Thanks NetGalley & Embla Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was cute!

Jess, a literature academic who specializes in the romantic era and is a Georgiana Scott expert, is hired to be the script consultant for the tv adaptation of her favorite novel, "Anne of Arden". Jess is set to work with BAFTA bad boy director Nathan Lambert. There's a bunch of conflict between the two at first as Jess is determined to honor her favorite book and make this the best adaptation yet, while Nathan is attempting to bring his ex-wife's (the original scriptwriter) name to shame and make it the worst show yet. Jess finds her voice and persuades Nathan to not ruin the livelihood of all the actors/producers/set workers on the list and convinces him to let her do her job and bring justice to the novel.

Along the way, they find a way to fall in love. It's very slow burn and there's plenty of pining and flirtation to draw you in. Jess finally learns to stand up for herself and go after what she wants, while Nathan's growth is a little slower but ultimately he is able to overcome a fear of not being good enough, as the media has portrayed him in such a negative way post-divorce. The chemistry between the two throughout the book though makes it easy to root for these characters from the get-go.

3.75 starts rounded up to 4

I struggled with this one. It just didn't live up to expectations. Too much going on it felt rushed. I nearly didn't finish this. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was such a fun enemies to lovers book set on the device “Hollywood” world. I loved the banter between the two MCs and especially the battle between professional and their hearts. Perfect if your look for a fun lighthearted read with a bit of glamour in to the mix as well!

This was the first book by this author that I have read and it really fell flat for me, I considered DNF'ing in all honesty.

There was so much dialogue and I really struggled to get into it. After about 50/60% I managed to read faster but I was still not enjoying it, the pacing was just slow.

The conflict between our two enemies to lovers resolves way to quickly. There was so much scope for more banter and snarky remarks or just something else between these two to make me want to root for their relationship.

If you love enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of banter, tension, and a dash of behind-the-scenes drama, Love Off Script is definitely worth your time! Laura Starkey delivers a sharp, engaging story that blends academia, television, and personal reinvention into a feel-good, slow-burn romance.

The story follows Jess, who is looking for a fresh start after her scumbag ex not only cheated on her but also stole credit for her research. Enter Nathan Lambert, a renowned director with his own agenda—namely, sabotaging his ex-wife’s TV adaptation of Anne of Arden. Jess knows the source material inside and out, and she’s determined to do it justice. Nathan, on the other hand, is determined to make her life difficult. Cue the head-butting, intense debates, and undeniable chemistry that neither of them expects.

One of the highlights of this book is how well it balances humor and depth. Jess is a smart, capable heroine who refuses to be sidelined, and Nathan is the kind of broody, slightly grumpy love interest that’s impossible to resist. Their dynamic is electric—full of witty back-and-forths, mutual frustration, and simmering attraction that makes the slow-burn romance incredibly satisfying.

Plus, the TV production setting adds an extra layer of fun. If you enjoy stories that dive into the chaos of filmmaking (with a touch of Regency nostalgia), you’ll love the way Love Off Script plays with the contrast between fiction and reality.

3.5 stars!

I think this was a super cute and easy to read romance book that can definitely get you out of a slump. I thought the premise was super interesting, Jess being an academic-turned-script consultant for a TV adaptation of her favorite author and Nathan directing said adaptation.

I enjoyed both main characters, they both had a lot of growth even in this relatively short read. It was nice to see Jess stand up for herself and grow the confidence that she deserved. Nathan was a relatively simple character, nothing to write home about in terms of romance men but also better than any real life man could ever be.

Laura Starkey is always going to hit with her books, can't wait for future reads!

Jess and Nathan immediately hit it off and we get some charm and chemistry right then and there but things aren't so straightforward from there and we see a lot of changes to their relationship over the course of the story and with these changing dynamics it is easy to stay invested in the story. There are some really awful characters - but that's intentional. There were times when I was raging at the audacity of certain people! But then we have some truly fantastic friendships - old and new - where we see the people in the main characters' lives really rooting for them and having their back. Nathan and Jess have a lot going on in their lives and some past wounds to battle with, which is evident in how their relationship progresses, and I really enjoy seeing well developed characters who are multi-layered and intriguing. As a fan of the classics, it was also fun having this book set on a tv set for a Georgian novel!

Sometimes I may have wanted to knock some sense into Nathan but overall I enjoyed watching his and Jess's stories unfold and their relationship build and develop as these two grew and changed together.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

After a workplace romance gone wrong, Jess takes a role on a movie. But when she starts to fall for Nathan, is it another workplace romance set to fail? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

What a lovely story. I really have no expectation going in except I know the blurb. Jess is an introvert bookworm, which we started off that she was jilted and we got the front roll seat. Her besties, Vix & Ben are the greatest human beings a girl can ask for, to provide views outside of herself and outside of her box.

Then we have Nathan, who was also jilted by a famous actress and have the blame put on him. He quietly took in because he came from people who should love him but didn't. Jess didn't realized how much her and Nathan have in common then they know. But Nathan also have a Bestie and adoptive mom that kick him in the pants and pull him out of his arse and be the mirror and telling him what's what.

There's alot of things happens one thing leads to another, but it really show Jess' growth with the help of Nathan, whether he knew it or not. She grew a backbone and stands up to the people who supposedly loves her, but turned it into a burden where she felt heavy. But the best lines was from Lady Amy- (paraphrasing) not our past dictate who we are, it's our decision for the future. That knocks Jess back on course.

I will say, this book pacing is interesting, some part you feel like. you're participating in the shooting of their programme, some part you feel like too much in Jess or Nathan's head. But there are funny moments and lines, which I appreciated the levity when needed.

There is 3rd act breakup here, but let me tell you, this is the first time in a long time that I"m not complaining about it. It flowed very well and took place where it needed to happen. And though it literally brought a tear, me crying for Nathan on how he beat himself up, that 3rd act did the job where it needed to. I can honestly say I did not hate that one.

Thank you to NetGalley & Embla Books for the ARC, really enjoyed it.

Jess meets Nathan when she accepts a job as a script advisor on a screen. She needs this job to go well, but Nathan is doing everything he can to make the project fail. Can they work together? I liked how it is told from both points of view.

This was everything for me. I loved Nate and Jess. The characters and vibes were amazing.

Jess had a decent backstory and it was evident how that effected her through what happened in the book. She didn't feel like every other romance character. Nate was the perfect broody male lead with his own tragic backstory.

I love anything with a hint of georgian/regency in it as well so this was the perfect blend for me. The secondary story of this Georgiana Scott and her stories being brought to life adds further to the plot. You don't feel like its one of those romances where you are just waiting for person a to end up with person B. You are invested in whats going on around them too.

I will be reading more from this author going forward.

Sometimes I just need a good old romance to give me some warm fuzzies and make me feel content. This book came at the perfect time for me. I'm currently poorly with flu and this story and the characters were the warm and comforting cuddle that I needed.

Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite romance tropes, so I knew I would enjoy this plot. I do kind of wish the enemies part was amped up a little though. Nathan and Jess were most definitely indifferent to each other to begin with, but the tension between them did thaw quite quickly. That's not to say they jumped into bed quickly. The romantic side of their relationship was definitely a slow burn and I think I would have liked to see a touch more of the passion between them.

Jess was an incredibly likeable character. I found myself empathising with her quite a lot and I was so proud when she found her voice; mostly with her parents. Nathan was an interesting character as he started off being portrayed as the "bad boy" director, but this image of him was quickly disproven.

I loved that this story centred around the filming of a regency era romance. It was kind of like Bridgerton behind the scenes. A very comforting romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Jess is coming off a bad break up with a cheater and co-author of regency era research — which he steals sole credit for. Needing a change, she becomes a set consultant for a TV series alongside a director who really isn’t interested in playing nice.

It’s a good enough read but I found some of the plot points and characters frustrating.

Jess: who would give up credit for their hard work?!
Jess’s parents: they suck as parents (possibly as humans) Jess let them off way gently when considering how crappy they are.

Give it a shot — it’s a decent read, but not my favorite.

This was a very cute and fluffy rom com. I enjoyed it. The story was cute as well. 4 stars it was a quick and easy read.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an advanced review copy I. Exchange for a review.

The tension and yearning between Nathan and Jess was simply amazing! From the initial funny meet-cute to their feuding to their work-relationship turned romance, the reader could feel the tension building between these two are we were actively rooting for them to get together. To top this all off, Nathan is a hard-head who refuses to change for anyone but her … I mean come on?!

While the romance was the main focus, there was also significant attention being placed on Jess’ character development. From someone who cowered by the mistreatment of her ex (what a douche!) to feuding with Nathan and ultimately finding her passion and footing in life, Jess became a delightful character that one wanted to see themself in.

All the positives being said, I was slightly frustrated by the conflict in this book because, in some ways, it showed a lack of character development for Nathan (in contrast to the significant character development displayed by Jess). Yes, it was through some misguided sense to ‘protect’ her, but I think realistically, he knew they were both being hurt by the decision. I also kind of hate that she was ultimately the one to resolve the conflict by approaching him instead of the other way around (i.e., by the person causing the conflict). For this reason, I moved this book from a 5-star to a 4-star.

Thank you very much for this eARC! All opinions expressed here are my own.

This book was sweet, and my first from Laura Starkey. A screenwriter is given the opportunity of her career to rework a regency romance tv show and a director with a reputation that doesn’t want her there (but of course he actually does)- what could go wrong?

I strongly agree with other reviewers that the book is VERY dialogue heavy, it was too much at times. But for the most part I was willing to look past it because the premise was enjoyable.

I could not put this down! I felt like I was behind the scenes of a Bridgerton-esque filming.
Jess and Nathan both have incredible character growth over the course of this book, and seeing Jess's confidence grow was incredible! Absolutely loved it!

Jess has been hurt in the worst way. she has been cheated on by the man she loved. he cheated on her via their relationship and then via stealing her work. so she steps completely away from both these things and finds herself adapting to life in tv work. but there might now be someone else in her way. enter screen left Nathan who seems to be getting in her way with every suggestion she makes...but is their also more to his actions. yup.

both of our characters are really well developed. both on their own and then together. you are rooting from them from the very beginning. you want both of them to have a "happy ending" and go on to wanting them to have this together. they have both been hurt in their pasts. and how they navigate that is witty and refreshing in equal measure.
this book doesnt become cliche. its doesnt just add in tropes. it well thought and and realistic enough for a quick read like this. i stormed through the book happily spending more time than i should reading it.

dnf, too wordy and garbled in the beginning that ultimately didn't grab my attention enough to want to continue.

Absolutely loved this, Jess and Nathan are brilliant characters with enough flaws to make them relatable and draw you in to their story. Nathan is gorgeous yet vulnerable - the opposite to his glamorous playboy public persona- and the fact he falls first has you rooting for him from the off. The writing is brilliant and captivating, the story engaging and it took a matter of hours to fly through the pages. The tv adaption background story gives color to their relationship and helps up the tension levels between the pair. Can’t recommend enough!