Love Off Script is a fun, yet somewhat predictable, rom-com by Laura Starkey. It immediately pulled me in and I easily finished it in a lazy afternoon/evening. While not a deep, thought-provoking read, it was enjoyable and satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this based on the description, but it just didn’t meet my expectations. I found it really slow and repetitive and felt like every other romance I’ve read. I also hate the miscommunication trope 😭

I was excited to pick up Love Off Script after really enjoying another book by Laura Starkey, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The premise had so much potential—academic drama, a fresh start in the TV world, and a romance filled with tension. And to be fair, the beginning hooked me right away! Jess’s situation was messy and compelling, and I was eager to see her navigate the world of script consulting.

But somewhere along the way, the story lost its spark. While the banter between Jess and Nathan had its moments, I never fully connected with their romance. The chemistry felt more forced than natural at times, and the plot started to drag rather than build. I kept waiting for something to reignite my interest, but it just didn’t happen.

That said, I can see why other readers loved it. Starkey’s writing is engaging, and if you enjoy a slow-burn romance with a bit of Hollywood drama, this might work better for you than it did for me. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel that same magic this time around.

First book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last. A lovely romantic tale of two bruised and broken people who find joy in themselves and in each other as they collaborate on a book collaboration.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and emotionally satisfying. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book, in fact I read it all in a day in the end because I just kept wanting to find out what had happened next! Jess was a FABULOUS character, so likeable and with great friends- I immediately warmed to her and was rooting for her new job to be a success. Nathan was also very charming and likeable and in no time I was longing for them both to do something about their feelings for each other. The setting of the tv show filming was really interesting and provided a great backdrop to the story and the complexities of wider relationships, such as Jess's awful parents and Miranda and the Jonathan story line proved fascinating and made this a much deeper story than you might expect from the cover- it really was a super read, thank you!

Wow. Absolutely wow. Having the fortune to read this book would be an understatement to how much I adored this book. I love how Jess grows into this strong and empowered woman; how she doesn't lose herself in her relationship, but actually grows and prospers into a better version of herself. Bringing up mental health, finding help, cutting off those who don't deserve to be in your life, and making such big changes even though they seem scary, make this book all the better. Laura did a brilliant job bringing these two characters to life, and this is definitely one of those books I will be picking up a copy and rereading in the future, because I 100% enjoyed my read.

Thank you Embla Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

📖 Love Off Script 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

“Story-obsessed from as far back as she could remember, she had always been fascinated by the idea of love as a feeling so powerful that it blurred the line between literal and metaphorical experiences.”

This contemporary romantic comedy follows Jess, who faces a shocking betrayal that leaves her romantically and professionally stranded. In a bid to start over, she takes up a job as a script consultant, swapping the world of academia for the glamour of TV. Jess is assigned to work on an adaptation of "Anne of Arden", a novel she adores and wrote her thesis about. The only problem is the director, Nathan, who Jess can’t seem to help but clash with on everything.

This is a delightful workplace romantic comedy that will keep you entertained from start to finish, I couldn’t stop reading and laughing and rooting for Jess. Also loved her bestie Vix, I also have a bestie Vix and she reminded me so much of her in her wise advice and fierce protection of Jess. All the characters had really well developed personalities and voices and the story itself was sweet and heartwarming, I definitely recommend for romance lovers.

I enjoyed reading this book! It’s a romance story between a screenwriter and a director.

This is Jess’ first tv project as she is called in to help pick up the pieces of a book adaptation that is going horribly wrong. She just so happens to be the perfect person for this project as she is previously a literature academic who knows the words to this book inside and out. She is happy to jump in & help as her relationship with another professor goes up in flames.

The only problem is Nathan, the director, who knows his project is going terribly wrong but for him that means it is going exactly as he had planned. He is going through a divorce from his movie star wife who cheated on him before writing this screenplay & leaving him to direct it. In his mind, what is better revenge than her last project being a complete disaster?

What Nathan didn’t plan for was falling for the screenwriter sent in to wreck all of his plans for this tv series. Working together, they both start to find confidence in themselves and work through the insecurities each of them had brought into this project. I found this story compelling, but a little too insta love for me without before able to fully fall for them as a couple myself.

A sweet rom com with a cute but somewhat predictable plot line! I enjoyed the premise of this book and thought it was paced nicely! There was some great growth for Jess learning to stand up for herself and the backstory to understand why Nathan and Jess behaved as they did was fab! I did think they read as much younger than established professionals though which did detract a little for me! Nevertheless I did enjoy reading this and it was a great palate cleanser due to its lighthearted easy style.

Overall 3.5 stars 🌟 probably won’t stick with me but an enjoyable read nonetheless

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I couldn’t wait to start this after loving Laura Starkey’s last novel The Spare Room.
Jess is having a bad time after being cheated on so decides the best thing to do is have a fresh start. She accepts a job working on Anne of Arden and begins work with director Nathan. There is an instant chemistry between them and I enjoyed how this played out.
Jess and Nathan were both great characters and I also loved Jess’s friends.
A great romantic read with a good side plot and great characters.
Thanks to NetGalley, Laura Starkey and Embla Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It was a good read that caught me from the start. I liked the way the book was laid out and it was a unique plot that left you unsure of where it would go. At times it got a bit too crude for me, and I could do without a lot of the language, but it was easy to skip over and continue with the story. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of feel good romance.

I really enjoyed the premise and characters, but felt like the writing was kind of clunky. I think there was a flow that was missing from the start that made me struggle to really get invested. It also felt kind of heavy-handed on telling me what the character was like or felt rather than showing it to me,

Overall still a cute read. This wasn’t my favorite, but I’d try another book by this author!

First book I've read by this author.
Jess is Ph.d who discovers her lover ( aka one of her academic mentors) cheating on her. She takes a job as a script consultant on a movie based on her favorite book and one she knows more about than any other academic.
Nathan is the director. You can figure out what happens here.
Tropes WORkplace romance/ he falls first/female empowerment arc/ badboy past.
there was a lot of dialogue and explaining in the book to the point I sometimes just skipped pages. I did go back to them at other times to read them because to give a review I need to assure that I've read the entire book.
The writing was good, the pacing a bit slow. The side characters fell into two groups: the horrible and the fabulous.
Fabulous" Jess's friends VIx and Ben; Phillipa the producer, Ben, Nate's bestie
The horrible: Jess's ex - Jonathan ( total douchebag) her parents ( something was really wrong with them)
All in all a pleasant read.

I really really liked this book. Laura Starkey is a new author to me but the cover caught my attention and I'm so glad that it did! Love off script is a wonderful story that follows Jess as her life changes after catching her emotionally abusive boyfriend cheating. She picks up the pieces and takes a new job consulting on the script of a TV adaption of the book that she's built her career around. The director Nathan has a plot for revenge and a troubled psst that makes it hard to let Jess do her job let alone past his walls.

I enjoyed the parallels between Jess and Nathan's relationship and the story the are filming, the complicated relationship Jess has with her parents and the development of the two main characters throughout the book. It started a bit slow for me and I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but it got me hooked and I spent hours straight reading the last half. Not normally a fan of third person but this is done well and was still engaging.

4⭐

Very mild language, one open door scene in chapter 23.

This book was so good! I really loved the characters and how well developed they were! I enjoyed reading their story!

I adored this book! Having previously read The Spare Room by Laura Starkey, I knew instantly that I would love this book. I loved the relationships between Jess and Nathan and their personal stories and how they came out stronger in the end. This message of personal growth was exceptionally delivered and very inspiring. I would recommend this book to readers who love lighthearted romance with heartwarming main characters who both overcome their own struggles.

Thank you to net galley, Laura Starkey and the publisher for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely looooved this!!! I read it through the night and couldn't put it down until like 3am. Obsessed!

Love Off Script by Laura Starkey

Laura Starkey is fast becoming one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. After The Spare Room completely won me over, I was delighted to get my hands on this one—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

The Setup 🎭

Jess, a brilliant academic (emphasis on brilliant), has been both professionally and emotionally betrayed. In an attempt to move forward, she throws herself into a passion project: adapting one of her favourite classic novels into a screenplay. The author she’s adapting is a fictional Jane Austen-esque figure, and Jess knows this world inside out.

Enter Nathan. A successful director—but of gritty crime dramas, not delicate period pieces. He’s all action sequences and car chases, and Jess immediately clocks him as indifferent (at best) and actively sabotaging the project (at worst). Cue friction. Sparks. And eventual undeniable chemistry.

But, of course, both Jess and Nathan are carrying some serious emotional baggage—self-doubt, past betrayals, and a tragic inability to see how great they are together.

What I liked

• Sharp, witty writing – Starkey’s prose is equal parts smart and so much fun.

• Jess and Nathan’s dynamic – A perfect mix of humour, pining, and mutual admiration (once they get past the initial obstacles).

• Fantastic supporting cast – Their friends? Delightful. The actors on the show? Love them. Their ex-partners & Jess’s parents? Heinous in every way.

• Romance with depth – The story isn’t just about them falling in love; it’s about healing, self-worth, and taking a chance.

Final Thoughts ❤️

This was sweet, funny, emotional, and just the right amount of spicy. And the finale? All. The. Feels.

A solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 because it gave me exactly what I wanted—a swoon-worthy romance with heart, humour, and a charming leading couple you can’t help but root for.

(Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.)

I have read all of Laura Starkey’s books, and I think this might be my favourite!

- Enemies to lovers, check
- Slow burn, check
- Forced proximity (working together), check

All my favourite tropes came together expertly in this charming romantic comedy. I loved Jess’ character development, mirroring that of her own favourite romantic heroine, and the leading man was *chefs kiss*

Starkey fans - look out for some familiar characters and locations which I’m sure you’ll be excited to see!

3.5 stars
This was the first novel I have read by this author. I enjoyed the premise of the book. Jess, scorned by a co-worker, is given a job opportunity to re-work a screenplay for a regency romance tv series. Enter Nathan, a grumpy director who seems bent on making sure the series fails. It is a "rivals to lovers" trope which I adore. I liked how Jess’ character grows throughout the book and stands up for herself - it was a long time coming especially with her meddling parents.

That said, I did find myself a little worn out by so much dialogue, ie so much explaining their feelings.. There were a lot of moments where characters kept going back and forth, declaring feelings, then denying them, then declaring them again. The back-and-forth felt drawn out and unnecessary to do so many times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.