Title: As Seen on TV
Author: Meredith Schorr
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: June 7th, 2022
352 pages
3/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Fans of the Hallmark Channel and Gilmore Girls will adore this delightful rom‑com about a city girl who goes in search of small-town happiness, only to discover life—and love—are nothing like the TV movies.
Emerging journalist Adina Gellar is done with dating in New York City. If she’s learned anything from made-for-TV romance movies, it’s that she’ll find love in a small town—the kind with harvest festivals, delightful but quirky characters, and scores of delectable single dudes. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi knows she’s found the perfect story—one that will earn her a position at a coveted online magazine, so she can finally start adulting for real . . . and maybe even find her dream man in the process.
Only Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant.” There’s no charming bakery, no quaint seasonal festivals, and the residents are more ambivalent than welcoming. The only upside is Finn Adams, who’s more mouthwatering than the homemade cherry pie Adi can’t seem to find—even if he does work for the company she’d hoped to bring down. Suddenly Adi has to wonder if maybe TV got it all wrong after all. But will following her heart mean losing her chance to break into the big time?
Review
As Seen on TV is a Hallmark style romance where the main character visits a small town in an attempt to take down the large real estate company buying up land to build on, and also to maybe find love. Adina needs a win, she needs to write a story to solidify a permanent job with the magazine she is working for. But when she gets to Pleasant Hollow, it has none of the aspects of a stereotypical Hallmark movie. Most people aren’t friendly, the stores are not cute or quaint, and there’s no pie to be found. And the only eligible man is the developer she’s come to take down – but she can’t seem to stay away.
Maybe I would’ve had more fun with this one if I was a fan of Hallmark movies – but the whole concept seemed very contrived and Adina just refused to be flexible and she tried to force this town into being something it isn’t. And she wasn’t always very nice about it. I did appreciate the Jewish representation and the idea that not every small town is this idyllic place made of rainbows and unicorns but that doesn’t mean the town isn’t fine just the way it is.
Trigger warning for alcoholism and verbal abuse in parts of the book. The hero is dealing with some demons and is the typical “I can only do casual because I’m too broken for a relationship” and Adina is the typical “I can’t do casual but will because I hope you will change”. Because that ALWAYS works out well?? I don’t know, it seemed way too trope-y even for me and I just didn’t have a great time with it.
However, if Hallmark movies are your jam – definitely check out this book. Just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be great for someone else.
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Happy reading, folks!
Baltimore Bibliophile 