Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Reel Love is a fun and flirty workplace romantic comedy that delivers plenty of laughs and sweet moments. Evie Browning handles the age-gap trope with charm and sensitivity, making the relationship feel genuine and engaging. The banter between the leads is sharp and entertaining, and the chemistry sizzles without feeling forced. It’s a light, enjoyable read perfect for fans of contemporary romance who love a mix of humor and heart. Definitely a great pick-me-up romance!

This book was a fever dream but with vibes??

Reel Love is a messy, mildly unhinged, age-gap, workplace, we-had-a-one-night-stand-and-now-we’re-coworkers rom-com with just enough chaos to keep me flipping pages and muttering “oh no they didn’t” under my breath.

What it gave:

🎬 37 y/o burnt-out director with credit card debt & zero tolerance for nonsense
🍻 27 y/o himbo screenwriter/bartender/part-time shirtless werewolf (???)
🔥 One hot hookup → one huge fight → oh no we’re teammates now
📝 Film industry chaos, questionable career choices, emotionally constipated adults
💖 Tropes: age gap | enemies to lovers | forced proximity | he fell first | idiots to lovers

What I liked:
Anna is a disaster queen and I respect that.
John is chaotic golden retriever energy with ✨feelings✨ and also no plan.
The dialogue made me laugh and cringe — a rare combo.
Vivid behind-the-scenes movie mess.
The tension??? Did it have me screaming at my Kindle?? Maybe.

What had me rolling my eyes:
The plot was like 60% vibes, 40% actual direction.
So much “this could be fixed with a single conversation” energy.
The emotional whiplash of “I hate you” → “I’m in love with you” in the span of 1.5 scenes.
Characters were slightly too dramatic for their own good (but maybe that was the point??)

Overall, she’s not perfect, she’s got plot holes and pacing issues, but she’s FUN if you’re in the mood for some slow-burn Hollywood chaos with grown-up characters who act like chaotic 20-somethings. Big “just go with it” energy.

Read it if you like:
🎥 On-set shenanigans
👩‍💼 Older woman/younger man dynamics
💥 Fights that turn into feelings
😵‍💫 Slightly unhinged but entertaining romance

dnf @53
this just wasn't for me. the first bit of the book already set me off because of the insta lust. the FMC was also a little forgetful at times and that annoyed me. however, i can say that the fmc's friendship was really cute and i enjoyed that a lot.

Miscommunication will always be tricky trope for me, the story was okay, but a lot could be done without if there was more dialogue between the two main characters.
I liked the setting and the premise of the story but the pacing didn’t make sense the whole way through.

It was cute and I did enjoy it.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Anna and John. There is an attraction when they meet in a bar. Anna has just gotten home and stops in a bar to get a drink. John is her bartender. Anna is a director. John is a screenwriter. They are trying to stay in the movie industry. Tom, Anna’s ex-husband is trying to mess up Anna’s career. Anna and John are working on a movie together. They secretly start dating. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

A delightful, escapist read that hits the rom-com sweet spot. It’s perfect for readers looking for a cozy romantic escape with cinematic charm and heart.

I really wanted to love this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Thanks to net galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this

Reel Love had some fun moments, and I definitely appreciated the unique setup—a workplace romance set in the film industry with a reverse age-gap. Anna and John had good chemistry, and their banter was entertaining. I liked the idea of an older woman/younger man dynamic, and Anna being a strong, established director was refreshing to see.

That said, the book didn’t completely work for me. The pacing felt uneven—things took a while to get going, and then the ending felt rushed. Some of the conflict between the main characters felt a bit forced or overdone, especially the miscommunications. I also found it a little hard to connect with the characters emotionally, maybe because of the shifting POVs or the narrative style.

It wasn’t a bad read by any means—I just didn’t feel fully invested in the romance or the stakes. If you're into workplace rom-coms or stories set behind the scenes of Hollywood, it might still be worth checking out. For me, it was a middle-of-the-road read: cute, but not super memorable.

What an Age-gap story. Very rare to read a story where the woman is older then the man.

They are nearly in the same business but have different stages of life lived.

a bit emotional but very cute to read.

Have fun reading!

I couldn’t get into this book, it was honestly just not my vibe. I feel like it was very superficial and J need deep character building as well as a slow burn usually.

2.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Reel Love had me ready to grab popcorn and settle in for a rom-com romp full of steamy chemistry, industry chaos, and love behind the camera. And while the setup promised a behind-the-scenes blockbuster, what I got felt more like a first draft that needed a few more script revisions.

Let’s start with the positives: the concept? Delightful. A struggling, down-on-her-luck director and a baby screenwriter/part-time werewolf extra fall into a messy, age-gapped, enemies-to-lovers slow burn while trying to save a sinking movie? That’s catnip. Throw in a charming cast of supporting characters, some chaotic film set hijinks, and a little commentary on Hollywood burnout, and I was in.

But unfortunately, this one didn’t quite stick the landing. The banter tried hard to be snappy and screwball, but often ended up feeling forced—or worse, repetitive. Anna and John had great potential as leads, but I found myself more frustrated than invested in their dynamic. Anna’s bitterness veered toward joyless cynicism, and John’s puppyish charm wore thin as he ricocheted between earnest heartthrob and, well, kind of a doormat.

Also: pacing. This was a slow burn, but by the time the romance actually burned, I’d already emotionally checked out. It felt like wading through pages of script rewrites and “will they/won’t they” tension that never quite paid off in the way I hoped. The chemistry simmered, but never quite sizzled. It’s like they were in different genres half the time—one in a rom-com, the other in an indie drama.

Still, Reel Love isn’t without its charm. The behind-the-scenes of indie filmmaking felt fresh and fun, and there were flashes of clever dialogue and heartfelt moments that reminded me what this book could’ve been with a tighter edit and a bit more emotional depth.

If you’re a fan of film-set romance and love a messy, chaotic duo trying to stumble into love, this might still hit the spot for you!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When a struggling indie filmmaker and a charming yet grumpy Hollywood star collide, sparks fly both on and off set in Reel Love. What starts as a professional collaboration soon turns into a whirlwind of chemistry, misunderstandings, and reluctant attraction, leading to a love story neither of them saw coming.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS! What is Evie Browning even onto???

This book found me at the perfect time, reminding me that love, like filmmaking, is messy, unpredictable, and absolutely worth the risk. Sam taught me that chasing your dreams sometimes means breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way, and Ellie made me believe in the magic of unexpected second chances.

I love how Sam is both cocky and secretly soft, how his walls come down bit by bit around Ellie. And Ellie? She’s the definition of resilience; Sharp-witted, passionate, and just chaotic enough to make every moment with her feel electric. Their banter, their stolen glances, the push and pull; it was everything!

can't wait to read more!

Themes & Tropes: Grumpy vs. Sunshine, Hollywood & Indie Film Worlds Collide, Slow burn romance with electric chemistry and Second chances & chasing dreams

Highly recommended for readers who love: Witty banter and sizzling chemistry, Strong, ambitious heroines and guarded heroes, A behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking and Romance with emotional depth and heartwarming moments

Thank you, Evie Browning, for giving me an advance review copy of this book! I absolutely loved every second of it.

Reel Love by Evie Browning is a sweet and heartwarming romance set against the backdrop of a charming coastal town. The story follows Mia, a woman searching for a fresh start, and Jake, a local fisherman with a troubled past. As their paths cross, sparks fly, and they begin to uncover what really matters in life and love.

Browning's writing is engaging and easy to fall into, and the chemistry between Mia and Jake is undeniable. The setting of the small town by the sea adds a cozy, inviting element to the story, making it the perfect escape for romance lovers. With well-developed characters, emotional depth, and a satisfying love story, Reel Love is a delightful read.

If you enjoy a romance with heart, charm, and a touch of personal growth, Reel Love is a must-read.

An age gap.romance, the story of Anna and John. After a night in the bar together the never expect to be working together, so what will happen next?

Anna Kovác, eine 35-jährige Filmregisseurin, kämpft nach ihrer Scheidung von einem einflussreichen Hollywood-Agenten mit ihrer Karriere. Bei einem zufälligen Treffen in einer Bar lernt sie den 27-jährigen John Mills kennen, einen aufstrebenden Drehbuchautor, der nebenbei als Barkeeper arbeitet. Ihre Wege kreuzen sich erneut, als sie gemeinsam an einem Filmprojekt in Italien arbeiten. Was als professionelle Zusammenarbeit beginnt, entwickelt sich zu einer romantischen Beziehung, die jedoch durch persönliche Unsicherheiten und äussere Einflüsse auf die Probe gestellt wird.​

Besonders am Buch:
- Hollywood-Kulisse: Das Buch bietet einen interessanten Einblick in die Welt des Filmemachens und beleuchtet die Herausforderungen, denen Frauen in der Branche begegnen. ​
- Altersunterschied: Die Dynamik zwischen der älteren Anna und dem jüngeren John bringt frischen Wind in das Genre und thematisiert gesellschaftliche Vorurteile gegenüber solchen Beziehungen.​
- Themenvielfalt: Neben der Liebesgeschichte werden Themen wie beruflicher Ehrgeiz, Selbstzweifel und die Suche nach Anerkennung behandelt.​

Fazit: eine unterhaltsame Lektüre für alle, die romantische Geschichten mit einem Hauch von Hollywood-Flair schätzen.

This was a fun workplace romance. Not going to lie it wasn’t my favorite but I think that is mostly that it was a little too close to my real profession so I was critical of that.

Just finished this one — I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5. It wasn’t a “devour in one sitting” kind of read, and while it had some problematic elements (flipping the gender dynamic doesn’t magically fix workplace romance issues — and no, the age gap isn’t the core problem), I still genuinely enjoyed it. It definitely pushes you to think about stereotypes around age, power, and toxic relationships. But in a digestible way because it's still an easy romance read.

Funny, romantic, insightful. I enjoyed the chemistry and the banter. Would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy a celebrity, age gap romance

Review: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Title: Reel Love
Author: Evie Browning
Thank you to NetGalley and McKinley Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reel Love is a charming, fast-paced romance set against the glitzy (and chaotic) backdrop of Hollywood. I really enjoyed the unique take on the reverse age-gap trope—Anna and John had some genuinely sweet and funny moments, and their chemistry definitely had its sparks.

The film industry setting added an interesting layer, and Anna’s experience as a female director brought depth and real-world relevance to the story. The banter was flirty and fun, and I appreciated the commentary on creative ambition and navigating insecurities, especially for women in leadership roles.

While some of the drama between the leads felt a bit exaggerated at times, and the third-act conflict could’ve been stronger, the overall vibe was light, romantic, and entertaining. It’s a fun read for fans of workplace rom-coms and slow-burn tension, especially if you enjoy stories about second chances and unexpected connection.

Perfect for a weekend read or a palate cleanser between heavier books!