{Review} Not Like the Movies (Waiting for Tom Hanks #2) by Kerry Winfrey

Page Count: 320

Published On: July 7, 2020

Published By: Berkley Romance

Genre(s): Adult contemporary romance

Source: eARC provided by NetGalley
Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

What happens when your life is a rom-com...but you don't even believe in true love?

Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early-onset Alzheimer's, she's pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that's about to premiere in theaters across America...and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe's cute but no-nonsense boss.

As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can't see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who's Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn't so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After.

~ ~ ~ 

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so fun to read, but still not my perfect cup of rom-com tea. I found that I enjoyed Not Like the Movies much more than Waiting on Tom Hanks, but that was because there weren’t so many references to Tom Hanks and rom-coms that still haven’t seen or haven’t seen in literal AGES.

Not Like the Movies had some really lovely aspects:

•  Chloe — Goodness gracious, I loved her. She was golden-hearted, selfless, a baker, in-tune with her frustrations and adorations, and pretty oblivious at times. I think she’s a fantastic rom-com heroine. She was so freaking relatable and her personality was written and fleshed out so well. I loved her drive and overall nature.

•  NICK! Wow! I wish I had more of Nick in my life. He is the introverted, coffee, and chicken tortilla soup-loving hero that I need. He honestly reminded me so much of my fiancé and I’m so here for it. I loved that he primarily listened to sad, emotional music—because of same! However, I did wish that his backstory had been fleshed out more. He is such a great character, but I want more about how he ticks!

•  Annie’s flaws were addressed! She wasn’t my favorite in Waiting on Tom Hanks, but I’m glad that she wasn’t idolized and made into someone perfect. She still kind of annoys me.

•  UNCLE DON & TYLER! I LOVE THEM!!!

•  GARY! What a beautifully strange older man. He was eccentric and the comedic relief that I always will want in rom-coms.

•  FRED! What a beautiful man and a great partner. He’s going to be so good for Milo.

•  The humor!!! Ugh so many good lines:

“Fred is an angel with a body that won’t quit, and I hope he never leaves you.”

“Annie snort-laughs so hard that she spits Sprite all over her plate.”

“A person shouldn’t make you feel like they always have one foot out the door...”

This was a gem and I’m eager to see what else Kerry Winfrey does next. I need a novella from Don and Tyler’s POV && Fred and Milo’s — I need those now, please.

Please stay well out there, friends!
Olivia
~Liv the Book Nerd~
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