In this charming, feel-good debut novel, a cynical assistant at a screenwriting agency must reenact the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedy movies in order to help her #1 client get his scriptwriting mojo back--but can a real-life meet-cute be in store for someone who doesn't believe in happily ever after?
WOULD LIKE TO MEET by RACHEL WINTERS
Series: Standalone
Genre: romantic comedy
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: December 3, 2019
Synopsis:
After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she's been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency's biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy.
The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.
But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.
The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.
But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.
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Praise for Would Like to Meet:
“Would Like to Meet is a fun, lighthearted — and at times laugh-out-loud — debut novel that seeks to highlight the power and purpose of a rom-com…It’s a reminder that the best meet-cutes happen when they’re least expected.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.”—NPR
“Evie is a scrappy, winning heroine….The references to classic films of the genre will delight rom-com fans, as will the sweet romance. The best scenes, though, are with Evie and her three best friends, who have the warmly mocking dynamic of friends in a Richard Curtis film. A lovely, humorous ode to romantic comedies.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Winters’s charming debut combines tropes from classic romantic comedy films to hilarious effect….Winters employs self-aware, genre-savvy characters to expertly balance humor and heart. This adorable romance is a love letter to cinephiles.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Utterly charming…[A] winning tale”—Booklist
“Winters offers a relatable take on modern dating, writing, and working. Movie aficionados, in particular, will enjoy references to iconic rom-com moments as lovable, overworked Evie navigates her own series of meet-cute mishaps.”—Library Journal
“A lively, laugh-out-loud story…Debut author Rachel Winters hits all the right notes in Would Like to Meet, a fun and lively millennial rom-com with a heartfelt message that cleverly plays off tropes from a host of contemporary romance movies.”—Shelf Awareness
“Kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.”—NPR
“Evie is a scrappy, winning heroine….The references to classic films of the genre will delight rom-com fans, as will the sweet romance. The best scenes, though, are with Evie and her three best friends, who have the warmly mocking dynamic of friends in a Richard Curtis film. A lovely, humorous ode to romantic comedies.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Winters’s charming debut combines tropes from classic romantic comedy films to hilarious effect….Winters employs self-aware, genre-savvy characters to expertly balance humor and heart. This adorable romance is a love letter to cinephiles.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Utterly charming…[A] winning tale”—Booklist
“Winters offers a relatable take on modern dating, writing, and working. Movie aficionados, in particular, will enjoy references to iconic rom-com moments as lovable, overworked Evie navigates her own series of meet-cute mishaps.”—Library Journal
“A lively, laugh-out-loud story…Debut author Rachel Winters hits all the right notes in Would Like to Meet, a fun and lively millennial rom-com with a heartfelt message that cleverly plays off tropes from a host of contemporary romance movies.”—Shelf Awareness
REVIEW
Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke CohenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a fun, quirky book! When I read in the synopsis that the heroine is a book lover, more specifically that she is obsessed with Jane Austen, I knew she was a girl after my own heart. Not only did each chapter head have a relatable Austen quote, there were references sprinkled throughout the story. I was also attracted to the unusual cover which isn't typical in the romance genre. I'm always on the lookout for fresh, new reading experiences, and this debut author has really delivered the goods.
Victoria is the youngest of two daughters, and her parents have given her a level of freedom that you don't usually see for the period. She helps the family on the estate, and has already been through one season without any pressure to marry. She has no plans to change that in the near future, but circumstances soon force the Astons to take desperate measures. Victoria's sister Althea is newly married to a man who was thought to be her love match. Until she showed up on their doorstep seeking refuge from the abusive husband who has hidden his sins and control over her well. Much of the book revolves around the family's plot to permanently separate her from him so he no longer has any legal rights to her or the family fortune. The author put a lot of research into the details of divorce in that time period, which was not completely unheard of, despite popular belief. It was rare and of course, easier for a man to achieve, but not out of the realm of possibility.
It was decided that Victoria must find a trustworthy husband so she and her spouse will be eligible to inherit from her father. The search quickly narrows down to one main candidate, Mr. Carmichael. He's certainly charming and quick with pretty compliments, but how is she to know he isn't another monster with his own agenda? During their courtship several "accidents" befall Victoria and her family and there is an added urgency in discovering his true nature. This mystery takes up a large portion of the story, I would say it's more in the forefront than the romance I was expecting. Victoria's love interest Tom is introduced almost immediately as her ex-best friend who grew up in the estate neighboring Oakbridge.
There is some question as to why Tom suddenly left and cut off communication between them. Tom is quite stoic, holding his painful past inside as he shoulders the huge debt he inherited from his despicable father. He puts on a affable front as he fights for the welfare of his struggling family. Inside however, he's suppressing panic that his business plan isn't enough to rescue them as his brother's spending spirals out of control. His brother is such a piece of work. There were points I wanted to strangle him within an inch of his life for adding to poor Tom's stress. He acted very selfishly out of a childish, misplaced resentment.
For the majority of the book, the relationship between Tom and Victoria was that of tentative friends. They didn't communicate about the past, but rather tried to start fresh as they got to know one another again. It was a friends to lovers trope with an emphasis on friends, probably up until the last 30% of the book. Until then there wasn't really much angst between the two of them or a slow burn feeling. This is my reasoning for my rating because I would've liked to have seen their romance more equally balanced with the mystery of who was behind the attacks. This is my personal preference though, and I really appreciated the originality of the storyline.
There was a lot to love about this book. A fantastic heroine that was easy to root for, an interesting plot that taught me about divorce in the Regency period, and plenty of Jane Austen references delicately woven in. Tom and Vicki really worked well together and I loved the fact that they were childhood best friends. Once Tom opened himself up to the idea that he could deserve her and revealed his heart, the two of them fit like two peas in a pod. I really enjoyed this author's writing style, and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
“You’re not like Mr. Darcy. And I wouldn’t have you be. You’re you. And I wouldn’t trade you for a dozen perfect gentlemen. The reality of you is far better than any fiction.”
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