Book Review: As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy of As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr.

Fans of small-town romance, unite! As Seen on TV will give you deep belly laughs and have you swooning along the way.

There’s always been something utterly appealing about small-town stories. So, naturally, when I saw that As Seen on TV was “perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls,” I knew I had to pick it up. Let me just say right now that I was laughing so hard throughout the entire book. My husband can attest to the numerous times I was chortling on the couch and saying how much I loved that the book kind-heartedly poked fun at the major plot holes in most small-town scenarios.

I live in a small town in a rural part of one of the southern states (after having grown up in the suburbs and then spending time in the city), so there was something even more enjoyable about reading this particular book. It made me giggle even harder at some of the more relatable moments. Needless to say, I had a tough time putting it down and wound up flying through it very quickly! I’m so excited to share all my thoughts with you in this review.

As Seen on TV was released on June 7, 2022. Make sure to pick up a copy, add it to your library holds, or at the very least include it in your reading list because you’re going to love it!

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My honest review of As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr.

Synopsis:

Fans of the Hallmark Channel and Gilmore Girls will adore this delightful rom‑com about a city girl who goes in search of small-town happiness, only to discover life—and love—are nothing like the TV movies.

Emerging journalist Adina Gellar is done with dating in New York City. If she’s learned anything from made-for-TV romance movies, it’s that she’ll find love in a small town—the kind with harvest festivals, delightful but quirky characters, and scores of delectable single dudes. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi knows she’s found the perfect story—one that will earn her a position at a coveted online magazine, so she can finally start adulting for real . . . and maybe even find her dream man in the process. 

Only Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant.” There’s no charming bakery, no quaint seasonal festivals, and the residents are more ambivalent than welcoming. The only upside is Finn Adams, who’s more mouthwatering than the homemade cherry pie Adi can’t seem to find—even if he does work for the company she’d hoped to bring down. Suddenly Adi has to wonder if maybe TV got it all wrong after all. But will following her heart mean losing her chance to break into the big time?

Content Warnings: (major) Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content, (moderate) Misogyny and Cursing

Oh my goodness gracious, I feel as though this book was written just for me!

I’ve always, always been a fan of small-town stories. Romance or not, if a book, movie, or show takes place in a small town, you can almost guarantee that I’ll be interested. I’ve watched Gilmore Girls more times than I can count, and I’m a sucker for a sweet holiday film set in a little village with a close-knit community. There’s something so appealing about that lifestyle where everyone knows everyone and there’s all sorts of cute and creative events happening each weekend. So, if you enjoy witty banter, sweet romance, and small towns – you’re bound to love this book.

Needless to say, I instantly related with Adina. All she wanted was to escape Manhattan and find the emerging “small town story” in Pleasant Hollows. There was a desire to discover camaraderie, unearth the “corporate villain” who was breaking up the town by adding a giant apartment complex, and have a meet-cute with the town hottie. Cue the hilarity when Pleasant Hollows is really… anything but pleasant.

I laughed out loud constantly while reading As Seen on TV. There were so many moments that just had me rolling my eyes at Adi’s naivety in relation to small towns – but of course, her dream to make those small town fantasies come to life was equally adorable and understandable. I can imagine that there will be so many people who will read this book and feel like they’ve been seen.

One of the things that was so much fun was how many small town pop culture references there were. Now, I didn’t grow up watching Hallmark films, so the nods to the stories, characters, and actors from those movies went above my head a little bit. But even if you haven’t seen a single Hallmark movie in your life, you’ll still understand exactly what Adina wants to accomplish.

In addition to that, Adi’s career ambitions were so phenomenal and inspiring. She wants to see her mom have a better life and be taken care of for once, rather than the reverse (which is what she’s currently experiencing as a 25-year-old who lives with her mom). She’s willing to do whatever it takes to crank out a fantastic story, despite not even respecting or liking the person she’s working for. Her drive reminded me a lot of myself and I loved seeing how she worked through adversity to make something happen.

There were so many sweet moments filled with great depth throughout As Seen on TV. Between Adi’s relationship with her best friend Kate (and their mutual love for small towns), the romance with Finn (and the more challenging topic of seeing him navigate his relationship with an alcoholic father), and the sweet mother-daughter friendship, my heartstrings were constantly being tugged.

This is a must-read, for sure. I truly can’t recommend it enough!

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