm, helping his family from day one and then talking about marriage and kids only 6 days in. At least he showed who he really was at that point, but still - who does that after 6 days?!
I would have liked to have seen Kelsey and Zach's boss get her comeuppance after she fired Kelsey and blackballed her in LA but I guess they got their own revenge when they moved to New York and started a casting agency there.
Overall it was a cute little romance, only one spicy scene though in the middle.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
August 14, 2024
Kelsey Whitaker is a 25 year old casting assistant to a mean boss nicknamed the Demon. Kelsey's super power is she can pick two people to be paired together as romantic leads in anything. Kelsey grew up in Alabama on a dairy farm, but left the country life for the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, CA. Kelsey's best friend is her co-worker, Zachery Montgomery Carter, a 36 year old has been actor, known for his raunchy comedies. Zachery doesn't need to work, but he is secretly in love with Kelsey so he keeps working just to be with her. When Kelsey's love life has stalled out in CA, Zachery secretly tries to help it move along, and the result is Kelsey has decided to go on a small town, cross country road trip to find her special one.
Shortly into her road trip, Zachery ends up showing up and decides to join her. He will help her find her easy going. small town guy even if he though wishes it was him. Along the way many funny situations occur with Kelsey's planned "meet cutes". When Kelsey and Zachery arrive in Glass, Wyoming at the Hanover Christmas Tree Farm, Kelsey thinks she has found her perfect man in the form of Randy Hanover. Throughout the days they are there, Zachery realizes that he probably lost Kelsey to Randy and decides to head back to California. Of course shortly after Zachery leaves, everything blows up and everyone's life is all a mess.
When Kelsey decides that maybe she doesn't belong in CA, she begins the trip back to Alabama and the life she detested, but somewhere along the way Kelsey FINALLY has her real "meet cute" and all is better in the world. Now Kelsey has her happy ever after.
I loved this fun, laugh out loud road trip between Kelsey and Zachery. These two were such good friends that it was hard for Kelsey to see what was right in front of her. But somewhere along the way real feelings started to become involved.
Shortly into her road trip, Zachery ends up showing up and decides to join her. He will help her find her easy going. small town guy even if he though wishes it was him. Along the way many funny situations occur with Kelsey's planned "meet cutes". When Kelsey and Zachery arrive in Glass, Wyoming at the Hanover Christmas Tree Farm, Kelsey thinks she has found her perfect man in the form of Randy Hanover. Throughout the days they are there, Zachery realizes that he probably lost Kelsey to Randy and decides to head back to California. Of course shortly after Zachery leaves, everything blows up and everyone's life is all a mess.
When Kelsey decides that maybe she doesn't belong in CA, she begins the trip back to Alabama and the life she detested, but somewhere along the way Kelsey FINALLY has her real "meet cute" and all is better in the world. Now Kelsey has her happy ever after.
I loved this fun, laugh out loud road trip between Kelsey and Zachery. These two were such good friends that it was hard for Kelsey to see what was right in front of her. But somewhere along the way real feelings started to become involved.
June 28, 2024
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance by JJ Knight
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 22 October 2024
Kelsey Whitaker, a Hollywood casting assistant expert in rom-coms, embarks on a road trip across small-town America with her best friend Zachery Carter. Her goal is to find her perfect match - an all-American country boy.
Unbeknownst to Kelsey, Zachery harbours secret feelings for her. As they journey from Hollywood to Alabama, Kelsey tries to create rom-com moments, while Zachery silently struggles with his emotions.
“Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance” is a charming age-gap romance that follows Kelsey on her quest for a real-life meet cute movie experience. Embarking on a road trip through small towns, she attempts to engineer her perfect "meet cute" moment. Meanwhile, Zach, harbouring secret feelings for Kelsey, follows to both protect and support her, despite his own emotional struggle.
The story primarily focuses on their friendship, even as the chemistry between them becomes increasingly apparent. This slow-burn approach adds depth to their relationship and keeps readers invested in their journey.
The novel excels in its depiction of the road trip adventure, featuring humorous forced "meet cute" scenarios and a dash of spice to keep things interesting. It's a fun, light-hearted read that balances romance with self-discovery.
Overall, "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is an enjoyable romantic comedy that's likely to resonate with many readers. Its blend of humour, heart, and personal growth makes it a strong contender to become a popular choice in the genre.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author, JJ Knight, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 22 October 2024
Kelsey Whitaker, a Hollywood casting assistant expert in rom-coms, embarks on a road trip across small-town America with her best friend Zachery Carter. Her goal is to find her perfect match - an all-American country boy.
Unbeknownst to Kelsey, Zachery harbours secret feelings for her. As they journey from Hollywood to Alabama, Kelsey tries to create rom-com moments, while Zachery silently struggles with his emotions.
“Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance” is a charming age-gap romance that follows Kelsey on her quest for a real-life meet cute movie experience. Embarking on a road trip through small towns, she attempts to engineer her perfect "meet cute" moment. Meanwhile, Zach, harbouring secret feelings for Kelsey, follows to both protect and support her, despite his own emotional struggle.
The story primarily focuses on their friendship, even as the chemistry between them becomes increasingly apparent. This slow-burn approach adds depth to their relationship and keeps readers invested in their journey.
The novel excels in its depiction of the road trip adventure, featuring humorous forced "meet cute" scenarios and a dash of spice to keep things interesting. It's a fun, light-hearted read that balances romance with self-discovery.
Overall, "Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance" is an enjoyable romantic comedy that's likely to resonate with many readers. Its blend of humour, heart, and personal growth makes it a strong contender to become a popular choice in the genre.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author, JJ Knight, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
October 11, 2024
3.5 stars
This was a fun little Hallmark style romance.
The main characters are co-workers who work for a casting agency in Hollywood. Zach is a retired actor and he is beyond smitten with his co-worker, Kelsey.
I really liked the concept of this story - someone who helps create on-screen romances trying to force her own small town Hallmark movie meet cute in hopes of finding love when her friend and love is right in front of her face.
I also love a road trip romance and found the way JJ Knight navigated him going after her on the road and doing a road trip in seperate cars a unique spin on being forced in the same vehicle.
Zach appreciates how talented Kelsey is at matching people to roles in order to create chemistry on screen, but outside of that he is so head over heels for her, that he goes so far above and beyond to ensure she is happy, content and faces no trouble. He is her emotional support person. Unfortunately, she takes him for granted and becomes a crutch for her. I didn't love that at the end of the book when Kesley was fired for making a call she didn't have the authority to make and when she finally came around to the realization that the small town guys just weren't for her, she became incompetent. Like suddenly once Zach was gone, she realized how much she had taken him for granted and couldn't really handle much on her own.
John Lane and Juniper Young delivered a great performance. They brought the story to life.
- age gap
- workplace romance
- friends to lovers
- it's always been you
- so much pining
- one night stand
- reformed playboy
- road trip
- celebrity
Thank you to JJ Knight, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.
This was a fun little Hallmark style romance.
The main characters are co-workers who work for a casting agency in Hollywood. Zach is a retired actor and he is beyond smitten with his co-worker, Kelsey.
I really liked the concept of this story - someone who helps create on-screen romances trying to force her own small town Hallmark movie meet cute in hopes of finding love when her friend and love is right in front of her face.
I also love a road trip romance and found the way JJ Knight navigated him going after her on the road and doing a road trip in seperate cars a unique spin on being forced in the same vehicle.
Zach appreciates how talented Kelsey is at matching people to roles in order to create chemistry on screen, but outside of that he is so head over heels for her, that he goes so far above and beyond to ensure she is happy, content and faces no trouble. He is her emotional support person. Unfortunately, she takes him for granted and becomes a crutch for her. I didn't love that at the end of the book when Kesley was fired for making a call she didn't have the authority to make and when she finally came around to the realization that the small town guys just weren't for her, she became incompetent. Like suddenly once Zach was gone, she realized how much she had taken him for granted and couldn't really handle much on her own.
John Lane and Juniper Young delivered a great performance. They brought the story to life.
- age gap
- workplace romance
- friends to lovers
- it's always been you
- so much pining
- one night stand
- reformed playboy
- road trip
- celebrity
Thank you to JJ Knight, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.
June 29, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance was such a cute story, throughly exploring romance tropes but deliberately, for our main character, and through its character dynamics.
Kelsey gets her fortune read with the dire pronouncement that she’ll lose all hope in romance if she doesn’t shake things up by the end of the summer. That’s a bit of a problem given she casts leads for romance movies. Zachery, her coworker and best friend, has a few secrets he’s hiding - he set up the fortune teller to get Kelsey back on the horse and he’s in love with her. When Kelsey sets off on a road trip to try to engineer a meet cute for herself Zach follows but between some meet cures gone wrong and both trying to hoodwink their demanding and demonic boss that they’re back in the office, we get plenty of laughs and things not quite going to plan. But when Kelsey’s perfect man may have been found what’s left to see is if Zach can give up on Kelsey as his love.
As seen by the plot this was a lot of fun, and I loved the exploration of tropes! A lot of hallmark movie callouts were made in the story and it was a lot of fun seeing them satirised but also explored the way they were. I’d recommend this to those who love their romances but also understand what we see and read is manufactured and doesn’t always end up so perfectly.
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance was such a cute story, throughly exploring romance tropes but deliberately, for our main character, and through its character dynamics.
Kelsey gets her fortune read with the dire pronouncement that she’ll lose all hope in romance if she doesn’t shake things up by the end of the summer. That’s a bit of a problem given she casts leads for romance movies. Zachery, her coworker and best friend, has a few secrets he’s hiding - he set up the fortune teller to get Kelsey back on the horse and he’s in love with her. When Kelsey sets off on a road trip to try to engineer a meet cute for herself Zach follows but between some meet cures gone wrong and both trying to hoodwink their demanding and demonic boss that they’re back in the office, we get plenty of laughs and things not quite going to plan. But when Kelsey’s perfect man may have been found what’s left to see is if Zach can give up on Kelsey as his love.
As seen by the plot this was a lot of fun, and I loved the exploration of tropes! A lot of hallmark movie callouts were made in the story and it was a lot of fun seeing them satirised but also explored the way they were. I’d recommend this to those who love their romances but also understand what we see and read is manufactured and doesn’t always end up so perfectly.
July 9, 2024
Well that was a bust... I liked the story idea, it was a bit quirky but I just felt my interest waning the more I read it.
It was mostly because of the characters tbh. At one point, I just found Kelsey to be annoying. She was too judgemental which was ironic considering she was ridiculous and came off a little dumb. Or in her own words "a ditzy blonde". She kept saying she was born in Alabama but she was a completely spoiled city brat. She thought herself as self sufficient but was completely dependent on others.
Zach... Well, I didn't understand why that dude wouldn't go after what he wanted when he clearly wasn't happy with how his life was. He certainly had the resources to make it happen so whining about it just felt annoying. He also seemed happy to let Kelsey use him like a lackey. He had zero character when he was with her. He had zero backbone when it came to her.
The nail in the coffin was the fact that both of them had zero chemistry.
Thanks to Montlake for an ARC copy!
Happy Reading.
It was mostly because of the characters tbh. At one point, I just found Kelsey to be annoying. She was too judgemental which was ironic considering she was ridiculous and came off a little dumb. Or in her own words "a ditzy blonde". She kept saying she was born in Alabama but she was a completely spoiled city brat. She thought herself as self sufficient but was completely dependent on others.
Zach... Well, I didn't understand why that dude wouldn't go after what he wanted when he clearly wasn't happy with how his life was. He certainly had the resources to make it happen so whining about it just felt annoying. He also seemed happy to let Kelsey use him like a lackey. He had zero character when he was with her. He had zero backbone when it came to her.
The nail in the coffin was the fact that both of them had zero chemistry.
Thanks to Montlake for an ARC copy!
Happy Reading.
August 29, 2024
Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance was adorable. I loved the nods to our favorite romcom movies, both literal and more vague. I thought Kelsey's whole journey of self discovery was fun and her feelings were relatable, which made for a fast paced and easy read.
I liked the characters a lot, I thought Desdemona was a hilarious name and felt very Miranda Priestly. I loved Jester and the color commentary he brought, and the characters from each stop were bizarre in their own right. The plot gave us a friends to lovers classic structure, with a low spice rating and a heavy romcom undertone. Influences from movies were listed at the conclusion, which was fun to see the references I caught and/or missed. I liked the characters a lot as well as the overall flow of the book.
The whole 'miscommunication'/'I'm not enough for her' trope is not my favorite to read, and we lived in this space for quite a long time. The story did move quite fast as the road trip progressed quickly, but somehow the plot lingered in this aspect. I was ready for the characters to let a bit more feelings or touches slip, but, alas.. it was just a big tease.
Overall, this was a cute and fun read. Definitely for a lover of low spice and would be a great palate cleanser after a darker romance. I liked it, but did not fall in love.
I liked the characters a lot, I thought Desdemona was a hilarious name and felt very Miranda Priestly. I loved Jester and the color commentary he brought, and the characters from each stop were bizarre in their own right. The plot gave us a friends to lovers classic structure, with a low spice rating and a heavy romcom undertone. Influences from movies were listed at the conclusion, which was fun to see the references I caught and/or missed. I liked the characters a lot as well as the overall flow of the book.
The whole 'miscommunication'/'I'm not enough for her' trope is not my favorite to read, and we lived in this space for quite a long time. The story did move quite fast as the road trip progressed quickly, but somehow the plot lingered in this aspect. I was ready for the characters to let a bit more feelings or touches slip, but, alas.. it was just a big tease.
Overall, this was a cute and fun read. Definitely for a lover of low spice and would be a great palate cleanser after a darker romance. I liked it, but did not fall in love.
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