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The Meet-Cute Manuscript
American Georgina Justice is a modern literary Midas—everything she writes turns to gold. But after a disastrous public breakup with New York’s most attractive trust-fund darling leaves her unable to write, her agent sends her to England to rediscover her inner romantic.
The last thing Georgina expects to find is Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury—a brooding, emotionally repressed engineer who spends his free time building trebuchets and trying to preserve his crumbling Georgian manor.
At first glance, they couldn’t be more different. She’s a shoe-obsessed idealist with a flair for Regency etiquette; he’s a practical, old-money noble who would rather protect the past than relive it. Not to mention the Rosebury curse, which promises only heartache.
But fate (and Graham’s sister, Eleanor) seem to have other plans. And it’s writing a story neither one of them could have plotted on their own.
The last thing Georgina expects to find is Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury—a brooding, emotionally repressed engineer who spends his free time building trebuchets and trying to preserve his crumbling Georgian manor.
At first glance, they couldn’t be more different. She’s a shoe-obsessed idealist with a flair for Regency etiquette; he’s a practical, old-money noble who would rather protect the past than relive it. Not to mention the Rosebury curse, which promises only heartache.
But fate (and Graham’s sister, Eleanor) seem to have other plans. And it’s writing a story neither one of them could have plotted on their own.
233 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2025
About the author
Kimberly Duffy
5 books454 followersKim Duffy writes low-spice, swoony contemporary romance and historical fiction from her home in Southern Ohio. She loves whisking readers away—whether that’s through time or just to another place. When she’s not writing, she’s usually hanging out with her husband of twenty-five years and four kids, traveling, or cooking. She collects shoes and historical cookbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
April 20, 2025
Kimberly Duffy's foray into contemporary romance is a hit. With an heroine who writes Regency romance but doesn't have a lot of luck in love and a hero who is anti-romance and an actual viscount, the stage is perfectly set for some laughs, some swoons, and character growth between the two. Fans of rom coms by authors like Melissa Ferguson will love Ms. Duffy's work.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and this is my official endorsement.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and this is my official endorsement.
April 10, 2025
I think this line from the book sums it up perfectly:
"There are more feelings than ways to describe them."
Kimberly Duffy is one of my favorite authors and she is so good at taking me through a range of emotions (she's one of the few that can make me cry, and I DID tear up with this one!)
Let's start with the things I adored:
1. The heroine is an author (I don't know why, but I always love this!)
2. It's set in a manor house in England (I'm ready to head to the English countryside myself)
3. The humor - It's so much fun when a book makes me laugh out loud (this one did multiple times)
4. The meddling "little" sister
5. The oblivious hero
Everything about this book was super cute. There were a couple of times I wanted to encourage Frankie to move it along a bit faster as the pace lagged a smidge, but overall I enjoyed the journey she was taking us on. I was just impatient to get there. HA!
I think we absolutely need a second book for Ashley and Garret so I'll likely be begging mercilessly for that. That's right... while I absolutely want more historical books from Kimberly, I also now want a second contemporary.
"There are more feelings than ways to describe them."
Kimberly Duffy is one of my favorite authors and she is so good at taking me through a range of emotions (she's one of the few that can make me cry, and I DID tear up with this one!)
Let's start with the things I adored:
1. The heroine is an author (I don't know why, but I always love this!)
2. It's set in a manor house in England (I'm ready to head to the English countryside myself)
3. The humor - It's so much fun when a book makes me laugh out loud (this one did multiple times)
4. The meddling "little" sister
5. The oblivious hero
Everything about this book was super cute. There were a couple of times I wanted to encourage Frankie to move it along a bit faster as the pace lagged a smidge, but overall I enjoyed the journey she was taking us on. I was just impatient to get there. HA!
I think we absolutely need a second book for Ashley and Garret so I'll likely be begging mercilessly for that. That's right... while I absolutely want more historical books from Kimberly, I also now want a second contemporary.
April 9, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞: Book 1}
👗 Release Date: April 22, 2025 👗
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I really struggled to fully immerse myself in this story, and it took me a bit to figure out why, but once I did, it made so much sense. It’s because this book wasn’t written in the normal tone of the romcoms I’m used to reading; it was written in the tone of an author who is used to writing historical fiction. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it certainly hindered me from being able to fully enjoy the story for what it was meant to be.
Sadly, that wasn’t the only off putting thing about the writing in this book. It switched between first person and third person for the main characters’ povs, which I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind was that the third person was written in present tense and, honestly, it was weird; it really threw me off while I was reading. I much prefer when the third person is written in past tense and the first person in present, not both in present tense.
The plot of this book didn’t pull me in like I’d hoped, and I’m mostly blaming it on the writing, but it could also be that I just simply wasn’t a big fan of the plot in general. The FMC did not make a good first impression on me, leaving the rest of the story to try to make up for it. It failed. While I did enjoy the snippets of the story the FMC was writing, that was about the extent of the enjoyment I derived from this book. Some of the side characters were somewhat entertaining, but not enough to make me truly enjoy the story.
All that to say, while I may have failed to like this book, you may end up loving it! So don’t take my word for it, and go try it for yourself before you form an opinion of this romcom.
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I received a complimentary arc from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions listed are purely my own.
{𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞: Book 1}
👗 Release Date: April 22, 2025 👗
.
.
.
I really struggled to fully immerse myself in this story, and it took me a bit to figure out why, but once I did, it made so much sense. It’s because this book wasn’t written in the normal tone of the romcoms I’m used to reading; it was written in the tone of an author who is used to writing historical fiction. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it certainly hindered me from being able to fully enjoy the story for what it was meant to be.
Sadly, that wasn’t the only off putting thing about the writing in this book. It switched between first person and third person for the main characters’ povs, which I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind was that the third person was written in present tense and, honestly, it was weird; it really threw me off while I was reading. I much prefer when the third person is written in past tense and the first person in present, not both in present tense.
The plot of this book didn’t pull me in like I’d hoped, and I’m mostly blaming it on the writing, but it could also be that I just simply wasn’t a big fan of the plot in general. The FMC did not make a good first impression on me, leaving the rest of the story to try to make up for it. It failed. While I did enjoy the snippets of the story the FMC was writing, that was about the extent of the enjoyment I derived from this book. Some of the side characters were somewhat entertaining, but not enough to make me truly enjoy the story.
All that to say, while I may have failed to like this book, you may end up loving it! So don’t take my word for it, and go try it for yourself before you form an opinion of this romcom.
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I received a complimentary arc from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions listed are purely my own.
April 25, 2025
a fun and humorous romance
The Meet Cute Manuscript was a delight to read, with two main characters who are quirky, unique, and relatable. The story touched on the struggles of family relations in a way that added depth to the story without making the story drag or feel somber. It was humorous in all the right ways and sweet in the romance. This sweet, closed door romance is one to enjoy.
The Meet Cute Manuscript was a delight to read, with two main characters who are quirky, unique, and relatable. The story touched on the struggles of family relations in a way that added depth to the story without making the story drag or feel somber. It was humorous in all the right ways and sweet in the romance. This sweet, closed door romance is one to enjoy.
April 10, 2025
4.5* Rounding up.
This was a cute and delightful rom-com. Georgina Justice, aka Frankie, is a best-selling author and finds herself dealing with a pretty public breakup from her fiance. That definitely doesn't help her heart for writing her soon to be due manuscript for another Regency Romance. What does one do when they can't find their inspiration? Why disappear to England of course and stay in a castle! Works every time! *winks*
I giggled at her first human encounter at the castle. With Eleanor. She's an adorable older teenager/almost twenty year old, who is trying to navigate life and help her brother, the Viscount Rosebury, aka Graham Michael Phips-Harington. Whew! That's a mouthful of a name. He's a bit of a grump and a recluse. He's happy to throw himself into his projects and hobbies and keep the public far away from his quite life. Little does he know that this American named Frankie is going to make his life a whole lot more interesting. She just wants peace and quiet as well but somehow with her around, he's not going to find any internal rest when his heart is all a whirl!
The dynamics between these characters were fun. There are some plot twists as they navigate life, especially as Graham realizes that his sister Eleanor is turning into a woman and is not the young girl he keeps imagining her to be. Thankfully Frankie is there to help him navigate it all.
I loved the fun snippets of Frankie, aka Georgina's, novel that she is writing. I loved how she drew inspiration from the world around her and the parallels of Frankie's life with the novel.
Cute. Humorous. Thoughtful. And full of chemistry and sweet romance.
Content: Clean. Some kisses and nothing further.
I received a copy from the publisher, Victory Editing Co-op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
This was a cute and delightful rom-com. Georgina Justice, aka Frankie, is a best-selling author and finds herself dealing with a pretty public breakup from her fiance. That definitely doesn't help her heart for writing her soon to be due manuscript for another Regency Romance. What does one do when they can't find their inspiration? Why disappear to England of course and stay in a castle! Works every time! *winks*
I giggled at her first human encounter at the castle. With Eleanor. She's an adorable older teenager/almost twenty year old, who is trying to navigate life and help her brother, the Viscount Rosebury, aka Graham Michael Phips-Harington. Whew! That's a mouthful of a name. He's a bit of a grump and a recluse. He's happy to throw himself into his projects and hobbies and keep the public far away from his quite life. Little does he know that this American named Frankie is going to make his life a whole lot more interesting. She just wants peace and quiet as well but somehow with her around, he's not going to find any internal rest when his heart is all a whirl!
The dynamics between these characters were fun. There are some plot twists as they navigate life, especially as Graham realizes that his sister Eleanor is turning into a woman and is not the young girl he keeps imagining her to be. Thankfully Frankie is there to help him navigate it all.
I loved the fun snippets of Frankie, aka Georgina's, novel that she is writing. I loved how she drew inspiration from the world around her and the parallels of Frankie's life with the novel.
Cute. Humorous. Thoughtful. And full of chemistry and sweet romance.
Content: Clean. Some kisses and nothing further.
I received a copy from the publisher, Victory Editing Co-op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
April 1, 2025
I was a bit hesitant about the incorporation of regency England but it worked out.
I was hooked from the moment the story started because of her previous relationship and how it ended, however I have to say I wasn’t 100% in love with Graham, not my kind of hero for the most of the story.
What I did like is the HEA and how it all worked out for everyone!
Special thanks to Kim Duffy and Netgalley for this ARC.
I was hooked from the moment the story started because of her previous relationship and how it ended, however I have to say I wasn’t 100% in love with Graham, not my kind of hero for the most of the story.
What I did like is the HEA and how it all worked out for everyone!
Special thanks to Kim Duffy and Netgalley for this ARC.
April 22, 2025
This romance is such a delight! I have a soft spot for novels about writers, but this one really stands out as special. I love the premise of the story - that a Regency romance novelist gets to live out a Regency-style romance in the present day - and Kim Duffy executes it masterfully. I enjoyed Frankie and Graham both as individuals and as a couple, and I loved the role Graham's sister Eleanor played in their budding romance. The setting was also fascinating, and I enjoyed the freshness of Duffy's writing voice, which is distinctive and different from a lot of other writers in the best possible way. This is one of the best romances I've read in 2025, and I hope Kim Duffy will write another contemporary book!
I received a digital review copy of The Meet Cute Manuscript from Netgalley.
I received a digital review copy of The Meet Cute Manuscript from Netgalley.
April 14, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read from Kim Duffy and it was super charming . The book introduces “Frankie “ who is writing a book but has writers block after a breakup so her best friend and publisher Ashley sends her to a mysterious castle so she can gain her writing back. She gains so much more when she meets the mysterious Graham and even the charming sister Eleanor. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Frankie , Graham and even the sister Eleanor . It was a really good book. A beautiful relationship with Graham and Frankie . I have a feeling there is a series coming . Do yourself a favor read a good book with this one .
Thank you Kim for the ARC
Thank you Kim for the ARC
December 28, 2025
Endorsement: I adored everything about The Meet Cute Manuscript by Kim Duffy! The characters are just perfection. The story. The wit. The KISSES!! All of it. Even the skeleton (if you know you know). This story put a big smile on my face and in my heart, and I devoured it as quickly as possible.
March 31, 2025
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is a general adult fiction from beloved CF author Kimberley Duffy. This book follows the life of famous Regency author Georgina Justice (real name Frankie Brown). Through a crazy highly public situation, she dumps her bigger-than-life fiancé after catching him cheating in a social media video--but it creates a...well melt-down. So her agent sends her overseas to England for a chance to regroup and be able to write her next book. Turns out it's not quite a B&B as it isn't maintained yet. It's rather falling apart--but it's a gorgeous mansion in the style and era of Frankie's books. She decides she HAS to stay despite the resistance from the owner...
I loved the interactions between the characters. And I felt like the plot was pretty well done. One of my favorite scenes was when Frankie chastises Graham for not "understanding women". LOL. So so true.
I think Eleanor is my favorite character for the book. She had so much hidden inside and struggled to be seen as an adult and capable of making good decisions by her big brother. Her story was still sad once revealed.
I also enjoyed the story inside the story as Frankie tried to write her new book.
4 stars for this fun story
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
I loved the interactions between the characters. And I felt like the plot was pretty well done. One of my favorite scenes was when Frankie chastises Graham for not "understanding women". LOL. So so true.
I think Eleanor is my favorite character for the book. She had so much hidden inside and struggled to be seen as an adult and capable of making good decisions by her big brother. Her story was still sad once revealed.
I also enjoyed the story inside the story as Frankie tried to write her new book.
4 stars for this fun story
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
April 1, 2025
Delightful! I loved every minute of it! Engaging story, wonderful characters, I could not put it down! (In fact I read into the wee hours of the morning to finish it.)
In The Meet-Cute Manuscript, we meet best selling Regency author Georgina Justice (aka Frankie Brown) who has reinvented herself after her difficult upbringing, and is now engaged to one of the most eligible trust fund bachelors in the country, until she isn't. Her very public break up leaves her unable to write her signature romances, so her agent and best friend Ashley sends her to live in a Georgian Manor home in England for a few months to get past her writers block. Ashley makes the reservation under Frankie's real name for some anonymity. Young 17 year old Eleanor Phips-Harington has booked her reservation without telling her older brother Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury.
The weaving of the story Frankie is writing with the story she is living was so much fun. Her heart loved all the history of the manor home, the family going back generations, the trunks of old clothes, the formal paintings on the walls, and even the ghost stories Graham told her to try to get her to leave. "He'd thought to scare her away with the family ghost, but it seems as though she's the one with the power to terrify him." Frankie loves the manor home with it's special rooms including the ballroom and the conservatory, and especially how Graham and Eleanor's history went so far back, when she didn't have anything like that with her family.
I highly recommend this captivating story set in England, the sweet and swoony clean romance, with the fun that comes along with grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract tropes.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
In The Meet-Cute Manuscript, we meet best selling Regency author Georgina Justice (aka Frankie Brown) who has reinvented herself after her difficult upbringing, and is now engaged to one of the most eligible trust fund bachelors in the country, until she isn't. Her very public break up leaves her unable to write her signature romances, so her agent and best friend Ashley sends her to live in a Georgian Manor home in England for a few months to get past her writers block. Ashley makes the reservation under Frankie's real name for some anonymity. Young 17 year old Eleanor Phips-Harington has booked her reservation without telling her older brother Graham Michael Phips-Harington, Viscount Rosebury.
The weaving of the story Frankie is writing with the story she is living was so much fun. Her heart loved all the history of the manor home, the family going back generations, the trunks of old clothes, the formal paintings on the walls, and even the ghost stories Graham told her to try to get her to leave. "He'd thought to scare her away with the family ghost, but it seems as though she's the one with the power to terrify him." Frankie loves the manor home with it's special rooms including the ballroom and the conservatory, and especially how Graham and Eleanor's history went so far back, when she didn't have anything like that with her family.
I highly recommend this captivating story set in England, the sweet and swoony clean romance, with the fun that comes along with grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract tropes.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
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April 5, 2025Rtc
June 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but it took me a bit to get into it. It’s very different than any other books this author has written. I don’t mean that as a negative at all, I just didn’t know what to expect.
The POV switches between the heroine and her hero. I don’t love that fact, and reading it from his POV was maybe the thing I liked about this story.
I loved the setting! England, and an old derelict and dilapidated estate, with lots of quirks and things to discover?! Bring it on!!
The characters were interesting. They weren’t as relatable as some I’ve encountered, but in spite of that, I still really liked them.
All in all, this was a fun read!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
The POV switches between the heroine and her hero. I don’t love that fact, and reading it from his POV was maybe the thing I liked about this story.
I loved the setting! England, and an old derelict and dilapidated estate, with lots of quirks and things to discover?! Bring it on!!
The characters were interesting. They weren’t as relatable as some I’ve encountered, but in spite of that, I still really liked them.
All in all, this was a fun read!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
May 12, 2025
The sweetest meet cute
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book, while it was light there were themes that were very real and raw and they were handled perfectly.
This regency-ish romance will keep you on your toes and will have you enjoying the banter between our hero and heroine.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book, while it was light there were themes that were very real and raw and they were handled perfectly.
This regency-ish romance will keep you on your toes and will have you enjoying the banter between our hero and heroine.
May 3, 2025
SCREAMS IN BRITISH ACCENT Oh my GOD, what did I just read?? I am officially OBSESSED. Thank you SO MUCH for the ARC—because wow, I devoured this book like it was the last crumpet in the manor pantry. 😭💋
Okay, let’s break it down. First off—Frankie. Miss Georgina Justice. Frankie freakin’ Brown. Bestselling Regency author, romantic queen, and total hot mess in the most relatable, loveable way. She’s smart, she’s vulnerable, she’s hilarious—and the way she just crumbles after that very public breakup?? Girl, same. And when her bestie ships her off to some grand old English manor to recover (please someone do this for ME), that’s when the REAL magic starts.
Now let’s talk about HIM. Graham Michael Phips-Harington. Viscount Rosebury. That name alone made me blush. He’s grumpy, broody, noble, sarcastic, secretly soft... he’s my new religion. AND THE CHEMISTRY?! THE SLOW-BURN? I was literally giggling and kicking my feet like a teenage Victorian ghost in the conservatory. 🫠🕯️
Also??? The whole double storyline??? Like Frankie is writing a romance WHILE LIVING A ROMANCE??? Genius. Meta. Art. I was living for the way fiction and reality blurred like one of those foggy English mornings. And the setting—the manor, the ghosts, the paintings, the old trunks full of secrets and history?? Literal aesthetic heaven. Give me a map, I’m moving in.
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT GRUMPY/SUNSHINE??? Opposites attract??? It’s giving Jane Austen meets Emily Henry meets the warm hug of a cozy blanket and a well-timed kiss. 💋
This book was funny, swoony, tender, and gave me butterflies in all the best ways. I laughed, I sighed, I highlighted like half the dialogue. It’s clean romance but the TENSION??? I needed a fan. 🫠
To sum it up: I’m in love. With the book. With Frankie. With Graham. With ghost stories and conservatories. 10/10 no notes. Stephanie Alves wishes she wrote this level of swoon (JK ILY Stephanie). Please let me live inside this book forever. 📖🏰
BRB rereading. And yes, this is your sign to read it NOW. 💋💋💋
Okay, let’s break it down. First off—Frankie. Miss Georgina Justice. Frankie freakin’ Brown. Bestselling Regency author, romantic queen, and total hot mess in the most relatable, loveable way. She’s smart, she’s vulnerable, she’s hilarious—and the way she just crumbles after that very public breakup?? Girl, same. And when her bestie ships her off to some grand old English manor to recover (please someone do this for ME), that’s when the REAL magic starts.
Now let’s talk about HIM. Graham Michael Phips-Harington. Viscount Rosebury. That name alone made me blush. He’s grumpy, broody, noble, sarcastic, secretly soft... he’s my new religion. AND THE CHEMISTRY?! THE SLOW-BURN? I was literally giggling and kicking my feet like a teenage Victorian ghost in the conservatory. 🫠🕯️
Also??? The whole double storyline??? Like Frankie is writing a romance WHILE LIVING A ROMANCE??? Genius. Meta. Art. I was living for the way fiction and reality blurred like one of those foggy English mornings. And the setting—the manor, the ghosts, the paintings, the old trunks full of secrets and history?? Literal aesthetic heaven. Give me a map, I’m moving in.
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT GRUMPY/SUNSHINE??? Opposites attract??? It’s giving Jane Austen meets Emily Henry meets the warm hug of a cozy blanket and a well-timed kiss. 💋
This book was funny, swoony, tender, and gave me butterflies in all the best ways. I laughed, I sighed, I highlighted like half the dialogue. It’s clean romance but the TENSION??? I needed a fan. 🫠
To sum it up: I’m in love. With the book. With Frankie. With Graham. With ghost stories and conservatories. 10/10 no notes. Stephanie Alves wishes she wrote this level of swoon (JK ILY Stephanie). Please let me live inside this book forever. 📖🏰
BRB rereading. And yes, this is your sign to read it NOW. 💋💋💋
March 31, 2025
A cute blend of contemporary romance and regency England!
I enjoyed the premise and writing that brings the overall story to life - Frankie, a regency romance author leaves her life in NYC behind in exchange for a castle in England for two months to try and get over her broken heart and subsequent writers block. While there, she doesn’t just fall for the serious viscount but also his whimsical and driven sister, the idillic small town, and the version of herself she becomes while there.
There were times the story was a bit too over the top for my own taste, like when instead of just admiring she likes Graham she instead asks that he kisses her to help with ‘her work’ which is basically the start of their romantic relationship. I also found it a bit hard to track whose perspective we were reading given we jumped between Frankie’s and Graham’s without any introduction.
Thank you to Kimberly Duffy and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the premise and writing that brings the overall story to life - Frankie, a regency romance author leaves her life in NYC behind in exchange for a castle in England for two months to try and get over her broken heart and subsequent writers block. While there, she doesn’t just fall for the serious viscount but also his whimsical and driven sister, the idillic small town, and the version of herself she becomes while there.
There were times the story was a bit too over the top for my own taste, like when instead of just admiring she likes Graham she instead asks that he kisses her to help with ‘her work’ which is basically the start of their romantic relationship. I also found it a bit hard to track whose perspective we were reading given we jumped between Frankie’s and Graham’s without any introduction.
Thank you to Kimberly Duffy and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2025
I have been a fan of Kim Duffy's historical romances (written as Kimberly Duffy) in the past- her book The Weight of Air is in fact an all-time favorite of mine- so I was very excited to see that she had written a contemporary... and it absolutely did not disappoint! First of all, with a title like this, a good meet-cute was an absolute must, and this one certainly delivered that. I loved it. Georgina (real name Frankie) is a regency romance author who needs to get away from the public eye after a public breakup with her ex-fiancé. She finds herself taking a trip to a Georgian manor in England, owned by Eleanor and her brooding brother (and real-life viscount) Graham. I won't tell you exactly how these two met for this first time... but it was definitely cute! The stories that made me fall in love with reading as a child (one of which-Mandy by Julie Andrews- is actually mentioned in the book), are those stories that had these homes that are full of history and secrets and maybe even some ghosts and I loved seeing those elements in this story with all the stories of Graham's family and property. There was a lot to love in this story, and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
April 4, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! It’s a charming romance about an author who, after being dumped, escapes to a lavish English estate retreat run by a Viscount and his sister.(really just the sister🤣) The wit throughout is fantastic! The quirky activities, like trebuchet games and dressing up in vintage attire, add a delightful twist. Both characters share a passion for history, which deepens their connection.
The heroine, hailing from humble beginnings, finds herself and her stories in a vibrant way—especially with the delightful ink and quill writing scenes. (trying to get her Regency groove back)😉 The Viscount is irresistibly dreamy, and the mystery of her hidden identity only intensifies their chemistry.🥰
This story beautifully blends modern romance with a historical vibe, creating a captivating love story. The characters challenge and complement each other’s views on love and life, making their bond all the more compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to explore more of Kim Duffy’s books in the future!🫶
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley.
The heroine, hailing from humble beginnings, finds herself and her stories in a vibrant way—especially with the delightful ink and quill writing scenes. (trying to get her Regency groove back)😉 The Viscount is irresistibly dreamy, and the mystery of her hidden identity only intensifies their chemistry.🥰
This story beautifully blends modern romance with a historical vibe, creating a captivating love story. The characters challenge and complement each other’s views on love and life, making their bond all the more compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to explore more of Kim Duffy’s books in the future!🫶
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley.
July 25, 2025
Cute and fun and light, but with substance and a good storyline to make it truly enjoyable.
April 14, 2025
This was a cute contemporary rom-com, starring a historical romance writer. I absolutely love when authors make their main characters authors, and this one was all kinds of quirky. Frankie Brown, pen name Georgina Justice, finds herself needing to lay low after some particularly public humiliation, and make some headway on her latest book. What better place than an English countryside manor house with a grumpy modern-day viscount to write her latest regency romance?
This author is well known for her heavier historicals, so I was thrilled to see how she would handle a lighter contemporary. And though this was lighter than her historical fiction, it did have a heavier feel than I'm used to for rom-coms in general. There were still plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and fun twists, notwithstanding and is one I can easily recommend. All in all, I would classify this as a clean, fun rom-com and a quick enjoyable read. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
This author is well known for her heavier historicals, so I was thrilled to see how she would handle a lighter contemporary. And though this was lighter than her historical fiction, it did have a heavier feel than I'm used to for rom-coms in general. There were still plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and fun twists, notwithstanding and is one I can easily recommend. All in all, I would classify this as a clean, fun rom-com and a quick enjoyable read. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
April 21, 2025
NetGalley Review
Throughout this book I thought I would give it a three star review. It was ok, but not special. It was obvious that the author is far more comfortable with historical romance. The excerpts of the regency prose her main character writes draws you in far more than the active plot does. I found myself far more interested in the background characters. Eleanor’s story is much more intriguing and she’s a more rounded character. I felt very little emotional connection to Graham and Frankie/Georgina. Though this story is only 200 plus pages, it feels much longer. The main conflict had a a lackluster reveal. There are also elements that are confusing to the reader. The male main character is said to be so naive to the protagonist’s attraction, but the author writes about how he can read her every thought on her face. At one point he thinks about how she looks like she wants to kiss him, but she thinks he’s completely oblivious. It makes no sense.
This book is also, in name only, dual point of view. We get very little from Graham’s point of view and when we do, it’s in a different tense. It makes reading his point of view feel disjointed. Honestly, it wasn’t necessary to include his point of view at all with how little it was included.
I’m not typically a harsh reviewer, however this book did not do it for me. Ultimately I would give this book a two star review. I apologize, but it did not resonate with me at all.
Throughout this book I thought I would give it a three star review. It was ok, but not special. It was obvious that the author is far more comfortable with historical romance. The excerpts of the regency prose her main character writes draws you in far more than the active plot does. I found myself far more interested in the background characters. Eleanor’s story is much more intriguing and she’s a more rounded character. I felt very little emotional connection to Graham and Frankie/Georgina. Though this story is only 200 plus pages, it feels much longer. The main conflict had a a lackluster reveal. There are also elements that are confusing to the reader. The male main character is said to be so naive to the protagonist’s attraction, but the author writes about how he can read her every thought on her face. At one point he thinks about how she looks like she wants to kiss him, but she thinks he’s completely oblivious. It makes no sense.
This book is also, in name only, dual point of view. We get very little from Graham’s point of view and when we do, it’s in a different tense. It makes reading his point of view feel disjointed. Honestly, it wasn’t necessary to include his point of view at all with how little it was included.
I’m not typically a harsh reviewer, however this book did not do it for me. Ultimately I would give this book a two star review. I apologize, but it did not resonate with me at all.
April 10, 2025
This is a fun story with a fun premise. A regency romance author gets dumped, has writers block, travels to England to write a book and break her block. During her journey to break this block, she meets someone to help her find her way.
This is not my normal genre, current day is not usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one. I love all the family history that was put into this story. I loved the relationship building that took place, between all the family members. I loved the location and the way Frankie help brings things back to life.
This is not my normal genre, current day is not usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one. I love all the family history that was put into this story. I loved the relationship building that took place, between all the family members. I loved the location and the way Frankie help brings things back to life.
May 30, 2025
*Thanks to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for this eARC; the review is my own.*
When I requested this book, I expected it to be cute--a fun way to pass some time while waiting for my husband to catch up in the book we're reading. But I didn't expect it to be this cute. I didn't expect it to enjoy it so much that I was no longer impatient to continue reading my other book. That's what happened, though. This book is adorable.
Character development was surprisingly thorough for something that's not even 250 pages. I loved Frankie and Graham (both mid 30s). Some may find their journey from strangers to love to be a bit quick, especially after the heartbreak Frankie experiences early on in the book. But I was totally fine with it--my husband and I knew we were going to get married two weeks after we started dating, and we've now been happily married 20 years. But I digress. I liked how Frankie and Graham helped each other be more themselves, if that makes any sense. Frankie didn't have to be Georgina Justice while she was around him, and he (as Eleanor pointed out) allowed himself to feel things again. Speaking of Graham's sister, Eleanor (17), I loved her, too. The way she and Mrs. Lewis schemed to get Frankie and Graham together was quite amusing, especially since Graham was so completely oblivious to it.
I think the one thing that bothered me was Frankie's insistence that Crestford House and all of its history should belong to the world and be open to visitors. Yes, it's important for people to see and experience history. But Crestford House as their home and property. So I disagree with Frankie on that. Nobody should feel obligated to open their house to strangers or make their family's possessions available to the public simply because they're antiques. I wouldn't have minded her suggestions had they merely been a way to preserve and maintain the estate (which was falling into disrepair), but her belief that the Phips-Harington history should belong to the people irked me.
However, I can overlook that flaw (because everyone has flaws), and say that I still really liked this book. If you like your rom-coms filled with spunky heroines, gruff heroes, and a somehow humorous macabre history of a quirky estate, try this one out. Plus, I feel a second book in the works, and I'll be there for it.
Two quotes stuck out to me as I was reading:
"Readers don't mind grumpy heroes but they don't want it spelled out for them in the title."
- This is absolutely true. I find it rather off-putting when a title totally spells out the tropes, like The Grumpy Firefighter Next Door or Stranded with Her Best Friend's Brother (I'm totally making these up, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were actual titles). Dear authors, use those as your placeholders while you think of real titles, but please don't publish your books like that.
"There are more feelings than ways to describe them."
- Fact. Just like there are more colors than we have words for, we feel things more than we can describe them. I love it. What a great and simple way to articulate something so true.
How it ends:
Language: None
Violence: None
Drugs & alcohol: Past references, brief smoking
Physical intimacy: Kissing
LGBT: None
When I requested this book, I expected it to be cute--a fun way to pass some time while waiting for my husband to catch up in the book we're reading. But I didn't expect it to be this cute. I didn't expect it to enjoy it so much that I was no longer impatient to continue reading my other book. That's what happened, though. This book is adorable.
Character development was surprisingly thorough for something that's not even 250 pages. I loved Frankie and Graham (both mid 30s). Some may find their journey from strangers to love to be a bit quick, especially after the heartbreak Frankie experiences early on in the book. But I was totally fine with it--my husband and I knew we were going to get married two weeks after we started dating, and we've now been happily married 20 years. But I digress. I liked how Frankie and Graham helped each other be more themselves, if that makes any sense. Frankie didn't have to be Georgina Justice while she was around him, and he (as Eleanor pointed out) allowed himself to feel things again. Speaking of Graham's sister, Eleanor (17), I loved her, too. The way she and Mrs. Lewis schemed to get Frankie and Graham together was quite amusing, especially since Graham was so completely oblivious to it.
I think the one thing that bothered me was Frankie's insistence that Crestford House and all of its history should belong to the world and be open to visitors. Yes, it's important for people to see and experience history. But Crestford House as their home and property. So I disagree with Frankie on that. Nobody should feel obligated to open their house to strangers or make their family's possessions available to the public simply because they're antiques. I wouldn't have minded her suggestions had they merely been a way to preserve and maintain the estate (which was falling into disrepair), but her belief that the Phips-Harington history should belong to the people irked me.
However, I can overlook that flaw (because everyone has flaws), and say that I still really liked this book. If you like your rom-coms filled with spunky heroines, gruff heroes, and a somehow humorous macabre history of a quirky estate, try this one out. Plus, I feel a second book in the works, and I'll be there for it.
Two quotes stuck out to me as I was reading:
"Readers don't mind grumpy heroes but they don't want it spelled out for them in the title."
- This is absolutely true. I find it rather off-putting when a title totally spells out the tropes, like The Grumpy Firefighter Next Door or Stranded with Her Best Friend's Brother (I'm totally making these up, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were actual titles). Dear authors, use those as your placeholders while you think of real titles, but please don't publish your books like that.
"There are more feelings than ways to describe them."
- Fact. Just like there are more colors than we have words for, we feel things more than we can describe them. I love it. What a great and simple way to articulate something so true.
How it ends:
Language: None
Violence: None
Drugs & alcohol: Past references, brief smoking
Physical intimacy: Kissing
LGBT: None
May 30, 2025
This story about Frankie and Graham is wonderful. I love how they discovered and accepted their love and changed who they thought they had to be, to who they actually were. Eleanor was probably my favourite character! She was young, but so smart beyond her years. This was a great story of two very different people coming together and finding and accepting love.
January 14, 2026
This review contains SPOILERS:
I loved the main character Frankie. I loved her personality and admired her passion for regency fiction. Also, I really like that the character wrote the historical piece in a Manor House in England. This really sounds incredible. I really appreciated the little details as well, like Frankie writing with ink and a quill in a vintage night dress by candlelight. It really sets the scene and transports us to the early 19th century.
I much preferred the second half of the book to the first half and I loved the ending!! I especially loved the painting scene.
I found it very hard to get into this book. I found it quite slow at the beginning and not very gripping.
I received a copy from Net gallery…Thankyou!! :)
This review is completely honest and my own opinions.
I loved the main character Frankie. I loved her personality and admired her passion for regency fiction. Also, I really like that the character wrote the historical piece in a Manor House in England. This really sounds incredible. I really appreciated the little details as well, like Frankie writing with ink and a quill in a vintage night dress by candlelight. It really sets the scene and transports us to the early 19th century.
I much preferred the second half of the book to the first half and I loved the ending!! I especially loved the painting scene.
I found it very hard to get into this book. I found it quite slow at the beginning and not very gripping.
I received a copy from Net gallery…Thankyou!! :)
This review is completely honest and my own opinions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
What a refreshing read! I laughed out loud several times. I loved the characters and that one of the characters was a writer. I loved that she was writing about someone named Josephine. It’s always fun to find your name in a book. I loved the location and how the characters felt real. I especially loved that it wasn’t just a romance, but there was character growth between the siblings too. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted read that still manages to deal with some deep family issues and ends with a happily ever after.
May 15, 2025
Lovely story!
I really enjoyed this story! The setting was incredible, and the characters were so relatable in their struggles and how they deal with life. The romance was fantastic! Highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this story! The setting was incredible, and the characters were so relatable in their struggles and how they deal with life. The romance was fantastic! Highly recommend!
April 3, 2025
This was such a cute and fun rom com! I loved the setting, story and characters. Frankie Brown, a.k.a. Georgina Justice is the perfectly, imperfect regency romance heroine and when she's dumped and her publisher sends her to England her story gets even more intriguing. In England, she meets 17 year old Eleanor, the young mistress of the manor house renting out a room while her brother, the Viscount is away. When Graham enters the scene, sparks fly and the story gets even better to the reader.
I really liked the setting from NYC to escape to England. That alone makes this a fun rom com. Eleanor is the perfect foil to her serious brother and a great ally to the heroine Frankie. Frankie is real - struggling any woman in real life from a break-up though hers is tabloid news. Frankie's backstory is relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to grow from the expectations one might have from their childhood upbringing to become something more. The manor house is idyllic and tragic at the same time. I'd love to transport myself to this place to see an English house/castle as described in the book. I really liked how the author herself is a Regency Romance author and writes a modern rom com about a Regency Romance author.
The author does a great job with Frankie's emotions post break-up to a new romance. I loved scenes where Frankie gets to play dress-up in vintage clothing. Revealing Graham's family history is also interesting and how all of that is built into the story. Dialogue between the three main characters - Frankie, Graham and Eleanor is well done - it's both comedic and emotional at times because of the backstories of each character.
I recommend this book for adult readers. There is a loss of a child mentioned in the book which may trigger some readers along with the losses of parents and a friend in tragedy. The losses add to the emotion behind the story and enhances the backstory of the characters. The book has some passionate kissing and several emotional scenes. There are also some tragic family stories that might be a bit much for younger readers. Overall this book has a lot packed into it's pages and balances tragedy, romance and humor all in this book.
I enjoyed the book and couldn't put this one down. I'm glad I took a chance on a new to me author with this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really liked the setting from NYC to escape to England. That alone makes this a fun rom com. Eleanor is the perfect foil to her serious brother and a great ally to the heroine Frankie. Frankie is real - struggling any woman in real life from a break-up though hers is tabloid news. Frankie's backstory is relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to grow from the expectations one might have from their childhood upbringing to become something more. The manor house is idyllic and tragic at the same time. I'd love to transport myself to this place to see an English house/castle as described in the book. I really liked how the author herself is a Regency Romance author and writes a modern rom com about a Regency Romance author.
The author does a great job with Frankie's emotions post break-up to a new romance. I loved scenes where Frankie gets to play dress-up in vintage clothing. Revealing Graham's family history is also interesting and how all of that is built into the story. Dialogue between the three main characters - Frankie, Graham and Eleanor is well done - it's both comedic and emotional at times because of the backstories of each character.
I recommend this book for adult readers. There is a loss of a child mentioned in the book which may trigger some readers along with the losses of parents and a friend in tragedy. The losses add to the emotion behind the story and enhances the backstory of the characters. The book has some passionate kissing and several emotional scenes. There are also some tragic family stories that might be a bit much for younger readers. Overall this book has a lot packed into it's pages and balances tragedy, romance and humor all in this book.
I enjoyed the book and couldn't put this one down. I'm glad I took a chance on a new to me author with this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 7, 2025
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is the first rom-com by author Kim Duffy, and I saw some of her previous historical fiction books were highly rated by reviewers I follow, so I decided to give this book a try.
Summary: Frankie is a famous author living under a pen name in New York City, and has a past life in Ohio that most people don't know about. After enduring a public break-up, she escapes to an English manor house (like a British AirBnB) to write her next book. The owner of the house, Graham, is a grumpy English lord who is an engineer with very little social skills. His younger sister, Eleanor, becomes fast friends with Frankie and they work together to help him become more socially and romantically aware. He soon becomes interested in Frankie, but will his lack of social skills and her hidden past be obstacles too great to overcome?
Impressions: The book had a fun, lighthearted start and reminded me of Austenland or The Holiday. I was intrigued by the book summary, and enjoyed the English setting. My favorite parts of the book were the exploration of the historical artifacts around the manor house.
Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations for writing quality. The plot meandered and flow was choppy. The author switched from 1st person POV for Frankie to 3rd person POV for Graham and some narration. Those transitions took me out of the story and created lots of "telling instead of showing" situations. It was also obvious to me the author was American and not British. I read a lot of books written by British authors and the speech patterns didn't match what I would expect for authentically British characters.
The book was quirky and had elements of a 2000s rom-com, but it also tried to take on a very heavy backstory for Frankie and another side character without fully developing it. It felt like there was tension between wanting to be a light hearted rom-com and wanting to be a heavy contemporary novel. I most often read a mix of women's fiction and romance, but this one felt poorly executed.
Content Warnings: No language, kisses only, a couple sensitive issues mentioned about a side character's backstory.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.
Summary: Frankie is a famous author living under a pen name in New York City, and has a past life in Ohio that most people don't know about. After enduring a public break-up, she escapes to an English manor house (like a British AirBnB) to write her next book. The owner of the house, Graham, is a grumpy English lord who is an engineer with very little social skills. His younger sister, Eleanor, becomes fast friends with Frankie and they work together to help him become more socially and romantically aware. He soon becomes interested in Frankie, but will his lack of social skills and her hidden past be obstacles too great to overcome?
Impressions: The book had a fun, lighthearted start and reminded me of Austenland or The Holiday. I was intrigued by the book summary, and enjoyed the English setting. My favorite parts of the book were the exploration of the historical artifacts around the manor house.
Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations for writing quality. The plot meandered and flow was choppy. The author switched from 1st person POV for Frankie to 3rd person POV for Graham and some narration. Those transitions took me out of the story and created lots of "telling instead of showing" situations. It was also obvious to me the author was American and not British. I read a lot of books written by British authors and the speech patterns didn't match what I would expect for authentically British characters.
The book was quirky and had elements of a 2000s rom-com, but it also tried to take on a very heavy backstory for Frankie and another side character without fully developing it. It felt like there was tension between wanting to be a light hearted rom-com and wanting to be a heavy contemporary novel. I most often read a mix of women's fiction and romance, but this one felt poorly executed.
Content Warnings: No language, kisses only, a couple sensitive issues mentioned about a side character's backstory.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.
April 21, 2025
The Meet-Cute Manuscript is the kind of story that winks at the reader while embracing every romance trope - and I was absolutely here for it.
The book follows Frankie, a romance author escaping to England after a very public breakup, where she hopes to write her next novel in peace. What she doesn’t expect is a real-life meet-cute with a certain grumpy, brooding Brit. Told in dual POV, we get to see both sides of the slow-burn unfold, which adds a depth to their dynamic.
There are some delightful layers here: snippets of Frankie’s own manuscript are sprinkled throughout, adding a clever “story within a story” feel. The setting is modern day but filled with charming nods to Regency-era fiction, making it perfect for fans of historical romance.
One standout is Eleanor, the sister character, who adds warmth, humor, and a bit of matchmaking chaos. She’s the kind of secondary character who steals every scene she’s in and makes you hope for a spin-off book.
Another thing that really worked for me was how self-aware the book is - it plays with common tropes and pokes fun at itself in a way that feels fresh and playful. If you've ever watched Bridgerton and thought, "I wish I could recommend this to my mom," this is your answer. It's low spice but still swoony and satisfying.
The only thing that knocked it down a star for me was the repetition in Frankie’s backstory. At times, it felt like we were reminded of the same emotional beats a few too many times. But once I moved past that, it was a lovely and cozy read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The book follows Frankie, a romance author escaping to England after a very public breakup, where she hopes to write her next novel in peace. What she doesn’t expect is a real-life meet-cute with a certain grumpy, brooding Brit. Told in dual POV, we get to see both sides of the slow-burn unfold, which adds a depth to their dynamic.
There are some delightful layers here: snippets of Frankie’s own manuscript are sprinkled throughout, adding a clever “story within a story” feel. The setting is modern day but filled with charming nods to Regency-era fiction, making it perfect for fans of historical romance.
One standout is Eleanor, the sister character, who adds warmth, humor, and a bit of matchmaking chaos. She’s the kind of secondary character who steals every scene she’s in and makes you hope for a spin-off book.
Another thing that really worked for me was how self-aware the book is - it plays with common tropes and pokes fun at itself in a way that feels fresh and playful. If you've ever watched Bridgerton and thought, "I wish I could recommend this to my mom," this is your answer. It's low spice but still swoony and satisfying.
The only thing that knocked it down a star for me was the repetition in Frankie’s backstory. At times, it felt like we were reminded of the same emotional beats a few too many times. But once I moved past that, it was a lovely and cozy read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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