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The Reunion
When two former teen stars reconnect at the reunion for their hit TV show, they discover their feelings for one another were not merely scripted in this charming and heartwarming novel perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
Liv Latimer grew up on TV.
As the star of the popular teen drama Girl on the Verge , Liv spent her adolescence on the screen trying to be as picture perfect as her character in real life. But after the death of her father and the betrayal of her on-screen love interest and off-screen best friend Ransom Joel, Liv wanted nothing more than to retreat, living a mostly normal life aside from a few indie film roles. But now, twenty years after the show’s premiere, the cast is invited back for a reunion special, financed by a major streaming service.
Liv is happy to be back on set, especially once she discovers Ransom has only improved with age. And their chemistry is certainly still intact. They quickly fall into their old rhythms, rediscovering what had drawn them together decades before. But with new rivalries among the cast emerging and the specter of a reboot shadowing their shoot, Liv questions whether returning to the past is what she needs to finally get her own happy ending.
Liv Latimer grew up on TV.
As the star of the popular teen drama Girl on the Verge , Liv spent her adolescence on the screen trying to be as picture perfect as her character in real life. But after the death of her father and the betrayal of her on-screen love interest and off-screen best friend Ransom Joel, Liv wanted nothing more than to retreat, living a mostly normal life aside from a few indie film roles. But now, twenty years after the show’s premiere, the cast is invited back for a reunion special, financed by a major streaming service.
Liv is happy to be back on set, especially once she discovers Ransom has only improved with age. And their chemistry is certainly still intact. They quickly fall into their old rhythms, rediscovering what had drawn them together decades before. But with new rivalries among the cast emerging and the specter of a reboot shadowing their shoot, Liv questions whether returning to the past is what she needs to finally get her own happy ending.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2023
325 people are currently reading
19659 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Olson
10 books607 followersKayla Olson lives in Texas, and can usually be found in near proximity to black coffee, the darkest chocolate, Scrivener, and an army of Zebra mildliners.
THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE has been translated into 14 languages—for more specifics on where to buy in France, Turkey, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Romania, Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Poland, China, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany, please visit www.kaylaolson.com
Social media:
Twitter: @olsonkayla
Instagram:@authorkaylaolson
Facebook: @authorkaylaolson
Blog: olsonkayla.wordpress.com
THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE has been translated into 14 languages—for more specifics on where to buy in France, Turkey, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Romania, Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Poland, China, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany, please visit www.kaylaolson.com
Social media:
Twitter: @olsonkayla
Instagram:@authorkaylaolson
Facebook: @authorkaylaolson
Blog: olsonkayla.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,268 reviews
May 11, 2023
This book has such a fun concept! It's not only the one of them is famous trope (which is a trope I love), but BOTH of them are famous which was fun to read about. I loved immersing myself into the world of movie stars and filming a tv show!
BUT I did think this book was kind of boring which was a big bummer :/ I just needed more conflict with the romance. I ended up reading this book over a few weeks because I kept forgetting to pick it back up 😅. Overall great if you want a fun, light romance about famous tv show co stars with very little conflict.
BUT I did think this book was kind of boring which was a big bummer :/ I just needed more conflict with the romance. I ended up reading this book over a few weeks because I kept forgetting to pick it back up 😅. Overall great if you want a fun, light romance about famous tv show co stars with very little conflict.
August 24, 2022
Oh boy! Child stars, once upon a time thick as thieves, best friends turn into estranged adult stars to join the reunion of their highly appraised, extremely popular TV series after 20 years later! Thankfully it’s plot line is more promising than Beverly Hills 90210!
“Girl on the verge” is hailed by critics as iconic and trailblazing, a breakthrough hit shattered records after records for six complete season! It ended with a cliffhanger. Will the heroine live the town to chase her dreams or will she stays with hero to ride into the sunset?
Two main stars Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were close friends during the filming but after the wrapping up the last episode they parted their ways. Ransom was headlined many box office smash hits as Liv chose a quieter route, pivoting to the world of low budget indie movies.
But now entire cast are scheduled to gather for a reunion episode including Sasha-Kate Kilpatrick who acts like rival of Liv, playing her sister, Ford Brooks who is dating with another popular A-list star and Millie Matson who is also aspiring, highly praised pop star, playing other sister of Liv!
Liv has unresolved feelings for Ransom. They were close friends but Ransom ended their friendship to freely date with other people without public intrusion and attracting attention of gossip columns.
This decision broke Liv’s heart. After losing her father and ending of the series she left to live in a island for a secluded life till she comes back for memorable indie projects.
But now Liv and Ransom will share intimate scenes on set just like the old days. Ransom acts like he misses her so much, giving her mixed signals. Could they build a new friendship or something more than that?
Liv pushes herself so hard to stay professional, restraining her feelings when she’s around Ransom but their attraction is palpable and undeniable. On the other hand, the writers think for reboot of the show with radical changes which probably affect Liv’s decisions to be part of the show!
Will she be brave enough this time to listen to what her heart is telling her? Will she be brave enough to make decisions which are best for her happiness and her riding career?
What if Ransom may break her heart again?
I loved this second chance romance so much! The gossip columns between the chapters were so entertaining! The character building was great. You easily resonate with Liv and Ransom!
Giving my 4 adorable Tv series, praying for Firefly’s reboot decision stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
“Girl on the verge” is hailed by critics as iconic and trailblazing, a breakthrough hit shattered records after records for six complete season! It ended with a cliffhanger. Will the heroine live the town to chase her dreams or will she stays with hero to ride into the sunset?
Two main stars Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were close friends during the filming but after the wrapping up the last episode they parted their ways. Ransom was headlined many box office smash hits as Liv chose a quieter route, pivoting to the world of low budget indie movies.
But now entire cast are scheduled to gather for a reunion episode including Sasha-Kate Kilpatrick who acts like rival of Liv, playing her sister, Ford Brooks who is dating with another popular A-list star and Millie Matson who is also aspiring, highly praised pop star, playing other sister of Liv!
Liv has unresolved feelings for Ransom. They were close friends but Ransom ended their friendship to freely date with other people without public intrusion and attracting attention of gossip columns.
This decision broke Liv’s heart. After losing her father and ending of the series she left to live in a island for a secluded life till she comes back for memorable indie projects.
But now Liv and Ransom will share intimate scenes on set just like the old days. Ransom acts like he misses her so much, giving her mixed signals. Could they build a new friendship or something more than that?
Liv pushes herself so hard to stay professional, restraining her feelings when she’s around Ransom but their attraction is palpable and undeniable. On the other hand, the writers think for reboot of the show with radical changes which probably affect Liv’s decisions to be part of the show!
Will she be brave enough this time to listen to what her heart is telling her? Will she be brave enough to make decisions which are best for her happiness and her riding career?
What if Ransom may break her heart again?
I loved this second chance romance so much! The gossip columns between the chapters were so entertaining! The character building was great. You easily resonate with Liv and Ransom!
Giving my 4 adorable Tv series, praying for Firefly’s reboot decision stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 3, 2023
2.75 Stars
As a child of the 1980's/1990's, I was a HUGE fan of Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Melrose Place, Dawson's Creek, My So-Called Life (a show for which I will NEVER get over there only being one season)...all the things.
Anyone else remember the anticipation you would get when you had to WAIT for every episode...or record an episode on VHS if you weren't gonna be home when it aired? Soooooo good. That delayed gratification, I swear. It made TV magical. And this book definitely triggered some nostalgia for that lost feeling.
The glory days, folks.
But anyway, as I was saying...this book had TONS of nostalgia and was super cute...
However, it was also had really low stakes and ZERO tension. The only character I found remotely interesting was token bitch character Sasha-Kate and the best scene in the book occurred toward the end between her and Liv. Would have liked more Sasha-Kate. Otherwise, every other character in the book was really flat and I felt zero investment.
Overall, super cute...but also super forgettable.
As a child of the 1980's/1990's, I was a HUGE fan of Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Melrose Place, Dawson's Creek, My So-Called Life (a show for which I will NEVER get over there only being one season)...all the things.
Anyone else remember the anticipation you would get when you had to WAIT for every episode...or record an episode on VHS if you weren't gonna be home when it aired? Soooooo good. That delayed gratification, I swear. It made TV magical. And this book definitely triggered some nostalgia for that lost feeling.
The glory days, folks.
But anyway, as I was saying...this book had TONS of nostalgia and was super cute...
However, it was also had really low stakes and ZERO tension. The only character I found remotely interesting was token bitch character Sasha-Kate and the best scene in the book occurred toward the end between her and Liv. Would have liked more Sasha-Kate. Otherwise, every other character in the book was really flat and I felt zero investment.
Overall, super cute...but also super forgettable.
January 20, 2023
You had me at kittens, Ransom Joel! I know I am a bit of an outlier in my enthusiasm over this book, but it was really a winner for me. Loved the behind-the-scenes vibe and the suspense of "will they or won't they become a real-life couple?" The book is from Liv's perspective and she is very likable and relatable despite her star status. Sprinkled throughout the chapters are bits from webzines and social media sites that add context and a bit of tension. After loving this title so much, I want to try other titles by Kayla Olson.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy publication week!
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy publication week!
did-not-finish
February 7, 2023DNF @ 39%: I was really hoping to love this one, but I struggled *hard* to connect with anything that was happening. Not risking a reading slump to finish a book I'm just not enjoying. Oh well!
CW: death of a parent
CW: death of a parent
January 13, 2023
Summary: When the stars of the hit show Girl on the Verge reunite for a much anticipated reunion show, fireworks ignite. Old loves and new rivalries form as they try to navigate a return to the world of Girl and whether or not a reboot is in their future.
Thoughts: This was a fun second chance Hollywood love story with fun celeb gossip articles sprinkled throughout that help to move the story along. I loved seeing behinds the curtain and all the little, intricate moving parts that work together to create both a hit tv show and the reunion that follows.
I liked the dual timeline format that allowed us to see the progression of our MC’s relationship through the years and as well as the growth, or lack of growth in some cases, of some of the supporting characters. The chemistry between Liv and Ransom was sizzling from the first page to the last and was my favorite aspect of this story. If this book was lacking anything, it was more scenes between these two dynamic characters.
Read if you like:
•friends to lovers
•second chance love
•hollywood romance
•closed door
•celebrity gossip
Thank you {partner} Simon & Schuster for my ALC and finished copy.
Thoughts: This was a fun second chance Hollywood love story with fun celeb gossip articles sprinkled throughout that help to move the story along. I loved seeing behinds the curtain and all the little, intricate moving parts that work together to create both a hit tv show and the reunion that follows.
I liked the dual timeline format that allowed us to see the progression of our MC’s relationship through the years and as well as the growth, or lack of growth in some cases, of some of the supporting characters. The chemistry between Liv and Ransom was sizzling from the first page to the last and was my favorite aspect of this story. If this book was lacking anything, it was more scenes between these two dynamic characters.
Read if you like:
•friends to lovers
•second chance love
•hollywood romance
•closed door
•celebrity gossip
Thank you {partner} Simon & Schuster for my ALC and finished copy.
January 14, 2023
i can’t tell if anything actually happened or not.
January 17, 2023
So this was bad. And I didn’t want to not finish it, but I also couldn’t bear to spend another day reading it, so I plowed through it until the tepid end.
This book has absolutely zero depth or nuance. It tries, and fails miserably. There is nothing here to hold onto, no characters to root for, just a bunch of two-dimensional people playing even more two-dimensional people on TV.
Considering the TV show in question is depicted as being “groundbreaking”, and “empowering”, both the show within the book and the book itself do a great job at making a man the female protagonist’s main obsession.
This was just not it lol. There could have been so much here and the author just completely missed the point.
Also—the throwaway plot point of the young actress sleeping with the big streaming exec to get a better role was so yucky and in poor taste. Shame on the author for shoehorning that in there.
This book has absolutely zero depth or nuance. It tries, and fails miserably. There is nothing here to hold onto, no characters to root for, just a bunch of two-dimensional people playing even more two-dimensional people on TV.
Considering the TV show in question is depicted as being “groundbreaking”, and “empowering”, both the show within the book and the book itself do a great job at making a man the female protagonist’s main obsession.
This was just not it lol. There could have been so much here and the author just completely missed the point.
Also—the throwaway plot point of the young actress sleeping with the big streaming exec to get a better role was so yucky and in poor taste. Shame on the author for shoehorning that in there.
February 12, 2023
Rating: 3.5/5
There was nothing bad about this book but there wasn’t really anything great about this book. I thought the story was cute but it kind of felt like nothing really happened during the book. Like whenever there was a problem it got solved behind the scenes and we didn’t get to see it play out. So overall nothing bad about it just nothing to really keep your attention.
There was nothing bad about this book but there wasn’t really anything great about this book. I thought the story was cute but it kind of felt like nothing really happened during the book. Like whenever there was a problem it got solved behind the scenes and we didn’t get to see it play out. So overall nothing bad about it just nothing to really keep your attention.
January 6, 2023
I just wanted the book to end. The story was boring and completely predictable, as any love story, but there was just no spark to this book. Wow, two people are going to get together at a reunion, fall in love, I know shocking, the guy will be too afraid to confess his love. Done.
The gossiping social media thing in between chapters was obnoxious and could’ve been left out. What is this, a remix of Gossip Girl?
The gossiping social media thing in between chapters was obnoxious and could’ve been left out. What is this, a remix of Gossip Girl?
September 10, 2022
Wow!! This book was SO GOOD! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the relationship between Liv & Ransom. Their characters were so sweet and likable. The supporting characters were great too. Would love to see a follow up book with Ford , Bre, and Sasha Kate! I really loved this book and look forward to reading more from Kayla Olson! Highly recommend.
December 20, 2022
I loved this one, the nostalgia, the celebrity romance, the second chance trope, the glitzy and not so glam side of Hollywood just made this such a fun and escapist romance. I was missing some steam a little, Liv and Ransom’s chemistry was super hot already so I would’ve liked to see more 😉 but overall such an entertaining and gossipy read.
December 27, 2024
DF’d at 44%, because this book was lowkey realllyyyy boring and wasn’t going anywhere. I literally DNF’d at the scene where they’re about to kiss, like, that should’ve made me want to read it MORE not less.
Sad to DNF, but it was making me lose my will to live sooo
Sad to DNF, but it was making me lose my will to live sooo
dnf
January 9, 2023Dnf at 40%
I need some chemistry!
I need some chemistry!
January 9, 2023
Review to come ❤️
January 14, 2024
-Slow burn romance
-Famous movie stars
-Second Chance romance
-Hollywood
Think Dawson’s Creek reunites 15 years later.
Romance was minimal for being a love story.
-Famous movie stars
-Second Chance romance
-Hollywood
Think Dawson’s Creek reunites 15 years later.
Romance was minimal for being a love story.
December 30, 2022
Oh y'all. I was so charmed by the blurb on this one! It was straight up my alley and I was so excited to get my hands on it!
It didn't play out exactly as I had hoped.
Don't get me wrong, I did love Liv and Ransom. Their ending was super satisfying and very sweet. I think what I needed is...more. More time with them together. More dialogue. Their relationship fired up quickly - but that didn't bother me because I knew they had history. I took it as the rekindling of a friendship, and I have plenty of those: where you go years apart and can pick up where you left off. But I think once there were clearly feelings involved, I needed more development in order to fully invest. So while I liked them - I felt outside of their story and like far more emphasis was given to the trajectory of their careers, when what I really wanted was more feels.
That said, I did find the whole story interesting. As a lover of these types of shows (hello, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls...sighhh) this tickled a sweet spot for me and I enjoyed the entire premise. I also loved the way the dynamics of the characters were given - and man, I would really really love a Ford story. I loved that guy almost more than I loved Ransom. Talk about a scene-stealer!
In the end, this was a good story. I would have liked more from the romance, but the story itself was solid and entertaining and ultimately rewarding. It was worth the read, even if it didn't hit quite the way I wanted it to. ~ Shelly, 3 Stars
It didn't play out exactly as I had hoped.
Don't get me wrong, I did love Liv and Ransom. Their ending was super satisfying and very sweet. I think what I needed is...more. More time with them together. More dialogue. Their relationship fired up quickly - but that didn't bother me because I knew they had history. I took it as the rekindling of a friendship, and I have plenty of those: where you go years apart and can pick up where you left off. But I think once there were clearly feelings involved, I needed more development in order to fully invest. So while I liked them - I felt outside of their story and like far more emphasis was given to the trajectory of their careers, when what I really wanted was more feels.
That said, I did find the whole story interesting. As a lover of these types of shows (hello, Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls...sighhh) this tickled a sweet spot for me and I enjoyed the entire premise. I also loved the way the dynamics of the characters were given - and man, I would really really love a Ford story. I loved that guy almost more than I loved Ransom. Talk about a scene-stealer!
In the end, this was a good story. I would have liked more from the romance, but the story itself was solid and entertaining and ultimately rewarding. It was worth the read, even if it didn't hit quite the way I wanted it to. ~ Shelly, 3 Stars
February 5, 2023
My newest obsession when it comes to chick-lit tropes, you ask? Former teen stars who get to reunite when they're adults.
March 8, 2024
3.5⭐️ Such a fun idea for a romance story! I loved reading about our two celebrity main characters and them reuniting for a reunion episode of their hit tv show! I liked all of the characters and the setting but I was just expecting a little more from the romance. I never enjoy reading about miss communication and It felt like their entire relationship revolved around that for years. This was still an entertaining and light read but definitely not my favorite!
February 3, 2023
This was cute but definitely a slow burn. I knew this was closed door & low steam but unfortunately I never felt the chemistry between the characters. The premise was fun but the romance never fully captured me the way I’d hoped.
January 13, 2023
The Reunion is a super sweet Friends to Lovers/Second Chance Romance about Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel, two actors who once played in a popular teen drama called Girl On The Verge. They were best of friends and attached at the hip during their adolescence growing up on the show together until they had a falling out. After the death of her father and Ransom's betrayal, Liv retreats from acting for a time before taking on a select few Indie roles she feels drawn to. Now twenty years after the show's premier the cast has been signed on for a special reunion episode. Liv and Ransom have not spoken in years, but their chemistry has not dissipated one bit. They must endure interference from rivalries and tabloid drama making Liv question whether revisiting the past is what she really needs.
I really enjoyed this sweet closed door romance. I'm a big fan of both second chance and friends to lovers tropes so this one was a total win for me. While I typically prefer a bit more spice, I can certainly appreciate this for the sweet romance it is and the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was definitely there. The side characters were wonderfully written and I would absolutely love to read a second book about Bre and Ford. I also loved the additional tabloid article inserts between chapters and thought they were a fun way to mix things up. This celebrity focused story had me reminiscing about some of my favorite shows from my youth like Dawson's Creek, The OC and One Tree Hill. If you love celebrity gossip and seeing your favorite stars fall in love then you'll love this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this sweet closed door romance. I'm a big fan of both second chance and friends to lovers tropes so this one was a total win for me. While I typically prefer a bit more spice, I can certainly appreciate this for the sweet romance it is and the chemistry between Liv and Ransom was definitely there. The side characters were wonderfully written and I would absolutely love to read a second book about Bre and Ford. I also loved the additional tabloid article inserts between chapters and thought they were a fun way to mix things up. This celebrity focused story had me reminiscing about some of my favorite shows from my youth like Dawson's Creek, The OC and One Tree Hill. If you love celebrity gossip and seeing your favorite stars fall in love then you'll love this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2022
Child stars turned best friends turned acquaintances-at-best come together for the reunion of their incredibly popular TV show called "Girl on the Verge" 16 years after it's final season.
Kind of like a Saved By The Bell or Friends reunion but better.
3.5 stars!
Tropes in The Reunion:
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Hollywood drama
- Professional rivalries
- Miscommunication
I really loved the premise of this story! The drama and intrigue of having a second chance romance set in Hollywood? Yeah - that sounded like messiness tenfold.
The characters were my favourite part of the entire book. Ransom and Liv are both easy to root for. Everytime I thought 'this is it - they're gonna get together', the author was diabolical and kept me waiting.
Liv's POV on her relationship with Ransom felt so real. My girl was in shambles the entire time and down so bad for this man. She holds herself with such poise and strength but as soon as she reunites with him again it's game over.
Ransom also was also down SO BAD for Liv and that was so refreshing. Like he knew what he wanted and man went for it. Ransom was showing up with twinkling eyes, compliments and enough blushes for our heroine to know what's up. Did the universe keep cockblocking them though? Undoubtedly.
The Hollywood drama updates were also a good comedic break between the drama. Some of it was so over the top and then I realized that it was basically parodies of those terrible online blogs and the trash magazines in the supermarket checkout aisle.
My main issue was that we got to spend very little time with Ransom and Liv as a couple. I love knowing how a couple is doing after they get together. Like what is their dynamic like now? Are they thriving together? I found this couple very cute and their initial chemistry was fantastic and held so much promise. It just felt like there was more telling us they had feelings compared to showing us they had feelings.
I think this is a story where flashbacks to when they were first together would have been so helpful to building their friends-to-lovers romantic story.
Overall, this was a really quick and fun read! I enjoyed the main cast of characters and the messiness of Hollywood from the perspective of the actors. This story would be a fantastic movie!!
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Kind of like a Saved By The Bell or Friends reunion but better.
3.5 stars!
Tropes in The Reunion:
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Hollywood drama
- Professional rivalries
- Miscommunication
I really loved the premise of this story! The drama and intrigue of having a second chance romance set in Hollywood? Yeah - that sounded like messiness tenfold.
The characters were my favourite part of the entire book. Ransom and Liv are both easy to root for. Everytime I thought 'this is it - they're gonna get together', the author was diabolical and kept me waiting.
Liv's POV on her relationship with Ransom felt so real. My girl was in shambles the entire time and down so bad for this man. She holds herself with such poise and strength but as soon as she reunites with him again it's game over.
Ransom also was also down SO BAD for Liv and that was so refreshing. Like he knew what he wanted and man went for it. Ransom was showing up with twinkling eyes, compliments and enough blushes for our heroine to know what's up. Did the universe keep cockblocking them though? Undoubtedly.
The Hollywood drama updates were also a good comedic break between the drama. Some of it was so over the top and then I realized that it was basically parodies of those terrible online blogs and the trash magazines in the supermarket checkout aisle.
My main issue was that we got to spend very little time with Ransom and Liv as a couple. I love knowing how a couple is doing after they get together. Like what is their dynamic like now? Are they thriving together? I found this couple very cute and their initial chemistry was fantastic and held so much promise. It just felt like there was more telling us they had feelings compared to showing us they had feelings.
I think this is a story where flashbacks to when they were first together would have been so helpful to building their friends-to-lovers romantic story.
Overall, this was a really quick and fun read! I enjoyed the main cast of characters and the messiness of Hollywood from the perspective of the actors. This story would be a fantastic movie!!
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 16, 2023
3.5⭐
It was interesting reading this second-chance romance novel when I was just thinking about and rewatching Friends, an actual old show with a reunion special. Oh, the nostalgia... There were times when I really felt like I was on set with the characters in the book!
I adored the cast. The romance was fine, sometimes I was skeptical and sometimes I was onboard. Liv had such a great team and support system ("everyone needs a Bre in their corner", hell yes). However, I also felt like there were some loose ends and would have loved to hear more from everyone else. Like, what happened to Ford?
One of my favorite aspects here is getting a glimpse into the inner workings of Hollywood and what goes on behind the scenes. The author also delves into issues such as fans being unable to separate actors from the parts they play on screen, how women tend to be villainized more than their male counterparts, cyberbullying by the media and the "secret sides to success":
✨ "That we don't talk about the darker parts of being in the public eye because we're expected to be grateful for all of it, even when it's painful."
There were some parts in the early chapters that felt over-descriptive (a play-by-play of Liv's every move isn't really necessary), but either it got better or I stopped noticing. The gossip articles sprinkled in between chapters was a fun and insightful touch.
Overall, it was a sweet read brimming with nostalgia and romance.
Thank you to Atria Books for the Netgalley ARC.
Favorite quotes:
✨ "As it turns out, all it takes is a single spark to flare embers and ashes into something wild and blazing.
✨ "I've never felt more like me than when I'm with you. You make my world make sense."
✨ "It's why I can't resist the pull between us, why I can't stay hurt: at the end of it all, I've missed him too much.I've missed us. I've missed myself — the feeling of knowing there's someone out there who radically accepts me for who I am on days when I'm grieving and seething and haunted by shadows, not just everyone's favorite girl-next-door who can do no wrong."
It was interesting reading this second-chance romance novel when I was just thinking about and rewatching Friends, an actual old show with a reunion special. Oh, the nostalgia... There were times when I really felt like I was on set with the characters in the book!
I adored the cast. The romance was fine, sometimes I was skeptical and sometimes I was onboard. Liv had such a great team and support system ("everyone needs a Bre in their corner", hell yes). However, I also felt like there were some loose ends and would have loved to hear more from everyone else. Like, what happened to Ford?
One of my favorite aspects here is getting a glimpse into the inner workings of Hollywood and what goes on behind the scenes. The author also delves into issues such as fans being unable to separate actors from the parts they play on screen, how women tend to be villainized more than their male counterparts, cyberbullying by the media and the "secret sides to success":
✨ "That we don't talk about the darker parts of being in the public eye because we're expected to be grateful for all of it, even when it's painful."
There were some parts in the early chapters that felt over-descriptive (a play-by-play of Liv's every move isn't really necessary), but either it got better or I stopped noticing. The gossip articles sprinkled in between chapters was a fun and insightful touch.
Overall, it was a sweet read brimming with nostalgia and romance.
Thank you to Atria Books for the Netgalley ARC.
Favorite quotes:
✨ "As it turns out, all it takes is a single spark to flare embers and ashes into something wild and blazing.
✨ "I've never felt more like me than when I'm with you. You make my world make sense."
✨ "It's why I can't resist the pull between us, why I can't stay hurt: at the end of it all, I've missed him too much.I've missed us. I've missed myself — the feeling of knowing there's someone out there who radically accepts me for who I am on days when I'm grieving and seething and haunted by shadows, not just everyone's favorite girl-next-door who can do no wrong."
January 19, 2023
This book set off my fight or flight
January 26, 2023
Good premise but zero spark.
July 14, 2023
a bit boring.
February 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
3.5 stars rounded up
This was cute! Nothing about it really stood out as super different, but it wasn’t bad by any means. Overall, it was a fast paced, quick read. The characters we’re interesting and distinct from each other, and I really enjoyed the different relationships, romantic, platonic, or otherwise. I would recommend this book!
3.5 stars rounded up
This was cute! Nothing about it really stood out as super different, but it wasn’t bad by any means. Overall, it was a fast paced, quick read. The characters we’re interesting and distinct from each other, and I really enjoyed the different relationships, romantic, platonic, or otherwise. I would recommend this book!
January 20, 2024
I will preface e this review by saying that the second chance romance trope is not my favorite, but I’m starting to come around to them. In this story, The Reunion follows the stars of the hit tv show Girl on the Verge to reunite for a reunion show.
WHAT TO EXPECT
-second chance romance
-friends to lovers
-Hollywood/celeb romance
-celebrity gossip
*many thanks to Atria for the gifted copy for review
WHAT TO EXPECT
-second chance romance
-friends to lovers
-Hollywood/celeb romance
-celebrity gossip
*many thanks to Atria for the gifted copy for review
March 26, 2023
4.5 stars. I throughly enjoyed this second chance romance. I read it quickly and was pulled into the characters right away. I loved the behind the scenes of creating a beloved tv show and I thought the social media parts sprinkled between were well placed and added to the storyline. It was the feel good book that I needed.
January 24, 2023
liv and ransom starred on a teen drama together, lost touch after a falling out, and are now reuniting almost 20 years later for a reunion special of their show! i'm truly a sucker for a hollywood romance and this was no exception. best friends to strangers to lovers just truly hit the spot and the dynamic of being so intimately acquainted as teens and having to relearn each other as adults was fun to explore. since this is single pov, you get really well acquainted with liv, so i personally could feel her emotions as she was working through her next moves, both with her career and in her relationships.
that being said, with the single pov, i do wish we got a little deeper with ransom (and all the other side characters, really), but i think the author included as much as possible with this being liv's story. my only real missed opportunity is that i wish we did spend more time with them as a couple. being that the story is just barely over 300 pages, and with so many other plot points, i felt we didn't get enough relationship development beyond their shared history. i did have fun reading this and i definitely will be on the lookout for more books from this author in the future!
*thank you to Atria for the ARC!
that being said, with the single pov, i do wish we got a little deeper with ransom (and all the other side characters, really), but i think the author included as much as possible with this being liv's story. my only real missed opportunity is that i wish we did spend more time with them as a couple. being that the story is just barely over 300 pages, and with so many other plot points, i felt we didn't get enough relationship development beyond their shared history. i did have fun reading this and i definitely will be on the lookout for more books from this author in the future!
*thank you to Atria for the ARC!
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