I have only recently discovered Anna Casey having read and thoroughly enjoyed her previous novel. I believe that previously she wrote for younger readers so I’m pleased she’s decided to write for adults also.

I liked the characters, plot and storyline and read the book very quickly as I wanted to know what happened next. It’s a stand alone novel but a couple of characters from her previous book are included so it gives the reader a warm, coming home feeling.

I highly recommend this book.

I am thrilled to report that Laura's spikey little sister Annie also makes for a brilliant romcom heroine in Love Scene, the kind-of sequel to Our Song by Anna Carey. Annie is a die hard fan of soap operas, and after years working in the UK her dreams have come true and she has landed a job with (not RTE) on (not Fair City). Unfortunately, she has to share an office with the other new writer, Art, her old university enemy.

Art was always a bit smarmy, charming everyone except Annie, who couldn't stand his airs or his snobbery around popular culture, including soaps like the one he is now working for. Not much has changed, apart from his getting disturbingly, distractingly handsome (not that Annie is admitting that out loud). But, Art is happy to let bygones be bygones, and in the face of horrible bosses, suspicious colleagues and impossible deadlines, Art and Annie band together to save Annie's favourite, but declining show - and in working so closely together, in such close proximity, who knows what might happen? 👀

Whereas Our Song is a second chance slow burn that made me shed a few tears, Love Scene is a cheeky enemies to lovers romp with so many lines that made me laugh. There are still some really heartfelt passages, and I felt I really got to know Annie under her hard exterior, and loved her protective friendship with her housemate Roo and her story about settling back into a new life in an old city.

I also found the exploration of Annie's issues with isolation, exclusion and bullying in school really sympathetic and engaging, especially interesting in how Carey draws out Annie's teenage experience in how she behaves when she's the small fish in a big pond in the new workplace and a new city, and how her old defences and issues resurface when she encounters bullying in the workplace. This added such depth to the character that I really enjoyed, especially as it had nothing to do with the romantic interest or storyline.

Carey is such a fantastic writer and this was such a brilliant treat. If she wants to write about every extended member of the McDermott family and/or Marino extended universe I'm in!

What an absolutely sensational second novel from Anna Carey - it ticked every box for my romance-loving heart. The absolutely delightful premise sees Annie McDermott taking her dream job, writing for iconic Irish soap, Northside. But not only is the job a lot more toxic than Annie anticipates, but she is teamed up with her former college nemesis, the arrogant-yet-dreamy Art Sullivan, to write scripts for the show.

First up, the characters, who make or break any romantic novel, imo. Well, all the stars for Annie and Art, two wonderfully realistic people who fall for one another despite their best interests. Annie is a self-described "prickly" person, who masks a deep-rooted anxiety and vulnerability after enduring years of bullying at school. Anxious, alt girlies will see a lot of themselves in Annie - myself included. Annie is much more than just an anxious woman though - she’s an incredible screenwriter, an ambitious employee, and a loyal friend. I fell madly in love with her so quickly reading this & she has been firmly placed on the “list of fictional characters I would love to have a pint with” list.

The chemistry between the two is off the charts; in my opinion, an enemies-to-lovers romance is the best kind, and this is one of the best I’ve read. Art and Annie butt heads immediately, but the spark is immediate too. I was kicking my feet and giggling from like, twenty pages in!
Outside of the romance, which is obviously the heart of the story, Love Scene excels in delivering a dramatic, engaging plot that kept me turning pages for hours. The drama is HIGH - Northside’s showrunner, egomaniac Bernard, is a proper pantomime villain; there were many incidents in the novel where I wanted to somehow break into the book and cause him bodily harm myself. His conniving ways heighten the stakes for Annie and Art, and play a role in bringing them together… So in a way, he's like their very evil fairy godmother.

I also want to give a nod to the lovely depiction of adult female friendships and the complexity of them in this novel; Annie has a best friend, Roo, who she lives with and adores, but Carey also does a good job exploring the difficulties of moving home after a long time away, and finding your place to belong back at home. This part of the story will resonate with so many - even I found something relatable in it, despite being The Gal Who Stayed Here.

For Carey to top her debut novel was no easy task - happily, she knocked it out of the park with Love Scene, a tonic of a novel that reminded me of the power of romance - and friendship. What more could you want, really?

This is a beautiful love story to soap operas, an integral part of Irish (and British) pop culture. So many memes and water cooler moments have been born in the scenes of soap operas (EastEnders particularly comes to mind), and I absolutely loved how, to give it a Gen Z phrase, ten toes down Annie is for soap operas. It was so refreshing to see someone love something so vigorously.

I also particularly commend the way Annie's anxiety and often insecurity in the world was written. Her imposter syndrome is written so well, and I loved the moments where she is finally able to see how much of a powerhouse in the world of scriptwriting she is, how likeable she is as a person, and how loved and appreciated she is both personally and professionally.

As someone who was also seen as "a bit of an outsider" in secondary school, her time in school was hugely relatable to me. The way this carries on even after school is over, and affects almost every aspect of her life, was written fantastically.

I really loved the relationship between Annie and Art. It developed beautifully. and I loved that any miscommunication was quickly dealt with and cleared up. The scripts we see from Art with an insight to his thoughts were fantastic,

This is such a fantastic rom com with so much to love about home. Anna Carey is going from strength to strength.

OK so I never do this and post a review before I've finished a book, but the thing is, I'm 55% into the book and I've known since Chapter 1 that Love Scene is a 5* read for me. The writing is so engaging, so entertaining and fun and interesting, that unless something WILD happens, I know this book is great and that I can wholeheartedly recommend it. And of course if that changes, I'll come back and edit this review. Anyway, this is Mhairi McFarlane-level great romcom so get on this!

My first Anna Carey novel, but not my last. I loved this novel for lots of reasons. Likeable characters & a well written story kept my attention so much that I finished it in one sitting. Add in the right level of spice, a bit of angst & the obligatory ‘will they or won’t they?’ & I was hooked. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry & Marian Keyes, highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

Annie and Art's love story was such a joy to read as they deal with workplace sabotage and, especially in Annie's case, see a whole other side to the other. Plus their chemistry? FIRE! It was also refreshing to see two adults communicate to clear up misunderstandings. I inhaled this book until my eyes finally couldn't stay open.

Annie is such a relatable heroine. Despite being a kick arse screenwriter, she's got a severe case of imposter syndrome. She's anxious, her mind always whirring with how she did everything wrong, second guessing herself. Yet when she's with Art, she is able to drop that in their verbal sparring matches. I really loved her clapback to an old school bully. And what can I say about the delectable Art? He was a snobby film student, but life has given him a few knocks and have forced him to reframe his life and career goals. I adored the interstitial scripts that give us inklings of his thoughts and feelings.

However, I would be remiss to not mention the second romance, namely between Annie and best friend Roo. Outcasts in school and having lived in different countries for over a decade, they slotted back in seamlessly. I'm a sucker for reading female friendships, especially in love stories, and this was a joy to read (especially descriptions of Roo's amazing outfits).

Cherry on top? A cameo from Laura and Tadhg. I think Anna Carey's books need to come with a book hangover warning sticker. I absolutely loved this unputdownable modern screwball comedy. Pre-order this book, you won't regret it.

Thanks to Hachette Books Ireland and NetGalley for the ARC. I can't wait to get my hands on the audiobook and a paperback.

I loved Anna Carey’s first novel for adults so I wasn’t at all surprised when I also adored Love Scene.

The premise is so much fun - two writers thrown together to work on a soap - and I enjoyed learning about writing for TV almost as much as I enjoyed the romance. Annie was so relatable and Art was hot. And lovely.

I also loved Annie’s tarot reader bestie. I hope she’s getting her own book. It was also great to catch up with Tadgh and Laura from Our Song.

Can’t wait to see what Anna Carey writes next.

(Also, how gorgeous is this cover?)

It's 1am.
I couldn't stop reading Love Scene today, Anna Carey writes the BEST dialogue. Oh my days, this story is absolutely perfect. I am obsessed with the absolute joy of it. A beautifully happy, romantic, perfect novel.
Just the tonic for all our sad and weary souls.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

|#Netgalley| |Published May 7th|

If you're lucky enough to have access to an ARC of Anna Carey's upcoming rom-drama "Love Scene", don't let it sit unread. It's truly a joy to read, and was the highlight of my week while I was reading it.

Art and Annie never really got on in college. Annie thought Art was a know-it-all, up his own arse, because of how he scoffed at the notion of writing for TV. Annie, a soap opera fiend, is just back in Dublin after a stint working on a popular UK soap - with the job offer of a lifetime.

Beloved Irish soap "Northside" needs a facelift - and Annie is offered the chance to join the writing staff. She's overjoyed to get the chance to work on a show she has watched since childhood - she's less overjoyed to discover that she'll be sharing an office, and a job, with Art "soaps are shite" Sullivan.

With Annie determined to do a good job for the show's upcoming anniversary, things start going wrong. Is someone sabotaging her work? Is Art even serious about this job? Why is he here at all? And why is he such a ride?

I loved Art and Annie so much. Annie's imposter syndrome was painfully relatable, and I was rooting for her the whole time to stand up for herself and believe in her talent. Art was, indeed, a big ride, the pair had wonderful banter and their chemistry was off the charts. 🔥 I LOVE how we get an insight into what Art is thinking at times, it made me like him even more.

The author doesn't take the miscommunication trope to the extreme, which I really appreciated. Any mix-ups are addressed relatively quickly in order to get back on track with the main story.

I loved Annie's friendship with her flatmate, Roo. They became close in Secondary School, when both were teased for being alternative. The author did a great job of showing just how nastiness at school can get into your head and affect you into adulthood - one well-placed insult can follow you around for decades.

Fans of Our Song will be delighted with the Laura and Tadhg updates, as Annie is Laura's sister.

Thanks so much to @hachetteireland for the ARC via @Netgalley. This deserves to be huge, I adored it.

#SharonReadThis26 #LoveScene

I loved the book!! I found Annie so relatable and I loved the nostalgia that the soap storyline brought, really looking forward to seeing this on bookshelves in May!!

This was such a fun book! Annie & Art were a hoot! I highly enjoyed their banger and it was fun looking at the writing world especially the soap opera world. Perfect if you love a little hate meets love

Anna Carey's upcoming book "Love Scene" has completely stolen my heart. I swept through it, and almost regretted it because I miss Art and Annie. They are two of the most perfectly written, easily recognisable characters I have read in a long time. And I'm loathed to admit I see a lot of myself in Annie; anxious, guarded, prickly, a bit witchy.

Annie is a seasoned soap writter starting the job of her dreams, writing for Irish televisiual institution, the long running "Northside". But what happens when she walks in and sees a familiar man who she knew in college, Art Sullivan, possibly the most infuriating person she's ever known?

This is such a fun, easy, comfortable read. The writing is so warm and witty, the characters are brilliantly crafted and the setting felt very fresh to me. As well as all of this, it's a real treat for me, as a Northside Dub, to see that side of the city getting the representation it deserves. Almost every book I read that's set in Dublin is usually based on the southside. Anna is doing great work in her writing to give the Northside the props it deserves.

Love Scene will be published May 7th. If you are a fan of fresh, clever and modern romance novels, you'll love this. It's an absolute tonic.